Storm Drain Art
Paint, motor oil, litter, and anything poured down storm drains washes into and pollutes lakes and oceans. This includes trash, gum or pretty much anything man-made that ends up in a storm drain. Start an art competition, the winner of which is invited to paint his or her design around a local storm drain. The art project and the resulting art will raise local awareness of this important issue and hopefully decrease the amount of pollution of any kind that is finding its way into your water system.
How do I get started? We’ve included some helpful tips in our Stand Out from the Pack - Done in a Day PDF.
How do I expand this narrative arc? Thinking Community Engagement + Environment + Art:
Decorate a local basketball court with Project Backboard
Enhance your community’s beauty with Guerrilla Gardening
Reduce the pollutants in your soil by planting a community Sunflower Garden
HOT TIP: Artistic teens have so many opportunities to put their skills to go use in community impact projects. This project will have a wonderful aesthetic impact on your community. Beyond that, it’s an opportunity for you to work on developing some other critical, “soft” skills that will help you navigate the remainder of high school, college and beyond. You’ll have to communicate with local leaders and residents, organize and execute the project and, ideally, promote your work afterward. It’s also a fantastic way to do something different and set yourself apart from the other talented artists in your community.