Geauga Soil & Water Repurposes Rain Barrels
Cornfields in Geauga County might seem mundane to most, but they sparked inspiration for artist Beth Halasz’s piece in the 2024 Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District rain barrel yard art campaign.
Cornfields in Geauga County might seem mundane to most, but they sparked inspiration for artist Beth Halasz’s piece in the 2024 Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District rain barrel yard art campaign.
Surrounded by cornfields in Hambden Township, Halasz, a medical illustrator and associate professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art, said her painted barrel, titled, “Summer’s Sweet Signs,” was her way of contributing to the beauty around her.
“I think (of) the closeness to the resources around us,” she said. “Geauga County is so filled with natural, beautiful resources.”
Six local artists pulled from Geauga’s natural resources when painting their repurposed 55-gallon barrels for the campaign, which raised over $3,500, according to GSWCD.
“The only thing that we ask from the artists is that they reflect a natural, cultural, agricultural or historical resource of Geauga County,” SWCD Communications Specialist Gail Prunty said.
She said the barrels were auctioned off throughout August to October 2024.
In addition to Halasz’s submission, the 2024 pieces included “The Guardian,” by Julie Bell, “Field of Tulips,” by Yvonne Delgado Thomas, “Geauga Skies,” by Florida Forreal and Michaela Brennan, “Off Season,” by Bob Kolcum and “Out to Pasture,” by Byron Leffler.
Most of the artists have been involved in the campaign for years and come up with their own theme and narrative for the barrels, Prunty said.
“It’s a way of getting community and local artists involved,” she said. “They do all the artwork … essentially as a donation.”
The program has been going on since 2006 and proceeds from the auction support the SWCD’s education programs, Prunty said.
“We have education programs that we offer free to schools and community groups like scouts, home school groups and we don’t charge for education programs,” she said.
The campaign is also good for artist exposure, she added.
Thomas, of Munson Township, said she donates around two painted barrels a year to the GCSWCD and Lake County SWCD.
“I collect pictures of old barns and stuff and flowers and floral scenes,” she said. “I take pictures all the time, and it was just like a compilation of a lot of things that were in my head.”
In addition to raising funds for education programs, the rain barrel project also encourages recycling, Prunty said.
“They’re recycled plastic barrels that were food grade barrels, so they used to contain pickles or olives, so they’re truly like repurposing plastic, versus using brand new plastic for the barrels,” she said. “We like that concept of repurposing the barrels into rain barrels and using them for water conservation, to landscape or to water their gardens with them.”
Prunty expressed appreciation for all the artists who contribute year after year.
“I think just generating a lot of interest, you know, not just for the bids, but just for people to see the barrels and get the artist recognition,”she said, adding they will try to display the barrels again this year at the Chardon Square Arts Festival.
“We’re gonna try to get into the Chardon Square Arts Festival again this year because it was a big success and it’s the perfect event to display them at,” Prunty said.
For more information on the barrels, visit geaugaswcd.com/education/rain-barrels.
