- Public Involvement & Education
- Storm Water Program
- Watershed Programs
- Conservation Easements
- Soil Fertility Analysis
IT'S RAINING ART
What is
Rain Barrel
Art?
The Cuyahoga SWCD
has 28 artists who donated their time, money and amazing talent
to paint rain barrels for us! Thank you to all the artists!
The painted barrels are being displayed around the county at various
locations listed below.
There is an on-line auction to bid on the barrels. Minimum donation
is $100.
Bids will be posted within 24 hours next to the barrel on this site.
Please check back for the most current bid.
Send in your bid(s) to Amy Roskilly at aroskilly@cuyahogaswcd.org or call 216/524-6580, ext. 22. Please indicate which barrel(s) you are bidding on.
The auction runs from June 15th - September 30th. The highest bid on
September 30th will be the winner of that barrel (including diverter
kit). You will have a beautiful functional rain barrel to
use at your home.
All proceeds from this auction go to benefit the district's
education programs including Forestry Camp, Envirothon competitions,
teachers workshops, etc.
Thank you for your bid!
BIRD and BIRD
Artist: Tiffany Laufer
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Richmond Heights City Hall
26789 Highland Road
Richmond Heights, OH 44143
Artists statement:
Did you know there are 9,865 bird species that exist in the world
today and northeast Ohio is a one of the best known spots in the
nation to see migrating birds. Ohio`s list of 412 bird species
includes 41 waterfowl, 20 hawks and falcons, 47 shorebirds, 30
larids, 12 owls, 10 woodpeckers, and 41 warblers. Due to our
proximity of Lake Erie we are in luck indeed because this area is a
major migratory stopover. This barrel is dedicated to the beautiful
bird and serves as a reminder for us all to promote protecting
migratory paths and in our every day to use less pesticides and to
try embrace practices that ensure these animals can exist along side
us. 1,227 bird species are considered threatened with
extinction and 838 species are near threatened. The remaining 7,735
species are considered to be of least concern (which is nice to
think most are safe), and 65 species lack the data to determine
their status. Since 1500, 133 species of birds are known to have
gone extinct.
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BUGGY BUG
WORLD
Artist: Katherine Bulava
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Brooklyn Library
4480 Ridge Road
Cleveland, OH 44144
Artists statement:
The inspiration for this design came to me as I was working
on planting my berry garden. A bug of some sort crawled up
my shorts, causing me to dance around trying to get it back
out. Suddenly, the presence of these tiny creatures seemed
larger than life. (Spray paint and acrylic)
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CATABOLIC ANAHILISTS
Artists:
Jonathan Clemente & Daniel Clemente
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Greenhouse Tavern
2038 East 4th Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
Artists statement:
The barrel highlights some of the generative and regenerative
processes characteristic of biological functions. Catabolic
processes are degradative breaking down larger components into
smaller ones and are noted by a release of energy. Anabolic
processes often illustrate a build up from smaller to larger
components and are often endergonic or energy absorbing. My barrel
illustrates some of these processes.
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CLEAN
RIVER
Artists:
Crystal Olesen & Whitney Mills
(Grade
12, Rocky River High School)
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Rocky River Civic Center
21014 Hilliard Blvd.
Rocky River, OH 44116
Artists statement:
The simple flowing forms and cool blue-green color palette of this
river scene represent our Ohio natural environment. The painting
is a reminder of our responsibility to preserve the purity of our
rivers, forests and air.
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DAWN OF A DAY
Artist:
Sandra Kugenieks
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Tower City
230 West Huron
Cleveland, OH 44113
Artists statement:
The stars dim as a golden glow begins to peak over the horizon. A
final nocturnal hoot of an owl drifts off into the silence as the
eastern skies lighten in a changing display of yellows, oranges and
pinks. A cool mist blankets the shadows in a futile attempt to ward
off the day. Then a sleepy songbird's melodic tune breaks the
stillness. The gentle rustling of leaves on the forest floor reveals
a pair of squirrels already at play. Slowly but relentlessly the
world begins to awaken. It is the dawn of a new day. A new day that
will bring with it limitless opportunities to help preserve the
peace and tranquility that the earth has to offer. A new day where
we can sensibly harvest Mother Nature's bounty. A new day where we
can take her offerings and use them in a way that leaves the world a
kinder and gentler place.
