High School Art Show Aimed at Environmental Threats

A art exhibit and music presentation will be held Sunday, June 4, to promote awareness of marine debris and plastic waste in the U.S.’s waterways. Blue Brasher-Rues, 14-year-old Fayetteville High School freshman, has organized and will curate the event. She has coordinated with a national group, BowSeat Ocean Awareness Programs, to present a unique night of activist art, food, and music.

The art show, entitled “The Blue Earth” will feature award-winning art from high-school students across the country. The show will represent a worldwide coalition of young people who are trying to raise awareness and affect change. The open mic following the show will have a garbage and pollution theme. Anyone with a song to share on this theme is welcome. Local musicians are encouraged to write a song with ocean waste in mind.

Ocean waste is a problem that continues to grow worse every year. As countries continue to develop and industrialize, more and more garbage is being dumped into formerly pristine waterways. This poses a serious threat to marine life, as well as the lives of humans. The impact of this massive, continued discharge of garbage and plastic into the earth’s aquatic ecosystem is detrimental to our Earth.

Blue has expressed a concern that perhaps people in Arkansas feel there is nothing they can do to make a difference, because we are so far away from any ocean.

“People need to know they can help by attending events like this. Change comes when people work together,” Brasher said, “and people need to know that even in Arkansas people can make a difference by initiating small steps.”

As an example of this “small but big” philosophy, home-made grocery bags made of recycled t-shirts will be available for early gallery attendees. Blue will be making a brief presentation, showing how our habits here in our watershed eventually end up in the ocean, and how it affects us and marine life.

Special thanks to sponsors Arcom Plus, Janski Studios, Sign Planet, Ozark Natural Foods and Edge of the Woods Playschool for providing high quality prints, food, money and support.

Date: Sunday, June 4

Time: Art show and Refreshments – 6 to 7 p.m.

Open Mic and Presentation – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: OMNI Center for Peace Justice and Ecology

                    3274 N. Lee Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72703