West metro arts and leisure: Clay structure being built at Arboretum

Clay structure being built at ArboretumWant to get your hands dirty? If so, you can help build a structure out of clay at Minnesota's Landscape Arboretum during weekend build dates, July 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Arizona artists Athena and Bill Steen, pictured above, will use truckloads of mud, straw, grapevines and branches to hand-build a child-friendly structure for the Arboretum Learning Center's front lawn. The structure will remain in place through the run of the Dirt-O-Rama exhibit, until at least Oct. 14.

For more information, go to www.arboretum.umn.edu.

Local painting is key to festivalThe city's expanded Spirit of the Lakes Celebration also is the official celebration of the City of Mound Centennial this year. The Festival will run from Friday through July 22 with the biggest schedule of events July 18-22. One of the focal points is a Mound Centennial commemorative painting by local artist Bruce Miller. He is donating the original to the city and reproductions of the painting will be available for sale. His work also serves as the cover of the Commemorative Book and will be printed on Centennial event T-shirts. The main image of a sailboat on Cooks Bay was inspired by the city's logo and the boat has the word "Mound" on the back and the numbers "M 100" on its sail. For more information about the festivities, go to www.spiritofthelakes.com.

Arts, crafts featured at celebrationKids can make a variety of arts and crafts projects as part of Family Fest Excelsior, an outdoor celebration and fundraiser created by kids for kids. They're hoping to raise $5,000 to help provide lunches at Children's Defense Fund Summer Freedom School, a north Minneapolis camp for kids.

The event is Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. near the shores of Lake Minnetonka at the Excelsior United Methodist Church on Hwy. 7 and Christmas Lake Road. Other events include a kickball tournament, games and prizes featuring Mt. Calvary's own Stuffed Animal Cake Walk and family-friendly beach volleyball.

A suggested minimum donation of $5 per person/$20 per family will get you a wristband for all the activities. For more information on the event, to register your kickball team, to volunteer or donate please visit us at www.facebook.com/FamilyFestExcelsior or call 952-988-8338.