A unique art project with an environmental message can be seen around businesses and other buildings around Erie.  More than 30 local artists decorated rain barrels that are installed around the city as part of the "Don't Give Up the Drip" campaign.

This unique project lead by the Erie County Conservation District and Environment Erie was coordinated with the Erie Art Museum to help the public learn about water conservation and how to prevent nonpoint source pollution in a way that is fun and interesting.

 It also helps to increase customer traffic at participating businesses and supports the strong art community in the Erie area. 

The project has been such a success that members of the public have been buying plain rain barrels from the Conservation District and commissioning the artists to decorate the barrels for placement at their homes.

The project was supported with funding from DEP’s Office of the Great Lakes and Coastal Resources Management Program.

The rain barrels were officially revealed at the Erie Home and Garden Expo on March 18, but are still being installed at locations around Erie.

For more information, visit the Erie County Conservation District’s "Don't Give Up the Drip"  webpage.

(Photo: Kristin Currier with the Erie Conservation District and Timothy Bruno, chief of DEP's Office of the Great Lakes, pose beside a rain barrel created by artist Bryan Toy.  It was installed at the district's office.)

(Reprinted from June 9 DEP News. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

6/13/2016