BENTONVILLE -- Three more city storm drains may become works of art if the City Council approves artwork designs at its meeting tonight.
The three drains to be painted are near 21c Museum Hotel on Northwest Second Street, near the public parking lot on Northeast Second Street and near the public parking lot on Northwest Second Street.
Web watch
A map of UpStream Art storm drain murals in Bentonville can be viewed here: http://g.co/maps/3c…
Source: Staff Report
The artwork is part of the UpStream Art Program.
UpStream Art is a regional educational program that uses "art to communicate the function and importance of storm drains," according to its website.
The program started in 2011 in Springfield, Mo., and came to Northwest Arkansas in 2012, said Jane Maginot, program associate with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. She oversees the UpStream Art Program.
The goal is to increase education and awareness about storm drains, storm water runoff and the possible pollutants that enter local creeks, Maginot said.
In Bentonville, storm drains flow into McKisic Creek and eventually the Elk River.
Bentonville now has five storm drain murals and has been a partner with the UpStream Art Program since 2012.
The Public Art Advisory Committee reviewed the three proposed designs and have recommended them to the City Council for approval, said Shelli Kerr, planning services manager.
"We didn't initiate it, but it became a good partnership for us regionally to be a part of that process," Kerr said of the program.
One design shows a landscape scene of the Ozark mountains with a river running through them. "Drains to Creek," reads in the landscape's sky.
"The use of one, large flowing body of water signifies that all creeks and streams, no matter the size, are important for maintaining the overall health of Arkansas waterways," the explanation of the design states.
Another design includes a goldfish splashing out of water.
The last shows a rainbow trout and red-ear sunfish kissing. The design includes the words "nothing dirty... drains to creek."
"It is sort of a play on the idea that a little kiss is quite innocent and that they're happy because nothing dirty has entered their stream," the artist explanation reads.
There are 34 storm drain murals in Northwest Arkansas, and 16 will be added this year. That includes the three Bentonville may add if approved by the council.
Of those 16 locations, artists could submit designs for 11 of them. The other five are private projects. Northside Elementary School in Rogers will paint one. Team Springdale will partner with the senior center and Archer Learning Center to paint four.
There were 91 submissions for the 11 public locations, Maginot said.
Maginot uses photos of the storm drain murals as educational tools when speaking in schools and other groups.
"It's been an amazing resource, and it's growing so much," she said.
The Bentonville City Council will meet at 6 tonight at 305 S.W. A St.
NW News on 02/24/2015