A new mural called Our Water, Our Future was unveiled on Wednesday at the Burlington Water Resources building.
Eight young artists completed a four-week residency to create a permanent piece of public art for the city of Burlington. The mural, titled “Our Water, Our Future: A Story of Memory, Stewardship, and Continuity,” was unveiled Wednesday, November 4, at the Burlington Water Resources building located at 235 Penny Lane.
The project was part of the second year of the Burlington City Arts youth artist apprenticeship program, which provides 16-to-21-year-old artists with paid mentorship and professional experience. Working alongside Juniper Creative Arts, the apprentices studied the pipes, pumps, sewers, and storm drains that maintain Burlington’s water systems to depict how clean water reaches the city and how those systems protect Lake Champlain.
Artists learn about water infrastructure for mural project
The mural serves as a visual exploration of the connection between the city and the lake. During the residency, the eight artists learned about the mechanics of the local water infrastructure to inform their work. This project was funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through an assistance agreement to NEIWPCC, in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak noted that the mural reflects what the community can achieve through investing in young people. Meghan Moyer, the division director of water resources for the DPW, observed that the artwork demonstrates how the story of the city’s water resources “extends far beyond just the pipes and pumps that are in this building or other buildings.”
A permanent community resource
The “Our Water, Our Future” mural is a new addition to the city’s public art collection and will remain on display at the Water Resources building. Colin Storrs, the public art and grants program manager for BCA, described the unveiling as a way to celebrate how the community can come together into a great resource.
“I think I’m just proud of the work that was put into it by me and the other people and I think it came out really good,” said artist Navin Bywaters.
