Past to Promise

Acrylic on mounted polytab

Rockville, MD

Past to Promise celebrates Twinbrook's rich history and diversity. The three figures in the mural represent the past, present and future. A young child holds an ear of maize juxtaposed with a native textile pattern representing the Piscataway, the original inhabitants of Rockville, and their connection to, and stewardship of, the land. An older man holds a geranium symbolizing the beauty and growth of Twinbrook while also honoring the veterans of Twinbrook. A woman holds a daffodil, one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and a symbol of rebirth and potential. The background depicts an idealized scene inspired by the two streams of Twinbrook and the Higgins farm and honors the enslaved persons who once lived there. The background also depicts the classic Cape Cod style homes built post-WWII when many veterans settled in Twinbrook after returning from the war. The native plants and flowers include Black Eyed Susans, Winterberry Holly, Allegheny Spurge, Blue Flag Iris, Hydrangea, and Purple Coneflower. They represent the natural beauty and diversity of Maryland and connect back to stewarding of the land through conservation of these native plants. Monarch butterflies flutter about the composition, a symbol of the change and evolution that Twinbrook has undergone throughout the ages.