Art and Engagement
Current
Ten planters along Main Street cerebrate the Patuxent River that runs through Laurel. Our aim is to raise awareness about the importance of healthy environments, and to preserve the life of the river and its watershed. The native grasses in the planters represent submerged aquatic vegetation that is crucial habitat for many wildlife species, yet threatened by stormwater runoff and sediment pollution.
Fish Art: One of the most easily observable gauges of a river’s health is the presence of fish. Fish indicate that a river has life, and for most people, the shape of a fish is immediately recognizable. This is why we chose the fish shape for the sculpture piece of this project. Each planter contains fish from one local artist.
Native Grasses: Our use of native plants fits with best practices for sustainability. Native grasses are vital in stream restoration to hold the soil in place and also to provide habitat for many species. In Laurel’s planters we include red switch grass, purple love grass, pink muhly and blue gamma. They act as “habitat” for the sculptures as well as providing actual habitat for pollinators. These grasses are host to such insects as skipper and satyr butterfly larvae. They also offer daytime resting spots for fireflies, which are active at night and need safe blades of grass for inactive periods.
Contributors: The catalyst for this two year installation was sparked by a discussion at the August 2020 meeting of Laurel for the Patuxent. The idea was brought to the Laurel Arts Council who joined to support and fund the work. Nine local artists decorated the fish. Laurel Parks & Recreation horticulturist Frank Ramirez acquired the requested plants. Cheryl Dyer, Anita Gilbert, Mike Dyer and Anthony Vodraska collaborated to turn the idea into a reality.
Participating artists: Cheryl Dyer, Keri Fuller, Anita Gilbert, Ada Ghuman, Angie O’Neal, Inka Patel, Kathie Peterson, Diego Sifuentes, Monica Sturdivant.
Future
Murals
In 2021 Laurel for the Patuxent in collaboration with the Laurel Arts Council successfully advocated for the City of Laurel to allow public murals. We have proposed two mural concepts.
A bee and pollinator themed mural by professional artist Matt Willey, who’s global project “The Good of the Hive” aims to help people realize our interconnectedness with each other and with nature and inspire positive environmental action.
A bird themed mural that uses illustrations from late Laurel resident and renowned ornithologist Chandler Robbins, PhD, who founded the North American Breeding Bird Survey and authored the “Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification,”
Past
Celebrating the Magic of Nature
In 2020, after a 17 years wait, the mid-Atlantic region once again experienced one of nature’s most spectacular events – the emergence of Magicicada, Brood X. Periodical cicadas spend years underground sucking sap from tree roots before emerging by the billions for a noisy, 6 six week reproductive bonanza. Brood X is the most famous. Laurel for the Patuxent welcomed the prodigal species with a megacicada sculpture and message board, celebrating the wonder and fascination of nature. These innocent and amazing animals depend on us to keep our soil healthy and preserve and plant more trees to ensure they will continue to delight and inspire future generations.