Glenmont Local Park Mural Art Selection

Montgomery Parks is holding a public vote to select the winning entry to create a mural on the Park Activity Building at Glenmont Local Park. Four finalists were selected by a jury from a pool of qualified applicants to prepare concept proposals for the mural, which are featured below. Funding was generously provided by the Montgomery Parks Foundation. 

Review the four concepts and vote for your favorite— the winning artist will refine their design and paint the mural at the Glenmont Local Park activity building this fall. Voting is open through August 24, 2025. 

The Spectrum of Glenmont Rooted in Light

This vibrant mural celebrates Glenmont’s diversity, history, and natural beauty. Anchored by a rose window — a symbol of unity across cultures — the design radiates outward in a kaleidoscope of bold colors and patterns. A shifting chromatic gradient reflects the multicultural spectrum that defines Glenmont today. 

Native flora and fauna, including the luna moth, bluebird, Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, and wren, are woven into the geometric structure, honoring the area’s ecological heritage and the role of local parks in protecting it. The vivid blossoms of the Black-eyed Susans and cosmos evoke Glenmont’s transition from farmland to suburban community while emphasizing the continued value of green spaces. 

The central rose window glows with warm hues and stained-glass-inspired details drawn from Latin American decorative traditions. This symbolizes spiritual beauty and resilience, paying tribute to the immigrant families who have shaped Glenmont’s identity and continue to inspire its growth. 

In Each Other, We Bloom

The mural is framed by a traditional Peruvian weaving pattern. On the left, a cornfield— plentiful in both Maryland and South/Central America— symbolizes connection and unity between cultures that defy borders. 

In the center left, a woman artisan is shown crafting vases. As in much of my work, the vase serves metaphorically to represent what it means to be held and taken care of as well as a symbol of artifactual history. The background features a wide-open prairie common across Montgomery County, dotted with red flowers and set against a clear blue sky. 

At the center right, a teenager happily carries coconuts from a harvest. On the far right, a smiling woman gazes toward the horizon, holding a vase that symbolizes generational legacy and celebration. 

The mural’s bright colors and diverse imagery reflect the richness of the Glenmont community and serve as a celebratory homage to nature and the importance of preserving our parks and the space we inhabit. 

Paisaje Mágico/ Magical Landscape 

Through visual storytelling, fantasy, and character personification, this mural transforms the building’s facade into a fun, imaginative scene that engages people, uplifts the community, and becomes an iconic part of Wheaton-Glenmont. 

The playful design blurs the line between magic and the mundane, where nature and objects come alive and connect. Migrant and migratory birds are the main characters, each carrying tiny stilted houses with expressive, animated forms. They’ve come from faraway lands, guided by the Moon—a symbol of ideals and dreams—to work and contribute. 

A welcoming tree spirals outward in a wave-like embrace. Its branches offer shade and connect to the birds, forming a symbiotic friendship. The tree with red split-heart flowers represents the sacrifices and nostalgia that come with either voluntary change or displacement, as well as being torn between two worlds. As the birds settle, leaves grow from the birds' legs as they ground and make this land their new home. 

Rooted and Radiant

Titled “Rooted and Radiant,” this mural celebrates Glenmont’s diversity by bringing together plants and animals from Maryland and the Latin American countries most represented in the community—El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. 

Featured species include the Torogoz (El Salvador), Resplendent Quetzal (Guatemala), and monarch butterfly (Mexico and Maryland), symbolizing movement of people, cultures, and shared stories. Dahlias (Mexico), Black-eyed Susans (Maryland’s state flower), and purple coneflowers represent connection to both heritage and home. 

Set against a vibrant gradient of blues, greens, and yellows, the mural reflects the rich mosaic of Glenmont—a community made brighter by its many roots.