Wende Szyperski’s “It’s All About Community” masterfully captures the essence of life along the Chesapeake Bay. This pair of boots features a beautifully realistic detailed water scene that transports viewers directly into the serene environments where both nature and human activity flourish side by side. With realistic depictions of mallard ducks—adults and their young—mingling among lush sea grasses, and the backdrop of sailboats and traditional deadrise workboats plying the waters, the artwork celebrates the interconnected life of the community. Szyperski’s work not only honors the watermen’s daily endeavors but also the natural habitat that supports them, reflecting a deep appreciation for the bay’s dynamic ecosystem and its cultural heritage.

About Watermen’s Way

Watermen’s Way is a public art project honoring the Watermen and Waterwomen of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Sponsored by Virginia’s River Realm in conjunction with Lancaster by the Bay Chamber of Commerce, this project benefits the Virginia Watermen’s Association, Steamboat Era Museum, and the RAL Art Center.

These oversized, fiberglass boots are iconic items for the men and women who make their living on the water. Used by the seafood industry across the world, here in the Chesapeake Bay, they have nicknames like “Guinea Slippers,” “Tangier Tennis Shoes,” “Red Balls,” or “Bubba Boots.” Each sculpture is personalized by a local artist, drawing from themes that reflect the lives of the people who work the water, harvesting crabs, oysters, and fish from the Bay, rivers, and creeks.