1/11/08

The Urban Forest Project








My buddy Sunshine sent me this link yesterday for the Urban Forest Project.

"Basically, it's sponsored by the AIGA, and in each of the 3 cities they had a contest where all designers and students in that city could submit a design featuring a tree. The tree is a metaphor for sustainability, and whichever designs won, they would print onto huge banners and hang throughout the downtown area to raise awareness about sustainability and reforestation. After the banners were taken down, they sewed them into bags, using old seat belts from cars, and old bicycle tires as the straps and handles."

In short, it's right in my wheelhouse. I'd like to do something like this in Milwaukee.

I also found out that the Urban Forest Project is partly sponsored by Worldstudio Foundation, an awesome nonprofit that offers mentoring programs to underserved youth and scholarships that enable economically disadvantaged students of art, architecture and design to continue their studies.

They believe that creativity is able to affect tremendous social change. And they don't just talk about doing good. They actually do it.

So a big shout-out to Sunshine for sending me the Urban Forest link, because I never would have known about Worldstudio. Information rules.