Eco Art Fest raises awareness of Big Muddy cleaning effort
(this was an extra credit assignment for my newswriting class)
The sun sets over the Missouri River on Sunday, Sept. 23.
As the sun set over the Missouri River, it brought the close to the Second Annual Eco Art Festival, a two- day event highlighting the necessity to clean up the river. The festival provided arts, music and educational events on Sept. 22-23 at Coopers Landing on the bank of the Missouri River.
Karen Crane of the Missouri River Relief worked a booth at the festival to help get young people interested in cleaning up the river.
“I’m a regular down here,” Crane said. “I would like to bring more people into it and push younger generations to realize the importance of the river and have more respect for it. Basically, keep it clean and don’t dump your trash there.”
Crane believes her efforts have been worth it after meeting a couple of young guys at a campfire and getting them interested in helping clean out the river.
“People love the environment,” Crane said. “It gives them idea of what is good, history and how much we actually get since we get a lot of trash.
To concentrate on the natural resources of the river, the festival also brought in artists that use natural materials and are inspired by the environment. This adequately fit the theme “Our Local Treasures.”
“I like the fact that it brings so many creative artist here,” Crane said. “It brings a lot of lovely talented people.”
Columbia resident Gale Johnson uses electrical wire and Missouri river rocks in her sculpted jewelry.
“Electricians can’t work with short pieces and it ends up somewhere,” Johnson said. “I keep as much as I can out of the recycle bins and trash cans.”
When Johnson helped to clean up after Hurricane Katrina, she picked up pieces of ceramic and glass from the shore to keep kids safe and decided to use it in her necklaces and hanging art to help preserve the earth as our “playground.”
“I make it all up myself and take art to a different place,” Johnson said. “I use the leftover wire and start making stuff. The shards from hurricane Katrina are absolutely beautiful and meaningful.”
The festival raised money for the Missouri River Cultural Conservatory as well as raised awareness for the Missouri River in a relaxing, scenic atmosphere.
“Being on the river is an absolutely beautiful place,” Johnson said. “It couldn’t get better than this.”
