The unveiling of paintings around nine City of Warsaw storm drains during First Friday last night was about more than just showing off Grace College student artwork. It also was about educating the community about making daily decisions which protect local waterways. Starting off the unveiling ceremony, Grace College Visual Performing & Media Arts Department Chair Kim Reiff said, “I really want to thank you for this opportunity to be able to share in this collaborative effort. The name of this effort is called ‘The Current Effects: Clean Stormwater Art Project.’” She said the Art Integrations class at Grace began in 2012. It was designed so students could use their faith and artistic skills as part of community. Professor Cindy Bryan has been the champion of the course for the last five years, Reiff said. Over the years, students in the course have done exterior and interior murals as well as Empty Bowls projects to raise money for local food banks. “But this collaboration was a totally different collaboration than any we’ve done before,” Reiff said. At the onset of the project, Bryan gave the students the opportunity to withdrawal because it was going to be hard with the possibility of bad weather. “I can tell you the students did a phenomenal job of sticking with it, and what they did was end up working over 1,500 hours to paint these beautiful images on these drains,” Reiff said. She said students learned patience, how to listen to instructions, humility and working in a team. They also were happy to work on a project that raised awareness for a cause. The project has been a highlight for Grace College and the Visual Performing & Media Arts Department, Reiff said, to come together with the Center for Lakes & Streams and the Center’s director, Dr. Nate Bosch, Urban Water Resources and the City of Warsaw. “I want to say thank you to the City of Warsaw. Thank you to the mayor, thank you to Nate, thank you to Prof. Bryan and all the students for their collaboration and their collaborative effort in this whole project. I’m so pleased and proud to be a part of this journey,” Reiff concluded. Bosch said it was great to collaborate together on the project that involved engineering, art, education, local lakes and streams and all the science behind that, and municipal government. The Center for Lakes & Streams focuses on education, collaboration and research. “This is a great example of collaboration,” he said. After having all the Grace students involved raise their hands and giving them a round of applause, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said he watched the students work from the city hall building. “It was a long process. The weather was sometimes good,” he said. “I’m glad you students didn’t withdrawal. I’m glad you drew. ... So thank you. The quality is incredible. We’re excited to do this.” He thanked the Center for Lakes & Streams, Grace College, his city departments and former Warsaw Stormwater Coordinator Theresa Sailor who was involved in the vision for the project. “It’s certainly raising the awareness of the importance of our lakes as assets to our community that make this a great place to live, and we certainly need to protect them. Thank you, students, first and foremost for your hard work, your beautiful work. Thank you, Grace College,” Thallemer concluded before the art was unveiled. Over 2,000 storm drains in Warsaw carry excess water from rain and melted snow away from the streets, lawns, parks and parking lots, according to a brochure about “Current Effects.” If care is not taken, storm drains may become clogged or carry debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants directly to a lake, stream, river or wetland. Local stormwater is not treated before it enters natural habitats. Pollutants such as cigarette butts, animal waste and chemicals that are emptied into the drains can negatively affect the natural wildlife in the county, the brochure states. The cooperative efforts of the Art Integrations class at Grace College, the Center for Lakes & Streams, Urban Water Resources and the City of Warsaw Stormwater Utility initiated the storm drain art project to educate the community about protecting the local waterways.
