Bay Creatures Guard the Storm Drains
From Sarah Tooley, Artist, Director of 901Arts (Better Waverly Community Art Center) and Class of 2010 Open Society Institute Community Fellow, comes news of 901Arts teens’ latest project and of a celebratory event:
“Baltimore Teens Paint Storm Drain Murals in Better Waverly!
What goes down the drain has a direct effect on me!
Local teens of Baltimore’s Better Waverly neighborhood joined with artist, Sarah Tooley, to paint ten sidewalk “murals” relating to sea life around storm drains throughout their neighborhood. The original designs were created by the teens themselves to remind the community to protect our watershed by bringing attention to the harmful effects of littering, street trash, and illegal dumping into storm drains or streets, which drain directly into the harbor. The sidewalk painting can be found over various storm drains and sewer caps at ten different locations throughout Better Waverly.
901 Arts artists prepare the image
The Sea Creature Storm Drain Street Art project was sponsored by 901 Arts, supported by the Better Waverly Community Organization, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, approved by the Department of Public Works and funded by Kresge Arts in Baltimore- a partnership with the Baltimore Community Foundation. Paint was provided by the Department of Transportation.
The youth artists took inspiration from the 6emeia project by Brazilian street artists, Anderson Augusto and Leonardo Delafuente, who painted animated characters on storm drains in São Paulo.
The youth involved in the project attended an educational session connecting the effects of littering to the bay, completed various designs for review, scouted possible locations and spoke with neighbors about the proposed project. This was followed by a four-part painting process: transferring the design, priming the surface, painting the image, and sealing with a UV-protection topcoat. Youth selected to participate in this educational and community oriented public art project received a small stipend.
“I know that global scale environmental issues can only be fixed by starting off with small scale communities, such as Better Waverly,” said LaShae Felder, youth artist, age 15.
Meet the Artists! Saturday December 11th 10:00AM-10:45AM
Interview and Photo Opportunity
Who: Local youth artists from Better Waverly and lead artist, Sarah Tooley
What: Sea Creature Storm Drain Street Art “murals”
Where: Painting of the Pearl in an Oyster by 513 E. 30th St. Baltimore, MD 21218. We will have light refreshments here, then walk to two more paintings.
If you would like more information about this topic, additional images of the storm drain mural, or to schedule an interview with the lead artist, Sarah Tooley, or one of the youth artists of Better Waverly please contact Sarah Tooley at 410.366.2252 or email her at sarahangelinetooley@gmail.com
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901 Arts is a neighborhood community arts center offering free and low-cost after school instruction and classes in visual art and music. The art center provides a safe, creative, and empowering space for Better Waverly youth to express themselves and develop as artists and community leaders. The art center is an integral part of the community’s ongoing efforts to build a safer, stronger and more vibrant neighborhood.”
Kudos to all!!
September 30th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
[...] drain murals in the Hollins Market area. This is a neat project inspired inpart by the creative Chesapeake Bay creatures storm drain paintings organized by 901 Arts in the Better Waverly neighborhood. Meet this Saturday at the Black Cherry [...]