Mercedes: Hard to splash with all this trash
Location
Hiya! My name is Heather Mercedes Greenough! You might recognize me from HIVE artspace! I am a “Hive Helper” as I like to call it! I’m usually there, behind the desk hangin’ around in the honey hole of the HIVE art gallery, on First Fridays (a monthly celebration of Downtown York's shops, restaurants, cultural venues, and nightlife). Sometimes I’m selected to display my art there!
Art has always been a passion of mine. Mainly doodling, a lot of my heARTwork comes from seeing faces or animals in paper I prep from a left-over pallet I’ve used for another project. After the paint is dry, I doodle and paint what I see! Leaning on pareidolia (the tendency to see faces and forms in inanimate objects) has really helped me expand my own imagination and look past a blank canvas with some color on it!
When I’m not busy cleaning houses, you can be sure to find me with my little family taking adventures like going to the beach or camping. I always carry watercolor and ink pens with me so I can paint and doodle on the go! There’s something special about creating art outside! Especially for a worthy cause! I look forward to submitting to the Street 2 Creek art contest every year to help raise awareness to keep our drain run off clean and free from trash and how it can affect the animals! This will be my third year and I don’t plan to stop here! Make a splash! Clean up trash!
Feel free to check out my artwork on my social media and reach out for any commissions! Also, look at the gallery where I work! Support local artists OR submit your own artwork for one of the upcoming shows!
Facebook Instagram HIVE artspace
2nd PLACE - Lyndsay McClain
Ashley: Don’t litter in my river, only rain down the drain
25 W Philadelphia Street in front of the parking garage
My name is Lyndsay. I’m originally from Vermont and live in Spring Garden Township. I enjoy LARPing (live-action role-playing), camping, reading, gaming, art, and gardening. I have had a craft booth at several conventions in the area as ‘The Knightly Dream-Crafters.’ I draw steampunk-themed animals, sew costumes, make plushies, paint, sculpt, and laser engrave. I enjoy making things as gifts to my family and friends.
I love nature and have participated in local clean-ups at work and with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeepers. My garden currently has a pond, feeders, birdhouses, a little free library, and 30-40 native species of plants. I’m always trying to make it a more welcoming refuge for local wildlife. I enjoy sharing my hobby with others by gifting cuttings and seedlings.
One of the newest additions to the garden is a ‘Friendship Bracelet Tree’ at the corner of my yard where anyone can take a bracelet/leave a bracelet – I was hoping it would be a small way to bring smiles and happiness to the neighborhood.
3rd PLACE - Kayli Rentzel
Morgan: Poison the sea…Poison me
Southeast corner of King and George Streets, York, PA
Kayli Rentzel is a York County native and Agricultural and Civil Engineering Educator with Penn State Extension. While she may not consider herself a traditional artist, her work centers around protecting the environment and improving water quality. Through her work with agricultural conservation and clean water initiatives, Kayli helps farmers and conservation professionals implement practices that protect Pennsylvania’s waterways. She is excited to bring that passion to this project, using art to connect people with their local watersheds and remind us that what happens on the land ultimately affects our streams and rivers.
2026 Drain Art Contest Judges
Roth Preap - Executive Director, York Art Association
Lettice Brown - MS4 Coordinator, Department of Public Works, City of York
Rita Whitney - Director of Communications, Cultural Alliance of York County
Emily Neideigh - Executive Director, Watershed Alliance of York
Devin Winand - Associate Director, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association