In an initiative that merges civic engagement with public art, Kingsport's Stormwater Department, together with the Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport, have announced the victors of its yearly Storm Drain Art Contest, an event now celebrating its eighth successful year.
The competition aims to splash color on the usual gray of city infrastructure while simultaneously floating the message about the significance of keeping our waterways clean—sure, it's a creative way to tackle a not-so-pretty topic, and it comes with the added perk of a cash prize for the artists.
Paintbrushes at the ready, the selected artists will begin their transformative work on storm drains scattered across the city come the first week of September, with each artist's location and a $150 reward awaiting completion, according to the City of Kingsport announcement.
Lending vibrancy to streets and parking lots around Kingsport, the honored artists and their future canvasses include Trista Demoranville over on Memorial Blvd, Caroline O'Connor at the Gibson Mill Rd roundabout, Mikaela Pyatte by Johnson Elementary on Ormond St, Haley Ragsdale's spot behind the Chamber of Commerce parking lot, and Brenda Salcido who will be brightening the intersection of Market and Revere; these names were pulled from the city's latest dispatch.
Sponsors like Barge Design Solutions, CDM Smith, Mattern & Craig, and Now or Never Gallery Tattoo are backing this synergy of art and environmental advocacy, providing the resources needed for artists to kickstart their projects.
