The following Environmental Education Centers feature art in their exhibits, displays, or programs:

Airlie Gardens
Art Collection
The Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden and Bottle Chapel is a tribute to the late visionary artist Minnie Evans who worked at Airlie for many years. Evans' legacy lives on through her many bold and enigmatic paintings, which now hang in museums, galleries, and private collections around the world. Local artists have paid homage to this remarkable artist through their intepretation of her work using reused materials, glass, metals, mosaic, reliefs, and other mediums.

Art Integration
Discussion of Minnie Evans and visionary art is included in garden tours, emphasizing that the natural beauty found in the gardens was an inspiration to Minnie and continues to be an inspiration for artists today.

Art Programs
Customized programs may be scheduled through Airlie's Environmental Education Program that integrate art with the environment.

Blue Planet Water Environmental Center
Artist Susan Gamble has completed a public artwork consisting of a 20-foot kinetic sculpture, plaza with benches, and interior mural, all tiled with colorful and whimsical shapes related to water.

• The sculpture is a large tank holding water with a floating buoy to highlight the symbol of the Blue Planet Water Environmental Center.
• The surrounding benches are clad in tiles that depict unique aspects of water -  including water wildlife as well as the microbes that clean the water.
• The interior mural is comprised of the artwork of the children of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities' employees.
  

Carolina Raptor Center
The Carolina Raptor Center houses bronze sculpture art of an eagle and an owl, as well as some abstract art. It has also held raptor photo shoots for the last ten years, and for the third year has partnered with The Light Factory to present Photo WILD!, a celebration of wildlife photography that includes two photo shoots and a benefit auction. Photo WILD! attempts to share the beauty of wildlife found in our community, and to inspire respect for the natural world surrounding us. Click here to view the 2005 Photo WILD! Showcase.

The Center for Education, Imagination and the Natural World
The Center integrates art with nature awareness within every program, including storytelling, nature journaling, mask-making, creating from nature, and music.

EnergyXchange
Art Collection
EnergyXchange has a clay studio with four resident artists and a glass studio with two resident artists. The artists display and sell their work from their studios and from the on-site gallery.
Art Programs
The Craft Studios Business Incubator program of the EnergyXchange promotes art business through the use of landfill gas. The artists are in residence for up to three years in which time they develop their art and their business. EnergyXchange, through this program, demonstrates the use of landfill gas in the arts and provides education opportunities through guided tours, presentations and publications.

Haw River State Park
Art Collection
Paintings by local artists. Landscaping with natural/native flora.
Art Integration
Our EE classrooms feature murals painted by local artists. We also do "nature art" in our classes, including an always changing Sculpture that groups add to when they visit.
Art Programs
Hansel and Gretel Hike, Professor Hikes, Animal Adaptations, Night Hikes and many more!

Historic Yates Mill County Park
Art Collection
Pond murals have been painted and placed within easy viewing of the visitor. These murals depict pond flora and fauna. Future art exhibits are planned involving local artists' renditions of the mill and mill pond.
Art Integration
The pond murals show many native plants and animals in their normal environments. Park visitors can and do compare the mural species to those they have seen in the park.

NC Museum of Art Park
The North Carolina Museum of Art is poised to become one of a handful of museums in the world with both a renowned traditional art collection and a large outdoor art park. The Museum boasts approximately 164 acres and plans to preserve open space, restore varied ecosystems and introduce innovative and accessible programs of art, education and recreation to the public.

Several outdoor installations have already been commissioned and installed on the grounds. Over the next decade, more art will be created, as well as a new picnic area, a redesigned pond, a Park Pavilion and additional trails.

Currently, a mile-long bicycle/pedestrian loop and the Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park are features of the Museum Park, where a host of events and activities are held throughout the year.
Martha Jackson Jarvis, © 2005. An original Artwork commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc

New Hanover County Arboretum
Art Collection
Three copper scultpures enhance the gardens. A frog sculpture, created by Wilmington artist Andy Cobb, adorns the Gathering Garden, while a sea serpent and turtle sculpture, both created by Wilmington artist Dumay Gorham, enhance the water garden display. Each October, the Arboretum hosts the 'Art in the Gardens' garden tour, where art is displayed throughout the Arboretum and local private gardens. Tickets are required to participate in this annual fundraiser.

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher displays a variety of sculptures in its gardens and exhibit areas, and its recently added “Spadefish Gallery” features rotating exhibits of original works by artists of all ages.

The Spadefish Gallery is located outside the classroom area, near the “Shadows on the Sand” skate and ray exhibit.

