Patty Richards’ “Wading Around” is a mesmerizing display of color and light, capturing the enchanting interplay between the aquatic depths and the expansive sky. Painted in a vivid, impressionistic style, these boots feature radiant colors that seamlessly transition from the shimmering blues of the water to the brilliant hues above. The depiction of light rays shining through the water to the sky above brings a dynamic and uplifting energy to the piece, symbolizing the fluid connection between sea and sky. This artwork invites onlookers to dive into the depths of Chesapeake Bay’s serene yet vibrant waterscape.

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.