Beall Avenue Asphalt Art Project

Planning

Design

Construction

Completed

The Beall Avenue Asphalt Art Project was part of a groundbreaking project funded by a $25,000 Asphalt Art Initiative grant through Bloomberg Philanthropies and $15,000 from the city’s Art in Public Places Program. The project was designed to integrate artistic elements into Beall Avenue’s roadways and align with planned safety improvements in association with the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan.

The project aimed to beautify the neighborhood by transforming streets into colorful areas, enhance traffic safety by reducing speeds and increasing awareness of pedestrian crossings, and foster a shared sense of community pride by reflecting local culture and history through artwork.

The artwork was painted directly onto Beall Avenue from North Washington Street to Gibbs Street, transforming Beall Avenue into a vibrant, safe, inclusive, and engaging community space. The location is a strategic spot within Rockville Town Center known for its bustling activity and local attractions.

Artist Statement

Fern Reclamation is a two-block traffic calming mural in downtown Rockville, Maryland, highlighting ferns, cornerstone species of the local ecosystem and among Earth’s oldest plants. Ferns decomposed into coal and are part of modern asphalt, representing the complex history beneath our streets. By painting these ferns on asphalt, we invite passersby to reconsider the ground supporting our communities amidst global transformations. Enlarged in vibrant colors, the murals foster appreciation for these often-overlooked plants. The design incorporates local ferns and nods to Rockville’s rich history, including its river, railroad, courthouse, and Hebron House. Community outreach informed the artwork, created by Chalk Riot’s core team and five local artists.