Storming the Drains with New Murals
Colorful, Clever Art Helps Keep Rivers Clean
(FORT WAYNE, July 11, 2022) This week the artists of CLEAN DRAINS FORT WAYNE: Be River SmART take to the streets in the year two collaboration between Friends of the Rivers and City Utilities.
The collaboration puts a spotlight on the role of the humble storm drain in protecting our waterways through the creative masterstroke of storm drain murals designed by local artists. Each mural is unique, but everyone communicates the singular message … only rain in the drain.
Through these message-oriented storm-drain art murals, Clean Drains Fort Wayne raises awareness that any trash, grass clippings, dog poop and chemicals that find their way into the city’s storm drains go directly (and untreated) in Fort Wayne’s three rivers.
Clean Drains Fort Wayne has announced the selection of the 37 artists who will be creating the storm drain murals throughout the community this summer and fall.
“This year, we had a much more competitive artist application process, and the collection of selected artists represents both emerging and professional artists,” said Alexandra Hall, artist coordinator for Clean Drain Fort Wayne.
“This educational initiative has proven to not only be a powerful mechanism for education and public engagement, but also a wonderful platform for creatives in our community.”
The following are the artists selected for the four quadrants and downtown.
Northeast & Northwest
Note: Artists will be out July 16- 24 painting their storm drain murals
Jennifer Whitelow
Miranda Thomas
Cassidy Merkle
Grace Yencer
Aubrie Lamb
Debera Kuntz
Ava Harris
Scott Eastom
Anastasia McNabb
Laura Monnier
Southeast & Southwest
Note: Artists will be out August 13-21 painting their storm drain murals
Elizabeth Stavitzke
Kelsey Herber
Amanda McNamara
Meghan Wilhelm
Lucretia Derloshon
Suzanne Rhee
Bonnie Andrews
Autumn Fox
Autumn Coffing
Danielle Bloxson
Joan Means
Kristy Jahn
Downtown Fort Wayne
Note: Artists will be out September 10 – 17 painting their storm drain murals
Elizabeth Ea
Lawrence Davis, Jr.
Kari Larsen
Jeremy Stroup
Bryan Ballinger
Maria del Pilar Arrieta
Nancy Fritz
Addeline Griswold
Karen Bulmahn
Julia Bridges
Jeff Anderson
Ron Lewis
John Klein
Jake Patten
Fort Wayne’s vibrant riverfront and waterways are essential to the region’s quality of life and economic vitality. Collective vigilance and action are required to protect these enduring natural assets from pollutants.
Friends of the Rivers is a grassroots nonprofit organization elevating the value and importance of Fort Wayne’s three rivers. It works to improve the health of the rivers by promoting continual clean-up of the riverbanks, advocating for greener habitats to ensure river-water quality and fostering ownership through education and engagement of these essential waterways. forfw.org
City Utilities is a regional utility supporting public safety, public health, and the enhancement of Northeast Indiana’s economic development by delivering high-quality, affordable water, wastewater and stormwater services in ways that protect the environment. City Utilities is the steward of the city’s most essential resource: water. utilities.cityoffortwayneorg
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