Art for the Earth Celebration

April is Earth Month at Leverett Crafts & Art! Join a diverse group of artists presenting ART for the EARTH, a celebration of our beautiful, one-of-a-kind planet.

Beginning the first Saturday in April, this month-long exhibit will feature more than 40 artists – painters, illustrators, poets, musicians and dancers – offering their work in honor of the Earth in all its glories and complexities. The galleries at the LCA will be open for viewing Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 pm.

“My love of Mother Nature is calling strongly these days,” says Sue Kassirer, creator of the celebration in collaboration with Lori Lynn Hoffer, director of the galleries at LCA, and Julie Heminway. “With so much political and global strife going on, I felt a real need on this year’s Earth Day to reignite a community passion for this precious and beautiful planet of ours.”

Immerse yourself in an ambient soundscape created by Mike Bullock; view the visionary architectural model of an “eco” city by Tullio Inglese; enjoy the collaborative artworks of Leverett’s elementary school students; meet Sedna, a life-size, legendary mermaid made entirely of recycled plastics. The exhibition also features paintings, sculptures, and photographs — each offering a unique perspective on our planet.

The highlight of the exhibition happens on April 11, following the town of Leverett’s annual Earth Day Cleanup, sponsored by the Plastics Action Committee.

The Art for the Earth Celebration and Reception runs from 1 to 4 pm, which will be as diverse and wonder-inducing as Mother Earth herself. Festivities begin with a group of friends from Wendell singing just outside the galleries, followed by introductions to the local Plastics Action Committee and Andre Strongbearheart Gaines, a representative for the Native Land Conservancy, and a grounding Qigong exercise offered by Roxanne Bogart. Attendees will then be invited to browse the art in the galleries and enjoy bites and beverages while listening to poet and author readings from Roxanne Bogart, Rema Boscov and Don Ogden.

There will also be an improv dance piece by Still Moving, a group led by Joan Green, and a recorder performance by the Leverett Consort. After a short break, attendees will be invited back at 6 pm for a multimedia piece by the creative team of Linda Aubry Bullock and Mike Bullock.

On Earth Day itself, April 22, there will be a film screening and discussion about the issue of microplastics, at 6 pm at LCA.

This celebration is generously sponsored by Leverett Crafts & Art, Woodsmith Forestry of Leverett, The Millstone Market in Sunderland, and Big Wheel Press of Easthampton.