In 2012 and 2013, AVA Gallery and Art Center’s held Public Art Murals Camps on the theme of local food and food production. The program was led by teaching artist Julie Püttgen both years.

Teen participants visited Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford, VT to learn about contemporary organic farming practices, take source photographs, and get inspired for their paintings. Back in the studio, they developed content around themes of community, farmers markets, agriculture, and America’s suspect eating habits. Each teen completed their own 3′ x 6′ painting.

The paintings were then installed on the fence of the City of Lebanon, NH’s Colburn Park, where the community gathers weekly for the Farmers Market and the live music is organized by the Lebanon Recreation & Parks Department. The murals were on display through the summer.

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In 2014 and 2015, the program was held as a two-week painting session led by Christine Orcutt Henderson. The camp’s theme transitioned to self-discovery and art. The photo at the top of the Social Practice page was taken when the participants hung their work in 2015.