“Keep Driving On”
Mama Ayesha’s Presidential Mural
by
Karla "Karlisima" Rodas
by
Karla "Karlisima" Rodas
Tuesday, August 7th, 2012
6:30 p.m.
@
The Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant
(The Mural is
painted outside the Restaurant, on the wall facing the
outside parking lot.)
1967 Calvert Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
R.S.V.P.
karlisima[at]hotmail.com
703-819-8069
Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant: 202-232-5431
Mama Ayesha’s Presidential Mural includes 11 USA Presidents in Chronological Order, beginning with Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and ending with President Barack Obama. It is a historical mural and it marks a historical event, the election of the first African-American to be President of the United States of America. President Obama's image was added in 2008 on the date of his election and inauguration. The mural artist, Karla "Karlisima" Rodas is a Salvadoran-American Artist and this is her largest painting to date. The mural title is “Keep Driving On” and it aims to embody the spirit of perseverance, faith, hard and honest work, and the spirit of excellence.
Mama Ayesha, the founder of the popular Middle Eastern Restaurant, is the Lady in the middle of the mural. She represents a role model for women and small business entrepreneurs who work hard to fulfill the American Dream.
Mural Artist: Karla "Karlisima" Rodas
www.Karlisima.com
www.Karlisima.com
The mural is dedicated to President Barack Obama and to U.S. Soldier Michael Regis Pollard, who fought in the Iraq war. It was also made in loving memory of Ronald H. Schuett and Eugene E. Badal, two friends of the artist who passed away while the mural was in progress.
The artist painted this mural from 2008 to 2012. It took almost 4 years to complete the 60’ x 24’ mural. Most of the work took place from 2008 to 2010 with finishing touches applied over the last two years.
The mural was funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant, private donors and sponsors.
About the Artist: Karla "Karlisima" Rodas
From 1988 to 1992 Karlisima studied Art and Languages at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated with a Major in Painting. In 1989 she received a scholarship to study art in Europe. She took French classes during a Summer Institute intensive Program in France from Washington University. She is fluent in five languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian and German. Along with her studio practice in painting and teaching art, Karlisima is part-time medical interpreter for La Clinica del Pueblo and at community clinics and local hospitals. In 2010-2011 she was the children's art teacher in the French language at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Elementary School.
The artist painted this mural from 2008 to 2012. It took almost 4 years to complete the 60’ x 24’ mural. Most of the work took place from 2008 to 2010 with finishing touches applied over the last two years.
The mural was funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant, private donors and sponsors.
About the Artist: Karla "Karlisima" Rodas
From 1988 to 1992 Karlisima studied Art and Languages at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated with a Major in Painting. In 1989 she received a scholarship to study art in Europe. She took French classes during a Summer Institute intensive Program in France from Washington University. She is fluent in five languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian and German. Along with her studio practice in painting and teaching art, Karlisima is part-time medical interpreter for La Clinica del Pueblo and at community clinics and local hospitals. In 2010-2011 she was the children's art teacher in the French language at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Elementary School.
