(Washington, DC) – MuralsDC and the Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel will host an art exhibit featuring the “graffiti-style” murals installed during the 2013 season on Wednesday, November 13, at the Renaissance Washington/Dupont Circle, 1143 New Hampshire Ave., NW. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will also feature MuralsDC artwork from previous years.
"Exhibiting the District's public murals at the Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel brings the art to one great location for residents and visitors to enjoy," says Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH). "The District has a world class public mural program, which enhances the experience of everyone who lives, works, and visits, in the District.
MuralsDC is coordinated by the DC Department of Public Works (DPW), DCCAH and local nonprofit Words, Beats and Life. It combats graffiti with artistic works that illustrate past, present and future stories of Washington, DC’s neighborhoods. Seven new murals were installed this summer and fall in Wards 3, 4, 5, and 8 by local, national and international artists. Nearly 50 MuralsDC creations are currently on display in every ward of the city.
“This year we’ve had the opportunity to not only present MuralsDC to Smithsonian museum curators but to also collaborate with this esteemed institution on a mural,” said William O. Howland, Jr., director of DPW, which funds MuralsDC. “It has gone from being a practical graffiti prevention initiative to a significant contributor to the District’s public art landscape, of which I am very proud.”
MuralsDC established a first-ever collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center in the development of a wall located at the Latin American Montessori Bilingual Center that celebrates the works of local musician Maria Rodriguez, a foundational figure in the local Latin music/Latin jazz scene, since the 1950s.
“Working with MuralsDC has given us the chance to take local history to the playground,” said Ranald Woodaman, Exhibitions and Public Program Director for the Smithsonian Latino Center. “The mural, which is in part a tribute to an iconic DC teacher and musician, illustrates the importance of remembering the educators, artists, and change agents in our communities, and of memorializing their spirit of love and generosity.”
This year’s MuralsDC works and artists are as follows:
8 Florida Avenue, NW: James Bullough, Addison Karl
312 Florida Avenue, NW: Aniekan Udofia
1375 Missouri Avenue, NW: Cecilia Lueza
3800 Fort Drive, NW (Reno Park): Coby Kennedy
1513 Rhode Island Avenue, NE: Hamilton Glass
1101 Bladensburg Road, NE: Michael Owen
2921 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, SE: Daniel Rosnedvalles, Justin Poppe