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Rain Barrel Project Update: Artist Profile   Kathleen Petitjean  (Underwritten by: Lawson-Fisher Associates)

Mark your calendar for the Auction at the South Bend Museum of Art at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2011.   This is a **FREE** event, open to the public.  Groups will be on hand to share information about Rain Barrels and water conservation.  At least two unpainted barrels will also be given away in a free drawing.  The aim is to raise awareness of water as a natural resource and show homeowners how to save money and protect the St. Joe River by capturing rain water. Evening wear and garden gloves recommended but not required.  ~ ~ ~ ~~ Over the last several months, we (the St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District) have been sending "mini-features" on a community rain barrel project that will culminate on Friday, May 6, 2011 with a Rain Barrel Auction... The project is being organized by Kathleen Petitjean, a Fellow with IU South Bend's Center for a Sustainable Future.    Check out Part 16 in this series below: Written by Kathleen Petitjean:   Although most of my professional artwork is pen and ink, I love an opportunity to pick up a paintbrush and play with colors.  In addition to being an artist, I work as an Occupational Therapist with schoolchildren with special needs.  My “green” activism also keeps me busy with projects with the city of South Bend, Oxfam America and the League of Women Voters. The Fellowship for this Rain Barrel project was granted to me last summer by IUSB’s Center for a Sustainable Future just as I was leaving for my first visit to Ireland.  Knowing I would be painting one of the barrels, I carried my sketchbook on my trip and allowed the art and natural beauty of Ireland to infuse my work.  My artistic goal was to create an image depicting the dependence on water for all life on Earth.  “Interlace”, the national signature style of Ireland in which bands of motif are intertwined, seemed a natural fit for my design. In Dublin, I was intrigued by the illuminations in the 1200-year–old Book of Kells, and the weaving of ancient Celtic designs with the relatively new stories of Christianity.   From these beginnings, I added our scientific understandings of the development of life on Earth to a work of art I hope serves as a gentle reminder for us to respect the resource we all need for survival; water. To learn more about Kathleen, visit her website at http://www.quillpenstudio.com/.    ~ ~ ~ ~~ Visit the Auctioneer/Underwriter, Goodrich Auction Company's website to view all 12 painted barrels and to learn more about the Auction at http://www.auction-info.com/viewauction.asp?AuctionID=406

 Have you missed the previous Parts of our Series on the Rain Barrel Original Art Project?

You can catch up by clicking the links below:

• Part 1: Introduction to Rain Barrel Art Project
• Part 2:  Artist Group Profile: Artist Profile: Students & Buddies from the Special Needs and Abilities Preschool of the South Bend Community School Corporation (Underwritten by: Teachers and Therapists of SNAP)
• Part 3: Why use a rain barrel? There is no "new" water  
• Part 4: Artist Profile: Michele Klota, Artist/Art Teacher, South Bend, Indiana (Underwritten by: Red Hen Turf Farm)
• Part 5: Artist Profile: Betty McKinney, South Bend, Indiana (Underwritten by: Troyer Group)
• Part 6: Save the Date!
• Part 7: Another Community Event Featuring Rain Barrels
• Part 8: Artist Profile: Nicole Brinkmann Reeves (Underwritten by: Purple Porch Co-op)
• Part 9: Artist Group Profile: Washington High School - Adrianna Galacia, Senior (Underwritten by: Barnabys South Bend)
• Part 10: Artist Group Profile: St. Joseph High School- Eleanor Harding, Senior (Underwritten by: Beehive Salon)
• Part 11: Artist Profile: William Tourtillotte (Underwritten by: St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District)
• Part 12: Artist Profile: Mitzi B. Sabato (Underwritten by: Foegley Landscape)
• Part 13: Artist Profile: David Murray (Underwritten by: Martins Supermarket)
• Part 14: Artist Profile: Mike Depositar (Underwritten by: Lochmandy Collision Center)
• Part 15: Artist Profile: Jill Wygant LaFountain (Underwritten by Just Goods)

 Kathleen Petitjean is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with the South Bend Schools, as well as a locally known artist. She received her Master of Liberal Studies degree from IU South Bend and currently serves on the South Bend Green Ribbon Commission. In order to bring greater awareness to how precious our water supply is, and how we can use it in a more sustainable fashion, she will work with other local artists to create rain barrels out of recycled Coke syrup barrels, and then decorate them with artistic designs. The decorated rain barrels will be auctioned off to local businesses and residences at a Center fundraiser in the spring. Early press on this event began in October, 2010. Read more here.

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Rain Barrel Project Update: Artist Profile   Jill Wygant LaFountain  (Underwritten by: Just Goods See it at: 714 East Jefferson Boulevard )

Mark your calendar for the Auction at the

Evening wear and garden gloves recommended but not required. 

~ ~ ~ ~~

Over the last few several months, we (the St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District) have been sending "mini-features" on a community rain barrel project that will culminate on Friday, May 6, 2011 with a Rain Barrel Auction... The project is being organized by Kathleen Petitjean, a Fellow with IU South Bend's Center for a Sustainable Future.   

