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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) This is the postcard announcing "Art Celebrates Conservation" on Camano Island.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Artists take up brushes to preserve island beauty By Kristi O'Harran, Herald Columnist Artists will fan out for the next three weeks around Camano and Whidbey islands. They will be ensconced in forest glades, situated amongst reeds beside hidden lakes and parked in range of sweeping Mount Baker and Olympic Mountain views. They are "plein air" artists, who work mostly outdoors, capturing on canvas what they see right then and there. Their work will be sold at Art Celebrates Conservation on Camano Island. Elizabeth Guss, who lives in Langley, is helping organize the garden and art party to benefit Whidbey Camano Land Trust. A graceful time is planned for 3 p.m. July 19 at Four Springs Preserve. "I am still into chiffon dresses and floppy hats for the women," Guss said. "It's a whole experience, a traditional, almost European afternoon in the garden." To enhance the ambiance, she knew just the way to gild the lily. Guss, the director of outreach and development for the land trust, hired Kathryn Murray of Camano Island to play the harp. Murray said she will play a Celtic harp she purchased in France. "I will be playing a mix of Celtic and classical, some popular, an eclectic mix of music," Murray said. "Everyone will find something they enjoy." The event marks the land trust's 25th anniversary, Guss said. "Pretty remarkable that this local community recognized a need to take action to preserve the natural heritage and did so," Guss said. "This garden party gives the opportunity to share the good news of land protected." The trust is a nonprofit conservation group that protects natural habitats, scenic vistas, working farms and forests. It seeks grants and helps put deals together to protect land. For instance, Whidbey Camano Land Trust raised money to purchase the Davis Slough Heron Rookery on Camano Island, protecting one of the largest great blue heron nesting colonies in Puget Sound. Sometimes they get big money. Sometimes it's a combination of small donations that does the trick, Guss said. More than 500 donors contributed to the rookery purchase in 2003. It's since been expanded by a private donation of land. "This is our home and we want to care for it," she said. Those interested in art and protecting land will come together at Art Celebrates Conservation. Work done in the next three weeks will be shown at a juried art display at the event. "From my perspective, the most exciting dimension of this event is the opportunity to tell the story of local action by citizens to protect their home, ensuring that children and grandchildren have beautiful places to enjoy, and making sure that wildlife also have a home here," Guss said. "This work of 'Citizen Conservation' is the critical, local effort that creates a land legacy that benefits us all, today and tomorrow." Plein air artists will work throughout the next three weeks on land protected by the trust. Artists will be painting at the party, too. "People will be walking about with wine, beer and appetizers, enjoying not only the beauty of forest springs, but watching painting coming to life," Guss said. "I think the harp will set a tone of gracefulness and graciousness -- a perfect mood for a garden party." There will be an apropos door prize. Someone will win a rare tour of the rookery. Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com. Garden party Art Celebrates Conservation, a garden party and art auction, is planned for 3 p.m. July 19 at Four Springs Preserve, 585 Lewis Lane, Camano Island. Tickets are $40, or $30 if purchased from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Dugualla Bay on Whidbey Island. For more information or directions, call Whidbey Camano Land Trust at 360-222-3310 or go to www.wclt.org. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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