The Mystic River Mural Project began in 1996, when I worked with a group of high school students in Somerville to explore the wildlife, history, and environmental issues around the Mystic River watershed and then paint a large mural on panels that were installed on the concrete retaining wall for I-93. This became an ongoing project, resulting in an enormous mural about the watershed that is enlarged every summer with the work of new students.

This mural is painted directly on a wall of a conference room at the Water Science Building of The University of Wisconsin. The theme is the study of water science including biology, hydrology, limnology, and chemistry. The image of the hands holding water in the shape of Lake Mendota evokes stewardship of water as a vital goal of science. It was funded by the Wisconsin Art Board, through the Percent for Art Program.