Rain Barrel Murals
In 2018, local Artists Jenny Anderson and Audrey Moore lead community art programming with the Young Scientists Club at the Urban Ecology Center in the Menomonee River Valley. Together they would walk the trails in Three Bridges Park, identify native plants and animals, and create art inspired by nature. The Young Scientists, ages 5-12, had the opportunity to create sun prints using plants and photosensitive paper, make their own ink and chalk from natural pigments, and reimagine insects and animals. The students artwork was scanned and digitally collaged to create the designs on the rain barrels.
History
& Facts
These 1,100 gallon rain barrels were the first in the city to capture rainwater from a bridge, diverting unfiltered stormwater from the city’s combined sewer system. The rain barrels collect water for the new plantings in the park. When the plants mature, they naturally filter stormwater and require little watering which ultimately avoids wasting potable water through traditional watering systems.