Art joins science to celebrate biodiversity at Wild Thing May 22

Local artists with the Department of Illumination are joining the South Shore Joint Initiative to combine art and science to honour the natural world around us with WILD THING: a celebration of biodiversity.

Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Every species — including humans — is connected and relies on each other to survive.

Prince Edward County contains an astonishing level of biodiversity which people must all work together to protect.

WILD THING is comprised of three key elements:
• school workshops where children will learn about a local wetland species with Cheryl Chapman from NatureHood-PEPtBO and then work with artist Andrea Piller to create a puppet or costume piece of the species;

• embroidery club The Society of Stitchers has been busy stitching images of local species at risk at the Department of Illumination studio; these images are being quilted into a banner;

• and finally, a public celebration in Picton’s Benson Park on May 22, the International Day for Biological Diversity. This event will feature live music from KASHKA and That’s What She Said, crafts and activities, giant puppets, and a lively community procession.

People can register their attendance by clicking here: https://www.ssji.ca/wild_thing

All programming is free of charge thanks to funding from the Huff Family Fund.

The South Shore Joint Initiative is a charity working to permanently protect and improve biodiversity along Prince Edward County’s internationally recognized South Shore, Canada’s largest and last undeveloped Lake Ontario natural landscape and shoreline.

The Department of Illumination is a not-for-profit organization aiming to bring joy and creativity to the people of Prince Edward County through festivals, workshops and other artistic events.