Danville Gets Sustainable - 2012 Earth Day Student Art Event Inspires Participants, Businesses and Residents

On Friday proceeding Earth Day, Danville students and their families participated in the first annual Earth Day Student Art Contest. The art show and reception was hosted by Sustainable Danville Area in conjunction with the Town of Danville Village Theatre and Art Gallery as part of the town’s 2012 Earth Day Arts Event. The day included multi-generational activities including a mosaic art demonstration (reusing pieces of old dishes) by a local artist instructor, Jean Cernigo, a free screening of the film Manufactured Landscapes, a hands-on jewelry project to learn how to make your own fabric bracelet (using an old T-shirt) and of course, the student art reception.

Sustainable Danville Area (SDA) invited all Alamo and Danville elementary schools, middle schools and high schools to participate in the first annual Earth Day Student Art Contest. The group received over 75 entries from John Baldwin Elementary School and San Ramon Valley High School. All the students’ art was displayed in the Town of Danville Village Theatre Art Gallery throughout the day and an evening reception was held for the student finalists and their families. Darlene Gayler, Vice President Sustainable Danville Area said, “This was such a fun event. The kids and their creativity are a breath of fresh air – they don’t care about finances, politics, being PC – they just tell it as they see it! Their messages are very inspiring.” Visit the 2012 Earth Student Art Digital Gallery to view all this year’s entries.

Cindy Egan, Sustainable Danville Area Board Member and San Ramon Valley High School Engineering and Environmental Science teacher welcomed each student finalist, encouraging even the youngest participant to shake her hand as they accepted their prize. Visit Sustainable Danville Area’s facebook event album to see more pictures of the day’s event. One young man, 3rd grader Jackson Akey needed no encouragement; besides sharing his ‘touchdown dance‘ on the way to accept his prize bag, Jackson introduced himself to Robert Storer, Town of Danville Council Member and proceeded to give Storer a special tour of the winning piece. Storer was on hand to congratulate the student finalists, enjoy the artwork and check out the goodies Jackson and the other finalists took home. Danville Area Sustainable Businesses (DASB), William White Allstate Insurance, Design Elements, Green Apple Acupuncture and Gayler Construction generously purchased Ecolunchboxes, for each of the elementary, middle school and high school finalists. Additional DASB members Danville Chocolates, Junebug Bakery, Cottage Jewel and Jules Thin Crust joined by other local businesses Sweet Street, The Studio and Art on the Lane made it possible to present each finalist with a gift bag filled with goodies. Special thanks to Danville Area Sustainable Business La Boulange Bakery for catering the reception offering an assortment of lovely pastries and treats and generous assistance from the Discover Danville Association.

Amy Miller, Visual Arts Coordinator, Town of Danville Village Theatre Art Gallery was joined by three Town of Danville Arts Commissioners, Susan Ritner, Victoria Brooks and Brigitte Bize, as judges for the 2012 event.  Cynthia Ruzzi, President SDA said the group plans to provide the schools more lead time next year and to make sure the information reaches teachers of art directly. Ruzzi also said that SDA is always looking for volunteers, so if you are interested in helping with next years’ student art event or the group’s monthly forums, please visit them on facebook/SustainableDanvilleArea or at www.sustainabledanville.com/volunteer.