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The “Wild At Art” show opening and reception is happening this Friday September 5 at Clementine Cafe.

The art show will feature artwork created on August 2 by about 8 adults and 25 kids 8-12 years of age who ventured into the woods and made art with sticks, stones and other natural materials they collected.

The trip and project was spearheaded by Leah Rosenwasser who works with the Gus Bus, and was made possible through a grant from the Arts Council of the Valley and with the help of sponsors and volunteers from the community.

Leah told me that she put this day together because she loves the kids she works with and also loves Andy Goldsworthy’s work, whom she was inspired by. “I think that it was the perfect opportunity to combine an art activity with an really hands-on experience in nature, to hold discussions about the artist as well as habitat and conservation.  Also, to have FUN,” she says.

The day for the children started at Clementine, with breakfast, team building, and a talk with about Andy Goldsworthy and viewing the documentary “Rivers and Tides”. By noon, the group found themselves out in the woods, which for many of the kids, might have been their first experience in “nature”.

If anyone recalls, August 2 was also the day that some large storms came through the area, and later that evening tornadoes, and so by 3pm the group left the woods and spent the rest of the afternoon at a volunteer’s home at which they experienced s’more making and time together.

Given the day’s great sucess and the great experience had by the children who participated, Leah hopes to continue this experience again and more often. Already, community groups such as the Sierra Club has expressed interest in sponsoring future experiences. “I don’t know what this could look like, but with community support it could happen,” says Leah. ”I would LOVE to turn this into a summer camp as well—all day long for a week : )…anything is possible!”