Silver Spring Loves the Turtle
Are you ready Silver Spring? The turtles have arrived! Four University of Maryland Fear the Turtle Sculptures, uniquely decorated by local artists in celebration of Maryland's 150th Anniversary, have descended on downtown Silver Spring for a six-month stay.
There's no reason to fear, however. This is a friendly invasion made possible by four downtown businesses that helped fund the project. You can link to Silver Spring Downtown's public art section below to find out more about Silver Spring's newest visitors:
- The Wisdom of Einstein sponsored by United Therapeutics
- Crab Feast sponsored by Washington Sports Clubs
- Disco Turtle sponsored by Downtown Silver Spring
- Art Terp sponsored by the Silver Spring Regional Center
The sculpture project, which includes a total of 50 turtles, is one way the University of Maryland is involving citizens across the state and region in the year-long celebration of its 150th Anniversary. The project will ultimately help fund scholarships for deserving students when the sculptures are sold at auction next fall.
Twenty turtles will stand in public places in communities away from the campus to enable residents and visitors alike to share in the fun. For a link to a list of all the locations visit www.150years.umd.edu. The sculptures were created by local artists from across the region. Many had connections to the university as alumni, parents or students. Others were simply artists who took on the challenge to transform a plain gray fiberglass form into a beautiful work of art for all to enjoy. "All the artists did a wonderful job of creating really beautiful, whimsical and engaging designs," said Terry Flannery, assistant vice president for marketing and communications. "We asked them to re-imagine our mascot to capture the spirit of the university, its achievements and its connections to the state. The designs we got are truly amazing."
Once the sculptures are in place, the project becomes interactive. Residents are invited to send in photos taken with their favorite turtle and join in some online turtle games at www.150years.umd.edu. They can also register for a drawing to win an anniversary iPod.
