By Tameka Kenan-Norman, City of Rocky Mount
Litter art, uniquely crafted from recyclables, is currently on display now through April 30, 2017, in the craft gallery at the Maria V. Howard Arts Center. Litter art demonstrates the importance of recycling, planting and caring for trees, and not littering.
According to Cornelia McGee, coordinator for Keep America Beautiful (KAB) of Nash and Edgecombe counties, the art was created by students in grades K-12. Forty-four art pieces will be displayed, and there are more than 200 students participating from area schools.
“Teachers were asked to select the top five art pieces for their school, and all art was accompanied by something written,” says McGee. “Students wrote about the importance of recycling, planting and caring for trees, and not littering.”
Artwork will be judged based on creativity, litter focus and art talent. The writing portion will also be judged, and the winners will be announced during the city of Rocky Mount’s Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 7, 2017. Arbor Day will be held 10-11am in the courtyard of the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences. Winners will receive a plaque or trophy.
There will also be a Litter Art Show reception. The reception will be held 6-7pm during First Friday. Participants will have an opportunity to peruse all of the pieces. McGee says this is a wonderful way to support students’ efforts in creating awareness about such an important topic.
“This event allows us to tackle environmental issues because our youth are creatively demonstrating how to recycle materials into something new and useful,” states McGee. “This activity is educational and teaches students and parents the impact of maintaining a litter-free environment.”
While the reception will be the formal viewing and recognition for all litter art, litter art is on display through April 30, 2017. For more information, call the KAB office at 252.467.4960.
The Maria V. Howard Arts Center is located in the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, in Rocky Mount. The Litter Art Show is sponsored by KAB and the city’s Tree Advisory Board.
Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences is online at imperialcentre.org.