Visitors touring the aquarium’s exhibits galleries will see three metal fish installations by Wilmington artist Michael Van Hout:

Atlantic Spadefish, the aquarium's flagship species, hover in a loose school over an exhibit titled, "Shadows on the Sand," which depicts creatures living on sand flats. Animals housed in "Shadows" include three species of stingray, clearnose skates, lookdowns, and small sharks. Hanging metal spadefish fill space over the exhibit, creating an artistic extension of the sand flat in mid-air.

From the second level of the aquarium's marine building visitors are drawn to a school of Spanish mackerel suspended in mid-air. Almost 200 metal sculpted Spanish mackerel circle from the ceiling of the marine building down into the aquarium's Open Ocean Gallery, located on the ground floor. These sculptures depict the mass of schooling fish in the open ocean, which is something the aquarium is not able to replicate with live animals. Throughout the aquarium marine building metal sculpted lookdowns hang in dangling schools, enhancing the visitors experience of being immersed in water and surrounded by marine life.

Wilmington artist Dumay Gorham, better known for works in metal, created a beautiful interactive sculpture of a fiddler crab from foam and fiberglass. Fiddler crabs are notoriously difficult to display live, yet they are a critical component of North Carolina's salt marsh environment. Children, (and some adults!), crawl through the crab, stopping to pose for a photograph looking out from inside of the crab's mouth. By interacting with the fiddler crab visitors experience the sculpture itself, while recognizing some of the basic features of the species portrayed.

Wildlife artist David Turner created six bronze statues for the aquarium's memorial garden. A great blue heron, entwined otters, a mallard duck, and a bottlenose dolphin blend beautifully into the garden. They stand as lasting tributes, indicating a deep feeling for, and connection to, the natural world. David also sculpted metal Atlantic spadefish, swimming among blades of sea grass, above a reflective pool at the aquarium's entrance. These spadefish provide an impressive introduction to the aquarium, and again showcase the aquarium's ubiquitous flagship species.

Art and Education
To increase visitors' understanding of North Carolina's aquatic and marine environments, the aquarium offers educational programs for ages 5 and up. Many of these programs incorporate art.

For programs targeting younger individuals crafts add to the experience and reinforce the message. Integrating art at an early age introduces kids to at least one avenue of interpreting and expressing the natural world. Crafts include making puppets, drawings, and hats representing different animals and habitats.

For older audiences the aquarium offers fish printing, know also as gyotaku, sand casting, shell crafts, including picture frames and hanging wreathes, and holiday craft programs that highlight natural resources to enhance decorations.

The aquarium supports art contests sponsored by other organizations promoting an environmental initiative. Art contests advertised through the aquarium included topics as diverse as birds and horseshoe crabs!

North Carolina Museum of Forestry
The North Carolina Museum of Forestry exhibits art items that are made from wood or relate to the forest. Currently on exhibit is a mural, total length approximately sixty feet in five sections, that shows a cypress forest on the Roanoke River. It was painted by Ukranian artist Igor Raikhlineof in 1995 for the "Freshwater Wetlands" exhibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

North Carolina Botanical Garden
Art Collection
Rotating art exhibit which changes every 2 months
Sculpture in the Garden show which runs from September through mid-November.
Art Integration
Artwork is presented at the North Carolina Botanical Garden to enable visitors to see nature from an artist's view of nature.
Art Programs
Sculpture in the Garden guided tour

North Carolina Estuarium
Art Collection
Kinetic Water Cycle Sculpture in the lobby, Introductory film about the Estuary, Rotating Monthly Art Exhibits, Food Web Sculpture, Award winning waterfowl decoy display.
Art Programs
Drawing and Painting from Nature; Nature Photography Seminar; Songbird Carving Seminar, Childrens' Decoy Painting, Art Camp, Pastel Painting Workshop; Papermaking; Fish-printing T-shirts, Dreamcatcher class; Animal Track Casting class; Holiday Wreath Making with Native Evergreens

North Carolina Museum of Forestry
Art Collection
Our current art exhibit is made from all types of recycled materials. Flowers created from packing materials, paper mache animals created from old coat hangers as well as recycled newspaper; crow's toes created from bamboo, rubber bands, grasses, pine needles and twigs. Another exhibit, a tribute to Polish per cut-out folk art is also on display. Artwork includes, recent NC Strawberry Festival 1st place ribbon winners.
Art Programs
We have historic dolls and toy making program that is a hands on educational program that teaches children/adults the history of wooden toys and dolls throughout the centuries. Children/Adults learn how to make wheezers, (also known as button on a string) pine needle dolls, and other historic dolls, using natural items as well as recyclable items such as yarns and scrap cloth.

North Carolina Zoological Park
N.C. Zoo is committed to the creation of a climate that recognizes the potential for artists, art works, and arts programming to enhance the Zoo’s vision and goals. N.C. Zoo is further committed to the creation of an arts program that utilizes art as a "sensory bridge", connecting visitors to the zoo experience and expanding their appreciation and awareness of the natural environment.

