On September 22, 2018 the Rock Hall’s Main Street committee held a kick-off event for a new project “The Murals of Rock Hall”. The project is to re-design, re-envision and recreate Rock Hall’s murals. They also recognized those who took part in creating the original murals and informed the community of the future plans.
In the early months of 2018 the group began looking at the current murals in the town. There are seven. The new mosaic at Bayside Foods, the Main Street side of Bayside Foods, at the back entrance to the Mainstay, along the back wall of Java Rock, 2 water towers with Rock Fish and the Clam House mural.
Unfortunately when looking at two of the murals, Main Street Side of Bayside Foods and the one behind Java Rock, they discovered that those had deteriorated to a point that they can be be rejuvenated. The plans now are document the murals and then replace them with new ones.
They intend to involve the community. Artists, students, teachers, and anyone who is interested. Input from all is welcomed and encourage in the planning and creation of the new murals with the goal to have them completed by the beginning of the 2019 summer season.
Kent County Arts Council Executive Director John Schratwieser was at the event and he is excited that Rock Hall is working on this project. He is a big believer in Public Art and would like to see more of it in the area. He spoke briefly on the many murals in Chestertown and the new on in Bettertown on the the building housing the restrooms at the town’s park and that Kent County could be a mural destination.
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The Murals of Rock Hall:
Located on the Rt 20 side of Bayside Foods, this mural is the newest. It was commissioned by the Rock Hall Garden Clubs. Artist Jennifer Wagner (shown with the mural during the dedication) worked along side the community, including students, to create the mosaic which represents a broad section of life and landmarks of the town.
“Celebrating America”, the mural of the Main Street side of Bayside Foods, is the oldest of the murals. It was done in the early summer of 1996 as part of a summer school program ‘Doing the Arts”. Gina Jachimowicz, Public School’s Director of Teaching and Learning, was a 3rd grade teacher at the time and recalled that the mural was complete for the 4th of July parade that year.
At the real entrance of the Mainstay is a mural created in 2001 by Rock Hall Middle School students. The mural represents the wide variety of life found in the Chesapeake Bay
Tjis mural located on the back side of Java Rock is titled “Legends of Rock Hall” and was created by a local artist who worked with students as a tribute to the town’s water heritage.
Two Water Towers, this one on Liberty Street and another on Rock Hall Ave near Gratitude had Rock Fish murals painted on them as part of the towers restorations around 2007
Local artist Kent Castelli designed and painted, with help from local students, a colorful scene of work boats. Commissioned as part of the Clam House restoration it was completed in 2013.