The Abel Arts Collective has partnered with Hawaii environmental
nonprofits Sustainable Coastlines HI and PangeaSeed to create an art & environmental
curriculum for a group of local North Shore Elementary kids. The North Shore Ocean
Awareness Art Project uses art-based lessons led by local art teacher Laura Couto, to
educate youth about environmental issues affecting Hawaii’s oceans and habitats. The
goals are to foster activism through hands on learning and encourage creativity and
personal connection to these issues through art and critical thinking.
Since April 2015, the group has been meeting once a week at the North Shore Soap
Factory. During meetings they go through exercises from a workbook created by the
nonprofits for this project, learn about the issues from guest speakers, get their hands
dirty by cleaning local beaches, and create artwork that represents their environment
and feelings towards it.
The culmination of the project is an Art Show featuring the kids artwork, including a
group mosaic made from microplastic found on local beaches, at the Wyland Gallery
Haleiwa on May 16th form 4-6pm. The objective of the show is to give the kids a
platform to share what they’ve learned and the artwork representative of that. The Art
Show will also include a silent auction featuring the artwork the Project’s partner artists,
Colleen Wilcox, Welzie, Erik Abel, Brett Kirkpatrick, and Shannon McCarthy. All proceeds
from the auction will benefit the Project.
In addition to the May 16th event, several of the partner artists are offering prints for on
the Abel Arts Collective online store for a limited time, with a percentage of proceeds
benefitting the Abel Arts Collective. The workbooks are also available for sale, from
which all proceeds will be donated. More about the project can be found at
http://www.abelartscollective.org/north-shore-2015
About the Abel Arts Collective
The Abel Arts Collective is a nonprofit founded by artist Erik Abel and his wife Nellie
Abel. Our mission is to create meaningful and inspirational public art that fosters
activism, positive self and community identity, and raises awareness for environmental
and humanitarian causes. We partner with artists, nonprofit organizations, and
communities to address local issues and use art as a tool for education and action.
http://www.abelartscollective.org/
Contact
Nellie Abel
nellie@abelarts.com
541-292-1541