The Commercial District Advisor: It's Not Just About Neighborhood Pride: Murals Prevent Graffiti AND Drive Retail Sales

"Graffiti covered walls and trash strewn streets are not exactly the most attractive additions to your commercial district. But then sometimes the remedy is not much more attractive than the original problem. We recently toured a commercial district in downtown Newark, NJ and talked to businesses who have given up on the painting and repainting necessary to keep graffiti in check. To make matters worse, the paint jobs are sometimes a mish-mash of different paint colors that look messy, and while an improvement, still communicate a not so positive message about the district to shoppers."

"A Better Method - Murals!".....

"One Washington D.C. non-profit is doing just that. The Latin American Youth Center Art + Media House partners with local artists to create murals that brighten up the community. Tim Gibbons is a local artist who helped facilitate a group of 14 youth this past summer brighten up a cement wall...see more of the wonderful results here on his blog."

Read the Article HERE

Philadelphia Office of Arts and Culture

The Philadelphia Office of Arts and Culture is the City's designated Local Arts Agency and supports the interests and concerns of the City's cultural community and advocates on its behalf. Some of the programs currently coordinated by and associated with the Office of Arts and Culture are described below.

• The Art Commission
• Art in City Hall
• Student Exhibition Program
• Calendar of Events
• Arts in Education
• Percent for Art Program
• Sculpture Conservation and Collection Management Program
• Philadelphia Festival of the Arts, Inc./Marian Anderson Award
• The Philadelphia Cultural Fund
• Additional Involvements
• Contact Information

"Colortatura" by Mary Ann Mears

"Colortatura" by Mary Ann Mears

Coloratura, by Maryland artist Mary Ann Mears, is located at Southern Avenue station on the Green Line in Prince George's County, Maryland. Coloratura consists of suspended and high-relief wall sculptures. The piece was impeccably crafted by Maryland boat builders, Chesapeake Rigging, using painted metal and stainless steel. The artist uses her trademark brilliant colors, rhythmic patterns and bold forms to create a work of art that is animated, colorful and inspiring.

Uploaded by dbking on 19 Aug 06, 8.36PM EDT.

A Conversation with Jane Golden

A Conversation with Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program Founder and Executive Director, with Harris Steinberg, AIA, Executive Director, PennPraxis

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 7 - 9 P.M.

UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS, CBS AUDITORIUM, 320 S. BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA

$15 PER PERSON
FREE TO UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS STUDENTS WITH ID
For reservations, call 215-888-9116 or e-mail events[at]muralarts[dot]org.

Journey through the Mural Arts Program's first quarter century through an interactive discussion between Jane Golden and Harris Steinberg. Hear how the program's work has transformed Philadelphia's communities through public art and education. Hear first-hand the highlights and challenges of the past 25 years and how public art can have an impact on urban development and community renewal. The program will include questions from the audience, and will be followed by a meet and greet reception.

This program is the first in a four-part "Creatively Speaking" Speakers Series, one of the featured programs in the Mural Arts Program's 25th Anniversary Series. The Speakers Series is sponsored by Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin and Glenmede.

Visit www.muralarts.org for information about the Mural Arts Program's 25th Anniversary programs and events.

Arrested Motion Blog / Shepard Fairey hits up Austin for SXSW Festival

See in-progress pics of gorgeous murals being put up by the man himself.

Shepard Fairey hits up Austin for SXSW Festival - Arrested Motion

Cultural Tourism DC Walking Tours

www.CulturalTourismDC.org

Un Pueblo Sin Murales... (A People Without Murals...), also known as The Adams Morgan Mural, is the oldest remaining outdoor work in Washington that dates from the mural revival of the 1960s and 1970s. The painting was designed and executed by Carlos Salozar and Felipe Martinez, Chilean immigrants who joined thousands of their compatriots in fleeing the repressive Pinochet regime in the 1970s.

Un Pueblo Sin Murales... (A People Without Murals...), by Carlos Salozar and Felipe Martinezis, (1970s) is in Adams Morgan at 1779 Columbia Road, NW

A 5 - 10 minute walk across the Duke Ellington Memorial Bridge.

Mural documentation Contributed by: American Dreams & Associates
From Cultural Tourism DC
See www.CulturalTourismDC.org to see more murals.

