For the past seven weeks, 200 Talbot County elementary school children have been learning about how trash pollutes our environment. They now understand that it takes over 80 years for paper treated with a glossy finish to decompose, that Styrofoam cups will not break down, and why it’s important both to recycle and to rethink how we use industrial packaging. Our culture is built around convenience. What we rarely see is where our trash ends up—too often in our rivers, our Bay, or in our oceans.
These engaged children will be our leaders of the future—business men and women, philanthropists, doctors, social workers, people who will make difficult decisions about the future of our world. Through a collaborative Waste-Art Workshop developed by the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (MRC) and Academy Art Museum, the children have been engaged in creating fish from junk mail… and what an incredible job they have done! The art is especially eye-catching as it has been brought together to form a school of fish swimming in an ocean – a gigantic paper fish quilt!
The artwork created by these children will be on display over the next few weeks throughout Easton, in preparation for the culminating environmental Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Avalon Theatre, November 16. Some of the fish quilts have already been on display at the Academy Art Museum, and taken to local businesses for display during First Friday, November 2. You can find quilt sections over a four-block area beginning on Goldsborough Street at Out of the Fire Restaurant. Nearby, the art galleries Cottage Studio Gallery, Easton’s Promise, and Studio B will feature quilt sections. Right around the corner more sections will be displayed at The Green Phoenix and the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy’s headquarters, both on North Harrison Street.
Come enjoy a fun evening walk about town, Friday, November 2. You may even spot one of the many budding artists our community is so proud of!
Don’t miss the Film Festival at the Avalon Theatre November 16 where all the artwork will be displayed. MRC will host two afternoon children’s programs; the 2 pm children’s program is free and open to the public. At 6 pm, MRC will host its evening program: gourmet food, an open bar of beer and wine, and an awesome silent auction will be followed by the film program featuring eight internationally acclaimed short documentary films. Silent auction items will include a dinner for 10 prepared in your home by renowned Scossa chef Giancarlo Tondin with accompanying wine poured by sommelier Phil Bernot, week-long getaways to Sun Valley and Florida, an aerial excursion to Tangier Island, original art, a skipjack cocktail cruise, and many other priceless items. Come to MRC’s First Friday Open House for a sneak preview of the silent auction items; items are also listed on the website www.midshoreriverkeeper.org. Tickets are $50 and are available through the Avalon Theatre at www.avalontheatre.com or Box Office 410- 822- 7299. For other information contact Natalie Costanzo at the MRC at natalie@midshoreriverkeeper.org or 443-385-0511.