Local Students Awarded for Environment-Inspired Artwork

By Jonnie Banks

Seventy-nine (CVUSD) students will receive awards for their environmentally-focused art entries that currently hang in the Eden Medical Building.

The are the winners of an art contest, co-sponsored by Eden Township Healthcare District (ETHD) and Friends of San Lorenzo Creek (FSLC), which was presented to CVUSD at the end of the last school year.

CVUSD students were asked to submit drawings or paintings of natural elements present in nearby creeks like Chabot Creek, which runs underneath the new building’s site.

Nearly 200 student entries were submitted for consideration. Semi-finalists were selected by school-based judging panels in September, and 79 finalists were selected by the official judging panel in early October for first place, honorable mention, and recognition awards.

The idea for the art contest resulted from two requests. One from FSLC, a local advocacy group that promotes the health of local surrounding creeks and their habitats, and the other from ETHD, which commissioned the new Eden Medical Building.

FSLC’s first request, to place the new building away from the existing culvert/creek in order to allow the creek to be restored to its natural state over the next 100 years, has been satisfied.

The second request, to somehow visualize on the premises that Chabot Creek runs underneath the new building’s site, will soon be accomplished. Selected pieces of the winning artwork will be cast into brass molds and placed in a stylized depiction of Chabot Creek etched on the concrete pavement of the parking lot/driveway to the building.

Other winning artwork will be used throughout the interior of the new building upon its completion.

“ETHD has really taken a leadership role in creek and watershed education,” said Bruce King, President of Friends of San Lorenzo Creek. “We hope this contest provides a learning experience for students who may someday assume the responsibilities of preserving our local watershed system.”

“This art contest has not only provided us the opportunity satisfy a local environmental request, but it has rendered some fascinating original artwork, the likes of which come only from the imagination of creative young minds," said Dev Mahadevan, CEO of ETHD.

Scheduled for completion in July 2012, the eco-friendly Eden Medical Building located at 20410 Lake Chabot Road will house up to 15 physician and medical office suites.

It is a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified building — with the latest in environmental design, energy and water efficiency. A state-of-the-art bio-retention water system and xeriscape landscaping are incorporated into its plans.