Yesterday was grant writing number 2 day, where I asked the Martinez Community foundation for funds for an art project at the festival. Artist FROgard Butler plans to return to us and has fellow artists from her gallery lined up to help out. The idea is that we are going to let the children paint the ‘over under’ beaver pond image on cotton curtains which we can use later as a stage backdrop.
Beaver Ponds: Both Sides Now
These funds will purchase supplies for an educational art project held at the 11th annual beaver festival on June 30. Typically 100+ children participate. The theme of the festival is ‘Over/Under’ and will show the impact beaver dams have on the ecosystem – both below the water and above it, – teaching how they improve conditions for invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds and wildlife. This project will allow children to paint the wildlife at a beaver pond using acrylic paint on large cotton curtains. The decorated curtains later will be used in educational beaver displays to help show what was learned. The pond landscape will be painted ahead of time by supervising artist Frogard Butler. On the day of the festival it will be up to the children “fill in” the wild inhabitants
I’m just happy FRO is back and eager to begin painting with kids again. We missed her so much last year. Besides the activity, the fun part is that we can later use those curtains for a stage backdrop or in our display. And just like the banners kids can recognize their work. I also did my best to plug the festival and say why it matters.
A surprising number of children and their families in Martinez have grown up with the beaver festival and look forward to it every year. Many of our teen volunteers first attended as children and are eager to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about the beavers with newcomers. Martinez gains local, regional and national visibility from the festival, which this year will be featured in the national magazine Ranger Rick and an upcoming book by Chelsea Green Publishing.
Here’s hoping it inspires MCF to direct funds are way! Imagine this with colorful children’s paintings which will be even better!