Art Program Goals:

• To Involve Artists in Realizing in N.C. Zoo's Conservation Vision
  The creative problem solving capabilities and unique insights of artists can substantially contribute to the realization of N.C. Zoo’s conservation mission.
• To Make a Connection to the Natural Environment
  The introduction of art works and arts programming will cause a primal connection to the natural environment by allowing the visitor to "touch" his or her surroundings, and transcend everyday experiences.
• To Preserve the Visual and Environmental Assets of the Zoo's Site
  A sensitive integration of art works that respond to, preserve, and enhance the site and the discriminating management of arts programming will demonstrate that N.C. Zoo values the natural beauty of its site, and the total visual impression conveyed to the public.
• To Create a Strong Sense of Place and a Positive Identity for N.C. Zoo
  A unique sense of place that enlists community pride and ownership can be created by utilizing artworks and art programming as vehicles to cause events and make connections.
• To Engage Artists in the Overall Planning and Design of N.C. Zoo
  The involvement of artists in the design and planning of the park environment, whether it is for new projects or to solve problems inherent in existing situations, increases the possibilities for the exploration of innovative approaches. An early collaboration between artists, staff, architects, and others allows the artist'’ ideas and solutions to be more effectively integrated into a plan.
• To Increase Patronage of New Audiences and Repeat Visitation
  The addition of unique art works and arts programming to the Park landscape and repertoire will attract and engage new visitors and give them a variety of reasons to return.
• To Promote the Park as a Primary Outdoor Environmental and Educational Resource
  The arts will contribute to the potential for N.C. Zoo to be a major center on the East Coast and a primary recreational and educational resource for the community, the state and the southeast region.
• To Recognize and Use In-House Planning and Design Resources
  By involving the staff artists in collaborative efforts with commissioned artists, as well as other zoo staff, the Zoological Park can fully benefit from their unique visions and utilize their creative problem solving abilities.
• To Create Partnerships That Expand the Resources Available to N.C. Zoo
  Collaborative efforts with other institution, agencies, and private businesses interested in and supportive of the arts will in effect increase the resources available to N.C. Zoo of the furtherance of its conservation and education goals.
• To Implement the Art Program Plan
  Opportunities will be created for commissioning art works and arts programming for N.C. Zoo through the consideration of internal funding approaches and through the activities of the Zoological Society in developing private and corporate funding sources.

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Art Items/Collection
Nature photography on display
More than 250 antique waterfowl decoys on permanent display (folk art)
Antique boat on display
Art Programs
1. Nature Photography Basics
2. Nature Photography in the Field
3. Decoy Carving - Basic
4. Decoy Carving - Advanced
5. Decoy Carving - Shorebirds
6. Nature Journals

Pocosin Arts Folk School
Art Collection
The education gallery, which adjoins Pocosin Arts Studio, is home to a permanent collection of representative folk art produced by the people of the pocosin region of eastern North Carolina.
Art Programs
Throughout the year classes, workshops and residencies are held in pottery, pit firing, raku, weaving, spinning, quilting, embellishing, carving, soap making, glass slumping and fusing, blacksmithing, ballet, African and Celtic dancing, story telling and roots music.

Reynolda Garden of Wake Forest University
Art Programs
Programs for children include Art in the Garden and Naturalist's Notebook. Art programs are regularly included in educational opportunities for adults. Art sessions are part of Young Naturalists, the summer program for children.

The Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Metal garden sculptures adorn the native wildflower gardens in the courtyard of the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. The oversized garden visitors include a giant butterfly, and daddy long legs and a dragonfly. The sculptures provide visual beauty and whimsy, while identifying (on a large scale) some of our most common garden visitors.

The garden is a great place for kids to investigate the life cycles of insects, as well as the interralationship between plants and insects. The "larger than life" sculptures allow instructors to focus the children's attention and link the art to the garden lesson.

Come to "Crafty Kids!" (Ages 6-10) to discover how "crafty" nature can be in an environment that encourages a sense of wonder and creativity. Join the staff of the Stevens Nature Center as nature inspires our artistic creations and increases our enthusiasm about the natural world around us. Some projects may get messy, so dress to get dirty!

West Point on the Eno Park
Art Collection
West Point Park includes the Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography. The photographs exhibited were printed from Mr. Mangum's glass negatives found in the early 1970s in the packhouse on park property. Also on display are cameras and equipment from Hugh Mangum's darkroom as well as personal effects and anecdotes revealing the life and times of this early 20th-century chronicler. A new wing added to the building displays contemporary exhibits on a rotating basis.
Art Programs
In addition to what is mentioned above, we offer Earth Art camp as a week-long summer program, wherein the children focus on art projects made from natural materials.