Bicycle Tour to Celebrate and Serve Local Gardens

SALT LAKE CITY - Aug. 4, 2014 - PRLog -- What: Service Project / Art Tour

When: Thursday, August 7  6:30-8:30pm

Where: Begins at McGillis School  668 S 1300 E  Salt Lake City, UT    Maps and itinerary provided for remainder of tour (will be left at starting point for latecomers)

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/891815484180717/

Cost: Free!

Handing a 7-year-old a hammer, gloves, safety glasses and a porcelain tile may not seem like a wise plan to some, but for artist Roger Whiting that is when the magic begins.

In September 2013, armed with an Arts Learning Grant from the Salt Lake City Arts Council and a 1300-lb donation of cement from Quikrete, Whiting began collaborating with various youth organizations around the city to create large-scale mosaic installations in many of the city's community gardens.

The project's accomplishments include a 20-foot-long pebble mosaic pathway in the McGillis School Garden, 2x2x5 foot mosaic benches in the Jackson Elementary and Emerson Elementary gardens, and a 5-foot-tall mosaic bee for the Utah Arts Alliance Community Art Garden.

The designs for the various projects were created by the youth, with Whiting as facilitator. Each project had a theme. For example, the mosaic bench at the Social Justice Gardens of Jackson Elementary were created in memory of athlete and community activist Matt Bradley who suffered a tragically early death a few years ago, but left a wide-reaching legacy including the creation of the Social Justice Gardens. The youth created mosaic images representing the legacy of this community hero in the style of Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada.

To create the mosaics, the youth worked with the artist to break colorful porcelain tiles and glued the pieces, tracing an enlarged version of their sketches .

"Youth need to know that they can be trusted to use actual construction tools and materials responsibly." says Whiting, "More importantly, youth should learn that they can express themselves in a positive way, even if their expressions are seemingly not as refined as those of adults."

To celebrate the accomplishments of the project, the community gardens together with Whiting are hosting a "Bicycle Tour to Celebrate and Serve Local Gardens"  The tour will begin on the East Bench (to allow for an easier ride for youth participants) at McGillis School. It will then proceed to Emerson, the UAA Community Art Garden and end at Jackson Elementary School, with free snacks at every stop.

Bicycling is optional, as families with young children and those without bicycles are encouraged to attend.

Each stop will include healthy snacks and a 10-15 minute service project in benefit of the garden.

Participants may RSVP with the tour director, Roger Whiting to receive a ride back to the starting point for themselves and their bicycles if they wish.

Funding for SLC Art Gardening (Whiting's year-long project) was provided by a Salt Lake City Arts Council Arts Learning Grant with supplemental support by Quikrete, McGillis School, Wasatch Community Gardens, Zions Bank, YouthCity Central City, Guadalupe School, Jackson Elementary School, Artists for Local Agriculture, ArtFirst/ArtePrimero and Sorenson Unity Center.

Contacts: Roger Whiting (Artist) - (801) 707-3580  murals@rogerwhiting.com

Marla Love - Director of ArtFirst/ArtePrimero at Emerson Elementary School - (415) 272-9453

Jana Edward - Principal of Jackson Elementary School -  (801) 578-8165

Michael Cundick - Director of Artists for Local Agriculture -  (801) 722-5865