TAMPA, Fla. — Every artist has a vision, even if the canvas is unconventional.
“The sun is always a good muse in Florida, being the Sunshine State,” artist Daniel “R5” Barojas said while painting a gradient of the sky on the curb of a Tampa road.
“It's going to be a group of turtles, sea turtles,” artist Dot Marsh said while painting a waterscape in a different location. “I just hope the residents in the area enjoy it."
On Friday, in the neighborhood around Tampa’s Robles Park, a handful of artists were bringing life to the typically mundane concrete storm drains.
“This drain is just for water,” Marsh said. “This needs to be maintained better. As far as the weeds and garbage, I picked up a bag of garbage so hopefully it inspires people that they can do it too.”
Storm drains serve an important role, especially in times like this weekend where heavy rain, even storm surge is projected.
“Water on the streets that comes out into the roadways, runs off somewhere it doesn't go to a water treatment plant. It does eventually end up out into a large water source like Tampa Bay or the Hillsborough River,” said Allan Antolik, deputy director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, the nonprofit that headed up the beautification project.
The works of art won’t just be pretty to look at, they also serve a purpose, letting people know what goes down the drain will end up in Tampa Bay and it could have major impacts on the health and water quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency calls stormwater runoff the top threat to water quality in the country.
“We want people to appreciate the art but also this is kind of our way to catch you into reading the message as well,” Antolik added.
“We are enhancing them and putting in colorful and subtle reminders. Don't throw stuff down these drains,” longtime Tampa artist Terry Klaaren said.
With some paint and some brushes, that simple message will hopefully shine.
The Storm Drain Art Local Artist Initiative was funded by a $10,000 grant from the city of Tampa to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
Similar storm drain art can be seen in the Seminole Heights neighborhood, as well.