Have you ever strolled into Wee Bean in La Plata and admired the eye-catching mural showcasing a woman enjoying a cup of coffee amidst flourishing greenery?
That gorgeous artwork was the creation of Rachel Proctor, art teacher at Mount Hope Elementary School in Nanjemoy, and soon, her artistic vision will be blooming once again at Oasis Fresh Foods Market!
While Oasis gears up to become the first grocery store in Indian Head in over 25 years, bringing fresh food and a vibrant community hub to the town, Proctor has another exciting project brewing. She’ll be leading the way in creating a colorful mural to adorn a 50-foot vinyl fence on the property. The mural was commissioned by the Oasis Advisory Council, which is funding the project.
“I’ve lived in Indian Head most of my life,” said Proctor. “This is a cool opportunity to represent my community. I have Indian Head pride. We need more things like Oasis in Indian Head.”
It was the Wee Bean mural that opened the door for this project. Indian Head Mayor Brandon Paulin admired the work and, because his wife is also a teacher at Mt. Hope, knew that Proctor had painted it.
He made the connection and the suggestion, which led to Oasis owners Marilyn and Mark Steele beginning the conversation with Proctor.
“Marilyn just gave me a vibe for it,” Proctor said. “Grocery, garden, community, Indian Head. … Based on those things, I came up with a handful of sketches and threw them out to their team. Then taking their feedback into account, we landed on a final design.”
Proctor’s mural will transform the plain white fence into a flourishing garden scene. Imagine a cornucopia of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers emerging from the earth, just as Oasis and its Community Garden are rising up from ground that has for years laid vacant and neglected.
The logistics are already underway. Plans are in place to paint the mural this summer, and we’re inviting local schoolchildren to join in the creation.
Balancing her busy life as a teacher and mom might be a challenge, but Rachel’s enthusiasm is infectious. She’s eager to showcase the importance of fresh food and community spirit through this much-anticipated addition to Indian Head’s landscape.
A Passion for Art and Community
Proctor has taught at Mt. Hope since 2008 and, in 2023, she was named a finalist for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year Award.
“Rachel is one of the most creative teachers I have ever worked with, and she uses that creativity to engage and inspire her students,” retired science teacher Margo Barbone said last year. “She has a natural gift for creating lessons that are meaningful.”
Bringing local children into the project promises to inject a bit of creative chaos into the project. Proctor, of course, has experience in such projects and embraces it.
“I imagine I may have to do a bit of clean-up and touching up at the end,” she joked.
The Oasis mural project is more than just a beautification effort. It’s a powerful symbol of the positive changes sweeping through Indian Head.
The arrival of Oasis Fresh Foods Market signifies a renewed commitment to providing residents with access to fresh, healthy food options. The mural, with its focus on healthy produce and community engagement, perfectly complements this mission.
“This mural is about celebrating the importance of fresh food and fostering a strong sense of community,” Marilyn Steele said. “It’s about creating a space that inspires people to think about connecting with their neighbors. We can’t wait to see it come to life!”
