Web Address: www.grinnell.edu/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dann Hayes, director of media relations, 641-269-4834

May 7, 2007

Festival on the Prairie: A Celebration of Art, Music, and the Land

GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College will celebrate Iowa’s native prairie landscape through art, music, food, and festivities at the "Festival on the Prairie: A Celebration of Art, Music, and the Land" on Saturday, May 12, 2007.

The festival will run from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA) near Kellogg. It is free and open to the public. Transportation will be provided: shuttles will leave every 30 minutes from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. from the Forum parking lot on campus and from the Community Center parking lot in Grinnell.

"This festival was created to show our community that the prairie is more than just a collection of grasses. It is the soul of Iowa, and many have been inspired by it,"says Julie Edwards, student organizer of the event. "The festival will showcase several of those people and hopefully will encourage others to be inspired as well. Also, CERA is an incredible resource that few people have experienced. We hope the festival will change that."

"May is an exciting time to visit the prairie," said Larissa Mottl, CERA manager, "Shooting stars, blue-eyed grass, golden Alexanders, and prairie violets will be among the many spring blooms on our prairies during the festival."

Highlights include the unveiling of new artwork by Bobbie McKibbin, professor of art at Grinnell College, music by three instrumental groups, and a guided tour of the prairie.

Grinnell College President Russell K. Osgood will give the opening address at 1:30 p.m.

Schedule

Saturday

May 12, 2007

Festival on the Prairie: A Celebration of Art, Music, and the Land

All events are at the Conard Environmental Research Area

1 p.m. - Presentation of the video, "Prairie through the Seasons"

1:30 p.m. - Address - Russell K. Osgood, president of Grinnell College

1:45 p.m. - Unveiling of new prairie artwork by Bobbie McKibbin, professor of art

2 p.m. - Performance - New House, flute and guitar from Rebecca Stuhr and Mark Schneider

2:30 p.m. - Introduction to the CERA wind turbine

2:45 p.m. - Poweshiek Skipper poster design winners announced

3 p.m. - Performance - The Too Many Strings Band

3:30 p.m. - Wildflower Walk

4 p.m. - Performance: Latin American Ensemble

4:30 p.m. - Prairie Seeding

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