First Friday in May will be “artsy” with a theme of “Musical May,” and it begins at 5:30 p.m. with the unveiling of art work on city storm drains.
Music from 1900 to 1940s will be featured May 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. downtown Warsaw .
“The Current Effects: Storm Drain Art Project” unveiling is at 5:30 p.m. May 6 at center stage, Buffalo Street, downtown Warsaw. This unveiling will reveal the art designs and locations of at least nine storm drains in Warsaw being painted by Grace College art students for the purpose of educating local residents about the importance of keeping local lakes and streams clean through mindfulness of local storm drains.
Warsaw Community High School Jazz Band will play early jazz of the 1900s from 6 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the barbershop quartet 4 O’Clock Shadow from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Then attendees can enjoy Fascinating Rhythm, along with The Lakeland Community Choir Select Dancers provided by Teena Nichols Group, from 7 to 9 p.m. Fascinating Rhythm is a 10-piece jazz group with vocal addition by LCCS, and their music will focus on songs from 1930s to 1940s. Each decade will be highlighted by area dancers, showcasing the styles of dance performed during the different decades.
Throughout the evening, there will be other activities for spectators to enjoy. Mike Beesley will be at the emporium. The bicentennial committee will be at the First Friday/CenturyLink information trailer. The new city trash trucks will be on display, and Center Street Community Theater will perform improv comedy on Center Street.
The Center for Lakes & Streams provided more information on The Current Effects in a press release.
The Current Effects project is a collaborative effort of the Center for Lakes & Streams, Grace College, The City of Warsaw and Urban Water Resources. Grace College art students painted community storm drains with images and designs depicting local and native lake species, the importance of water conservation practices, and the necessity of keeping local lakes and streams clean, according to a provided press release from The Center for Lakes & Streams.
Over 2,200 storm drains are located throughout the City of Warsaw. Storm drains connect directly to local waterways, meaning that all water and other substances which flow to these drains, also flow to the Tippecanoe River as the final receiving body of water, untreated. Water that drains to and flows out of storm drains does not get treated or sanitized before it reaches local lakes and streams, the release states.
The Current Effects project is a way to remind residents and visitors that local lakes and streams are directly affected by residents’ daily decisions. This project furthers the findings of scientific research through the medium of local arts and culture, the release states.
Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Center for Lakes & Streams, said, “This project stems from research conducted on local lakes and streams. The Center for Lakes & Streams helps identify issues in lakes and streams that people might be unaware of and this project assists in showing residents that their personal choices affect the lakes.”
In the press release, Mayor Joe Thallemer also expressed why he thinks the Current Effects project is important to the City of Warsaw and the surrounding communities,
“The City of Warsaw is excited to be collaborating in and supporting projects, such as Current Effects, that protect our local lakes. Current Effects not only highlights Warsaw as an environmentally-conscious community, but a local cultural hub as well,” he said.
Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College, said, “The Current Effects project is a great example of Grace College students collaborating with the surrounding community to make an impact. This project shows not only Grace’s commitment to taking care of our environment, but our commitment to furthering the arts in our community.”
More information about this project, pictures, videos and a map of storm drain locations will be posted at lakes.grace.edu in the coming weeks.
For more information on The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College, visit lakes.grace.edu.
