Nature as Inspiration, a Mural for Education

Creating National Aquarium Harbor Wetland presented by CFG Bank was a noisy process: the clanging of pile drivers, the whirring of drills and, for a few weeks, the hissing of spray paint cans. Above the water's surface, Nether, a local artist, was busy bringing the harbor's hidden world to life. By the end, an expansive mural showcasing some of Maryland's most iconic creatures towered over the floating wetland.

Much of Nether's work strives to shed light on societal and cultural issues. Harbor Wetland's mural is no different. In it, students depicted taking water samples and measuring water quality frame bubbles, fish, birds and crabs. It's this human element and interconnectedness that Nether hopes will resonate with people. While he routinely draws inspiration from and integrates nature into his work, his enthusiasm for this project stemmed from what Harbor Wetland is: an environmental action to restore a key Chesapeake habitat to our overdeveloped harbor.

Marylanders have long taken pride in everything from blue crabs and rockfish to terrapins and orioles, going so far as to tie those creatures into their regional identity. But those species, like those in the harbor, rely on healthy ecosystems to thrive. Nether hopes his mural helps foster an appreciation for wildlife and habitats and increases awareness of actions people can take to care for the Chesapeake Bay.