The words "green stormwater infrastructure" rarely inspire thoughts of bright colors or vibrant, playful themes. Raleigh artist Adriana Ameigh's latest public art project may change that. Ms. Ameigh recently completed two murals on the Biltmore Hills Park rainwater cisterns that highlight the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions.
"There were a couple of things I wanted to convey," she said. "My work is usually very abstract or has a lot of botanical themes. Nature inspires a lot of my art. Nature is always there. It's always colorful. It's very vibrant. It has a level of resilience that's amazing. You can lose a whole forest to fire and it comes back. A storm can strip a forest but it comes back. There is this undeniable tie in with nature. We need that connection and resilience. We need that reflected in our community. It's a good reminder that we can always make it to the next day."
Ms. Ameigh was drawn to the project because of the green stormwater infrastructure which includes rain gardens and cisterns. The infrastructure reduces the stormwater runoff reaching the creek that flows through the park and from Biltmore Hills and Rochester Heights neighborhoods. When implemented, green stormwater infrastructure helps mitigate downstream flooding and pollution.
"It's a different way to use nature-based solutions to prevent erosion and pollution," she said. "This is next to a playground for kids, so I wanted to convey those natural elements, but I also wanted it to be accessible for kids. So I used bright colors and illustrations that would be inviting to kids and could be easily seen from a distance."
Project Partners
The mural project is a partnership between the City of Raleigh and the Water Resources Research Institute. The institute coordinates the Walnut Creek Wetlands Community Partnership, which provides a forum for sharing and collaborating on initiatives to support people and nature around the wetlands.
WRRI received grants from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the North Carolina Department of Justice for its partnership with the City of Raleigh. The project was for the design and implementation of green stormwater infrastructure at Biltmore Hills Park. The murals were included in the project plan to make the cisterns a beautiful addition to the community center as well.
About the Artist
Adriana Ameigh is a Puerto Rican abstract painter, sculptor, and muralist based in Raleigh. She creates dynamic artwork that balances movement, tactile textures, and uplifting colors. Her work invites the viewer to take a closer look to discover the optimistic stories embedded within. With a multicultural background, and a fascination for Caribbean and southeastern flora and fauna (above and beneath the water’s surface), her work incorporates textures and shapes that evoke feelings of joy, playfulness, and tranquility.