LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — This Saturday, a blank fabric banner can become a canvas for one of Southern Maryland’s native birds — no artistic experience required.
Residents of all ages are invited to help create the next installment of Re:Bloom, a yearlong public art project bringing more than 100 colorful, hand-dyed tapestries of native plants and wildlife to Lexington Manor Passive Park.
The community art event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the park, located at 21675 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park.
During the event, local artist Eric Clark Jackson of Bay Fibers Studio will unveil the project’s first completed artworks before inviting participants to begin painting the next collection.
No Art Experience Needed
Saturday’s activity will follow a relaxed, paint-by-numbers-style process designed for participants of any experience level.
Participants will select a native bird motif, print the design onto a fabric banner and use permanent textile dyes to bring the pattern to life. Because the materials are permanent, participants should wear clothing they do not mind potentially staining.
The activity will take place beneath an accessible pavilion. The Southern Maryland Audubon Society, one of four conservation nonprofits partnering with Re throughout the year, will join the event to help connect the artwork with the region’s native birdlife.
“Participants can expect to participate in community art-making through a laid-back paint-by-numbers process,” Jackson told The BayNet. “No experience is necessary, but participants should feel comfortable working around permanent art materials.”
Artwork Designed To Lead Visitors Through The Park
The banners unveiled Saturday will offer the first look at a much larger transformation planned for the 34-acre park.
Each season, at least 24 hand-dyed tapestries will be installed throughout Lexington Manor Passive Park for six to eight weeks. By the project’s conclusion, visitors will have encountered more than 100 individual works celebrating four elements of Chesapeake Bay and Southern Maryland ecology:
- Native river life
- Native birds
- Native trees and plants
- Native pollinators and flowers
Instead of concentrating the artwork in one location, Jackson designed Re:Bloom to activate several areas of the park and encourage visitors to move through the landscape.
“Multiple pieces spread across the facility encourage visitors to seek out and explore, as opposed to a singular public art encounter,” Jackson said.
Each seasonal unveiling will also launch the next round of public art-making with a conservation nonprofit, giving residents repeated opportunities to create, explore and return as the park changes throughout the year.
A Project About Ecology And Renewal
The project grew from community input about the kind of public art residents wanted to see in Lexington Park.
Jackson said those conversations revealed a desire for artwork that connects visitors with the environment, creates joy and wonder, and contributes to the continued revitalization of the community.
The name Re: Bloom reflects both the natural life represented in the tapestries and the continuing renewal of the park itself.
“‘Re: Bloom’ is meant to celebrate local ecology while also recognizing the life of the park itself,” Jackson said. “The cherry blossoms are just one sign of life in the park, but Re: Bloom is also about renewal, reactivation and rebirth of a place which has been a part of St. Mary’s County for decades.”
Through the artwork, Jackson hopes visitors will develop a greater appreciation for the park, Lexington Park and the community’s place within Southern Maryland’s broader ecosystem.
A Year Of Community Art
Re:Bloom will unfold over 12 months, with seasonal events providing continuous opportunities for residents to engage with art, local wildlife and the park.
Jackson said that approach responds to community calls for continued involvement that strengthens residents’ connections to public art in Lexington Park.
The project will culminate with a final exhibition during the county’s 2027 Cherry Blossom Festival.
Re received the maximum award available through its Maryland State Arts Council grant program and was one of 14 new public artwork projects funded by the state. The project is sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Arts Council through a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
Additional information about Saturday’s event is available through the St. Mary’s County Arts Council’s Re:Bloom event listing.
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