Guest post by David Kosub

Our neighborhood, all tucked away here in upper northeast DC, also lies within the Anacostia River watershed. It regularly reminds me of how connected we are to the rivers in our city. And, this connection is about to get stronger.

Due to the great work of the Lamond-Riggs Citizen Association (LRCA) Environmental Committee, which partnered with the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) to obtain a Community Storm Water Solutions grant from the District Department of Energy and the Environment, we will be receiving some new artistic murals around the community very soon. But, don’t look up, look down at your feet. These pieces of visual art will remind us about the state of the Anacostia River and how we must take strides in our own lives every day to keep the river clean. Last year, AWS and LRCA called for artists of all ages to submit designs for storm drain murals. Submissions were judged on their aesthetic strengths and incorporation of an environmental theme. After the community voted on the designs in December, three winners emerged. Let’s meet the winning artists now…

Lovancy Ingram: As a music teacher and amateur artist, she reflects the beauty of her D.C. hometown in her work. Her piece, entitled “Anacostia Water View” received the most votes from the community (11 votes).

Elizabeth Sampson: With undergraduate and master’s degrees in the field, she currently lives, creates, and teaches art in the District, where she hopes to use visual art to celebrate positive stories in the world. Inspired by the 2018 Anacostia River Heroes, her mural highlights the role of these hardworking individuals in protecting and restoring the Anacostia River. Particular attention is paid to how their hands work in unique ways to help nurture and sustain a healthy river. Entitled “Jahlil Wormley” with 10 votes, this mural depicts the subject  as he catches and releases numerous playfully colored fish, which together represent the importance of imagination as youth work to protect the watershed.

Leila Eguino: A native of Bolivia, Leila completed her undergraduate studies in Art History and Fine Art in Washington D.C.
“Crane” received 8 votes from the community.

Look for these murals to be installed on a nearby storm drain come April 2019, just in time for Earth Day. A couple weeks ago, I met up with a group of neighbors, (Olga and Nick) along with Ariel and Stacy from AWS to scope out the perfect installation sites. After considering factors like foot traffic and visibility, the likely best locations found were around the library along South Dakota Ave NE for these welcomed pieces of art.

Stay tuned for an opportunity to join the artists in person as they install their murals—bringing a splash of artistic flare to our everyday lives while reminding us of just how connected we are to the health of the Anacostia.