_________________________________________________
ESTHER THE
ACCORDIAN LADY
Artists:
Stephen Greenberg, APS Euclid Adult Activities Center with
the assistance of: Thomas Thurman, Mark Ivey & Patty Swanson
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Rocky River Nature Center
24000 Valley Parkway
North Olmsted,OH 44070
Artists statement:
It is comprised of color-fast tissue paper, repurposed buttons,
beads, ceramic tile, glass tile, repurposed magazine images,
glitter, repurposed jig-saw puzzle pieces and whatever else was
handy. It is coated with 5 layers of sealant and made with much love
and eccentric devotion.
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A FEW OF MY
FAVORITE THINGS
Artists:
Jo Anna Cobb & Henry Heasely
PICTURE COMING SOON
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Garfield Heights Civic Center
5407 Turney Road
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
BARREL WILL BE IN PLACE SOON....
Artists statement:
Rather than do a portrait, or landscape, this design is simply a
collaboration of all the things myself and my family look forward to
seeing when in our beloved metro parks system.
The parks are directly affected by the immediate watershed area, and
I have seen them decline greatly in the past 25 or so yrs. It is my
most sincere hope that our children, and future generations to come
are able to enjoy our abundance of natural resources here in the
Cleveland area. If we all do our part, the animals and plant life
depicted in this design will be able to thrive instead of becoming a
distant memory of times past!
_______________________________________________________
FISH
Artist:
Cristina Rivera
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Notre Dame College
4545 College Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
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FLORA
Artist:
Susan Thorpe
Current bid: $100
Display location:
TBD
Artists statement:
I will be the gladdest thing.
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers.
And not pick one.
Edna St. Vincent, Millay
In the same way that Ms. Millay's poem will not harm a flower, we, too, with our rain barrels will nourish them while conserving the water for other living things.
_______________________________________________
GROWOHIO
Artist:
Gwen Forte
Current bid: $100
Display location:
University Suburban Health Center
1611 South Green Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
Artists statement:
This rain barrel was painted to complement the launch of
Growhio's redesigned website, which was created by
thunder::tech. The barrel design mimics the background of
the redesigned website and includes Growhio's logo. Growhio
is an initiative that arose from the Sustainable Cleveland
2019 summit. Growhio is a marketing, branding and
educational resource for local food in Northeast Ohio.
Growhio is dedicated to strengthening and supporting all
aspects of the local food economy and connecting consumers
to our local food system. For more information, please
visit
growhio.org.
___________________________________________________
HARNESSED WIND
Artists:
Drew
Mocarski, Mike Manocchio,
Michael Fantone & Jamal Teague
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Mayfield Heights Community Center
6306 Marsol Road
Cleveland, OH 44124
Artists statement:
The design which wraps
all the way around the barrel, shows old fashioned windmills in a
Dutch folk art landscape setting. We wanted to show the evolution of
wind power as an environmentally friendly clean energy source in our
modern world but one that is essentially being revisited and was
used extensively in the past.
_______________________________________________
JUST DUCKY
Artist:
Holly Brenton
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Parmatown Mall
7899 W. Ridgewood Drive
Parma, OH 44129
Artists statement:
I
imagined if you could see inside my rain barrel, what would there
be? A family of ducks has snuck inside and is playing in the
water. My painting is a trompe-l’oeil, as if it was see-through and
you could see inside.
