One Family, One World: Painting a Message of Love and Protection at Hadwen Park
May 19, 2025 · Fei Wu
This spring, my mom Xiang Li and I packed up our brushes, some acrylic paint, and a whole lot of heart for a public art project unlike anything we’ve done before. Instead of silk scrolls or museum walls, we found ourselves painting a catch basin—yes, a storm drain—at Hadwen Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.
And it may be one of the most meaningful projects we’ve created together.
A City That Cares, A Community That Creates
Thanks to the incredible team at Worcester Green Corps and their Call for Art campaign, artists were invited to help beautify the city while raising awareness about stormwater pollution. These vibrant murals on storm drains aren’t just decorative—they remind people that what enters these drains flows into our waterways, like Curtis Pond nearby.
We were honored to join this movement under the leadership of Sharinna Travieso, a phenomenal artist and organizer who has brought so much joy and purpose to Worcester through public art. Working with Sharinna has been wonderful—her warmth, clear vision, and commitment to artists made this collaboration one we’ll always treasure.
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Our Design: “One Family, One World”
For our catch basin mural, we chose a design close to our hearts—literally and symbolically.
We painted three pandas—a panda mom and her two cubs—nestled together in harmony. Behind them, a bold red heart represents love, unity, and family. The heart is also a beloved symbol of Worcester itself, making the piece a tribute not only to nature but also to the local community. Behind the three pandas is the globe, represented in blue and green colors. The green also represents nature, forest and growth for our community.
We titled our piece “One Family, One World.”
It’s a simple message with a powerful meaning:
We share this world, and we must care for it—and each other—like family.
To complete the design, we added the Worcester Green Corps logo and the words “drains to Curtis Pond,” anchoring the art in its mission. It’s beautiful, yes—but it also educates.
When Public Art Meets Cultural Storytelling
As a mother-daughter artist duo, my mom and I have shared many creative projects over the years, but this one was especially special. Being out in nature, creating something accessible to everyone—from children playing nearby to joggers and dog walkers passing through—was both grounding and inspiring.
Public art like this helps build bridges between generations, between cultures, between people and the places they call home. Our hope is that when people see the pandas and that big red heart, they’ll pause. Smile. Think. Maybe even talk to their kids about where water goes when it leaves the street—and why protecting it matters.
We are so grateful to Worcester Green Corps, to Sharinna and her team, and to this wonderful city we call home. Let’s keep painting, educating, and celebrating Worcester together.
Visit the Mural in Person
📍 Hadwen Park, Worcester, MA
Look for three pandas, a red heart, and a gentle reminder that we all belong to One Family, One World.
🎨 Learn more about the Worcester Green Corps Beautification Projects
Interactive map below to check out murals painted by our artists
Static image/map below to showcase where our mural location is in Hadwen Park, Worcester, MA. The map will be updated with our mural image.
