Art in the Arbor Celebrating Lourdes University Becoming a Tree Campus

Daily Dose | 04/03/2025 3:00 pm

Thanks to the efforts of a committee formed last year, Lourdes University and the Sylvania Franciscan campus is pleased to now be an official a Tree Campus USA and invites campus and the greater community to Art in the Arbor on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Lourdes University President Bill Bisset will be joined by campus arborist Scott Kirby and Alverno artist and Lourdes art student Jordy Rongifo Poma in the Sylvania Franciscan arboretum for a ceremonial tree planting, art installation and reception. Guests will be invited to wander and enjoy over 20 birdhouses installed in (hopefully) blooming Dogwood trees in the Arboretum.

Jordy, looking for a way to connect art, nature and community, worked with Alverno Studio Director Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF, Lourdes University Art Department Chair, Erin Palmer Szavuly, to create this community project. They contacted art instructor Ryan Creech and invited his Northview High School art students to Alverno Studio to create the birdhouses out of clay, hand-glaze them, and fire them for durable outdoor use. Prior to building the ceramic structures, the students spent time learning about bird habitats and what specifically the house needed to offer – and why.

“Being here on this Franciscan campus inspires me,” Jordy says. “The Franciscan values here permeate everything, and the love of creation and love of nature is evident. The bottom line is about connecting to our self, our community and nature,” Jordy says. “This birdhouse project did all three.”

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Elizabeth Reiter at [email protected] or 419-824-3667.