Showing posts with label murals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label murals. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2011

Anacostia's Newest Mural - What Do You Think?

Designed and painted by Bryan Conner, Anacostia's newest mural sits at the intersection of MLK Ave and U Street SE. It is bright, hopeful, and looks professionally done. It has cherry blossoms, a great MLK quotation, and buzzwords signaling what is important to the neighborhood: nurturing, community, light, culture, and respect.


the mural fades from being highly detailed to simple line drawings...


artist Bryan Conner spraying the final finishing touches...


I love the pop of the cherry blossoms...


the view from across the street...



I like this quotation because it really represents what's going on in the neighborhood: a growing dedication to seeing it develop into a place that it inclusive, beautiful, and bright. What do you think of the new mural?

(And remember what this spot used to look like?)

Friday, July 15, 2011

Facade & Mural Coming Down at MLK/GH

Well, that was quick. Due to a dangerously sagging facade, the new wood-block mural at MLK and Good Hope, along with what remained of the art deco facade of the old Peoples Drug are being torn down.

The corner in 1949:


the flourishing days of not-so-long-ago Anacostia...image from Historical Society of Washington, DC

Then in 2009:


when a truck bashed through the now-abandoned lot...

And in 2011:


see the Gateway to Ward 8 mural in the background...

And this afternoon:


notice the wood block in the crate...photo by @ruseriousingme


photo by @TheAdvoc8te

The above photos definitely show the mural being dismantled. I really hope that they take away all the debris rather than just backfill it into the hole. More updates as I get them...

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

New "mural" for Good Hope / MLK

you know the horribly depressing blue plywood at the corner of Good Hope and MLK? It'll be gone soon, thanks to the Department of Housing & Community Development, the Commission on the Arts & Humanities, and Billy Colbert - artist extraordinaire.


the new look


the corner as it appears today

The plywood will soon be replaced by a collage composition of recycled wood blocks and shiny orange metal that celebrates the gateway to Ward 8. The piece is intended as a temporary art installation, as DHCD is currently in the process of deciding how to best develop the property. Installation should begin this month.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

flip flops in february

yesterday was a glimpse of spring: perfect temperature, warm breeze, kids playing, ground thawing.


a roofer admiring his work: restoration doesn't stop on saturday


the could-be park next to Ketcham School. a wasted space that we need to open for public use.

Anacostia got a new mural last week. Inherently temporary, it is painted on plywood and nailed around the site of the Anacostia Gateway Government Center (future home of DDOT), it displays DC landmarks, sports team logos, and quotations:


true statement.


it's a bright welcome from the 11th Street Bridge


sure, all of the painted landmarks are either in NW or surround the mall, but they bring a touch of whimsy and cheer


the old signage is removed from the historic Anacostia Bank, reflecting AEDC's move to the gateway building


Big Chair Coffee - the teaser. their facade is also about to be majorly upgraded with a more historically-appropriate storefront.


future site (with this house to be completely restored) of the W Street Townhomes, below


the above house is the smaller one to the left


a certain character is lost when wood multi-paned windows are replaced with the simpler vinyl variety, and when little things like porch details are removed


a perfect day to paint a porch or two


the word on the street alley was that a dog was loose. high-tailing it outa there!


a quieter scene: three kids playing milk-crate basketball on a newly bricked and sanded alley.

photos by DG-rad, rendering courtesy of Four Points