_______________________________________________
JUST LIKE YOU
Artists:
Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Green Road
Developmental Center): Brittany Randolph, Cierra White,
Rachel BeyLinson, Jack Johnson, Dylan McCormick, Preston King,
Derrick Lincoln, Chris Komrovsky, Anthony Mooreland, Marco Reese,
Paola Paredes, Arna Stennett, Teachers Assistant
Emile
B. De Sauze Contemporary Academy:
Deja Huff, Danielle Jackson, John
Robinson, Willie Parker, Ramia Wilson, Trayqwon Hogans, Eric
Johnson, Arnijah Billingslea, A'keyah Linear, Brianna Irby, Nicole
Webster, Alverez Forbes, Jamir Smith, Niya Gray, Tavionna Clayton,
Delvin Lino
PICTURE COMING SOON
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Beachwood Community Center
25325 Fairmount Blvd.
Beachwood, OH 44122
BARREL WILL BE IN PLACE SOON....
Artists statement:
"Just Like You" painting is done by
children with disabilities and non-disabled children from Cuyahoga
County Board of Development Disability and Emile B. De Sauze
Cleveland school. "Just Like You" painting represents children
with disabilities who are just like those without disabilities. "I
can paint just like you."
Students from Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Emile B.
deSauze Elementary, worked on this rain barrel with students from
the Green Road Development Center. We all created ideas and
collaborated as artist Joy Roliff transferred certain selected
images onto the rain barrel. All students had a chance to paint the
barrel.”
____________________________________
LIQUID
LIFE
Artists:
Lisa Anne Stella
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Berea, OH
BARREL WILL BE IN PLACE SOON....
Artists statement:
My design for the rain
barrel is to remind us and to promote the awareness of water, how it
affects not only human life but animal, plant and ocean life as
well.
_________________________________________
THE LITTLE PRINCE
Artists:
John-Michael Langa & the Beaumont
French Club - Deanna Thompson, Ashley Akins,
Jenna Langa & Marie Hopkins
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Broadview Heights, OH
BARREL WILL BE IN PLACE SOON....
Artists statement:
The
source of inspiration for our rain barrel is the book Le Petit
Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a book we
read in French class. The Little Prince travels the universe in
search of love and companionship. The book is about embracing the
inner child, appreciating the little things in life, being
non-judgmental, and loving others. The image we have painted on our
barrel represents people who are happy and jumping for joy in
celebration of life. They are splashing in the water and reaching
for the stars. We were inspired by the quote: ‘L’eau peut aussi
être bonne pour le cœur…comme un cadeau’ which translates as ‘Water
is good for the heart…like a gift.’ Life is good! An abundance of
happiness can be found in the simplest things, like a star, a
flower, or a little bit of water.
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LIVE SIMPLE
Artist:
Diane Zizka
PICTURE COMING SOON
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Brecksville City Hall
9069 Brecksville Road
Brecksville, OH 44141
BARREL WILL BE IN PLACE SOON....
Artists statement:
This rain
barrel, painted by fine artist Diane Zizka, is done in acrylic and
uses a paisley design motif to represent things in nature that are
associated with the rain barrel such as flower petals, rain drops or
leaves. A paisley motif was chosen also because it is a personal
favorite of Zizka's. The concept "Live Simple" is a common theme or
idea in most of Zizka's fine art. This idea is something she
strongly feels would improve the quality of life for everyone as a
whole, taking take less, using less and needing less. A rain barrel
in itself is exactly the sort of thing Zizka would like to see more
people using as a way of the individual doing simple things in their
own lives to help improve the quality of life for everyone as a
whole and therefore offered to paint this rain barrel.
__________________________________________
LOOKING UP
Artist:
Dana Hercbergs
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Seven Hills Civic Center
7777 Summitview Drive
Seven Hills, OH 44131
Artists statement:
The rain collected by
this barrel comes from above. Yet, rarely do we note the sky and
pause to take in the elements. This design is inspired by a moment
at a stop light, when I looked up from the road to appreciate the
composition that lay overhead. As water conservation is concerned
with awareness of the environment and its cyclical patterns, I
thought it apt to cover this barrel with a scene that connects earth
and the skies.
