Ridgewood Artist Transforms Street Corner Into 'Extraordinary' Mural

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A newly painted mural on display near a Ridgewood park will hopefully draw attention to the importance of storm drains, the sponsor said in a release.

The mural, painted by Ridgewood artist Athena Maxwell, will be on display near Van Neste Memorial Park for about a month, the sponsor worldFLATS — a local vegetarian restaurant that prides itself on being a community steward — said.

A result of months of collaboration between worldFLATS founder Nvair Beylerian, local branch co-owner Jeanne Johnson and artist Maxwell, the "storm drain mural" is the first of its kind in the village, and is located at the corner of East Ridgewood Avenue and North Walnut Street. It was unveiled on Earth Day last Saturday.

The painting, the worldFLATS founder said, will desirably help illustrate the "critical connection" between Ridgewood's storm drainage infrastructure and its local waters.

"Stenciling storm drains is an effective way to inform people about the importance of keeping our storm drains free of debris to keep our waterways clean," Beylerian said of the art design trend.

"Anything that goes down the drain ends up in our lakes, rivers, and the ocean, harming our waters and wildlife."

Beylerian added that his hope is that the mural prompts questions, educates people, and, ultimately, inspire behavioral change.

“What do you see when you think of a storm drain?" he queried."The concrete of the street, perhaps a metal grate? People too often don’t think of what it truly is - a pathway to our local rivers, lakes, or the Atlantic Ocean."

After reviewing designs from other areas, and working with Beylerian and Johnson, Maxwell — an AP art teacher at Ridgewood High School and village resident — created the mural, which features New Jersey symbols, such as the eastern goldfinch (state bird) and the honeybee (state bug).

Maxwell, who said she believes in "the power of the collective to increase our voices," is a Ridgewood public schools alum who has been creating artwork and working in the community throughout her career, the release said.

In addition to Maxwell, other people and organizations from Ridgewood helped make the project possible, including Matthew Rossi — owner of Ridgewood paint store Rossi's — and numerous public officials.

In drawing attention to storm drains and their impact on the ecosystem through this mural, Maxwell's sponsor said the artist has, in effect, "transformed this ordinary (infrastructure element) into the extraordinary."