Paper Bag Masks Are A Huge Earth Day Hit With Kids And Adults Alike

Florence, KY - Paper Bags were transformed into works of art during the Cincinnati Earth Day celebration this year. Hundreds of children, art lovers, and the environmentally enthusiastic stopped by the Duro Bag booth to become emerging "paper bag artists" inspired by artist and cartoonist Saul Steinberg.

Held annually by the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition, the Earth Day event showcases environmental education initiatives and hands on activities for participants. This year, Duro Bag Mfg. Co. (http://www.durobag.com) collaborated in this creative project in anticipation of the Saul Steinberg exhibit appearing later this summer at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

In order to create awareness of the naturally recyclable nature of paper bags, Duro Bag teamed up with the Cincinnati Art Museum staff to create a grocery bag embellished with a special mask design reflective of the Saul Steinberg cartooning style. These activity bags, made of recycled Kraft paper, engaged children and parents into thinking about the use of paper as a sustainable and recyclable product.

Duro Bag staff, friends and family members were on hand to help children (and adults!) color and embellish their creative mask bags at Saturday's Earth Day festivities. Rick Hensley, of Duro's Information Services team, noted, "We had a steady stream of children coloring the bags. Also, the bags seemed to be of great interest to all of those passing by on the walkway."

The creativity of the finished paper bag masks created quite a stir, and as Cindy Fink, Director of External Relations and Marketing for Cincinnati Art Museum observed, "It was so cool to see the bags everywhere along Sawyer Point!"

Saul Steinberg was known as one of America's foremost cartoonists and frequently used paper bags as a medium for his delightful masks. The "Illuminations" exhibit featuring his work is coming to the Cincinnati Art Museum from July 21 - September 23, 2007.

In addition to distributing more than 1500 mask bags to the budding artists that participated, the paper bag art booth also created opportunities for conversation about environmental issues. "I've been saying paper is a better option for years. It would be great if more bags made from recycled paper were more readily available in stores," said John A. from Lansing, Michigan. Another Earth Day participant noted that "it would be great to see paper bags at the checkout counter again."

The specially printed bags were donated to the celebration by Charles Shor, president and CEO of Duro Bag Manufacturing. Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory stopped by and noted that this was a "good cause and a good thing to do."

For more information on the Saul Steinberg exhibit visit www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org or the www.saulsteinbergfoundation.org websites. For more information on Duro Bag's sustainable packaging initiative visit www.durobag.com.

SOURCE: Duro Paper Bag Manufacturing Company