Monarch Exhibit Combines Art, Education And Environment

The environmental organization Earth Charter Indiana worked with 4th and 5th graders to create monarch butterfly art from recycled materials.

Executive Director Jim Poyser says the kids were immediately drawn to the to the plight of the monarchs.

"The idea of 'Save the Monarchs' is that here is an enormous environmental challenge that we can do something about," explains Poyser.

Millions of monarchs are starting to migrate northward toward Indiana, but recent counts indicate their population has experienced a sharp decline. Poyser says along with the exhibit his group is also initiating a milkweed-planting project.

"What these monarch butterflies need are pit-stops and what better place than Indianapolis to start this process of putting butterfly habitats into schools, yards, community gardens,"  says Poyser.

Earth Charter Indiana and the Arts Council of Indianapolis along with other partners helped launch the exhibit that will be on display at the Indianapolis Arts Garden through May 18.