Learn About Wildlife and Nature Conservation at the Marine Park Nature Center This Weekend

By Melissa Fishman, Brooklyn Paper

The Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center is partnering with a local artist in an effort to raise awareness for wildlife and nature conservation.

Wing Kong is an artist and environmental educator whose work using recycled materials earned her an invite to participate in the sixth annual Raptorama Festival in Marine Park on Sunday, October 29.

During the exciting event, participants of all ages will get the chance to engage with nature by going on nature walks through the park’s salt marsh and viewing live demonstrations with native birds of prey. It is also here that Kong will display one of her murals, which depicts birds in their natural habitat and is made out of found discarded materials.

“It is my passion to increase environmental awareness with our community through arts and gardening programs,” said Kong. “What an honor to be partnering with the American Littoral Society of NYC again, along with NYC Marine Park Alliance at Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center. It is exciting that I am bringing my mural back to Brooklyn since my last gallery showing back in May.”

The American Littoral Society of NYC and the NYC Marine Park Alliance have a shared mission of education and conservation in addition to restoring and rehabilitating nature and all its creatures.

Kong shares the American Littoral Society and the NYC Marine Park Alliance’s devotion to conservation. Her passion for environmentalism began six years ago when she began working with her children’s school to increase green initiatives within her community.

“My mural, and their philosophy are so similar. It’s like a perfect combo together. They provide education on wildlife and I provide inspiration to the community,” said Kong.

Much of the materials she uses in her murals are recyclable materials that have been found in parks and other green spaces while others have been donated to her by her schools.

She attributes this surplus of trash to “throwaway culture” in the U.S., citing the myriad phone chargers and computer pieces as being some of the most common donations she receives.

“I will continue to make these types of murals until the garbage runs out. There’s still so much inspiration everywhere and I’m sure that there’ll be more and more people that need to get inspired so I’m going to continue to make it until there’s no more garbage.”

The Raptorama Festival and Art Nature Wildlife Event will take place at the Marine Park Salt Marsh, 3301 Avenue U., from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 29.

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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