Submitted by Art for Orcas Kids

Art for Orcas Kids (A*OK), a program of the Orcas Island Education Foundation, is thrilled to announce its Orcas Island School District Middle School art classes’ selection to craft unique holiday ornaments for the 2023 Governor’s Mansion tree.

The opportunity arose as art classes statewide were invited to contribute ornaments for the Governor’s Mansion holiday tree, themed “favorite sports” by First Lady, Mrs. Inslee. The K-12 student-created ornaments will grace the mansion throughout the holiday season.

A*OK’s middle school art classes, led by Brook Meinhardt and a dedicated team, embraced the chance to creatively represent “favorite sports” by focusing on Washington State’s sports team logos and mascots. Ms. Brook had the students use an innovative approach to create their ornaments, using upcycled beach trash to form logos of iconic teams like the Seahawks, Kraken, Seattle Storm and more. Materials included microplastic beach debris and repurposed food/drink box cardboard. Through mosaic-style techniques, the students brought their artistic vision to life, using the cleaned beach trash plus everyday materials such as Elmer’s glue and markers. The result is a stunning collection of sports-themed ornaments that will adorn the Governor’s holiday tree.

Every participating student will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Governor’s Office, recognizing their dedication and exceptional contributions. This project underscores A*OK’s commitment to fostering creativity, supporting the arts and promoting sustainability through recycling. A*OK is happy to celebrate the power of art education and the boundless creativity of students is a testament to the transformative impact of art education.

Other A*OK teachers who participated on this project were Stephanie Iverson and Megan Neal along with Middle School Teacher Phil Carter. Everyone collaborated with students to make this project a reality.

For more information about Art for Orcas Kids and their involvement in the Governor’s Mansion holiday tree decoration project, please contact: aokartfororcaskids@gmail.com or find Art for Orcas Kids (A*OK) at https://oief.org/art_for_orcas_kids/. Look for us in the 2023 Give Orcas Holiday Catalog at giveorcas.org.