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Clean Water Mural to be Unveiled in South Minneapolis on Nov. 19

Local teen artists created a mural that depicts the importance of clean water for birds and people

The mural nears completion in this photo from two weeks ago. The "Clean Water for Birds and People" mural will be finished and unveiled on Saturday, November 19.

The public is invited to the unveiling of the “Clean Water for Birds and People” mural on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 4205 S 28th Ave, Minneapolis.

Audubon Minnesota and Articulture’s Youth Arts Collaborative (YAC) worked together to envision, design and paint this special public arts mural. There was additional support from Aveda, Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association (SENA) and Brush Monkey. 

Professional teaching artists supported YAC teens as they created a beautiful mural design that tells the story of what it means to live in a river city within the Mississippi Flyway, a major aerial highway for birds. The teens wanted to show the responsibility they felt for protecting our clean water resources.

The mural is located on a busy intersection of 28th Avenue S and 42nd Street E in Minneapolis, across from A Baker’s Wife. Daily, hundreds and potentially thousands of people will see the mural as they pass by and visit nearby businesses. This special public arts mural tells the story of how people and whole communities can take action each and every day to help keep our water clean for birds, people and entire ecosystems.

When the project began, Katie Burns, Audubon Minnesota's outreach coordinator, brought pictures of waterbirds to help inspire young artists and to talk about what birds need to thrive, including native plants. They also learned that rain water goes straight to the river from city streets, and they talked about reducing the amount of pollution and trash swept into city storm drains.

We encourage you to bring your friends and family to enjoy the mural and discuss how you can help make clean water part of our culture here in the Twin Cities. Learn more about what Audubon Minnesota is doing for clean water conservation or email audubonminnesota@audubon.org to learn more about how you can help. 

This project was supported in part by Aveda 2015 Earth Month funds. Earth Month funds go towards water quality work that helps protect and enhance river habitat for birds and other wildlife.

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Articulture empowers individuals and communities to create positive change through the visual arts. Articulture's Youth Arts Collaborative is a youth program that works with communities to promote positive social change through the creation of community public art. Working side-by-side with lead artists and educators, the creative youth team produces engaging works of art that are meaningful to both the teens and the neighborhood.

Audubon Minnesota delivers conservation results and addresses the biggest threats to birds by creating bird-friendly communities, protecting water for birds and people, and taking climate action. 

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