The Rancho Cucamonga Community and Arts Foundation (RCCAAF) is thrilled to announce that it has awarded over $34,000 in grants to eight local arts organizations for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Through the Community Arts Grant Program, RCCAAF supports non-profit organizations in delivering inspiring arts experiences to the residents of Rancho Cucamonga. We will highlight these projects throughout the holiday season and into the new year. One of the exciting initiatives receiving support is the innovative summer pilot program, “Who Pooped at the Maloof,” offered by the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts.
Under the hot summer sun, Rancho Cucamonga teens met every Saturday through August and September to explore the convergence of art and science in a series of workshops at the Maloof Foundation. Playfully titled “Who Pooped at the Maloof,” the workshops introduced young people to local wildlife and ecosystems through observation and hands-on experience with drawing and other means of expression.
This program was inspired by the Maloof Discovery Garden—a Certified Animal Habitat—and designed to engage young people in learning and skill development. Participants explored the garden and discovered its diverse wildlife and native landscaping through the lens of art practices.
Activities included dissecting owl pellets to uncover the diets of local owls. Participants also experimented with wet cyanotype printing and made environmentally friendly seed pots to promote sustainable gardening. “Our goal with ‘Who Pooped at the Maloof?’ is to foster a connection to the natural world through art and science,” said Leslie Matamoros, Director of Museum Education at the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation. “By blending science and art, we aimed to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and environmental stewardship among teens.”
About Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation: Founded on the legacy of renowned woodworker Sam Maloof and his artist wife Alfreda, the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation is dedicated to preserving their historic home and promoting art education and appreciation of arts and crafts. To learn more about the Foundation, visit MaloofFoundation.org
All photos courtesy of the Maloof Foundation.
