Radiance Art Wall in Crystal City, VA

You are invited to view Crystal City BID's photo album: Radiance


The mosaics are by Valerie Theberge

Prism Mural [Art Wall] in Crystal City, VA

You are invited to view Crystal City BID's photo album: Prism
and Anne Marchand's work in progress photo album.

Mural by Anne Marchand, 9'4" x 160'

The Crystal City Business Improvement District commissioned Washington-based artist Anne Marchand to design a mural for the Route 1 Overpass along 18th Street. The piece, titled Prism, welcomes pedestrians and cars entering and exiting the Crystal City Neighborhood along 18th Street. The design is painted on thirty five concrete panels sized 9 feet 4 in. x 4 feet, spanning the length of the 160 foot wall. The design phase of the project began in July 2008 and the fabrication took place in September 2008. The mural is created in vibrant hues that reflect a theme of light and color.

Art Walls in Crystal City, VA

Anne Marchand, Michael Hammond, Jose Piedra at Prism Mural, 18th Street Underpass, Crystal City, VA.
Photo Credit: Greg Staley

You wondered where I was this fall? What have I been doing? Well, I wasn't exactly the troll under the bridge, but I did get my hair blown around for over a month at the 18th Street underpass. Two of my recent public art projects are right across the river from Washington, DC in Crystal City, VA. Check them out. I liked being out in the elements, even on the gritty texture of the street, painting the Prism mural. There is something wonderful in being totally immersed in a creative project with good people around you. The best part was witnessing daily, with a river of pedestrians, the change that was taking place on this piece of concrete in Virginia. You know.... it does matter, those little tiny glimpses that let light and color in the mind. It excites the imagination, like peripheral vision, you might not see it head on, but you know it's there and you feel a delightful presence. Barren to beauty, perhaps not in excess, but steps in that direction. I love it when a team of artists form a good match. Jose Piedra, Michael Hammond, the wind and I painted the geometry, color and light that brought smiles to faces. Dear mural, keep doing that and more.

Enjoy the Prism Mural Slideshow. Other artists who assisted with the project include Eve Hennessa and Siobhan Gavagan.

Here's a couple of mentions in the Arlington, VA news.
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What’s New in the Arts in Arlington
Nov., 2008
PUBLIC ART
Art Walls in Crystal City; 
Radiance, Prism and Ellipsis

http://www.crystalcity.org
1800 S. Bell Street (nearest intersection)
Metro gateway area
Arlington, VA 22202


The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) unveils its latest creative endeavor, Art Walls, which includes three projects, Radiance, Prism and Ellipsis. Radiance and Prism flank the 160’ walls on the north and south sides of 18th Street South, bringing light and color to the thousands of Metro commuters who make their way to and from the Crystal City Metro station each day.
Local mosaic artist Valerie Theberge created Radiance, 25 dazzling and dynamic individual mosaics on one side, and Anne Marchand designed Prism, 35 large rectangles filled with geometric shapes for the opposing wall. 
Elsewhere in Crystal City, Ellipsis, courtesy of artist Anne Marchand and the Zenith Gallery, takes twelve of the artist’s most colorful abstracts, enlarges them into 10’ square panels and mounts them on the back wall of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Spotlight Crystal
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Art Walls Creates Gallery in Crystal City - Crystal City sparkles with the unveiling of the Art Walls collection which currently includes three projects: Radiance, Prism, and Ellipsis. The Crystal City BID chose 18th and S. Bell Streets (Metro gateway area) for the first set of Art Walls, Radiance and Prism, which flank the north and south sides of 18th Street South, respectively. Developed by local mosaic artist Valerie Theberge, Radiance splashes 25 dynamic and dazzling pieces along the 160’ wall. Across the street, Prism – the inspiration of Anne Marchand -- consists of 35 4’ x 9’ rectangles filled with geometric shapes and unique elements which enliven the wall. Embraced by Crystal City commercial property owners, the first corporate Art Wall, Ellipsis, is a partnership involving Gould Property Company, the Airport Hyatt and Concord Residences. Ellipsis, also an Anne Marchand creation, takes 12 of the artist’s most colorful abstracts, enlarges them onto 10’ square panels, and mounts them onto the back wall of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Be sure to check out the colorful, lively and whimsical pieces of art!

Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia, USA 22202

Courtesy Zenith Gallery and the artist, www.annemarchand.com.
Happy Creating! Anne

O' Christmas Tree

Here's the community christmas tree decorated every year by kids, parents and friends in a little get together in the Westminster Playground. The mural,"Community," loves the company.

Westminster Playground
913 Westminster Street NW (between S and T Sts.)
Washington, DC

DC Creates Public Art mural by Anne Marchand
Community, acrylic, 34' x 34'

DC Creates Public Art

A couple of my murals are featured on this public art video put together by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Westminster Playground, Washington, DC
Takoma Community Center, Washington, DC

Other Public Art Projects

Phillips Mentor Teacher Program In The News / Public Art

On November 25, 2008 Kenmore students, working in the style of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, installed an outdoor, environmental artwork on the roof and grounds of their school. You can view photographs of the installation at Flickr.

The Washington Post has an article about Phillips Mentor Teachers, Jeff Wilson and Shauna Dyer of Kenmore Middle School in Arlington.

Wilson and Dyer are part of the Phillips Mentor Teacher Program, which supports teachers developing "best practices" curricula based on Phillips Collection artists, artworks and/or special exhibitions.

THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION | 1600 Twenty-first St, NW | Washington, DC 20009

LeDroit Park Mural Dedication this Saturday

Come celebrate the completion of a beautiful community mural!
with The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and The LeDroit Park Community

Garin Baker, “This is How We Live”

December 13th, 2008 from 11:00am – 2:00pm (Rain or Shine)

LeDroit Park Community Mural Dedication
239 Elm Street, NW next to the Gage-Eckington Elementary School

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in collaboration with residents from the LeDroit Park community selected muralist Garin Baker to design, create and install this mural in the center of the neighborhood. LeDroit Park is a small neighborhood filled with unique architectural characteristics and historical significance to Washington D.C. The LeDroit Park community, although small in number and size has an extraordinary amount of pride and spirit. The mural ties in the historical context of the neighborhood while enforcing a positive message; the mural is aptly entitled “This is How We Live”. Mr. Baker worked closely with the community in the development of the mural and will be leading an arts workshop immediately after the dedication. “I love the results of this mural”, says Gloria Nauden, Executive Director of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. I really feel it captures all the elements of what makes LeDroit Park unique.”


According to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty: “This initiative will visually engage residents through a beautiful neighborhood mural that depicts the unique landscapes, people and images of the historic LeDroit Park community. The mural will become a prominent landmark in the neighborhood for years to come. Long time D.C. resident Dana Bryson says “The mural is the result of a community effort and it celebrates the beautiful people and history of LeDroit Park. “This celebratory mural marks the beginning of a renaissance that is taking place at the site of the former Gage-Eckington School, which will soon have a green-civic plaza, a community garden and new play garden for the children and a senior community center."