July 26, 2024
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Contribute your art to Batavia painted rock garden

By Shaw Local News Network
The Batavia Parks Foundation and Batavia business owner Craig Foltos are sponsoring a 'Peace on Earth' drive to maintain the seasonal sign on the city's bicycle and pedestrian bridge.

The Batavia Park District’s Board of Commissioners has authorized a 8′ x 12′ garden space on the Batavia South Riverwalk Plaza area by the Peace Bridge for a new rock garden, creating the canvas for the new garden area.

BATAVIA – The Batavia Parks Foundation has launched a new painted rock garden initiative to help spread kindness in the community.

In January, the Batavia Park District’s Board of Commissioners authorized an 8-foot-by-12-foot garden space on the Batavia South Riverwalk Plaza area by the Peace Bridge for the new rock garden, creating the canvas for the new garden area.

“The new painted rock garden amplifies efforts of the nearby Peace Bridge by reimagining an existing garden bed,” Britta McKenna, parks foundation president, said in a news release. “Additionally, the use of rocks in the garden is a hat tip to Batavia’s past identity as ‘Rock City,’ when the city was a key limestone quarry hub for the region.”

Batavia’s history of quarrying limestone dates to 1860, when the town was home to as many as 10 operating quarries.

Members of the community are encouraged to paint rocks to be featured in the art installation, according to the release.

Gaining inspiration from the new Batavia flag graphic, the evolving rock garden design concept features a “windmill” inspired portion of the garden as a permanent art installation using pieces of stone, with the “river” section inviting the community to actively contribute their painted rocks year-round with artistic and inspirational messages to share, according to the release.

The community is encouraged to paint rocks at Batavia Parks Foundation’s popups this year.

Is your nonprofit or community organization, school or church interested in painting rocks to contribute to Batavia’s new Rock Garden? Email bataviaparksfoundation@gmail.com to reserve a rock painting kit.

Reserved kits are available for pickup at the Batavia Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson St., Batavia. There is no charge. The project is funded by the Batavia Parks Foundation. Donations are accepted (check or Venmo to Batavia Parks Foundation).

Batavia’s rock garden welcomes contributions from artists of all capabilities. A limited number of painted stones of varying sizes will be selected for the permanent installation portion of the garden. If you would like your rock art to be considered for the permanent installation portion of the new rock garden, please submit a .jpg or .png digital design to bataviaparksfoundation@gmail.com by June 1 to be considered.

Partners and collaborators in Batavia’s new painted rock garden project include the Batavia Park District and Water Street Studios.

Members of the community interested in joining the garden planning team can email bataviaparksfoundation@gmail.com.