Community members are invited to take part in a collaborative
mural project on Saturday, August 31,
from 10 AM – 2
PM at the new Natural Grocers location at 873 Tahoe
Blvd.
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers®, the
leading family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the
U.S., is excited to announce a vibrant new partnership with
Sara L. Smith, a distinguished local
artist and community advocate, for a multi-stage, large-scale mural
project that showcases the unique flora and fauna of Incline Village. The collaboration will bring
a fresh burst of creativity and community spirit to the newest
Natural Grocers store located at 873 Tahoe Blvd. Incline Village, NV 89451.
NATURAL GROCERS OF INCLINE VILLAGE & SARA SMITH
Serving communities with a wide range of natural and organic
options since 1955, Natural Grocers proudly opened its doors to
support the Incline Village area
on July 31, 2024. The company, ever
conscious of its environmental impact, built the Incline Village store from the ground up using
sustainable building features and energy-saving innovations, such
as non-toxic building materials and 100% LED lighting. Partnering
with a local artist to beautify the outside of the building was
part of the plan early on.
"We started focusing on opening a store in Incline Village almost five years ago. As
plans progressed, it became evident that we would have ourselves a
large canvas," said Raquel Isely,
Vice President of Marketing at Natural Grocers. "Natural Grocers is
dedicated to fostering community engagement, and we strive to
support local artists, anytime we can. Sara's vision not only adds
a beautiful artistic element to our store but also encourages our
customers to connect with the local environment and each other.
Partnering with Sara aligns perfectly with our commitment to
community, our focus on regenerative agriculture and our company's
ecologically thoughtful practices and products."
A SNEAK PEEK WITH SMITH
Smith attended Natural Grocers' Grand Opening event on
July 31 and spoke with the crowd
about her vision for the mural and the partnership. Smith brought a
small-scale watercolor rendition of the mural project, which was
later displayed for customers and Natural Grocers'
good4u® Crew to admire as they were walking in and
out of the store.
Smith explained the project saying, "This mural was inspired by
the local flora and fauna of the Lake
Tahoe Basin, particularly our local pollinators. The scene
will include a black bear mother and cub, as well as local
butterflies and bee species, all being supported by native plants
and a healthy ecosystem. As residents and visitors, we can support
our wild neighbors by practicing good stewardship of this beautiful
place…including supporting chemical free ground and floral habitat
for our pollinators around our homes, and by practicing proper food
and trash management to keep bears and other wild animals healthy
and safe.
"I am grateful for the generous help of a specialist
from UC Davis, Rachel Vannette,
who gave her time to help educate me regarding local pollinator
species and the plants and habitats they need to thrive, which we
can easily support in our home gardens. The way we care for our own
bodies with healthy food, exercise, and clean water, we can also
care our wider ecosystem, and the health of the people and animals
within it."
Several students from the recent "Talisman of the Watershed"
workshop series, which was funded by a California Creative Corps
grant and taught in partnership with local artist Troy Corliss, have been assisting with elements
of the mural, which began on August 5,
2024. The base color priming was done by Kelly Brothers Painting.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION EVENT
Natural Grocers and Smith would like to invite all members of
the community to celebrate Tahoe's beauty and magic and add
something to the lower section of the project on Saturday, August 31st, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Labor Day weekend.
The event will be led by Smith and will take place at the
ground-level aspen grove sections at the front of the store.
"Aspens symbolize our interconnectedness," says Smith. "By coming
together to create, we transform a simple project into a shared
experience that reflects our collective spirit and creativity. All
ages are welcome, so come contribute and add your mark. Together,
beautiful things are possible!"
- Visit the event page on Natural Grocers' Facebook page for more
information about the community collaboration event.
- To learn more about Sara Smith
visit https://saralsmith.com/.
- Learn more about Natural Grocers and how the company supports
sustainability by visiting
https://www.naturalgrocers.com/sustainability.
- For media inquiries contact kmacarelli@naturalgrocers.com.
ABOUT NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE
Founded in 1955, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:
NGVC) is an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic
groceries, body care products, and dietary supplements. The
products sold by Natural Grocers must meet strict quality
guidelines and may not contain artificial colors, flavors,
preservatives or sweeteners, or partially hydrogenated or
hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only USDA-certified organic
produce and exclusively pasture-raised, non-confinement dairy
products, and free-range eggs. Natural Grocers' flexible
smaller-store format allows it to offer affordable prices in a
shopper-friendly, clean, and convenient retail environment. The
Company also provides extensive free science-based Nutrition
Education programs to help customers and Crew make informed health
and nutrition choices. Natural Grocers is committed to its 5
Founding Principles—including its "Commitment to Community" and
"Commitment to Crew". In fiscal year 2023, the Company
invested $15 million in incremental compensation and
discretionary payments for Crew. With the addition of its
newest store in Incline Village,
Natural Grocers has 169 stores in 21 states, with its headquarters
in the Union Square neighborhood of Lakewood, CO.
Visit www.naturalgrocers.com for more information and store
locations.
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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.