A New Landmark Inspires Connections to Nature Through Art
Sacramento-based artists, Molly Devlin and Stephen Williams, have been commissioned by the River District to paint a monumental 100-foot long mural along the Two Rivers Bike Trail less than a mile east of the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers.
The mural is titled “Rivers in Bloom” and showcases native flora and fauna throughout the seasons. Starting at the west side of the artwork blue leaves float along the surface (winter) and then morph into green clovers and yellow flowers (spring), pink and magenta flowers and a bumble bee (summer), and end on the east side of the wall with fall leaves and fungi in shades of orange and yellow (fall). The images are larger than life and magnified so that the details can be seen from a distance while traveling by foot or bike on the trail.
“The mural will be an eye-catching work of art that enhances the experience of being out on the trail, complimenting the natural surroundings of the river and bringing bright color and beauty to the trail year-round,” says Devin Strecker, Executive Director of the Sacramento River District.
The collaborative team of Devlin and Williams have been painting murals inspired by their relationship to the natural world for more than a decade resulting in the production of multiple murals throughout the region.
Work on the mural is expected to begin in March, lasting about three weeks depending on the weather. Bike riders attending the River District annual community event, Trails in Bloom, on April 25th will get a chance to see the completed mural as they ride along the Two Rivers Bike Trail to Hanami Line for the community celebration.
The project is made possible through a partnership between the River District, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Work Release Division Office and the Sacramento County. The County’s Office of Economic Development coordinated the public art review process for the mural on County-owned property.
“Public art plays an important role in shaping vibrant community spaces,” said Crystal Bethke, Director of Sacramento County’s Office of Economic Development. “We’re proud to support projects like this by helping coordinate art installations on County-owned property that reflect the character of our region.”
Follow @River.District on Instagram to see the artist’s progress on the mural.
