River cleanup debris to resurface in Fowler Library art exhibition

September 26, 2025

by Trace Salzbrenner | September 26, 2025 | The Concord bridge

Ann Sussman’s “20-Minute Walk around Warner’s Pond, 2024.” The artist created the piece from litter found in a parking lot during a stroll with her husband. Courtesy image

Tomorrow, Concordians will be turning trash into treasure.

ArtScape, the Concord Free Public Library, and OARS are teaming up to give artists a hands-on way to find materials for their next creative projects—even if it means getting a little dirty.

On Saturday morning, volunteers will fan out along the confluence of the Assabet River and Nashoba Brook in West Concord for a river cleanup. Instead of tossing the refuse away, some of the bottles, cans, and scraps will be saved, destined for a new art show at Fowler Library.

“OARS has done cleanups for years in the rivers, but this is the first time we are teaming up with them to make art pieces,” Ann Sussman, director of ArtScape, told The Concord Bridge. “Other communities have done this, and we thought it would be really fun for Concord to join in.”

OARS Executive Director Matt Brown said the West Concord cleanup is just one of many environmental efforts that OARS plans to spearhead tomorrow.

“We’ve been doing our three river cleanups for, I think, almost as long as we’ve been around, and we’re turning 40 this year, so it’s a pretty big event,” he said.

The team effort kicks off with West Concord’s River Cleanup on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. An October 1 workshop at Fowler Library, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., will give artists a chance to create on-site with the collected trash or their own discarded materials.

Submissions are due at ArtScape by October 5. All artists are welcome; unlike traditional gallery shows, there are no fees or commissions. The works will be on display at Fowler from October 8 to November 15.

If anyone just wants to help collect litter, that’s welcome, too, Brown said.

“It’s a fun day, especially if the weather cooperates, and it’s a good way to meet some people and to feel like you actually have accomplished something,” he said. “You’re going to leave the rivers, especially the sites where you’re at, in better shape.”

Visit OARS3rivers.org for more details.

Published in

The Concord Bridge: Link to published story

River Log

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

>40%

of the land within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed is publicly accessible, providing endless opportunities for paddling, hiking, and wildlife exploration.

River cleanup debris to resurface in Fowler Library art exhibition