Smithsonian American Art Museum’s new show on Depression-era artists | Around The Mall

Is It Deja Vu All Over Again? A New Deal for Artists | Around The Mall by Beth Py-Lieberman

On a recent visit to the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s new show on Depression-era artists, it was hard to tell if this was a glimpse of the future or a look at the past.

“The United States was in crisis,” reads the text on the walls. “The national economy fell into a profound depression. . . . Thousands of banks failed, wiping out the life savings of millions of families. . . Businesses struggled or collapsed. . . .”

56 paintings on view now through January 3, 2010 at the American Art Museum

Artists hit the streets to replace graffiti with murals in New Brunswick | mycentraljersey.com | MyCentralJersey.com

Artists hit the streets to replace graffiti with murals in New Brunswick | mycentraljersey.com

It started Sunday as a garage door painted solid blue near the intersection of Central Avenue and Robinson Street. But by midday, thanks to the hand of Leon Rainbow, it was a vibrant mural of the mythological figure Atlas holding up a house, a clock and a car — symbolizing what Rainbow described as the pressures of everyday life.

Murals to Zora

DCist Preview: Murals to Zora HERE

Saturday night from 9 p.m. to midnight, the vacant space beneath Union Row condominiums on 14th Street [was] alive with art and music commemorating the life of Harlem renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston. Why Hurston? The author and folklorist was born in Eatonville, Florida, and the murals will decorate the forthcoming Eatonville restaurant—owned by Andy Shallal of Busboys and Poets. Artist Chanel Compton waitresses at Busboys, and asked Shallal if he knew of any empty buildings where she could throw an art event. Shallal offered up Eatonville, which is still under construction, currently interviewing chefs, and preparing to open in a couple of months.

About 20 visual artists participated in the event
Eatonville is located at 2121 14th St. NW, at the corner of 14th and V Streets, Washington, DC.


video by erickennedy
washington dc - deadsquid.net, leonrainbow.com, albuscav.us

CONCRETE ALCHEMY TOUR 2008

In 2008, a group of visionary artists got on the road with the only goal - to transform gray sterile cities into colorful works of art. The tour was a collaborative work of Cern, Chor Boogie, Col, Crol, Demer, Eric Kennedy, Kasso, Mike Ciccotello, Mr. Maxx Moses, Plan, Rain, Ricardo Barros, Veng, Vyal and Werc. Organized by Peter Brauch and Peter Krsko.

For more information about the tour and Albus Cavus, visit http://albuscav.us/concretealchemy/.

Authentic Art Visions: The Artcast

Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art and I spent a lovely afternoon yesterday talking about murals and their effect on communities. You can listen to the ArtCast: Art and Change: Part 3: Art Murals and the Community / Interview HERE. These are some of the murals we discuss.

Prism, Metro Gateway Mural Anne Marchand 2008, acrylic on concrete, 9' 4" x 160'
18th and S. Bell Streets Arlington, VA 22202
Photo Courtesy: Crystal City BID

Building Blocks, High Up Close to Heaven, 2006 Mural, acrylic, 7' x 18'
Takoma Community Center, 300 Van Buren St., NW Washington, DC
Photo Credit: Greg Staley

AAV ArtCast, 20th Edition: Art and Change: Part 3: Art Murals and the Community

We are continuing our series called Art and Change, and today's topic is about one of the most visual art that can be seen in many neighborhoods - the art mural. To discuss how the mural concept contributes to community change and growth, I invited DC based artist, Anne Marchand to join us. Anne Marchand was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up in a colorful environment of Spanish and French influences ..... Anne recently completed a 160' mural for the Crystal City Metro Gateway in 2008 and installed work on an art wall on the outside of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. Read more HERE.

You can visit her website at http://www.annemarchand.com.

Authentic Contemporary Art

ARTCAST presented by Sharon Burton

Community, Mural Anne Marchand 2002, acrylic, 35' x 35'
DC Creates Public Art
915 Westminster Street NW, Washington, DC
Photo Credit: Greg Staley

See more of Anne Marchand's Public Art Projects at these sites:
Hyatt Art Wall
Prism Mural in Crystal City, VA
On the Wall Blog

List of Resources

Anne Marchand's Murals locations:

“Community” Mural
Westminster Playground
913 Westminster Street (Between S and T Sts. NW)
Washington, DC
Commissioned by DC Creates Public Art

“Building Blocks, High Up Close to Heaven” Mural
Takoma Community Center
300 Van Buren St., NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 576-7068
Commissioned by DC Creates Public Art / Dept. of Parks and Recreation

