When it Rains it Pours

"When it Rains, it Pours" is a public art project benefiting the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and the Crooked Tree Arts Center Youth Scholarship Fund. Fifteen area artists will be selected to paint or decorate a 55-gallon plastic rain barrel. Selected artists will receive the rain barrel and a $250 stipend to complete the project. The painted barrels will be clear-coated by a local body shop to protect them from the elements while maintaining functionality.

Starting around Earth Day 2017, the decorated rain barrels will be displayed at local businesses with information about the artist, project, and environmental benefits. The rain barrels will be auctioned in a live auction format at a fundraiser at the end of May 2017. The project raises awareness of water conservation and demonstrates how homeowners can save money while protecting area water resources. Proceeds benefit the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council's Watershed Academy program and the Crooked Tree Arts Center Youth Scholarship Fund.

Selected artists will be notified on December 13, 2016, and will receive their rain barrel the following week. Rain barrels must be delivered to the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council office at 426 Bay Street, Petoskey, MI 49770, or picked up locally (with at least 2 weeks advance notice) by March 30, 2017. Any medium may be used, but finished barrels will be clear-coated for outdoor use. Artists may not paint the interior or alter the barrel in ways that render it unusable as a functional rain barrel. Finished pieces become the property of Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council with no commission.