La Plata, MD— Charles County Government, in partnership with the Charles County Public Schools and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will host the Mallows Bay Art Project on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. at Mallows Bay Park (1440 Wilson Landing Road in Nanjemoy). An art teacher from each of the county’s seven high schools and Robert D. Stetham Educational Center will bring students to capture Mallows Bay on various mediums, including sketching, painting, video, and photography.
Once complete, the art work will be displayed at the Charles County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street in La Plata). Art work will be showcased in a gallery during the World War I Mallows Bay Commemorative event on Friday, April 21 at the College of Southern Maryland La Plata Campus (8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata).
“It is so important to promote and celebrate the arts in our schools and this partnership does that in an exciting way. To combine our cultural heritage with the talents of our teachers and students will, like Mallows Bay, last for generations to enjoy,” said Commissioner Ken Robinson (District 1). “I can’t wait to see what they create.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for students to preserve history through the arts. Students can capture the uniqueness of Mallows Bay and share it with Charles County residents through the arts,” Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Hill said.
Mallows Bay, located near the Potomac River, is home to the largest ship graveyard in the Western Hemisphere. In a first for the state of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nominated Mallows Bay as a designated National Marine Sanctuary. The area offers unique archaeological, recreational, historical, cultural, educational, and environmental opportunities for residents and tourists. The site includes historic vessels dating back to the Revolutionary War, remains of the largest ‘Ghost Fleet’ of the World War I steamships, wildlife viewing areas, fishing, boating access, and a hiking trail.
For more information about the Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary nomination and public hearings, visit http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-bay/.
For more information about the event, contact the Charles County Government Public Information Office at 301-885-1342 or PressRoom@CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