“Red Delicious” Mural
Eastern Market
7th St. & North Carolina Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
Commissioned by DC Creates Public Art, Office of Property Management

“Prism” Mural
18 th and S. Bell Streets
Arlington, VA 22202
Commissioned by Crystal City BID
703-412-9434

“Ellipsis” Art Wall
Hyatt Regency at Ronald Reagan National Airport
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202 US
Commissioned by Crystal City BID 703-412-9434
Sponsors - Hyatt Regency, Concord Residences, and Gould Property Company

Anne also mentioned community resources for funding and information to develop murals in DC. Please check these resources out!

Mural Program Resources: DC Creates Public Art Program
Rachel Dickerson
DC Creates Public Art Manager
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
1371 Harvard Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 724-5613 main
(202) 727-4135 fax
http://www.dcarts.dc.gov/

Public Art Building Communities Grant
Rachel Dickerson
DC Creates Public Art Manager
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
1371 Harvard Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 724-5613 main
(202) 727-4135 fax
http://www.dcarts.dc.gov/

The DC Mural Initiative or Murals DC
Midnight Forum
Dominic Painter, Executive Director
(202) 640-2040
http://www.midnightforum.org/
contact[at[midnightforum[dot]org

Albus Cavus
2451 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.albuscav.us/
albuscavus[at]gmail[dot]com

City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center at the Thomas Eakins House
1727-29 Mt. Vernon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: 215.685.0750 Fax: 215.685.0757

Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican muralist summed up the importance of murals, "mural painting must help in [a person's] struggle to become a human being, and for that purpose it must live wherever it can; no place is bad for it, so long as it is permitted to fulfill its primary functions of nutrition and enlightenment" (Rivera & Wolfe, 1934, p. 13).

For more information on the ArtCast series contact:
Authentic Contemporary Art
1-888-861-1395

Pose 2 X Chor Boogie X MTV

Pose 2 and Chor Boogie visited Dubai in October 2008. One of the exciting projects they produced was this work commissioned by MTV Arabia. For more photos and info about the trip visit http://albuscav.us/dubai/


Source: Art Whino on Urbancode
Also look for Chor Boogie in Inked Souls 2009 coming to you April 18th at Art Whino!

Chor Boogie

VIMBY - Chor Boogie

SAN FRANCISCO - Live in color with Chor Boogie and he explains his interpretation of art and color theory and the room he painted at the famous Hotel Des Arts.
www.chorboogie.com

Art-In-Architecture Artist Registry

Deadline: July 31, 09.

The General Services Administration(GSA)Art in Architecture Program commissions the nation's leading artists to create large-scale works of art for new federal buildings. These artworks enhance the civic meaning of federal architecture and showcase the vibrancy of American visual arts. Together, the art and architecture of federal buildings create a lasting cultural legacy for the people of the United States.

www.gsa.gov/artinarchitecture

Politics and Murals, a Slide Lecture by Timothy W. Drescher, Ph.D.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
6PM LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
7PM PRESENTATION

THE LINCOLN FINANCIAL MURAL ARTS CENTER
AT THE THOMAS EAKINS HOUSE
1727-29 MOUNT VERNON STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA

Mural historian and independent scholar, Timothy Drescher, will give a slide presentation and lecture about 20th century murals in relation to the politics of the time. Pulling from his vast collection of tens of thousands of mural images, Drescher will seek to clarify misguided notions about murals being revolutionary, although that was the vocabulary often used at the time.

Timothy W. Drescher, Ph.D. is an independent scholar from Berkeley, CA who has been studying, documenting, and photographing community murals since 1972. He authored San Francisco Bay Area Murals: Communities Create Their Muses, 1904-1997 (3rd ed., 1998), as well as numerous articles about murals and community arts including the forward to Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell by Jane Golden and Robin Rice, published by Temple University Press in 2002. Drescher has taught at San Francisco State University for over two decades, and served as co-editor of the magazine Community Murals from 1976-1987. He also consults and lectures widely on the subject, actively campaigning for the conservation of murals throughout the United States. Currently, Drescher is writing a history of 20th century community murals.

Wall by: WERC

Wall by Werc
Werc paints a wall in LA
Video Art by Geraldine Lozano
Sound by: Jsun McCarty
Jsun is San Francisco based sound artist