OIEF Food for Thought Benefit: “A Woodland Feast” May 25

Knitting Club members are each knitting numerous squares that will be joined together for a warm original blanket. Right to left: Greg White, Willow White, Alana Kelly, Uma McMurray, Sue Silvernail and Ingrid Hanson

By Madie Murray

The walls and tables in the Four Winds Camp main lodge will once again be filled with amazing student art at this year’s Orcas Island Education Foundation’s Food for Thought Benefit being held on Saturday, May 25 from 6 to 9 p.m.  Several featured and available for auction are currently on exhibit for all to admire at the Orcas Center during the month of May.

Since the venue of the Benefit is surrounded by a beautiful, lush forest, the inspiration for the artwork comes from the theme of this year’s event, “A Woodland Feast.”  Objects reflecting this theme are being made by students with the help of Island artists and teachers such as a chair made of cedar collected from local beaches, split and worked with hand tools then fastened together with bronze ring nails made by OASIS K-8 Science students with Brett McFarland which was a study of force, pressure and inertia.  Another is a “magic rotating lamp” of forest images made by Sharon Harvey’s third grade class along with Gus McMurray.

5th graders Joseph Brewer and Maya Heikkinen apply their art to a woodland mural which also includes bark from Mexico for texture and a real woodland feel, says artist Michele DeLong.

Live auction items will include some highly sought-after and rare items like a dinner for six prepared by The Secret CookBook Club, a wooden bowl making workshop, and featured will be a stunning table crafted by woodworker Jonathan Loop.   All monies raised by this major OIEF fundraiser goes specifically to support and maintain important public school programs and student scholarships.

The casual, picnic-style dinner will feature mouth-watering BBQ brisket (in ample supply this year), pulled pork sliders, vegetarian baked beans, various salads, Abby Rueb’s famous chili-corn pudding and several yummy desserts.

All this and an exciting, casual and comfortable gathering of friends is just $40 per person.  Tickets may be purchased ONLINE at oief.org, at the Elementary School Office or the Chamber of Commerce Office.  Free childcare will be available at the Camp during the event, but parents are asked to provide dinner for their children.