Circular and The Honnold Foundation Kickoff Solar Artwork Giveaway

501(c)(3) Circular of Sheridan, Wyoming showcases unique solutions to energy waste problems through creative projects. These projects focus on second-life uses for energy materials, sustainability awareness, youth and adult art education, new community narratives, and female entrepreneurship.

The Honnold Foundation, founded by world-class climber Alex Honnold in 2012, provides grant funding to organizations advancing solar energy accessibility across the globe. They look for partners whose work reduces environmental impact and increases social and economic equity, and who demonstrate strong ties to the communities they serve. The Foundation believes that energy should be easy to access, affordable, and have a low impact on the natural world.

The two nonprofit organizations announced a partnership in February for an April fundraising effort for the Foundation. Circular has donated a commissioned piece of artwork from Sheridan artist Polly Burge, which will feature her unique artwork on an end-of-life solar panel.

Beginning April 4, every $20 donated to the Honnold Foundation earns a chance to win this one-of-a-kind piece of solar panel artwork.

Circular, led by Executive Director Logan Jenkins, envisioned the fundraising concept in December 2021. The Circular team had already introduced four different pieces of artwork prior to Burge’s, including two by Sheridan High School Art Teacher Ashley Cooper.

Jenkins states, “This partnership is mutually beneficial for both of our organizations. Circular gets the opportunity to showcase a very talented Sheridan artist in Polly Burge. The Honnold Foundation benefits from a very unique piece of artwork to supplement a fundraising drive to promote solar energy for a more equitable world. Further, our solar artwork project receives increased exposure outside of our town and the State of Wyoming.”

He adds, “For this project, we also added a very unique pigment to several of the acrylic colors. Through our friends at Oco - a Carbontech company in Calgary, Alberta, Canada - we received a batch of Captured CO2-Enhanced Graphitic Nanoplatelets (GNPs) to add to the paint. These paint pigments were originally created by Oco's Artist in Residence, Luis Merchan.

“In simple terms, this is graphite with waste carbon dioxide embedded in it. The fine powder is added to different colors to change the hue. Importantly, the use of this material is harmonious with our mission of showcasing unique solutions to energy waste problems through creative projects.”

Polly Burge and her Tetons artwork on a 59'“x39” end-of-life solar panel.

Artist Burge states, “This project has been an incredible experience. I love the mission of The Honnold Foundation and working with Circular through this partnership has connected me with more folks in the community who understand the value of the arts. The end-of-life solar panel is definitely a unique opportunity for me to try something out of my normal routine, and it has presented a few unique challenges. For one, it’s quite large (approximately 59'“x39”) and very heavy (about 40 pounds), and I haven’t used acrylics in my work in a number of years. It has been really fun exploring essentially a new medium on a new surface.”

Circular’s Jenkins adds, “We’ve generated a lot of interest in our work through this partnership and hope that it leads to a very successful fundraising campaign for the Honnold Foundation. Additionally, we’re hoping it leads to more exposure to Sheridan’s many talented artists.”

(Left) Sheridan’s Sara Von Krosigk with her “Grant Street” solar piece. (Right) Sheridan’s Ashley Cooper’s acrylic piece titled “Home”.