DOVER, DE, Aug. 14, 2015 -- According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), rain barrels that have won distinction from the organization for the artists who painted them in the Division of Watershed Stewardship's Rain Barrel Contest have now been placed on display in prominent public locations around the state.
DNREC sponsors the rain-barrel art painting contest and a youth competition annually to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality. Sixteen participants were chosen to give their artistic touch to the contest based on their applications, design ideas and site placements.
Individuals or teams chosen each received a fully-assembled, primed 55-gallon plastic barrel, topcoat and bubble wrap; they supplied their own paint, brushes and other materials or tools. They then had five weeks to finish their artistry and submit final photographs and information, as well as a short biography of themselves.
Grand-prize winners Debbie Hegedus and Rowena Macleod painted "Egret/Deer & Water: The Interconnectedness of All Living Things," focusing on the dependence of all forms of life on water, with the goal of spurring action to conserve and protect our precious water supply. Their winning barrel (shown) is on display -- and in use -- at Woodburn, the Governor's Residence in Dover.
Other barrels by the following artists can be seen at the locations that follow the titles of their work:
- Amber Davis, "Mountain-scape Daydream," Dover Public Library
- Barbara Ann Aro, "The Sunflower,"” Brandywine State Park, Wilmington
- Bruce McKinney (finalist), "The Dog," Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, Seaford
- Connie Newby (finalist), "Bringhurst Woods Along Shellpot Creek,"” Brandywine State Park, Wilmington
- Darla Blaesing, "Rain Barrel Pleas for Our Seas," Sanford School, Hockessin
- Gerilyn Gaskill, "Go to the Delaware Shore," The Center for Inland Bays, Rehoboth Beach, "Decked Out" event silent auction item
- Kathi Schiavoni, "Scattering Wishes," Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, Radiation Department, Christiana
- Kim Littleton, "Preserving Delaware Beaches," Delaware Watersheds Annual Facebook Giveaway contest (next spring)
- Laura Finamore, "Natural Resources Are Easy to Take for Granted." Town of Blades, Town Hall
- Monika Bullette, "Sentinel," Cape Henlopen State Park, The Seaside Nature Center, Lewes
- Nancy Poinsett (finalist), "Rainwater - Nature's Priceless Collectible," Milford Public Library
- Natalie Wipf, "Fireflies at Dusk," Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, Dover
- Stephanie Przybylek (finalist), "Water World," Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton
- Tina Walls, "Down Under," East Coast Garden Center, Millsboro
- Yolanda Chetwynd, "Water Is Life Kenya," Water Is Life Kenya, Newark
See also:
"DNREC now accepting grant proposals for wastewater, surface water project planning"
"DNREC accepting applications for wastewater, drinking water asset mgmt program"
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