Pillars of Nature
- Artist
- Suzanne Rende
- Location
- 610 S Spring Garden St, Carlisle, PA 17013
Tucked beneath a stretch of I-81 in Carlisle, artist Suzanne Rende brought a splash of nature to cement bridge piers on the Letort Spring Run Nature Trail in the fall of 2025.
The piece, called “Pillars of Nature,” features birds, a fish, a chipmunk, a bumble bee, a butterfly, and native plants. Its installation was organized by the Letort Regional Authority, using a grant from the Dickinson College Center for Civic Learning and Action. Residents and trail users suggested the wildlife featured through a survey.
“Although the highway above me was loud, it also provided shade and acted as an umbrella,” the York-based artist said. “I love being surrounded by nature, so I enjoyed working on the trail very much.”
The design process was the longest part of the project. Rende started “with a seemingly endless list of suggested flora and fauna” from those surveyed.
“I sifted through each suggestion and researched if it was native to the area, keeping in mind the shape of the piers, before adding it to the list of possibilities,” Rende said. “Once the list was narrowed down to twelve, I sketched the design for approval, learned to operate a boom lift and got out my paint brushes.”
She completed the mural in September 2025.
The Artist
Suzanne Rende
Since my earliest memories, I've been immersed in the world of creativity, from doodling to painting and sewing. My passion for murals took root when I painted my first one on my bedroom wall at 12, and it has been a constant in my life for over 30 years. Graduating from Hussian School of Art in 1993, I always strive to "paint happy," creating a dream world where animals replace people but retain human emotions and connections. My murals, spanning various states and spaces, led me to establish my own business, The Artful Nest in Marietta, PA, specializing in nature-inspired art. Through positivity, fun, and whimsy, I aim to convey happiness, inviting viewers to imagine the stories and relationships among the cute creatures I love to paint. I'm grateful for my journey and excited about the future.