Girl Scouts To Highlight Environmental Issues In Metuchen Art Project

METUCHEN, NJ – The Windows of Understanding public art project is back in Metuchen for its fifth year.

Once again, the Metuchen Arts Council and Friends of Metuchen Arts are participating with arts councils in New Brunswick, Highland Park, South Plainfield, and Rahway, to facilitate the creation and exhibitions of art that speaks to community activism on social justice and environmental issues.

This year the project is activating youth clubs and groups to be artist collectives and pairing them with artist facilitators.

The Metuchen Arts Council and Friends of Metuchen Arts are working with local teaching artist Joseph Castronova and the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, to create an impactful, collaborative installation that will take over the Berkshire Hathaway office windows from February through April.

The Girl Scouts troops 80029, 80261, 80458, 80462, 80614, and 81365 are working with the environmental theme, "Taking Care of Our Planet and Each Other."

As part of the project, the Scouts have done research on wildlife and insects that are native to the area. They are depicting their subjects in sculpture and painting under the guidance of Castronova.

"This project is a visual and scientific investigation into the unique and diverse ecosystem in our region," Castronova said in a statement.

"Through this art project, the Girl Scouts are working to inform themselves and others to be better stewards of nature.”

The vision for this public art project is to transform Metuchen’s main street sites into literal windows of understanding spaces in which the community can learn about the strides being made by local organizations around issues like social justice and environmental issues.

The girl's work will be on display in the windows of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services at 564 Middlesex Avenue in Metuchen, from Feb. 15 through April 2025.

The public is invited to celebrate the accomplishments of these artists at a special reception on Feb. 22 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Berkshire Hathaway.

For more information and a complete list of featured organizations, participating storefronts, and a full calendar of free events, visit www.windowsofunderstanding.org.

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