Aardvark in the Park was a wonderful opportunity to bring artists of all mediums together in celebration. We were honored to have artist duo Beatrix Jar hosted their audio playground in which participants can play with sound toys and objects, creating a new form of music. Mosaic artist Lori Green hosted invited participants to collaborate on mosaic benches that will be incorporated later into the Playspace designed by our City Artist, Aaron Dysart, Sieng Lee, and Bianca Pettis. Artists Ashley Oneil Prado and Sarah White hosted an experiential art piece, inviting community members to envision what they want the community to be. Indigenous Roots center and artists collective hosted a pinata making workshop as well as designed a Jungle Scape for participants to learn about ecosystems and create their own.

It was most celebratory to have three of our local food trucks,  Que Tal, Accolades, and Expression of love lined up with an array of treats for attendees to enjoy. In an effort to make this event most accessible, we distributed food truck coupons to affordable and public housing communities, as well as nonprofits working with low-income families and immigrant communities. We believe firmly in the importance of food as a tool to bring the community together, and the voucher program was a great way to support our local food vendors and allow our families to have access to food during the event.

Thank you to everyone who attended Aardvark in the Park Festival. It really was a day of celebration, joy, and warmth. Kids were eating ice cream, friends were dancing, minds were creating. To have all of that creativity and interaction amongst the 11 sculptures at Western Sculpture Park was a surreal experience. Many attendees came asking the staff if we could host it every month, if only!