Talk About Street Art!

Litter, yard waste, soapy water and a whole host of contaminants flow into rivers, creeks and other waterways each day via storm drains.

Photos courtesy of SEAL-KRETE

Artist John H. White applies SEAL-KRETE Clear-Seal to his storm drain mural titled “Fragile Swan.”

SEAL-KRETE (St. Louis), a manufacturer of weatherproofing protection products for concrete and masonry, joined the James River Basin Partnership and the city of Springfield (Mo.) Storm Water Services Division in embarking on a mission to raise awareness about issues surrounding water quality and the role urban stormwater plays in that quality.

The “Storm Drain Reveal” initiative called for the transformation of 10 downtown storm drains in Springfield into public murals as reminders of the storm drains’ connection to waterways.

“Open Mouth Fish” by Artist Laura Lynch.

According to the organization’s website, the James River Basin Partnership is a grassroots, not-for-profit association founded in 1997 that seeks to improve and protect the water quality of the springs, streams, rivers, and lakes in the James River Watershed, which consists of almost 1 million acres of land in seven counties in the Ozarks of southwestern Missouri.

All the storm drains chosen for the program lead to Jordan Creek, a tributary of Wilson’s Creek. Wilson’s Creek drains into the James River, which flows into Table Rock Lake, the partnership said.

The local artists were charged with creating a piece of artwork that reflected the path of stormwater, hence the wildlife and water exhibited in the murals.

The “Busy Beavers” sketch was submitted by Kevin Jennings and completed by Artists John H. White and Michele Ellison.

Photographs of the finished products were displayed at the Canvas Art Gallery in Springfield.

Sealed Artwork

Each work of art was protected with a premium low-gloss concrete sealer manufactured by SEAL-KRETE. The company’s Clear-Seal protects and seals painted, stained or bare concrete, the company says.

The durable, urethane-fortified acrylic sealer is low odor and low VOC, the company says. It dries to a low-gloss finish to retain the natural look of the concrete. The product also resists chlorine, salt, chemicals, and UV rays, and repels stains and spills.