America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced for Fall 2020

2019'S WINNER, MARIA MALDANADO’S CLEAN AND CLEVER BILLBOARD.

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce the 11th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders attending public or private schools participating in the Target Recycling at School program in Whitfield County. This year, students can participate whether they are attending classes virtually or in person.

Students are invited to design a billboard in keeping with the spirit of America Recycles Day, which is celebrated yearly on November 15. The top design out of the three grade levels will be displayed during the month of November on two billboards in Whitfield County.

 The artwork is easy to design at home because students only need one piece of 8.5” by 11” white paper and coloring tools. This way, parents of middle school students staying at home this semester can have them compete as well.

Schools in Whitfield County eligible to participate include Eastbrook Middle, New Hope Middle, North Whitfield Middle, Valley Point Middle, Westside Middle, Dalton Middle, Northstar School, Crossroads Academy, Christian Heritage School, and Learning Tree School.

During the 2019 contest, Eastbrook Middle School 8th grader, Maria Maldando, won first place overall. Her design includes the phrase, “I Recycle, Do You?” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is clean and easy to read. It plays with the typography to create neat imagery that reminds us that by recycling we help save our trees and the overall planet.

(See previous winning billboard designs here.)

Themes for this year are, “I want to be recycled!” and “I recycle with Recycling Ben!” First, second, and third place prizes will be given in each of the school’s entrants. The grand prize is chosen from each of the first-place winners. 

The Contest Guide with two versions of the official entry form can be downloaded at www.DWSWA.org. The deadline for entries is October 12, 2020. There is no entry fee, however, an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork. Winners will be announced on October 19. 

For more information contact Amy Hartline, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: ahartline@dwswa.org. To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Mural to Remain Downtown

Press Release

Contact: Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, 706-278-5001, Lswafford@dwswa.org

June 30, 2017

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Mural to Remain Downtown

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful (KDWB) was informed Wednesday that the convenience store which hosts it’s mural, “An Earth Worth Saving” by local artist Henry Green, is scheduled to be remodeled by the new owners as part of their ongoing rebranding efforts. The much-needed face-lift included painting over the mural so the building could comply with the new branding guidelines. However, an agreement has been reached with the new owners to keep the mural as is while still remodeling the rest of the store.

MAPCO’s Vice-President of Operations, Dave DeSerio stated, “We have recently been made aware of the concern the Dalton community has in regards to the beautiful mural at one of our MAPCO locations. We want to ensure Dalton that the painting will not be removed and we are proud to be a part of such a creative community. As your neighborhood store, we support local efforts and we’re looking forward to ways in which we can further get involved in Dalton, GA.”

The mural, which was officially announced last April during a ribbon cutting ceremony, is located at the MAPCO convenience store on 304 N. Thornton Ave. in Dalton across the street from the Dalton Green and First Baptist Church. It was commissioned in 2015 in partnership with 1000 Words Dalton Art Project, then completed in early 2016.  

Executive Director for KDWB, Liz Swafford, has been in contact with MAPCO corporate management this week in an effort to come to a favorable agreement regarding the immediate future of the public art project. “Our discourse with management has been very positive. They understand that the mural is important to the residents of this community and will continue to honor the agreement we had made with the previous owners,” said Swafford.

KDWB chairman Anthony Cline started a petition on Causes.com Wednesday evening to provide an area for residents to show their support and express their desire to preserve the mural during store renovations. Several residents, Dalton City Council and Mayor Mock also sent letters to show their support for keeping the mural on the side of the store.

“The show of support for public art and the recycling and sustainability message of the mural has been amazing,” added Swafford. “KDWB is thankful for your support. We look forward to working on more public art projects with 1000 Words in the future.”

“An Earth Worth Saving” Mural Celebrated During Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and 1000 Words Dalton Art Project celebrated the completion of the mural “An Earth Worth Saving” by local artist Henry Green. The mural is located downtown at the intersection of Thornton Ave. and Waugh St.

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Local artist Henry Green was selected to design a mural with a recycling and sustainability theme for Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful. The selection process was facilitated by 1000 Words Dalton Art Project.

(Dalton, GA, April 14, 2016) –  The completion of the mural “An Earth Worth Saving” by local artist Henry Green was celebrated on Tuesday, April 12 with a ribbon cutting ceremony organized by the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. The recycling and sustainability themed mural is sponsored by Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful in partnership with 1000 Words Dalton Public Art Project. The new mural is located at the corner of Thornton Ave. and Waugh St. on the side of the MAPCO gas station across the street from the Dalton Green Park.

Last fall Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s recycling committee requested artist submissions through 1000 Words for a recycling and sustainability themed mural. Green’s design which included a view of planet Earth from space was ultimately chosen out of six different designs.

While the painting of the mural was done by Green, volunteers helped to prepare the wall for the new artwork during three work days. Teens from The City of Refuge who volunteered also helped Green select different animals to add to his design.

In the mural the Earth is is covered with plastic bottles bringing attention to the amount of plastic being used but not recycled. By not recycling we produce more waste, litter, and fill up landfills with materials that could be used again. Circling the planet is an astronaut with a recycling bin reaching for a paper airplane that says, “What we save, saves us.” What we recycle and reuse saves the Earth by conserving limited natural resources.

The large trees on either side of the Earth are an homage to the Tree of Life. When we recycle paper we help conserve trees which provide oxygen, shade, and a habitat for living things. Some of the animals represented in the trees are the red panda, chameleon, horse, snake, dolphin, and elephant. As we save the Earth we in turn benefit ourselves because we are all interconnected, making this an Earth worth saving.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is the local Keep America Beautiful affiliate striving to create a more vibrant, beautiful community. The non-profit focuses on initiatives for litter prevention, waste reduction and recycling, and community greening and beautification. They recently released an educational campaign about preventing litter called “Love it, don’t trash it!” #LiveLitterFree. Learn more at www.keepdaltonwhitfieldbeautiful.org.

1000 Words is a new initiative to promote and accelerate the growth of public art in Dalton. The initiative partners with local artist with the funding, location and community volunteers to create murals and sculptures around town. Program organizers want to give Dalton a voice through public art, accelerate beautification, instill pride in our community and inspire the next generation.

For more information about the mural and additional photos visit the Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful on Facebook or call 706-278-5001.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful

-               Website: www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org

-               Facebook: www.facebook.com/keepdaltonwhitfieldbeautiful