Murals in Friendship Heights
Public art brings life and beauty to a place. The Friendship Heights Alliance has hired local artists and worked with property owners to install seven new murals in the neighborhood.
Transformation at 5255 Western Avenue NW, by Nicole Bourgea
The Alliance collaborated once again with Metro’s Art in Transit program to install a second mural on the Jenifer Street side of the former Lord & Taylor building. Created by artist Nicole Bourgea, Transformation fills the arched doorways and part of the awning over a former entrance, creating a colorful backdrop for a new seating arrangement that beckons passersby to have a seat and stay awhile.
Artist’s Statement: “As an artist who both grew up and currently works from a studio in close proximity to the mural site, I have witnessed the transformation of Friendship Heights over the years. I am delighted to be painting a mural on the classic, mid-century modern facade of the landmark former Lord & Taylor building. As a creative professional and community builder, I am excited by the idea of introducing a bit of wonder and whimsy into this post-WWII minimalism aesthetic landscape.
“The concept for this mural includes three majestic cheetahs — representing the past, present and future of the area — climbing over the tulip-covered existing awning on site. Cheetahs are symbolic of transformation and strategic action, while the red tulips are a reference to the Friendship Heights Alliance. The movement through time is symbolized by the gradual lightening of the inset panels between the moon on the upper left and sun on the upper right corners of the design.
“In the preliminary conversation around the creation of this mural, we discussed the desire to include public art work as a transform tool for the area through placemaking and community gathering opportunities. I envision this fun, vibrant mural surrounded by seating and a few planters, creating an easily identifiable neighborhood gathering spot. I can picture community members making plans to ‘meet up for coffee by the cheetahs’ or laughing together under the cheerful tulip forest in between errands in this evolving walkable urban environment.
“The cheetahs are painted in an energetic, semi-realistic style, similar to the animals depicted in a couple examples of my past mural work. The front triangle of the awning will be painted with tulip flowers. The design respects the desire to leave the existing marble surround untouched, while also cleverly incorporating the existing awning into the design, thus providing both an extended architectural feature (shade and rain covering) for a potential seating area, as well as sparing the Alliance the additional cost and logistics of the structure’s removal.”
So as not to disturb the actual facade, the piece is painted on a mix of wood and metal panels that cover the doors. Curated by Pipkin Creative.
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.