Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Apr. 16, 2011

A 1971 movie called Bedknobs and Broomsticks inspired Megan Goos to recreate the vintage market using recycled goods. On April 16, the fifth Bloomin Earth festival brings its tips on living green to Kitchener. “I have a passion for old musicals, especially the ones where they sing at random right in the streets,” said Goos. “While watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks,
I realized my love for the vintage outdoor market, and became determined to recreate it in a modern style.”

A one-day event, Bloomin Earth runs from 9 am to 4 pm demonstrates the “many ways to love the Earth, from re-purposed art to expert advice on sustainable living to celebrate, educate and entertain the community,” said Goos. The event, which started in 2007 with a mere 20 vendors inside city hall, has grown through word of mouth and “constant searching,” Goos said. “We will have the street lined with tents for more than 100 vendors, but scattered amongst them will be the recycled workshop tables, and local musicians or dance troops,” she said, adding the vendors will offer goods such as upcycled clothing, accessories and jewelry; vintage and antique retailers, and environmental service providers offering innovative and inspired ways of living green.

There will be spaces throughout the event for local musicians to sit and perform, as well as free recycled workshops designed for all ages:

• build a giant city from cardboard boxes
• tin can sculptures from metal bits
• sewing a recycled doll
• silly masks from found nature bits.

A highlight of the festival is the REthreaded Fashion Show, where designers are challenged to create unique outfits entirely from “unloved” clothing, donated by local thrift stores. Organized by STRUTT Central of Peterborough, the designers present their creations to a panel of judges, who select one as the REdesigner of 2011.

For more details and photos, please see the show site, www.bloominearth.wordpress.com or the fashion show site at www.rethreaded.wordpress.com. The resource blog where sharing artists’ works can be found at www.remakeable.wordpress.com

For more information:
LORI-ANN LIVINGSTON
Communications and marketing associate
Corporate Communications and Marketing Division
City of Kitchener
T: 519-741-2383
F: 519-741-2892
TTY: 1-866-969-9995
loriann.livingston@kitchener.ca