In partnership with the Authority of Cumberland County, WheatonArts presents the 17th annual ECO Fair, a FREE Family Day event inspired by natural and artful living! ECO Fair, a campus-wide event, features local gardening clubs, including Rutgers Master Gardeners with various plants and herbs for sale, handmade works of New Jersey artists, environmental organizations, Nature Trail tours, eco-friendly activities for families, and more.

Admission to all WheatonArts exhibits and artist studio demonstrations are free and open to the public for the day, part of WheatonArts Family Days presented by PNC Arts Alive!

Schedule of Events

Rutgers Master Gardener's Plant Sale

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Cumberland County focus on growing native, pollinator-friendly plants and Rutgers varieties. Stock up on a wide variety of flowers, vegetables, herbs, trees, and shrubs. To attract pollinators to your yard, buy native flowers like milkweed, joe pye weed, and bee balm. Native shrubs like summersweet, viburnum, and dogwood will keep the birds happy! Build your herb garden with offerings of parsley, basil, chives, oregano, and more. Try growing some unique vegetables like shishito peppers, okra, and tomatillos. Many traditional vegetable crops like eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers will also be available. Plan Ahead: Bring a box or wagon if you plan on buying a lot of plants!

Visit the Rutgers Master Gardeners booth for Helpline on the Road, to submit your gardening and lawn questions to be answered by the Master Gardeners!

1 p.m. - Keynote Speaker: Robin A. Jess "Botanical Illustration: Capturing a Moment"

Robin A. Jess is a botanical artist fluent in graphite, watercolor, pen and ink, and etching. She is the former Executive Director of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the former coordinator of the New York Botanical Garden's Botanical Art and Illustration Program. With funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, in cooperation with Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Robin created a series of forty watercolors of NJ's Pinelands flora, which toured the state's major museums and arts venues. Her artwork can also be found on the NJ Pinelands auto license plate.

Keep Cumberland County Beautiful
Visit The Authority booth to learn how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Play the "Know What to Throw" recycle education game and get creative by designing your own reusable bag! While supplies last, limit one reusable bag per child.

The Magic of Recycling with Magician Bill Kerwood
Laugh & learn with this magical comedy while learning exactly how to recycle in Cumberland County. Discover simple yet amazing tricks that you can do for your friends & family again & again. Presented by the Authority of Cumberland County.

Meet Your Local AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador
The AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador Program promotes watershed stewardship through education and direct community involvement while raising awareness of how human activities affect water quality. Meet your local Watershed Ambassador and learn how benthic macroinvertebrates indicate water quality and how you can continue to keep your local streams healthy! Presentations occur every hour; walk-ups are welcome! Presented by the NJ AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors.

The City of Millville Recycles Right
Visit the City of Millville Recycling Department booth to learn how to recycle right! Grab some recycling information, promotional surprises, and download the free "Recycle Coach" app to learn more about how to recycle in your municipality. Presented by the City of Millville Recycling Department.

Nature Trail Tour & Scavenger Hunt
10:30 a.m. - Meet at the CU Maurice River booth in the Rain Garden. After learning more about the gardens, the walk will continue through the campus and onto the nature trail in the woods. The walk will last 1 hour. Nature walk participants can join in the Scavenger Hunt during the walk or complete it on their own. Both the young and young-at-heart can participate at their leisure. Naturalists will be stationed along the trail to help with the hunt and to answer questions along the walk. Be among the first 50 to complete the hunt and receive an official WheatonArts Nature Trail Explorer button! Led by CU Maurice River Naturalists and Nature Enthusiasts.

"The Litter Busters" Local Author Visit & Storytime
Learn how you can make a difference in our community! Join local author Samantha DeFrancisco for a reading of her environmental children's book, "The Litter Busters." Readings occur at the top of every hour; walk-ups are welcome! Visit the author's booth to take "The Litter Busters" pledge, receive a FREE bookmark, and purchase a signed book!

