Create Art to Help Endangered Animals!

Meredith Graf has been into art since she was little. She said she’s always been an animal lover, too. Recently, the 15-year-old combined her interests and sculpted a bald eagle that will be displayed in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. as part of the National Endangered Species Day art contest. Cool, right?
 
Art with a Purpose
Meredith said she liked the chance to help kids get excited about endangered species. “Art is so much more important to me when I can help people with it,” she told GL. Her piece was made out of natural materials, too, including donated crystal and redwood. After the recent oil spills, helping the environment any way a girl can is crucial.

Major Props
This isn’t the first time Meredith’s been recognized for her artistic talents, but it is the first time she’s had a day named in her honor. Yep, in Jefferson Parish, March 3rd was officially Meredith Graf Day. Usually, Meredith is pretty humble, but she said it was “so cool” to have her own day. “That day was definitely very exciting for me. I don’t think I could hold that in.”
 
Figurin’ Out the Future
Meredith said she’d like to continue with art as a career in the future. However, if that doesn’t pan out, she’d like to boost others’ self-confidence and “help people love how they look.” She said she realized the importance of body image when a friend was having trouble loving her bod. “It just hit me, like, ‘I have to help.’ And at that point it changed how I viewed myself too. I stopped putting myself down.” A girl who helps the planet and her pals? Amazing!
 
Check out stopextinction.org  for ways you can get involved in the National Endangered Species Day art contest!

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by Vanessa Junkin | 2/1/2016
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