The Watershed Mural Needs Your Support!
Gorgeous Quilted Panel of the Watershed Mural
Mixed media artist Laura Denny had a vision. She wanted to create a quilted mural that incorporated art, environmental education and service learning. The mural would be large- 15 feet and would show water’s long journey from land to sea. Laura wanted the mural to be a community art project. She also wanted it to be made with gathered objects like sticks, stones, bones, shells, pop tops and items from the Art From Scrap Reuse Store.
On May 15th 2013, Laura Denny’s vision became a reality. In collaboration with Explore Ecology and with the help of over 300 students’ grades 4-6, the Watershed Mural was completed in ten months and recently unveiled at the South Coast Watershed Resource Center (WRC). The mural depicts imagery of the flora and fauna represented in the different local Watershed zones in Santa Barbara: Mountain, Urban, Riparian, Estuary and Ocean. Imagery was painted on fabric strips, drawn on paper and then cut and arranged to create six tapestries each measuring 3’x3′.
Explore Ecology has started its first crowdsourcing campaign on Kickstarter to fund the installation of the mural. $2,500 is needed to pay for photography, printing, and permanent installation of the panels at the WRC for public viewing and on-going student education. Donate Here to ensure that these student artists are honored with a public installation of their work.
This project is funded in part by the Community Arts Grant Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Emma Serr is an artist and a student studying Studio Art at SBCC. Emma has a background in art and customer service, having worked as a camp counselor at sewing camp and assistant for sewing events and classes, and display manager and cashier in previous positions, and was recently a nanny to several young children. Emma first found us as a customer who loved what Art From Scrap represents!
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent her last four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife. Veronica is very passionate about conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. Veronica has spent many summers working in environmental education at various zoos and museums and loves introducing kids to the plants and animals that coexist with us. In her free time, she likes to sit at the beach and read, take dance classes, roller skate, and walk around fancy neighborhoods to look at the houses.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them. Lu is thrilled to be teaching budding scientists about the Earth and why it’s important for us to protect and preserve the environment. 
Lydia
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Ian Docktor
MELISSA BROOKS
Lindsay Johnson