Arts & Entertainment Community
Painted rocks brighten Gig Harbor Civic Center
If you’re walking around downtown Gig Harbor, or on the Cushman Trail, or just about anywhere in the area, you might be lucky enough to spot a little painted rock.
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Chances are it was left by a one of the artists from Gig Harbor Rocks. Members of the loosely organized group paint small stones and hide them in plain sight. The painted rocks can be found on park benches, under bushes, in parking lots and other unexpected places.
Painted rocks on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. Charlee Glock-Jackson
“It seems everyone who goes on the Cushman Trail or to a local park knows to keep an eye out for these beautiful little treasures,” Diane Bertram, the city’s HR assistant, said.
On display through Sept. 26
Bertram has gathered a collection of rocks painted by the Harbor Rocks group and put them on display at the Civic Center through Sept. 26.
Many of the people who find a painted rock post a photo of it on the group’s Facebook page. Some keep the stones they discover. Others leave them for someone else to find, or move them to another location.
Painted rocks on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. Charlee Glock-Jackson
People have found locally painted rocks as far away as Oregon and California, according to the Facebook postings.
The civic center display features rocks painted by seven of the Gig Harbor Rocks artists: P. Hazen, Marlee Jacob, Kelly Deignan, Tina Lauzon, Heidi Otis, Rayna Nigro and Cindy Renner. There’s also a “Fall” rock contributed by Mandy Chapman of the city’s public works department.
There are rocks adorned with cats, cows, snakes and strange lizard-like creatures, flowers, flipflops, local landmarks and colorful abstract designs. There’s a bright blue and yellow sun/moon face, a “rock-a-bye-baby’ in a bassinet and a parliament of owls.
Painted rocks on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. Charlee Glock-Jackson
A pandemic legacy
Bertram learned about the Gig Harbor Rocks group during the pandemic, when the city closed the Civic Center to the public.
Someone from the group placed a black rock with a Thin Blue Line design painted on it near the fence by the Police Department.
“That little gesture of kindness brought so much joy and a smile to everyone in the department,” Bertram recalled. “They still have it on display.”
Painted rocks on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. Charlee Glock-Jackson
As the COVID shutdown continued, city staff members would occasionally find rocks painted with inspirational messages hidden on the civic center grounds. Finding those little stones was truly uplifting during a depressing time, Bertram said.
“So I thought it was time the rock artists received some recognition for their voluntary beautification efforts. The display at city hall is just our way of saying thank you to the artists.”
And hopefully, Bertram added, it will also “encourage other people to go out and walk around our beautiful town and find more of these hidden treasures.”
The Civic Center is located at 3510 Grandview Street. It’s open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Painted rocks on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. Charlee Glock-Jackson