We are happy to announce our new mural project along Riverwalk at the Main Street bridge. This display of artwork by local students brightens up the underpass and adds an additional attraction for those walking the path. In addition to showing off the talents of our younger residents, the art also celebrates the North River and its role in our life here in Bridgewater.
We invited four schools that serve our families each to design and paint a panel for the mural project. Art students at John Wayland Elementary, Wilbur Pence Middle, Turner Ashby High, and Blue Ridge Christian Schools all contributed to the display.
“Our students have been excited to work on this mural!” said Erin Whetzel, art teacher at Turner Ashby. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity that the Town of Bridgewater has given our Art Department and other area schools to help bring some extra color and life to the Riverwalk downtown and most importantly… [to give] back to our community in the process.”
After the schools completed their pieces of art, we finished the panels with protective coatings and installed them in the frames alongside Riverwalk. The riverside area is, as you know, subject to occasional flooding, so the use of panels, as opposed to painting murals directly on the bridge supports, ensures that we can remove the art panels for safekeeping in times when flooding is anticipated.
Along with many of you, we recognized the need to brighten up the underpass to make Riverwalk more enjoyable, so we are very thankful for the help of our local schools and students to make that happen. We hope you enjoy seeing the work of our students the next time you are out on Riverwalk!