"Seasons in the City," 907 Barry Pl. NW at Sherman Avenue. This expansive wall shows a colorful procession of residents enjoying the city throughout the year. The improvisational style walks the viewer through a string of images evoking Mother Earth, Father Time, nature and cityscapes. Lead artists: Asad Walker, Decoy, Chor Boogie, Peter Krsko,
Leon Rainbow with Albus Cavus.
Mika Altskan
California artist Chor Boogie worked on several murals with Albus Cavus, including the "Seasons" mural near Sherman Avenue.
Mika Altskan
"Shaw Community Mural," 1507 Ninth St. NW. One of two murals that didn't use aerosol painting techniques, this uses a German mineral paint that looks like liquid glass and is designed to last 100 years. The bright hues echo those in stained-glass windows at Shiloh Baptist Church across the street. Oval portraits of Langston Hughes and Carter Woodson flank scenes of the block's renovation. Artist: G. Byron Peck with City Arts DC.
John Woo
Walter Pierce Park, 2630 Adams Mill Rd. NW. Both sides of the long, low wall have been adorned with lively scenes signifying movement in the park and beyond. Birds soaring from a globe represent people fleeing their native lands in search of better lives, says artist Aniekan Udofia, a native Washingtonian.
Dominic Painter
A young girl blowing bubbles as a cartoonish pup bounds happily along seems to beckon onlookers to run, jump and play at the Walter Pierce Park mural.
Dominic Painter
"My DC," 3904 14th St. NW. Adorning the side of the 14th Street Mini Market, this mural reflects how residents view the city. Students from the DC Urban Arts Academy worked with artist Tim Conlon and the group Words, Beats & Life to create a work that blends the two visions of Washington.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
The "My DC" mural shows how the city is not just a place of monuments but also one of thriving traditional neighborhoods full of families and businesses.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
"Life Makes Music," Riggs Road NE at South Dakota Avenue. Striking faces of youth and maturity symbolize how music speaks to each generation and has long been a part of the District's heritage. Artists: Joel Bergner and Rashad Cuffee with youth from Oak Hill Youth Detention Center.
Joel Bergner
It's hard to refrain from skipping along with the implied beat at the "Life Makes Music" mural.
Joel Bergner
"Metamorphosis," 615 Division Ave. NE. Twenty-year-old Maurice Hill, a graduate of Friendship Public Charter School, says his mural
should be viewed from right to left. It serves as a mirror for residents to see themselves and their community, but not through rose-colored glasses. The progression shows how the historically black community changed with the influx of different groups. The last panel represents a bright future as people learn from one another. There are no words here, and that's intentional, Hill says.
Maurice Hill
The proud image of a graduate seems fitting for this mural at Fairmont Street and Georgia Avenue NW, across from Howard University and Benjamin Banneker High School. The work literally turns a corner, and images of an older man playing the trumpet and a young girl strumming a guitar pay homage to the musical heritage of this neighborhood, which was home to Marvin Gaye and Duke Ellington. Artist: Andrew Funk with Midnight Forum.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
"The Crane," 400 Florida Ave. NW. Located on the side of a Chinese carryout, this compact mural uses a popular image from Chinese culture. The crane is a symbol for longevity because of its exceptionally long life span. In many legends, it also represents soaring spirits, happiness and wisdom. Artists: Joel Bergner and Rashad Cuffee with youth from Oak Hill Youth Detention Center.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
Upshur Park, 4300 Arkansas Ave. at 14th Street. This work, often referred to as the park's "Hollywood" sign, includes input from Theodore Roosevelt Senior High 10th-grader Arnesto Zelaya and other students at the school and park regulars. Scenes depict the school's mascot -- the dolphin -- and such positive activities as swimming and basketball that take part in the park. An angel with aerosol cans for wings represents the culture of graffiti -- not as a nuisance, but as a way of contributing to the community. Artists: Cory Stowers and Jason Philp with Words, Beats & Life.
Mazi Mutafa
"One City," 2420 Martin Luther King Ave. SE. You can't miss this huge mural touting "many voices," "many beats" but "one city." Drum beats are part of all the cultures that merge in this community. Artist: Jason Philp with Words, Beats & Life.
Mazi Mutafa
"Myth of Zacharias," 614 S St. NW. This 25-by-35-foot mural on the side of an 1890 carriage house celebrates local architecture as well as the city's jazz roots. The carriage house was a jazz hangout in the 1940s and '50s, frequented by well-known musicians including Miles Davis. This is the other MuralsDC work that uses the special, long-lasting paint. Artist: G. Byron Peck with City Arts DC.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
"Movement," under the Franklin Street Bridge at Edgewood and Eighth Street NE. Youth from Bell Multicultural High School joined artists and the District's transportation office in creating images of moving forward as the city changes, with emphasis on an upcoming bike trail. Lead artists: Rodney "Buck" Herring, Wesley Clark, Brandon Hill with A.M. Radio.
Arya Surowidjojo
"Untitled," 1435 Meridian Pl. NW. The owner of a private residence volunteered his wall so students from Bell Multicultural High School could transform a dreary alley into a setting for a colorful blend of faces, hip-hop speakers, bubbles and a pair of hands reaching for education. Artist: Aniekan Udofia with Midnight Forum.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
In another part of the "Untitled" mural on Meridian Place, smiling faces reflect and build the sense of community.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
"Takoma Green," behind 314 Carroll St. NW (visible only from Red Line Metro trains at Takoma Station). Working with Words, Beats & Life, artist Coby Kennedy brought his background as an industrial engineer to this 135-foot long, 10-foot high strip facing the rail tracks. This mural illustrates the merger of technology and nature. Mechanized-looking plants are entwined with arrows that represent the colors of the Metrorail system.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
"Unity," 600 Alabama Ave. SE. The message here is very subjective. While it's meant to represent the closeness of and interaction between community and family, many observers see a spiritual theme in it. Artist: Michael Hammond with Midnight Forum.
Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher
Text editor Anne Kenderdine
