Art on the Trails

Through the Art on the Trails program, local artists repurpose materials found along nature trails to create sculptures, totem poles, and other park fixtures that reflect the wildlife and environment of the trail. In the summer of 2015, students and local artists created eight beautiful works of art along our trails to share with the community. Catch a glimpse of the artwork in the slideshow, read about them or discover them as you hike our trails.

Art on the Trail Passport

View or download the Art on the Trail Passport (PDF).

Click to view or download

2018 Art on the Trails front cover

Watkins Regional Park


Final Finish

As you stroll through Watkins Regional Park, see if you can discover this lovely sculpture of a horse crossing the finish line with its hooves reared in victory.

Lead artist: Joe Stebbings
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry
  • Ellis Alston

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Mare & Foal

Continue walking through the park to find a sculpture head of a young mare, with its majestic mane blowing around her strong neck, with her foal peering underneath.

Lead Artist: Corey Lancaster
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry
  • Ellis Alston

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Witch of Watkins

Don't be frightened when you encounter the Witch of Watkins along the trails! She'll greet you with a scowling, life-size presence, but she's simply paying homage to the Wicked Witch of the West in the nearby Wonderful Wizard of Oz Playground.

Lead Artist: Joe Stebbings
Wood carving of the fictional Witch of Watkins Park
Apprentices
  • Aleeah Murkey
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry

  • Ellis Alston
  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Yvonne

This sculpture might make many joggers or walkers stop in their tracks. No need to fret, it's just Yvonne-a giant sculpture of a Maryland Black Rat snake slithering out of a fallen log!

Lead Artist: Richard Zandler
Large wooden sculpture of a Maryland Black Rat Snake
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry
  • Ellis Alston

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Ricky the Rat

If you spot the coy Ricky on the trails, you'll know he's oblivious to Yvonne's methodical sneak attack from across the path.

Lead Artist: Richard Zandler
Wooden Sculpture of a cat
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry
  • Ellis Alston

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Bladensburg Waterfront Park


Anacostia River Wildlife I & II

These two sculptures incorporate multiple animals native to the Anacostia River.

Lead Artists
  • Lead Artist (carving 1): Joe Stebbings
  • Lead Artist (carving 2): Corey Lancaster
Wooden Sculpture displaying animals that live near Anacostia River
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry
  • Ellis Alston

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Fox Hill Park


Sports

You don't have to go far to see this wonderful ode to sports at Fox Hill Park. Once you encounter the sculpture featuring a variety of sporting equipment such as a football and a cricket bat, you'll be inspired to play ball!

Lead Artists
  • Corey Lancaster
  • Joe Stebbings
Wooden totem sculpture featuring sports items
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Darnell Terry
  • Ellis Alston

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller

Cosca Regional Park


Listen


You'll have to go into the wooded areas of Cosca Regional Park to find this hidden gem of a sculpture. This piece features natural elements-sweet grass and wild grape vines, and reeds from the Patuxent River-woven into various shapes. If you look up 30 feet off the ground, you'll see the installation in the trees from a walkway that will guide you to the trail.

Lead Artists:
  • Caryl Henry Alexander
  • Larry Jones
Tree Carving artwork titled Listen located at Cosca Park
Apprentices
  • Ameera Westfield
  • Amelia Pinn
  • Ashley Vauss
  • Bunmi Shabi
  • Christopher Vargas
  • Ellis Alston
  • Darnell Terry

  • Jasmine Hamilton
  • Jason Williams
  • Marissa Reynolds
  • Rachel Hithon
  • Watta Nyalley
  • Xavier Fuller