Check out Part 15 in this series below:

Written by Jill Wygant LaFountain: 

 Ever since I was a young child I have loved creating things with my hands and expressing myself through art.  Having worked in several mediums, I find I have a certain knack for photography but do enjoy painting with acrylics.
Up until now, all of my paintings have been for my pleasure.  This is the first time I have been tasked with trying to convey an important message with my artwork. For months this barrel sat, primed and ready to receive its colors. As I searched for inspiration, I started to think about what the barrel would hold; this life source we, as a country, tend to take for granted.  I thought of those who thirst and the feeling of having that thirst quenched. I imagined diving into an ocean of water to escape the heat.  I thought of the water that drenches my husband's garden, helping the plants to stand a little taller; refreshed, revived and healthy! Keeping those feelings in mind I began to paint without any plan or picture, I just let the paint swirl and move until the barrel was covered with my vision of water.
I am humbled to have been asked to paint a rain barrel for this important project and to be among this group of amazingly talented local artists.  With my rain barrel, I hope for these things; that you gain a greater appreciation of our natural resource of water, you will work to conserve and protect it and that you will share your knowledge with others.  In addition to these things, I hope my rain barrel brings you pleasure when you look at it!  
~ ~ ~ ~~

Visit the Auctioneer/Underwriter, Goodrich Auction Company's website to view all 12 painted barrels and to learn more about the Auction at http://www.auction-info.com/viewauction.asp?AuctionID=406

~ ~ ~ ~~

 Have you missed the previous Parts of our Series on the Rain Barrel Original Art Project?

You can catch up by clicking the links below:

• Part 1: Introduction to Rain Barrel Art Project
• Part 2:  Artist Group Profile: Artist Profile: Students & Buddies from the Special Needs and Abilities Preschool of the South Bend Community School Corporation (Underwritten by: Teachers and Therapists of SNAP)
• Part 3: Why use a rain barrel? There is no "new" water  
• Part 4: Artist Profile: Michele Klota, Artist/Art Teacher, South Bend, Indiana (Underwritten by: Red Hen Turf Farm)
• Part 5: Artist Profile: Betty McKinney, South Bend, Indiana (Underwritten by: Troyer Group)
• Part 6: Save the Date!
• Part 7: Another Community Event Featuring Rain Barrels
• Part 8: Artist Profile: Nicole Brinkmann Reeves (Underwritten by: Purple Porch Co-op)
• Part 9: Artist Group Profile: Washington High School - Adrianna Galacia, Senior (Underwritten by: Barnabys South Bend)
• Part 10: Artist Group Profile: St. Joseph High School- Eleanor Harding, Senior (Underwritten by: Beehive Salon)
• Part 11: Artist Profile: William Tourtillotte (Underwritten by: St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District)
• Part 12: Artist Profile: Mitzi B. Sabato (Underwritten by: Foegley Landscape)
• Part 13: Artist Profile: David Murray (Underwritten by: Martins Supermarket)
• Part 14: Artist Profile: Mike Depositar (Underwritten by: Lochmandy Collision Center)

 Kathleen Petitjean is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with the South Bend Schools, as well as a locally known artist. She received her Master of Liberal Studies degree from IU South Bend and currently serves on the South Bend Green Ribbon Commission. In order to bring greater awareness to how precious our water supply is, and how we can use it in a more sustainable fashion, she will work with other local artists to create rain barrels out of recycled Coke syrup barrels, and then decorate them with artistic designs. The decorated rain barrels will be auctioned off to local businesses and residences at a Center fundraiser in the spring. Early press on this event began in October, 2010. Read more here.

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Why use a rain barrel? There is no "new" water    The water we use today may be the same water some dinosaur drank or bathed in. The water we drink may have traveled through the water cycle hundreds of thousands of times since the earth was formed. The water cycle is another way of saying that water is recycled. It falls to earth in the form of rain or snow. Then it runs off into lakes, streams, and oceans or soaks into the ground to become part of the underground water supply. Water in lakes, streams, and oceans evaporates into clouds that make more rain and snow. The underground water eventually comes back to the surface. That water is used in many different ways and also eventually evaporates to become clouds that become rain or snow. On the other hand, in developed places with houses and roads, rain and snowmelt falls on pavement and other impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots that don’t allow the water to be absorbed by the ground. The water that you see flowing down the street is sometimes called stormwater runoff. When stormwater hits the pavement and other surfaces, it picks up and mixes with what’s there—including pollutants like oil, grease and fuel from cars and other engines, fertilizer and pesticides used on lawns, gardens and in the home, bacteria from pet waste, and bacteria and nutrients from improperly maintained septic systems. Rain Barrels connect to your downspout, decreasing the amount of rain that runs off your property. Why is that important?  Reduced rain and snowmelt runoff helps prevent water pollution and flooding.  Every time it rains, unabsorbed water rushes to storm drains and directly to local waterways.  Again, this water carries with it pollutants such as pet waste, automotive fluids and fertilizer. Installing a rain barrel benefits the environment and you.  The water saved in rain barrels can be used for watering flowers, gardens and lawns all through the summer, even in times of drought.  Reduced water demand will lower your use of municipal water supplies, saving your money! Rain barrels are also easy because they require very little maintenance.  LEARN MORE! There are so many great websites that offer more information about rain barrels.  Two places to begin are the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation District's Pathway to Water Quality webpage on Rain Barrels and our webpage on Backyard Conservation.	Hello Again! Over the next several months, we (the St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District) will be sending "mini-features" on a community rain barrel project that will culminate in May 2011 with a Rain Barrel Auction... The project is being organized by Kathleen Petitjean, a Fellow with IU South Bend's Center for a Sustainable Future.    Part 3 of this series provides information on what a rain barrel is, and some benefits to using rain barrels.
Unsubscribe | Update your profile | Forward to a friend Copyright (C) 2010 St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District All rights reserved. In the past, you provided the St. Joseph County SWCD with your email address. Occassionally, you will receive brief announcements regarding our services and newsworthy information. If you no longer want to receive these announcements, please click unsubscribe to send anemail requesting to be removed. If you need assistance, please contact us by email at alisa.wynn@in.nacdnet.net St. Joseph County SWCD | 5605 US 31 South | Ste 4 | South Bend, IN 46614 | 574-291-7444 ext 3 St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District 5605 US 31 South Ste 4 South Bend, IN 46614 Add us to your address book

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