On Friday, May 14th, students from area high schools descended on the Whitin Mill for the “All Kids Can” Art Festival. The festival, supported by VSA of Massachusetts, Saori Weaving of Worcester and Alternatives gave nearly 50 students from David Prouty High School in Spencer, North and South High Schools in Worcester and Concord-Carlisle High School in Concord, an opportunity to explore the green design of the Whitin Mill. The students, representing a diverse range of abilities, also had the opportunity to express themselves by creating original artwork centered on Green themes.

Each student participated in three workshops throughout the day. The theme for the day was “What Does It Mean To Be Green?” Students were asked to think about how green technology can be used in fundamental needs that we all share. Those needs are Clothing, Food and Shelter. Xavier Johnson, Director of the Urban Farmers Agricultural Academy of Worcester, demonstrated what it means to be organic in growing food and how that changes the foods we eat. Mihoko Wakabayashi, of Saori of Worcester, had students weaving on looms utilizing natural cottons and other threads while Tom Saupe, of Alternatives, had students creating usable structures out of recyclable newspaper.

In all, the students had a great day of learning about green technology and putting what they learned into creative uses. They left the Whitin Mill having made colorful, natural cotton scarves, snacked on organic foods and created working structures out of non-traditional, reusable materials.