Young artists from across Sussex County are helping to celebrate both America’s semiquincentennial and Lewes in Bloom’s 25th birthday.

Outside the Lewes Public Library, the Children’s Reading Wall displays dozens of student-created artworks. This year’s theme is “Happy Birthday, America” to pay homage to the rich, extensive history of the nation.

With this, the display further pays homage to the deeper Lewes community and young artists across southern Delaware.

Starting in 2025, Art in Bloom began implementing artwork by young locals to build the displays on the wall. Children get involved in this exhibit through the volunteers with Art in Bloom, who reach out to local schools and art teachers to expand the project to their students. Sue Sandmeyer, co-chair of Art in Bloom, further gets in contact with these teachers and collects the artwork they plan to display.

“This year, we were very successful in bringing the community together through this exhibition,” she said.

She expressed how participation has grown tremendously since just last year, with 85 submissions by students from kindergarten to 10th grade. They even had to rebuild the wall and expand it to present more artwork, she said.

Organized by Art in Bloom in tandem with the library, the art wall began as a collaborative project with Schell Brothers and the Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission to create a replica passenger railway station that resides beside the Junction & Breakwater Trail. 

Across the way from the railroad tracks is the art wall. It originally stood as an interactive reading wall for kids to engage with, but has now evolved to the student-created demonstration it is today. 

Lewes in Bloom was established in 2001 by Warren Golde, a horticulturist and landscape designer. What began with a handful of volunteers is now an organization with 500 members that has planted more than 20 parks and gardens throughout Lewes. 

The organization's growth is how a children’s learning garden and other programs with Art in Bloom have been established. The organization stands as a testament to the power of community.

Art in Bloom has now been around for about 10 years, spotlighting a diverse range of artists.

This art wall, in particular, has been especially powerful in emphasizing the young artists of the community.

“Public art has the power to connect people, strengthen community and inspire us,” Sandmeyer said.

For many of the participating students, the wall represents the first opportunity to have artwork displayed in a public setting. For Sandmeyer, that opportunity is exactly what makes the project worthwhile.

"We're celebrating their creativity today and investing in their creativity for the future," she said.