Mural Dedication of the Mama Ayesha’s Presidential Mural

“Keep Driving On”

Mama Ayesha’s Presidential Mural  
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  

www.karlisima.com

Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant: 202-232-5431  

www.mamaayeshas.com

             
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

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.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH with Albus Cavus

March is Women's History Month and what better way to celebrate than creating a large scale work of public art. Meet the beautiful group of artists this Saturday and Sunday:

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
An international group of talented muralists celebrates Women History Month by creating a large collaborative work of art in Washington, DC this weekend. The artists in this diverse collective of all ages and cultural backgrounds bring their own unique stories relevant to the women's place in the modern society. More information...


Meet the artists this Saturday and Sunday, while they are painting the wall at 73 Florida Avenue NW or 
March 24 from 5 to 7pm at a discussion panel in Busboys and Poets at 5th and K Street NW.

VOLUNTEERS: GARFIELD PARK EVERY SATURDAY
Every Saturday at noon, an awesome group of artists led by Ben Ashworth is transforming and activating BridgeSpot - the area under the highway overpass in Garfield Park (2nd Street and Virginia Avenue SE). Help to create another fun public space. Wear work clothes, expect to get dusty.

Albus Cavus Blog
2451 18th Street NW | Washington, DC 20009

Monster Mash is on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 2011, RAIN OR SHINE from 10 am to 5pmin Garfield Park.

Do you like to dance, sing, paint or just to have fun at a playground? MONSTER MASH 2, is a community event that will feature art by more than 30 muralists, dancers from Urban Artistry, skating demonstrations by Skatepark of Baltimore, costume contest, music and a lot of games and play.

MONSTER MASH 2
will be held in Garfield Park in Washington DC on October 29 from 10am to 5pm. Get your Halloween costume on, grab your family and friends and enjoy a fine fall day outside in the park creating art and having fun.

Creative Partners and Sponsors: Albus Cavus, The Fridge Gallery, Urban Artistry, Skatepark of Baltimore, The Friends of Garfield Park, Utrecht Art Supplies, State Farm on Barracks Row Mike Jones, Matchbox Capitol Hill, CHAMPS Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, Councilmember Tommy Wells, Nancy and Norm Metzger (ANC6B), Kirsten Oldenburg (ANC6B), Julia Christian, Nina Liggett, Alex Goldstein

Official Media Partner: East City Art

MONSTER MASH is the official opening of a week-long festival of murals and public art OPEN WALLS FEST that will host hundreds of artists on multiple walls around Washington DC.
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ARTIST CALL: OPEN WALLS FEST DC
A city-wide outdoor painting festival on open walls will feature over 100 artists. Open Walls is an initiative that creates and maintains outdoor creative spaces and brings artists and educators to collaborate with the local community.

If you would like to participate in OPEN WALLS FEST (November 4-11) as an artist please send an email with a link to your portfolio or a few examples of your work. Include a request what day you would like to paint and how large area you will use. Due to a large interest in this program, no guarantee that everyone will get a spot. The deadline for all applications is November 2, 2011.

For more info: http://albuscav.us/blog/

CALL FOR MURAL SITES

DC Department of Public Works (DPW)

CALL FOR MURAL SITES

muralsdc.org

The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) is looking for mural sites in wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 to be considered as part of its MuralsDC program from June-August 2011.

MuralsDC is a partnership between DPW and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH).  MuralsDC was created by Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham to help replace illegal graffiti with artistic works, to revitalize sites within the community to engage young people in a legal activity that promotes respect  for public and private property. Visit muralsdc.org to view past murals.

There are currently 27 MuralsDC projects throughout the District. Each tell a unique story of DC’s diverse neighborhoods while deterring further illegal graffiti.  Visit muralsdc.org to view past murals.  DPW and DCCAH are looking for sites that are frequent targets of graffiti.

How to Submit: Submissions and requests for Authorization forms can be emailed to Nancee Lyons at Nancee.lyons[at]dc.gov, with the Subject line: MURALSDC. Or mailed to Nancee Lyons, DC Department of Public Works, 2000 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009.  Deadline for submissions is April 15, 2011. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

PUBLIC ART PROGRAMMING @ ARTISPHERE

Artisphere
http://www.artisphere.com    
      
ROSSLYN: A WORK-IN-PROGRESS  
Tue Feb 15 –Sun March 13 / Free/ Works-In-Progress Gallery
Celebrate Rosslyn Renaissance’s Twentieth AnniversaryThis exhibition will showcase Rosslyn’s unique urban design and development through the lens of the Rosslyn Renaissance, a membership organization that informs, involves and engages the community in planning for the future.

PUBLIC ART IN ROSSLYN
Fri Feb 18 & Fri March 4/ 12:30pm / Free/ Works-In-Progress Gallery
Join Geoffrey Aldridge, Associate Public Art Projects Curator for Arlington County, for a lunchtime discussion and visit to selected public artworks in Rosslyn.

THE CHALLENGE OF PUBLIC ART IN PLACEMAKING
Tue March 8 / 6:30pm reception, 7:30pm talk
Pay-What-You-Can / Dome Theatre
Presented by the Arlington County Commission for the Arts Public Art Committee and co-sponsored by the Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies Urban Affairs and Planning Program - National Capital Region

A presentation on the history, overview of urban design considerations and the current state and future trends of public art across the country. A question and answer time will follow the presentations, moderated by Kim Ward, Arlington Commission for the Arts Public Art Committee chair.

Speakers:
Jennifer McGregor, Director of Arts & Senior Curator, Wave Hill, Bronx, NY, co-founder of the Public Art Network, a program of Americans for the Arts and former Director of NY City Percent for Art Program.
Liesel Fenner, Public Art Program Manager, Americans for the Arts, former Public Art Program Manager, New England Foundation for the Arts and a licensed landscape architect.
Ralph Bennett,  Professor Emeritus, University of MD School of Architecture, President, Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, and Member, Art Review Panel for the MD-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission.

*************
Artisphere
http://www.artisphere.com            
1101 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22209 / 703-875-1100       
Two blocks to Metro

Public Art Talk with Sara Reisman, Director, NYC's Percent for Art Program

Public Art Talk with Sara Reisman,

Director, NYC's Percent for Art Program

organized by Arlington County Public Art Program. 

Monday, January 10, 2011 

6:30pm @ Artisphere

The Initiative for Public Art - Reston (IPAR) is a cosponsor of the event.

The Initiative for Public Art - Reston (IPAR) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. IPAR imagines public art throughout Reston that is world-renowned, inspires the community and engages the mind and senses. www.publicartreston.org

DC Creates! Public Art Calls for Entry

Public Art for DC Public Senior High Schools

CALL FOR ARTISTS
DC CREATES PUBLIC ART
Budget: Projects range up to $50,000
Deadline: Monday, October 18, 2010 at 6pm
This is not a postmarked due date. All materials must be received by October 18th at 6pm.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) DC Creates! Public Art Program and the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) are seeking artists to create artistic designs and permanent public artworks to enhance four (4) brand new or newly renovated DC Public Senior High Schools – Anacostia, H.D. Woodson, Eastern, and Woodrow Wilson. The goal of this project is to enhance the students experience at school and to engage them in the process of creating high quality public art. Selected artists should have experience working with architects, community representatives, high school children, and government entities.


Download application HERE