_______________________________________________
NO ADDED PRESERVATIVES
Artist:
Mary
C. Nicholson
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Highland Heights Community Center
5827 Highland Road
Highland Heights, OH 44143
Artists statement:
The natural elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water, are the inspiration
for my barrel design. I wanted to convey the use of these natural
elements in our daily lives. For example, the use of this rain
barrel to reuse and recycle the rain water to for yards and gardens;
conserves water. Instead of using fossil fuels, wind turbines and
the sun are used to produce clean, renewable natural energy. Using
the good earth to grow organic foods helps eliminate the use
of chemicals and steroids that lead to illness and obesity.
Ultimately, by living in harmony with nature and wisely using
nature’s elements, we will improve our daily lives, and have a
positive impact on future generations.
___________________________________________
OHIO MEANS LARGE RIVER
Artists:
Robert O'Lexa & Michele McBride
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Tower City
230 West Huron
Cleveland, OH 44113
Artists statement:
Inspired by ancient cave
and rock paintings from many different places on our planet, we feel
that water = life and is our most precious resource. The barrel
reflects purity - and the primal life-sustaining properties that
connect us to water. Many people in certain parts of the world have
no access to clean drinking water, if any at all. We are very
blessed to have the vast system of watersheds, rivers and the Great
Lake that we do.
_________________________________________________________________
PEACE AT HOME
Artists:
Sharon Slylar Cataldo
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Middleburg Heights
Location coming soon...
Artists statement:
Saving the environment
one rain barrel at a time. This is my place in paradise, my dream
home. The trees clean the air and offer a cool breeze. The flowers
offer beauty for all to see and nectar for the bees so they can make
honey. A place to relax and reflect on the times. The birds make
beautiful music so early in the morning and late at night when all
is quiet. Take a sail on the lake and, above all, take time to help
save the environment for future generations.
______________________________________________
THE RAIN MAKER
Artists:
Greg Justus
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
Artists statement:
As
an artist very interested in the Native American culture, it wasn’t
difficult to know the direction I was going to take . When I think
of different cultures tied into the earth on both a spiritual and
resource level, Native Americans are the first people who come to my
mind. Along with admiring their spirituality, I’m also very drawn to
the symbols, patterns & color choices used in all aspects of their
culture, from clothing to living quarters. The mystery of symbols &
what they might mean are great for conversation & speculation for
any artwork. Along with this Native American influence and obviously
being highly addicted to color, I rely on the modern art concept of
using paint as a subject matter. As you get up close to the work,
you’ll find paint splashes and very thick lines of paint, most of
which were applied directly out of the tube. The focus goes from the
image to the paint itself. Nothing pleases me more than seeing
someone being drawn into my work, not being able to resist the
temptation to touch the work because of their desire to feel the
texture and thick paint lines. Recycling one of the earth’s greatest
resources, water, even with such a simple invention as a rain
barrel, I believe would make any culture proud.
________________________________________________________________________
RAINING HOPE
Artists:
Gina Washington & Matilda Washington
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Brooklyn Library - Cleveland Branch
3706 Pearl Road
Cleveland, OH 44109
Artists statement:
We were inspired by the South African Ndbele Tribe. Ndbele
is now a form of art created and crafted by the women and
handed down from mother to daughter. It is bold geometric
designs painted on the outside (and inside) of their homes.
Those designs are messages to the community. We have kept
our message to our community simple and to the point with
stylized animals and heavy raindrops. Water
conservation is one of the keys to our survival. With this
barrel we are two generations paying our respects to
humanity in every stroke of the brush.
