New Playground in Edgewood!

Thanks to Inspired Teaching School, Kaboom and AmeriCorps a new playground is coming to Edgewood next to the Shaed school building.  On September 11, 2014 the National Day of Service hundreds of volunteers will come together and complete a playground, garden and mural to make a new play area for the charter schools and the neighborhood.  After school hours and the weekends the space will be open for the neighborhood to enjoy.  

There will be three prep days as well prior to the build day.  Volunteers are requested so if you can please come out!  All volunteers must be 16 or older and more information will be coming on times for each day.  They need about 20 volunteers for the prep days and 75 volunteers for the build day.  Let me know if you can volunteer and I will keep you in the loop.  

MuralsDC to Kick Off 5th Year with “The Art of Vandalism”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
                                                                                                         
CONTACT:           Nancee Lyons, DPW, 202.369-6808

July20,2011
                                                                                                                                                                      Deirdre Ehlen, DCCAH, 202.230.4981

MuralsDC to Kick Off 5th Year with “The Art of Vandalism”

Tues., Jul. 26

A Discussion with City Agencies & Graffiti Artists to Explore Lasting Solutions (Washington, DC) – MuralsDC will kick off its 2011 program with a panel discussion to explore the root of, and solutions for, graffiti Tuesday, July 26, from 6pm-8pm at Busboys & Poets (14 and V St., NW). The panel will feature former graffiti taggers, current artists and representatives of DC government agencies who abate graffiti and fund public art. The event will also feature a preview of the upcoming documentary film “The Red Line Project,” which explores the proliferation of graffiti that runs along Metrorail’s Red Line. “By the end of May, the Department of Public Works (DPW) had already responded to twice as many requests to remove graffiti as we completed in all of last year,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “While initiatives like MuralsDC have helped to keep repeatedly tagged walls graffiti-free, we need to get to the root of the problem to identify permanent solutions.”

MuralsDC was created to combat the rising tide of illegal graffiti. The program positively engages District youth by teaching proper art techniques. It also provides supplies and a legal means for youth to practice and perform their skill in a way that promotes respect for public and private property and community awareness. Through the program, more than 30 works of public art have been installed throughout the city. "The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) supports MuralsDC, because it sheds light on the artistic talents of graffiti artists,” said DCCAH Interim Director Ayris Scales. “We feel it's important to fund programs that allow young residents to express themselves legally and without the worry of repercussions. Whether someone is painting oil on canvas or aerosol spray on a wall, their art is an expression of themselves that should be valued." The panel will be moderated by Mazi Mutafa, who supervises the artwork for MuralsDC. Mutafa is the executive director of Words, Beats and Life, which provides an array of educational outreach programs to District youth and teaches them the art of “legal” graffiti. 

MuralsDC was launched in 2007 by Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham. The program, coordinated by DCCAH and DPW, positively engages District youth by teaching proper art techniques and respect for public property. Throughout the summer, the program will install murals in Wards 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Edgewood Murals Bike Tour

An Edgewood mural bike tour is being hosted on April 9 2011 meeting at 12noon in the alley way of 2110 5th Street NE.

New Met Branch Trail Mural

Another mural is going up along the Met Branch Trail-

Quest Skinner and Meghan Taylor (artists) through funding from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy are working with Beacon House and DC Summer Youth to paint a mural along the Met Branch Trail at Hondo Coffee Roasters at W Street.

Reminder: Tomorrow is second Edgewood Arts Market

If you missed it last week please remember to stop by and visit the Edgewood Arts Market at the Edgewood Mural near the entrance to the Metropolitan Branch Trail. This market will be open on Saturdays in June from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The market sells original, handcrafted, locally produced arts and good, and antiques. I saw some really cute things there last week!

Edgewood Mural Expanded: Artists for DC Voting Rights

Here is the completed (?) mural.

Edgewood Mural Expanded: Artists for DC Voting Rights

Here are some pictures from the group working on the mural last night.

Edgewood Mural Expanded: Artists for DC Voting Rights

I walked past a group painting the wall white next to the Edgewood Mural and found out that they are a group, Albus Cavus, that is painting a mural today that will be representing and showcasing the need for DC voting rights. Their poster is above and a picture of them priming the wall for their mural. I will be sure to add pictures as they complete the mural.