Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCS), in close partnership with Street Park Community Garden and the Safe Harbor After School Program, implemented a four-week art education program, culminating in the completion of designed and decorated rain barrel artworks. These will be installed in the community garden space, located in the Eastport neighborhood of Michigan City.
LCA teaching artists Madison Wilson led students from elementary and middle school Safe Harbor sites in learning about the impacts of community gardening and seed cycles, along with identifying helpful garden insects and pollinators.
After examining and discussing the insects and pollinators, students created their own original artwork. Vivid and colorful drawings have been transformed into vinyl decals and applied to five painted rain barrels that will help irrigate the garden.
On May 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CST), a free celebration will be held at the Walker Street Park to honor the young artists’ hard work and enjoy the garden with families, neighbors, and the community. This celebration will include refreshments, more art-making, and educational activities provided by LCA and Walker Street Park Community Garden. All are welcome to attend this free event!
“We are incredibly excited to work with Lubeznik Center for the Arts and Safe Harbor. We want to encourage and empower our youth to learn about the importance of access to fresh, healthy food,” said Walker Street Education Coordinator Dominique Edwards. “Through our partnership, not only were our youth able to contribute their artwork to our garden, which we really needed the color, but they were also able to learn more about urban agriculture and how to grow their own food. We welcome everyone in the community to join us on May 22 as we implement our new watering system.”
For more information, visit Lubeznikcenter.org or call 219-874-4900. Admission to LCA galleries is free year round!
