Art & Environmentalism: Alchemy Art Center “Young Environmentalists” Program Wraps Up its Second Successful Year
Pictured: Young Environmentalists” students participate in a demonstration in downtown Friday Harbor to raise awareness around the importance of our local salmon populations as part of the “Art & Activism” unit of this program.
Friday Harbor, WA - This summer, Alchemy Art Center celebrated the successful conclusion of its second annual "Young Environmentalists" program. Specifically designed for middle school students with a dual passion for both art and the environment, this seven-week program proved to be a transformative experience for the ten students who participated in 2023. This program was made possible through the generous support of The Madrona Institute's Special License Plate Stewardship Grant program.
Structured around three core themes—Art and Activism, Sense of Place, and Reuse and Upcycling—the program enlisted guest instructors to lead each unit. From crafting personalized journals to fabricating hand-made props for impactful community demonstrations, engaging in cyanotype sun prints and natural dye projects, to exploring the intricacies of printmaking, the students were immersed in a diverse range of artistic expressions. The culmination of their efforts were showcased in a final exhibition, providing a platform to display the impressive body of work they had collectively produced.
A standout moment from the "Art and Activism" unit, as recounted by Glenn Hendrick, Co-founder and Director of Alchemy Art Center, reflects the program's profound impact:
“This unit involved creating props and using them in a demonstration in downtown Friday Harbor to raise awareness around the importance of our local salmon populations. One student was adamant that he did not want to participate in the demonstration, but after helping to create a large-scale salmon prop with guest instructor Bill Moyer (Backbone Campaign), he was so excited that he not only participated in the demonstration, he also gave an impassioned and well-informed speech to a gathered crowd about the issue of oil-drilling in Alaska’s last remaining pristine wilderness areas. His father, who was in attendance, couldn’t believe his child was putting himself out there in such a public way! This truly momentous shift was made possible by the support and community provided by the Young Environmentalist Program, which was made possible by the support we received from this important grant.”
“I was so inspired by how the students made meaningful connections between the different units of study in this program. They made powerful work, and were all so passionate about environmentalism- it gives me hope for the future!”
- Katey Rissi, guest instructor for “Reuse and Upcycling” unit
Pictured: Katey and a student spend some time hanging out with one of Alchemy’s resident chickens.
More about Alchemy Art Center
Since 2018, Alchemy Art Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community art center based on San Juan Island, WA, has provided communal ceramics, photography, and printmaking studios to our local community. In 2022, they launched the "Young Environmentalists" program. Featuring guest artists and speakers, the program seamlessly connects art and environmentalism. Thanks to the Madrona Insitute’s support, this program was free of charge, ensuring inclusivity and making artistic exploration accessible to all students. Alchemy Art Center remains dedicated to fostering creativity at the intersection of art and environmental consciousness.
Pictured: A student explores Cyanotype techniues on a piece of fabric.
More about The Madrona Institute’s Special License Plate Stewardship Grant program
The Madrona Institute empowers organizations in the San Juan Islands by offering small grants through the Madrona Stewardship Fund. These grants support initiatives that foster youth engagement, environmental and cultural stewardship, climate action, and social justice. The funding is sourced from the sales of San Juan Islands Special License plates through the Department of Licensing.
In its second year of grant-making in 2022, The Madrona Institute allocated $45,000 to local nonprofit organizations. This marks our ongoing commitment to channeling the proceeds from the San Juan Islands Special License Plate sales into impactful projects that enhance the well-being and sustainability of our local community.
2022 Grantees include:
$10,000 to the San Juan Islands Conservation District for their San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps program
$10,000 to the Madrona Institute for their Coast Salish Youth Coalition/Stewardship Corps program
$5,000 to the Friends of the San Juans for their Youth Environmental Mentoring Program
$5,000 to the Alchemy Art Center for their Young Environmentalists Arts Intensive Program
$5,000 to the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild for their Farm Heroes for Environmental Stewardship Program
$5,000 to Wild Orca for their San Juan Islands Naturalist Program
$5,000 to the Children of the Setting Sun Productions to support the creation of the Indigenous film series and pilot episode “The Sound”
Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, and natural resources in the islands, with emphasis on youth engagement and environmental justice.
Support These Programs and Get your Special License Plate Today!
The Madrona Institute proudly serves as the organizational sponsor of the San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate, established on October 1, 2019 through the WA Department of Licensing.
By purchasing a San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate, you actively contribute to the stewardship of the San Juan Islands. Every purchase directly supports The Madrona Institute's Special License Plate Stewardship Grant program, making impactful programs and projects as highlighted above, possible.
Your support through the Special License Plate initiative becomes a tangible and meaningful way to foster sustainability and community well-being in the San Juan Islands and greater Salish Sea.
