Alex Chronister is an artist who will be creating his first public mural this year for Clean Drains. He was inspired by the previous drain murals he had seen and wanted to participate due to his involvement with art since childhood. Chronister’s mural will feature an otter to symbolize the importance of clean water for local wildlife. His artwork can be viewed on Instagram under the username @okayalleycat.

Sarah Pursell is a senior graphic designer with a background in hand-drawn illustration and hand lettering. She has a passion for sustainability that motivated her to get involved with the Clean Drains project. Pursell’s mural this year will feature a blue and green swirl pattern to emphasize clear, clean water.

Taylor Anderson works in the metrology sector of quality assurance. She enjoys taking part in community art projects when she has the opportunity. Anderson found inspiration for her Clean Drains mural by observing wildlife while walking through a nature center. Her design will feature animals native to Indiana waterways, including a blue heron and a painted turtle.

Kayla Metzger is a recent graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in game art and design. She grew up with a passion for nature and art found through drawing and participation in 4H. Her mural will feature native wildlife, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of protecting local waterways.

Gwen Updegraff is a fifteen-year-old Homestead High School student who practices a myriad of art forms, including painting, animation, and theater. Her introduction to art came through doodling as a method of retaining focus in class. Updegraff’s Clean Drains mural this year will incorporate native aquatic life intertwined with trash, emphasizing the fight against pollution and her personal passion for the planet.

Colin Ballinger is a Huntington artist who studied fine arts in Portland, Oregon, and who has worked with father and renowned artist Bryan Ballinger on projects in the past. They are doing a mural this year for Clean Drains in the Frutiger Aero style, emphasizing ocean imagery and environmentalism.

Amanda Dornbush is an Angola artist originally from Fort Wayne who has had work displayed in the city on multiple occasions, including previous Clean Drains murals and features in The Journal Gazette and Glo Magazine. Her mural this year will be at a drain near Henry’s Restaurant, and will feature a portrait of a duck, which highlights Dornbush’s attachment to the local wildlife.

Shayla Thomas is a local artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. She is most known for her mural, “Inspire” located at 1313 Oxford Street, and is often inspired by nature and community. Thomas is passionate about storytelling and creating art that invites engagement. Her mural design for Clean Drains this year will include colorful koi fish and lily pads, reminding the viewer of how a healthy waterway environment should look without the damage of pollution.

Rebecca (Becky) Stockert is a Fort Wayne-based artist whose work is inspired by the natural flora and fauna of the Midwest. Her artwork explores themes of sustainability, feminism, and her love of cats, often incorporating popular culture and humor. Through her creative shop, Cat People Press, Stockert shares her paintings, pottery, cards, stickers, and other handmade items with the community. A strong believer in using art to connect with others, Stockert participates in Clean Drains Week as a way to celebrate nature and encourage others to protect the waterways and environments that inspire her work.

Amanda Foley is a local artist who uses creativity to connect with others and make a positive impact. Inspired by street and tattoo art, Foley believes art has the power to tell stories, encourage healing, and transform public spaces. While living in Phoenix, Arizona, she used art to support healing at a clinic where she worked, leading to more opportunities to create community-focused artwork. Through her participation in Clean Drains Week, Foley continues her mission of using public art to inspire conversations, bring people together, and encourage care for the waterways we all share.

Amanda Stout is a local artist who uses her work to create beauty in everyday life for everyone to enjoy. Originally from Iowa, Stout moved to Fort Wayne after graduating from college, where she studied printmaking. Her passion for community engagement inspired her to create murals in public spaces that are accessible for everyone to experience. Her work features bright colors and a cartoon-inspired style with a focus on fostering community. Through Clean Drains Week, Stout has the opportunity to beautify the mundane while creating work that connects with and impacts others.

Hannah Rutigliano is a self-taught artist whose work celebrates the joy found in life’s small moments. Through tutorials, reading and practice, she has continually challenged herself to explore new styles, experiment with different techniques and grow her creative skills. Art became an outlet for Rutigliano to find joy and make herself laugh—something she hopes others experience through her work. Inspired by helping people connect with one another and appreciate the beauty around them, she is participating in Clean Drains Week to encourage others to enjoy and protect our rivers by recognizing their simple beauty and the everyday moments they provide.

Local art teacher Haley Tabb uses her creativity to add beauty to the world and inspire others to do the same. Whether creating art or decorating her classroom, she puts care and intention into every detail to spark her students’ excitement for art and encourage them to find joy in the creative process. While colored pencil is one of her favorite mediums, Tabb enjoys exploring a variety of materials and continually challenges herself to grow as an artist. Through her work, she hopes to bring joy to both her and those who experience her art. Participating in Clean Drains Week gives Tabb the opportunity to use her talent and passion to support a cause she cares deeply about.

Elliana Heintz is a local artist who uses her work to inspire others to notice the smaller things around us. At just 17 years old, Heintz has developed a distinctive artistic style through art classes and independent creative projects, primarily working in digital art. Her passion for wildlife and conservation is reflected in her artwork, which highlights local wildlife and often-overlooked insects that play important roles in ecosystems. After receiving recognition through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards as a freshman, Heintz continues to use art as a way to protect waterways, celebrate nature, and inspire others to value the world around them.

Cassidy Merkle is a lifelong Fort Wayne artist who uses her work to create meaningful connections with others. After studying art at Indiana University Fort Wayne, she has continued using her skills to support local organizations through creative projects. Working primarily with acrylic paint and colored pencils, Merkle explores human emotion through facial expressions and body language. Having walked along Fort Wayne’s rivers on her way to school, she feels a strong connection to the city’s waterways. Through Clean Drains Week, Merkle hopes to combine art and education to inspire others to help protect and strengthen their community.

Bee Swanson is a Fort Wayne-based artist who specializes in illustration, graphic design, and character art. Their work gives them the freedom to explore new ideas without feeling limited or confined, while inspiring others to find joy in creating. Being able to inspire others through something they love is one of the reasons Swanson wanted to participate in Clean Drains Week. Passionate about nature and wildlife preservation, they hope to encourage the community to help keep our waterways clean and protect the environment through both creativity and action.