CultureWorks partnered with the Outdoor Discovery Center to inspire a greater care for the Macatawa watershed through the arts.
At CultureWorks we love to celebrate the fact that art is contextual; it relates to our place and time, our family background, our dreams and interests. It can be a tool for encountering the world in a new way, like a pair of glasses clarifying our vision.
On August 12th we got to join the Outdoor Discovery Center and numerous other community organizations on Windmill Island. Along with the kayaking and beautiful paths to walk, there were educational resources and activities. Kids could learn about how wastewater is treated to protect the watershed. There were diagrams of how groundwater works, and where wells are located in the earth. There were also chances to learn about creatures that share the watershed with us and depend on a healthy ecosystem.
We wanted to provide art activities that would inspire people of all ages to look around and love their watershed. Together we made block-prints of native bird species in hopes that we’ll recognize more of our animal neighbors when we see them in the wild. We also brought along pens and watercolors, as well as information about the microorganisms that live in our water! People were able to look at magnified pictures of the luminous little critters that live in lakes and ponds and turn them into a beautiful collaborative watercolor piece. Just like we are working together to care for the watershed, we were able to work together on making something beautiful that reflects the creatures that call the water home.
We really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Macatawa Water Festival and we had a wonderful day of meeting neighbors and celebrating this beautiful community that we call home. See you there next year!