________________________________________________
ROUNDABOUT
Artist:
Bob Peck
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Independence Civic Center
6363 Selig Drive
Independence, OH 44131
Artists statement:
Coming from a graffiti art/street art background from my teenage years, I decided to apply this form of art to my rain barrel. My thought process was, in the last 20 years or so, graffiti art has gained integrity as an art form and has moved from an urban environment into every facet of living. It can be seen everywhere. From fine art galleries in upscale neighborhoods to the stretches of the outer-ring suburbs, printed on children's skateboards. This too can be said about gardening. Often thought of as something that dwells mainly in suburban backyards and rural areas, large-scale and elaborate garden scenes are making their way into dense inner-city/urban environments and becoming a natural part of city living. My idea was to have the two meet head-on. Krylon meets chrysthanthemum, living harmoniously.
_____________________________________________
SEASCAPE
Artist:
The Cleveland School of Architecture and Design at John Hay,
Cynthia T. Greene – Art Teacher
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Euclid City Hall
585 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123
Artists statement:
The students
created a very unique & colorful design for their rain
barrel. The barrel depicts underwater life which is
symbolic of the school. In the seascape you see a racing
school of fish, representative of our students’ hectic
schedules & eagerness to learn. A forest green sea turtle
represents the students’ uniforms & the school colors. The
mountainous coral reef reminds us of how our high school
towers above most schools in its educational excellence.
Look closer & see that the coral reef is home to many sea
creatures including an electric eel slithering out of a cave
& a scuba diver who has just discovered a manta ray. The
bright colors of the coral reef bring the sea to life, just
as the academic curriculum of John Hay galvanizes the
students & all their dreams. Lastly the Kraken depicts the
most important quality of the John Hay Campus. This cosmic
sea creature represents the unity that staff & students have
with each other. It represents the goal of success that both
the staff & students want & are committed to achieve. Each
tentacle holds an item related to our students’ lives
including paint brushes, laptop computer, book, sports
balls, t-square, flask, “cephalopod” (ipod) & most
importantly, a John Hay diploma.
__________________________________________
STARS,
STRIPES
AND SPLATTER
Artists:
Girl Scout Troop 70460 - Nicole Fiorelli, Rachel Franks,
Celestial McDonald-Burke, Veronica Victor & Taylor Wilson
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Mayfield Village Community Center
6306 Marsol Road
Cleveland, OH 44124
Artists statement:
Our rain barrel represents creativity and uniqueness. The
girls all worked together to come up with a design that
somehow represented all of them. They worked meticulously
and shared many laughs while learning how much teamwork can
accomplish. As the adult representative of this troop, I
take pride in knowing that the girls did their best and
worked their hardest. We hope that people will enjoy what we
have been able to create and that others will see the value
in our rain barrel.
________________________________________________
UNDERWATER LIFE
Artists:
Albie Weiss, Maggie Weiss,
Cass Weiss & Rachel Weiss
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Lake Erie Nature
& Science Center
28728 Wolf Road
Bay Village, OH 44140
Artists statement:
The design we
chose was created spontaneously. One afternoon my 3
daughters and I got together to paint the rain barrel. Our
theme was underwater life. We felt that theme is
appropriate because the use of rain barrels actually helps
life on the planet. Also, my daughter, Cass and I are avid
scuba divers. We all painted at the same time and kept
moving around the barrel until we were done.
__________________________________________________________________
WONDERFUL IN WATERLAND
Artist:
Beth Bryan
Current bid: $100
Display location:
Tower City
230 West Huron
Cleveland, OH 44113
Artists statement:
Layers and layers and layers of archetypes define us and unite us.
This barrel not only represents the majesty of water and its uniting
elements, but the importance of conservation. In light of the
current situation on the Gulf coast, we must respect and care for
the water and the wildlife it supports, as it supports and sustains
us as well. in 2009, my single rain barrel collected enough rain
water to water my large garden for the whole summer without the use
of any city water. I would love for this barrel to inspire others
to engage in this simple act of conservation by buying and using a
rain barrel.
______________________________________________