Visual Art Recreation Nonprofits
Pinehurst Park Fundraiser ‘Art On Mitts’ Calls For Local Artists
Eau Claire park benefit's silent auction to feature a total Midwestern crossover item: custom winter gloves by local artists
Eau Claire’s Pinehurst Park continues to be one of the area’s most popular parks, open year-round as a free-to-use outdoor rec hub.
From disc golf to hockey to mountain biking and sledding, Pinehurst Park is a 60-acre recreation playground. It has long been important for OutdoorMore, Inc. – the local nonprofit which maintains and develops the space, in partnership with the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation Dept. – to keep the park free to use.
Fundraisers are a big part of keeping that accessibility alive. Pinehurst Snow Park Director, Ben Bonitz, noting, “We are always trying to come up with unique ways to raise funds.”
Enter, “Art On Mitts.”
Art On Mitts calls on local artists to partake in Pinehurst Park and OutdoorMore, Inc.’s spring fundraiser – tentatively slated for early March, Bonitz said – by lending their talents to an unusual canvas: Kinco gloves.
"... we know that same rider – the one who hikes the rail line all day, chasing that one trick; that one clean lock-in; that one moment where everything clicks. That's the spirit we're celebrating."
BEN BONITZ
SNOW PARK DIRECTOR OF OUTDOORMORE, INC.
The fundraiser needs a total of 10 area artists to dream up and apply a design, via Sharpie, directly onto the suede glove material. Each pair of Kincos, once completed, will be displayed at 3rd & Vine (1929 Third St., Eau Claire) as part of an auction. Proceeds from each pair of gloves will be split between OutdoorMore, Inc. and the artist.
“Kinco gloves are some of the finest winter mitts we’ve come to find,” Bonitz said. “Their price point is low but their durability is unmatched. They’re the perfect mitten for someone looking to spend their day on a tow rope (or) in the terrain park.
"While Pinehurst doesn’t have a tow rope, we know that same rider – the one who hikes the rail line all day, chasing that one trick; that one clean lock-in; that one moment where everything clicks. That’s the spirit we’re celebrating,” he continued.
The Kinco glove auction winners will be announced during the March shindig. During the event – doubling as a fundraiser event and volunteer and community celebration – other activities will be offered as well, including a workshop for attendees to put their own art on mittens.
Artists interested in participating in Art On Mitts – Bonitz said there are just a few spots left! – may simply reach out via social media, messaging Pinehurst Park on Instagram or Facebook.
“This is our first time attempting this event but is something we would like to add to our yearly schedule,” Bonitz added.
Pinehurst Park is located at 2532 Delbert Rd., Eau Claire and is open seven days a week through around 10pm unless otherwise stated online • Keep up with Pinehurst Park and OutdoorMore, Inc. on social media • More community events are in the works at Pinehurst Park, including a candlelit snowshoe hike likely to be held around Valentine's Day
