COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Studio H, 1973-Present
The Homegrown National Park®
Lantern Columbines and Windflowers
My small garden is one of thousands whose plantings are catalogued and represented in this “national park” made up of aggregated indigenous native plantings. The Homegrown National Park is a nationwide “call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks.”
The program catalyzes anyone with some soil to plant in…to start a new HABITAT® by planting native plants and removing most invasive plants. The “initial goal is 20M acres of native plantings in the U.S – the largest cooperative conservation project ever conceived or attempted.”
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MIT’s Council on the Uncertain Human Future
The MIT group is one of a several dozen that make up the Council on the Uncertain Human Future, an organization that “invites reckoning, collective insight and creative possibilities for the climate realities ahead.”
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The Annual Sandcastle Competition | 1973-1993
Detail, brochure cover; Annie Grear, designer
Between 1973 and 1993, the Friends of Sandcastles produced 20 Sandcastle Competitions on Steep Hill Beach in Ipswich, MA.
The FOS was a small, non-profit group of designers, architects, and artists, who collaborated annually to present this celebration of creativity, nature, community, and humor. Each year the competition had a different theme, and what began as a small event grew into an annual tradition for thousands of families, friends, and colleagues. Major architectural firms entered in tongue-in-cheek competition; small children built heart-melting entries; families and friends built impressive, often hilarious works. Support for the event came from The Boston Society of Architects, The Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science, and the Trustees of Reservations.
Here follows some text from the brochure announcing the 15th annual competition:
Builders are invited to assemble on Steep Hill Beach to practice the arts of Sandworks and Summer Fun. The theme this year is “Myths ‘R Us.”
Times and Tides
Gates open at 10am; Judging takes place between 2-4pm; Awards Ceremony 4:30pm.
High Tide: 10:02am / Low Tide: 3:58pm
Categories and Awards
Awards are given for Castles and Sculptures in four categories: Design Professionals; Families and Friends; Just Kids; None of the Above. Awards will be Esteemed Objects and Massive Ribbons.
The Coveted Gold Shovel and the Equally Desirable Golden Bucket will be awarded in the professional categories, for first place castles and sculpture, respectively.
The Elegant Sandbag Award is given for second place castles and sculptures.
The Laws of Science Award will be presented by the Museum of Science.
Judging criteria are: Imagination/Vision/Creativity; Interpretation of theme; Technical brilliance; Delight of builders in their enterprise; Sense of the ineffable
Rules
•Works should not only stagger the imagination, but possess human scale, either real or imagined.•Use of plant materials from the fragile Steep Hill dunes, or any endangered plant or creature, is not allowed. It is permissible to use plant materials and shells washed up by the tides.•Power tools, and tools or materials that emit noise, smoke, pollutants, toxins, or paint are not allowed.
The FOS group included: Donna Brescia, Russ Bradley, Peter Dunn, Annie Grear, Fred Golinko, Emily Hiestand (founder), Joel Hoo, Felice Regan, Betsy Shane, Kristen Wainwright, and others.
The Communicators
A non-profit organization, The Communicators brought 100+ media professionals together to provide state-of-the-art communication services, gratis, to many national and local groups based in the metro-Boston area and working for a more peaceful world.
Founded in 1984, the group continued to serve into the 1990s, developing hundreds of messages, brochures, speeches, posters, videos, articles, and other materials. CFND received support from the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, Dr. Josephine Murray, and its members, who made enormous contributions of time and talent.
Other civic engagements
PEN New England, board member emeritus
Associates of the Boston Public Library, board member emeritus
Examiner Club of Boston, emeritus member
Conservation Law Foundation
Native Plant Trust