CHRIS McCORMICK
"Perhaps we've all misunderstood the reason we learn music, and all the arts, in the first place...It is that for hundreds of years it has been known that teaching the arts, along with history and math and biology, helps to create the well rounded mind that western civilization, and America, have been grounded on. America's greatest achievements - in science, in business, in popular culture, would simply not be attainable without an education that encourages achievement in all fields. It is from that creativity and imagination that the solutions to our political and social problems will come. We need that well rounded mind now. Without it, we simply make more difficult the problems we face."
Richard Dreyfuss
Actor, at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards
I remember the night Mr. Dreyfuss gave that speech and I remember thinking to myself “right on!” Hello, my name is Chris McCormick, founder of Califauna, born and raised in the Los Angeles area. Growing up we always had art class in school. During the summer my mom had art classes in our backyard for the neighborhood kids. Mom was an elementary school teacher and as part of her lesson plans combined art projects with other subjects.
While in college working on a speech about the National Endowment for the Arts I began to understand the importance of art education in our schools. I realized the importance of creative expression in my daily life and what it means for my well being. I also become conscious of how important the art education that I received in elementary through high school was to my life. I feel it is important to work to bring art education back into the classroom, to stress the importance of creative expression, to give back some of the inspiration that has been given to me.
Global Warming is a serious issue, our planet is in peril and needs our help, by integrating arts education with eco-awareness we can stress the importance of doing whatever we as individuals can do to make a difference. It is my hope that through Califauna I can share my love of art and nature and our beautiful state and all the animals here, and what we can do to ensure their survival for generations to come.
The time to act is now. We can make a difference by teaching the youth of today how important it is to care for the environment. Califauna will help students gain an understanding of our impact on our surroundings by demonstrating the effects of growth and global warming on our native animals. Each program will be centered on a particular animal integrating art education with earth sciences.
But we can’t do it without you! Your donation to Califauna will help us purchase equipment and supplies and give us the ability to actually pay the participating artists for their expertise.
Thank You in advance for your assistance.
Califauna is a nonprofit project operating under the guidance of the Pasadena Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) Organization. All donations to Califauna are tax deductible. Make checks payable to the Pasadena Arts Council and send to:
