Public art brings life and beauty to a place. The Friendship Heights Alliance has hired local artists and worked with property owners to install six new murals in the neighborhood.
Splitting Light at 5255 Western Avenue NW
The Alliance worked with Metro’s Art in Transit program to install a new mural on Metro property in the iconic arched doorways of the former Lord & Taylor building. Splitting Light includes seven, 17-foot-tall panels that fill the arches over the doorways fronting Western Avenue. Splitting Light was painted and designed by the Baltimore-based artist team known as Jessie and Katey. “The piece harmonizes a bold geometric pattern inspired by the existing architectural forms. Each arch is divided to capture the interplay of light and shadow, with gradients and colors that flow across the piece, evoking a sense of movement and energy,” wrote the artists in their statement. So as not to disturb the actual facade, the piece was painted in Baltimore on plywood panels, then installed by the team at Pipkin Creative.
Two Facades at 2 Wisconsin Circle
The Alliance partnered with The Chevy Chase Land Company to install two murals on either side of 2 Wisconsin Circle, the building above the bus turnaround and one of the five Metrorail entrances. Pipkin Creative also sourced these two murals, which total 1,020 SF, and brought Miami-based artist Cecilia Lueza into the project for design. The untitled work includes bright swaths of paint that evoke natural elements, the effects of color, and movement. “I strive to create visual narratives that evoke a feeling of wonder and contemplation while providing a memorable experience for the viewer,” Lueza said in a statement. The two murals were installed by award-winning local artist Juan Pineda.
EPepco Wall, 5210 Wisconsin Ave. NW
The lengthy, 123-foot wall adjacent to the Pepco substation consisted of an unusual striated material and presented a blank, empty scene to passersby at a highly visible spot in the neighborhood. The Alliance worked with Pipkin Creative and Baltimore-based artist Justin Nethercut to create a gorgeous, eye-catching natural scene with aerosol and paint sprayer applications.
Title: Eastern Migration
Artist's Statement: This piece blended local native birds and plant species with a blue-ridged mountain backdrop, bringing naturescapes found less than an hour away into the cityscape. The featured birds from left to right are a peregrine falcon, an eastern bluebird, and a blue heron. The changing sky, painted with a paint sprayer, represents the change in sky colors throughout the seasons as the birds migrate south. Tag the artist @nether410.
Dog Coop, 5205 Wisconsin Ave. NW
While the Dog Coop is under construction at 5205 Wisconsin Avenue NW (the former Paul's Liquor Store), plywood became a magnet for graffiti. The Alliance worked with Pipkin Creative and artist Juan Pineda to create a colorful, dog-themed mural. Pineda created the mural in his studio on 8'x4' plywood panels that can be removed and placed elsewhere once construction is finished. Tag the artist @criomatic.
Crunch Fitness, 5100 Wisconsin Ave. NW
After installing comfortable furniture and planters in an empty planter box right in front of Crunch Fitness, the Alliance worked with Pipkin Creative and artist Luther Wright to create a bright mural along the window to hide office paraphernalia and enliven the space. The artist team coordinated with Crunch's in-house chalk artist (check out their sidewalk signs!) and came up with a flowing, colorful representation of the Crunch mantra "Good Vibes Only." Completed in late 2022. Tag the artist @lutherwrightart. Tag Pipkin Creative @pipkincreative.