Community day to ‘Push Against Loneliness’

The Push Against Loneliness community day takes place July 27 at Hodag Park. Part of the event includes dedication of this bench sculpture at the beach house. Star Journal photo

July 27 event at Hodag Park part of national arts campaign

For the Star Journal

RHINELANDER – The community is invited to participate in a “Push Against Loneliness” Saturday, July 27. The free event, from 3:30-8:30 p.m. at Hodag Park, is part of the national Arts for Every Body campaign launched by the national organization One Nation One Project. Rhinelander’s focus is a community day to celebrate belonging in Rhinelander.

ArtStart Rhinelander, the city of Rhinelander and local youth and community health organizations have partnered on the event that will be a day celebrating community and belonging in Rhinelander.

The celebration will include a variety of art activities, such as a Skate Jam beginning at 3:30 p.m., followed by local artist performances, the March Against Social Isolation, unveiling and dedication of a sculpture at the Hodag Park beach house and a free community meal. Rhinelander’s main project will be construction of a skate park at Hodag Park, which is currently in the design phase.

The partners are working with local youth to design, raise funds and build the new skate park which is expected to provide a place for youth to gather and support one another.  They are also working with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Oneida County on art programs for seniors with memory loss. Both projects aim to focus on art as a way to build social connections.

“The fact is that arts bring people together – evoking protest, passion or joy – and inspire the world around the most important issues of the day through song, verse, dance, theater, drawing, painting, trumpeting and more,” an Arts for Every Body news release stated.

Rhinelander was selected as one of 18 Arts for Every Body cities and towns across the country; all 18 produced projects that demonstrate the “power of art to enrich our lives, boost our health and strengthen our communities.” All 18 will unveil those projects July 27.