Top Foods to Hold Fundraiser for the North Creek Forest

Editor's note: The following is a news release from Top Foods.

In collaboration with artist A. Gaul Culley, on Aug. 25, from 6‐8 p.m., the Top Foods store in Woodinville will host a family‐friendly fundraising event that incorporates art, local wine tasting, and Top Food’s philosophy of hyper local foods.

Culley’s latest artwork highlights the medicinal qualities of native plants and will be exhibited and for sale in the Top Food’s café. 25 percent of the proceeds of the sales will be donated to the local non‐profit organization, Friends of North Creek Forest (FNCF).

North Creek Forest is the largest remaining upland conifer forest in Bothell. The mission of FNCF is to “protect and improve the ecological function of this Forest through stewardship, education and conservation in perpetuity. Donations provide FNCF with the operational funding needed to coordinate thousands of hours of volunteer work and write grants to secure the final parcels of this emerging parkland. (Full information at www.friendsnorthcreekforest.org)

Culley has also teamed up with conservation scientist and visual artist, Dr. Amy Lambert, faculty in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington, Bothell campus.

Dr. Lambert’s interdisciplinary teaching practice involves working on projects in the local community. She uses visual art methods as a framework for investigating the natural world which ultimately leads students and community members to a greater understanding of environmental and stewardship values. 

Recently, her students participated in a field‐based art and restoration project at North Creek Forest that culminated in a series of photographs documenting the intersection of art and restoration. Lambert’s students will proudly display these artworks in the Top Food’s café alongside Culley’s work. Additionally, Dr. Lambert and her students have created hands‐on art activities where all people, young and old, can participate in the transformation of weeds into bee habitats. Students will be available to answer questions about bees and what you can do to improve bee habitat in your backyard.

Thanks to Culley’s innovative approach to collaboration, Michael’s craft store has proudly donated supplies for the bee art activity and a portion of the materials for framing Lamberts student’s artworks. Culley’s collaboration with Top Foods, FNCF, and the UW Bothell benefits the community by providing a free community event where residents can come together, celebrate and learn a little more about the place that we call home.

In April of this year, Culley worked with the City of Kenmore, King County Arts Organization 4Culture, the historical societies of Kenmore, Bothell and Redmond, the Seattle Outboard Association, and the Hydroplane Museum and several local businesses to commemorate the infamous “Sammamish Slough Boat Races.”

This event is free and all members of the public are welcome to attend. Local wines and food will be available for tasting. For more information about the event please contact Kara Adams, from the Office of Community‐Based Learning and Research at the University of Washington, Bothell campus. (kadams@uwb.edu or 425‐352‐3437).