Artist Demonstrations

African Sights & Sounds: Rhythm, Ritual, Dance
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the General Store
Join Folklife exhibiting artist Kofi Donkor and the Sankofa Ensemble for a unique collection of programming and workshops focused on African cultures and traditions. Call and honor the Ancestors, learn how to dance the Fanga, engage in a drumming techniques workshop with vocal call-and-response, plunge into the Kpanlogo clap rhythm, watch the dance performances of Atinga and Agbadza, and more! Q&A sessions are offered between each segment.

Flower Pottery
Discover the beauty of floral designs with ceramic flower vase demonstrations by resident artist Terry Plasket.

Glass Flowers
In the Flameworking Studio, watch artist Bill Futer use flame and gravity to create miniature glass flowers and vases.

Gnome Carving
Visit the Gallery of Fine Craft to see local woodcarver and artist Domenick Maggio. His Gnome series is a bestseller, and he continues to add new designs. Stop by to see his latest Gnome with a Red Rose, ask questions, and interact with Domenick as he carves!

Large-scale Murals
Witness a public demonstration of a large-scale 8×8 foot painting by mural artist and glass painter J. Kenneth Leap. He has embellished buildings and outdoor structures all over the world. His goal when designing artwork is to spin a visual narrative for the viewer to get lost in something beautiful, entertaining, and educational. He investigates local histories and searches for community themes to become his subject matter. The resulting artwork celebrates each community's unique narrative.

Neon Glassmaking
12 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. - Join us in the Glass Studio for engaging neon glassmaking demonstrations by artists Eve Hoyt and Alissa Eberle! Offsite, see finished works by Eve & Alissa in the "Double Vision" exhibit at the DC Gallery & Studio on High Street in Millville.

Weaving
Visit the General Store to see a demonstration of hand weaving on a frame loom by Dots By The Bay. Using a vertical warp base of plain cotton muslin, repurposed scraps of leftover cotton fabric are woven through as the horizontal weft to create soft, colorful, machine-washable throw rugs.

Free Family Art Activities

Butterfly Puppets
Create your very own fluttering butterflies using cardstock and straws. Enjoy watching your butterfly's wings flap with each movement of the straw; great for imaginative play and storytelling.

Cardboard Creatures
This fun craft transforms humble scrap cardboard and vibrant scrapbook paper into two-dimensional creatures that come to life before your eyes. Imagination and sustainability combine as you breathe new life into discarded materials, turning them into characters that spark joy.

Plant Sketching
Join us in embracing the connection between art and the natural world! Our Plant Sketching activity is a perfect introduction to nature journaling. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of plants as you sketch their unique features.

The Discovery Garden
Meet with the Rutgers Master Gardeners in the Discovery Garden for presentations on native birds including facts about species, characteristics, and bird calls. Worksheets and crafts will be provided. Crafts will include a homemade bird feeder for children to take home!

World Labyrinth Day
12:30 p.m. - Engage with artist Ken Leap as he ceremoniously prepares everyone through dance and a singing bowl to join other participants worldwide in walking a labyrinth as a symbolic gesture for world peace. Walk the labyrinth at your leisure, with each step echoing a collective commitment to harmony and understanding.

Fee-based Make-Your-Own Fused Glass
Create a fused glass magnet, pendant, or suncatcher beginning with pre-fused glass blanks. Using small pre-cut pieces of glass and an assortment of accessory glass, including frit and stringers, create a design to be tack fused. After firing your fused glass, our artists will attach a bail, magnet, or leather cord, depending on your project choice. In one week, completed glass projects will be ready to pick up or ship (for a fee). This glass fusing activity has a discounted fee of $10 per magnet/pendant, $20 per suncatcher.

Crayon Recycling
Imagine how many ways we can all reduce, reuse, & recycle to nurture our planet to create a better tomorrow. One easy way to help is by participating in Crazy Crayon's National Crayon Recycling Program, and WheatonArts is a collection site! Bring your old crayons to the General Store at WheatonArts to be recycled during ECO Fair.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Live Music
Enjoy live musical entertainment by South Jersey's PackageGoods Orchestra band!

Food & Refreshments
Chef Steve's Popcorn
Creeksedge Pizza & Grill
Frosbite
Mac's & Munchies
Matty G Dogz, LLC

Date: May 4, 2024

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free

Location:
Wheaton Arts And Cultural Center,
1501 Glasstown Road,
Millville, NJ 08332.

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