Sat, 06/06/2026 - 7:00am

ISABELLE CURTIS

A year's worth of toilet paper rolls and three generations' worth of talent later, this vibrant, bird-filled tree was created. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region Climate Action Team partnered with artists of all ages to put together a show celebrating and raising awareness about the environment. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

BHRS student Maggie Curtis designed posters to educate the community about how human habits can effect the environment. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

BRHS students created wind chimes from recycled silverware. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Regional artists also provided pieces. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

A year's worth of toilet paper rolls and three generations' worth of talent later, this vibrant, bird-filled tree was created. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region Climate Action Team partnered with artists of all ages to put together a show celebrating and raising awareness about the environment. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

BHRS student Maggie Curtis designed posters to educate the community about how human habits can effect the environment. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

BRHS students created wind chimes from recycled silverware. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Regional artists also provided pieces. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

The natural beauty that surrounds us isn’t just something to admire; it’s something to protect. That’s the message behind Boothbay Region Climate Action Team’s (BRCAT) Eco Art Show on Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s (BRAF) second floor until June 21. Entry is free.

“Our goal was for the exhibit to inspire anyone who comes up and raise awareness around climate and environmental issues,” explained Abby Jones, BRCAT member.

The display features creations from about 50 regional artists, with more pieces being added. Almost every medium is represented with paintings, photography, mosaics, fiber arts and carved statues, all depicting and celebrating the natural world.

Many exhibits are made from recycled materials, from refurbished clothing to spoon windchimes. A favorite of Jones’ is a tree crafted from driftwood and filled with painted birds made from a year’s worth of saved toilet paper rolls. According to the artist's statement, it was a multi-generation project between a grandmother, her daughter and two grandchildren.

“It just speaks to how both young people and adults care about the environment,” said Jones.

Young people, especially students, were a driving force behind the show. Part of BRCAT’s community action grant funding was dedicated to empowering youth leadership, and BRCAT encouraged Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) students to attend a Youth Climate Leadership Summit to learn how to start climate projects in their communities.

The returning students formed Adolescents Driving Environmental Progress through Teaching and Technology (ADEPTT) at BRHS and have since worked closely with BRCAT. One project is an upcoming documentary about the local effects of climate change.

ADEPTT members have pieces in the show, including rising junior and club co-founder Maggie Curtis. Last summer, Curtis joined the BRCAT Student Leadership Team and spent time at Bigelow Laboratory designing awareness posters on sea level data monitor signs, and how both human diets and plastics contribute to climate change.

Curtis also created handmade posters (not on display in the show) that had paper strips containing facts on how to be environmentally friendly in daily life, which people could tear off.

“I think it was very fun and meaningful to create them — I got to research things I didn't know about and test out different poster designs to share with the community in order to make a difference,” she wrote in an email to the Register.

She also spoke positively about the clubs’ opportunities, such as allowing her to collaborate with and befriend agemates she’d never met before, as well as pushing her outside her comfort zone to organize, communicate and create things with new people.

In addition to ADEPTT members, students from BRHS art teacher Manon Lewis’ classes are represented. Some artwork was in last month’s Student Art Show, so this is another chance to catch them.

“I've been really pleased with the variety, the assortment of different types of work that we have gotten, and obviously it was nice to be able to get a hold of what the students had done and how creative some of them are,” said BRCAT Chair Louise Cowan.

Curtis similarly praised the show. It educates the public and creating the pieces helps educate young people about the planet. “Our future lies in today's youth, so getting them inspired at an earlier age to be interested in caring for the environment is incredibly significant.”

BRAF is open Tuesday - Sunday, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.