Rockville, Maryland
Honoring nature with safer streets
The Project
Fern Reclamation by Chalk Riot is a mural on Beall Avenue, created as part of a streetscape initiative to improve safety for all road users. Beall Avenue, a key corridor in Rockville’s Town Center, connects residents to businesses, government offices, and public transit. However, a history of pedestrian and vehicular accidents led to a redesign focused on safety. As the area undergoes transformation under the Town Center Master Plan, Fern Reclamation serves as both public art and a reflection on the intersection of nature, urban life, and sustainability.
Commissioned by the City of Rockville in partnership with VisArts, the artwork features ferns native to Rockville, acknowledging their presence both in the local ecosystem and as part of the fossilized biomass in asphalt and fuel that powers modern transportation. The newly paved street provided an ideal canvas, requiring minimal preparation and paint.
This project embodies our vision of blending art and safety to create spaces that enhance daily life. We envision Beall Avenue as a model for future public art initiatives across Rockville, fostering a more vibrant and connected public realm.
Monique Ashton, Mayor, City of Rockville
Use the slider to see the transformation
Press
Rockville To Unveil Beall Avenue Roadway Safety Mural, Traffic-Calming Improvements Sunday (Bethesda Magazine, November 4, 2024)
Rockville Street Festival Takes Place Sunday, November 10 (The MoCo Show, November 4, 2024)
Beall Avenue Asphalt Art: A Community Celebration Of A Roadway Creation (Rockville Reports, October 29, 2024)
Visarts, In Partnership With The City Of Rockville, Awarded Bloomberg Philanthropies Grant For Asphalt Art Project (East City Art, December 4, 2023)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
