Galveston FOCUS Event to Feature Children Creating Mural with Artist Wyland

Media Contact: Tamberly Conway, Conservation Education Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service; (337) 304-5872; icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Tamberly Conway, Conservation Education Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service; (337) 304-5872; tkconway@fs.fed.us

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ATHENS — Internationally known artist Wyland will be painting a mural with the help of children at an environmental event called FOCUS (Forests, Ocean, Climate and Us) in Galveston on Oct. 23.

This one-day public educational event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Artist Boat offices at 2415 Avenue K in downtown Galveston. The event is part of a national effort by the Wyland Foundation, U.S. Forest Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that utilizes art to educate communities about the importance of water and natural resource conservation, and the fragile interdependencies between forests, the ocean, the climate and people.

“We invite everyone to join in the celebration of the beautiful connections between art and nature,” said event coordinator Tamberly Conway, conservation education coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service.

Highlights of the event include tree seedling giveaways, specially priced kayak tours through Artist Boat, self-guided Galveston tree sculpture tours, an Aztec dance performance by Chikawa, special appearances by Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl, as well as the opportunity to participate in the painting of murals that will be displayed in public venues through 2011. The first 750 registrants will receive environmentally sensitive water bottles.

The public is invited to participate in special hands-on learning activities provided by additional sponsors including Galveston Bay Foundation, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Gulf Coast Spanish and Science Clubs, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Tree Folks Inc., The Galveston Tree Conservancy, The Texas Forest Service, and U.S. Forest Service/Stephen F. Austin State University Latino Legacy.

The event’s website is: http://web.me.com/dclipson1/Focus/Focus_Home.html