The City of Bend and its Arts Beautification and Culture Commission have selected three local artists who have volunteered to paint around four different storm drains as part of the City’s Clean Water Works campaign. The storm drain painting pilot project aims to use art to increase awareness about the connection between street storm drains, the Deschutes River and more.
- The artists are David Kinker (Two storm drains: the corner of Pageant Park near the footbridge over the Deschutes River and along Harmon Boulevard, next to the ballfields), Nick Maithonis (storm drain on Tumalo Avenue at the southern edge of Drake Park) and Lisa Marie Sipe (storm drain at Galveston Avenue and Columbia Streets).
Kinker said that he paints landscapes inspired from his deep connection to nature and water as a naturalist and commercial river guide for 25 years on 15 different rivers throughout the northwest. David has painted the town both figuratively as well as literally, he said. He has murals in public places such as the Deschutes Brewery, Tower Theatre, Silver Moon Brewery, St. Charles and many private homes.
“My art work reflects the sincere love of our natural environment and water and rivers specifically. This project is a natural mix for my two greatest loves, painting and a life time love affair with the river,” Kinker said.
“My art career has been long, had its ups and downs, gotten me in trouble, and ultimately allowed me a passage to voice my ideas and concerns to the public,” Maithonis said. “I chose the layout of my storm drain painting to represent the beautiful wildlife that call Deschutes River home and to bring attention to the impact we have on the river. I believe it is our duty to take care of the Deschutes not only to preserve an important landmark and recreational site, but also to maintain the crucial life source to native habitat.”
“I am an acrylic painter and sculptural encaustic artist with experience exhibiting in galleries and museums nationwide,” Sipe said. “I moved to Bend over three years ago because I fell in love with pine scented air, the majestic snow-capped mountains and the clear lakes and streams. I applied for the storm drain art project because it is important to protect the flora and fauna of this incredible area we live in. The artwork I’m creating for the storm drain combines local aquatic wildlife (Oregon Spotted Frog, Foskett Speckled Dace, Warner Sucker and Bull Trout) in the shape of a water droplet. I wanted to visually reinforce that the water going into the storm drain is traveling directly to where local wildlife lives.”
Expect to see these artists working in these areas during the first week of August. (Locator map: https://goo.gl/bnz717)
The storm drain painting project is happening in conjunction with Stream Stewardship Day on Saturday, August 8. (Info: www.upperdeschuteswatershedcouncil.org/events). Stream Stewardship Day is based at Riverbend Park, but cleanup efforts will also extend to the Pageant, Harmon and Drake Parks.
The City’s Clean Water Works campaign provides information about how to keep water clean, including the Deschutes River and our drinking water.
www.bendoregon.gov/cleanwaterworks or Wendy Edde, utility program manager, 541-317-3018 or wedde@bendoregon.gov.