Mesa County Storm Drain Art Project
What is the Storm Drain Art Project?
The Mesa County Storm Drain Art Project is a community-driven initiative aimed at raising awareness about the importance of keeping our waterways clean. By transforming storm drain inlets into vibrant works of art, the project seeks to educate the public about the impact of pollution on our local environment.
Why is this project important?
The project serves as a visual reminder of the interconnectedness between our daily actions and the health of our waterways. By showcasing the beauty of nature and the negative consequences of pollution, it encourages individuals to take steps to protect the environment especially at these storm drains that have direct connections to our rivers.
Artist bios
Mae Piña
Title: “Endangered”
Drain location: Mesa County Central Library at 443 N. 6th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501
"This piece was inspired by three fish species native to Colorado, the greenback cutthroat trout which is our state fish and is both federally and state threatened, the humpback chub which is both federally and state endangered, and the bonytail chub which is federally endangered and state threatened (according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife).
As an artist, I love creating work with a message that speaks greater than just myself, and I wanted to highlight not just the fact that this is a storm water drain and should not be used as anything else but also to put a spotlight on wildlife conservation and awareness, especially in the case of endangered species. I chose the Grand Junction location specifically because of its unique shape and it was fun coming up with a way to incorporate it into the design concept itself. It was certainly a challenge working with waterborne traffic paint especially when it came to custom color matching but it certainly was a welcomed challenge to get to work with a painting medium I wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to experiment with.
More of my art can be seen through my Instagram account, as well as on one of the murals at the Grand Junction Union Depot. Mine is one of the two in the back of the building facing the train tracks which features two endangered animals native to Colorado, the kit fox and the Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly. Some upcoming events you might catch me or my art at are at the Grand Junction Farmers Market on Main Street next Thursday where I will be doing a little art demo for GJ Creates, and I will be submitting a couple of pieces for this year's Comic-Con through the Grand Junction Public Library."
Instagram @mae__pina
Andrew West
Title: “Clean Water Happy Life”
Location: Mesa County Library Clifton Branch at 3270 D ½ Rd, Clifton, CO 81520
Andrew has lived in the valley for over 30 years. He is employed as a brewer in Grand Junction and as an artist in residence for School District 51. He is currently attending CMU and majoring in K-12 art education. He loves spending time outdoors, especially at the river trail. Keeping the waters clean is important to him, so he really appreciated getting to paint for the drain art project. When not creating art, he likes to trail run, watch scary movies, and hang out with his wife and two kids.
TJ Smith
Title: “Clean Waters for Healthy Habitats”
Location: Downtown Fruita at 165 N. Park Square, Fruita, CO 81521
TJ Smith is a multidisciplinary artist rooted in the belief that concept-driven craft yields thought-provoking outcomes. His creative process is a synergetic interplay between printmaking, painting, and large-scale public art, reflecting the natural world through a colorfully contemporary lens.
TJ strives for purity in his craft, allowing remnants of the artist's hand to ground each piece back to the organics process. His work aims to evoke a sense of place and adornment for the natural world, inviting viewers to engage with the message in the same way. Through his art, he seeks to create a dialogue that bridges the gap between nature and modernity, embedding each piece with a sense of authenticity and connection to the wild.
With art and design at his core, TJ founded Stray Wild. A design studio that aims to restore our love for the outdoors through goods and services.
"The reason I submitted a design for this storm drain mural stems from my love of the outdoors and my belief in art as a powerful tool for messaging. With my background in graphic design, I have witnessed firsthand the impact a well-crafted piece can have on its audience. This experience inspired me to create a mural that communicates the importance of clean waters for both us and our wildlife. My goal was to design something that engages the public and delivers a message that is easy to understand and, hopefully, adopt. Ultimately, this mural has the potential to change the habits of a few, contributing to a better relationship with nature. For me, that is a significant victory for both art and the outdoors."
TJ has a solo show at the Art Center until August 30th that focuses on a contemporary portrayal of the natural world. Paintings, print work and process are all displayed in rich color.
Instagram: @whatuptj
Instagram: @straywilder
