This Spring 2010, The Urban Forest Project will plant banners by local artists and designers on light poles throughout Toledo. Each banner will use the form or metaphor for the tree to make a powerful visual statement about the environment. Together they’ll create a forest of thoughtful images in the urban landscape and raise awareness of sustainability and youth mentoring.

The banners will be hung on light poles in a series of high-traffic locations in the greater Toledo area mid-April, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Once the banners come down, they will be recycled into unique tote bags designed exclusively for the project. Sales from the product will benefit the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) to support their Young Artists At Work Program (YAAW).

This project is being presented in Toledo by AIGA Toledo in collaboration with SWEAT, and funded by the City of Toledo's 1% for Art Program, administered by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. The Urban Forest Project, conceived by Worldstudio and developed in conjunction with AIGA NY and Times Square Alliance, was first executed in New York’s Times Square in the fall of 2006.