Sharon Burton of
Authentic Contemporary Art and I spent a lovely afternoon yesterday talking about murals and their effect on communities. You can listen to the
Authentic Art Visions Podcast: Art and Change: Art Murals and the Community / Interview HERE. These are some of the murals we discussed.
Prism, Metro Gateway Mural Anne Marchand 2008, acrylic on concrete, 9' 4" x 160'
18th and S. Bell Streets Arlington, VA 22202 Photo Courtesy: Crystal City BID
Building Blocks, High Up Close to Heaven, 2006 Mural, acrylic, 7' x 18'
Takoma Community Center, 300 Van Buren St., NW Washington, DC
Photo Credit: Greg Staley
We are continuing our series called Art and Change, and today's topic is about one of the most visual art that can be seen in many neighborhoods - the art mural. To discuss how the mural concept contributes to community change and growth, I invited DC based artist, Anne Marchand to join us. Anne Marchand was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up in a colorful environment of Spanish and French influences ..... Anne recently completed a 160' mural for the Crystal City Metro Gateway in 2008 and installed work on an art wall on the outside of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. Read more
HERE.Authentic Art Visions Podcast presented by Sharon Burton
Community, Mural, Anne Marchand 2002, acrylic, 35' x 35' DC Creates Public Art
915 Westminster Street NW, Washington, DC Photo Credit: Greg Staley
List of Resources
Anne Marchand's Murals locations:
“Community” Mural
Westminster Playground
913 Westminster Street (Between S and T Sts. NW)
Washington, DC
Commissioned by DC Creates Public Art
“Building Blocks, High Up Close to Heaven” Mural
Takoma Community Center
300 Van Buren St., NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 576-7068
Commissioned by DC Creates Public Art / Dept. of Parks and Recreation
“Red Delicious” Mural
Eastern Market
7th St. & North Carolina Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
Commissioned by DC Creates Public Art, Office of Property Management
“Prism” Mural
18 th and S. Bell Streets
Arlington, VA 22202
Commissioned by Crystal City BID
703-412-9434
“Ellipsis” Art Wall
Hyatt Regency at Ronald Reagan National Airport
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202 US
Commissioned by Crystal City BID 703-412-9434
Sponsors - Hyatt Regency, Concord Residences, and Gould Property Company
Anne also mentioned community resources for funding and information to develop murals in DC. Please check these resources out!
Mural Program Resources: DC Creates Public Art Program
Rachel Dickerson
DC Creates Public Art Manager
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
1371 Harvard Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 724-5613 main
(202) 727-4135 fax
http://www.dcarts.dc.gov/
Public Art Building Communities Grant
Rachel Dickerson
DC Creates Public Art Manager
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
1371 Harvard Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 724-5613 main
(202) 727-4135 fax
http://www.dcarts.dc.gov/
The DC Mural Initiative or Murals DC
Midnight Forum
Dominic Painter, Executive Director
(202) 640-2040
http://www.midnightforum.org/
contact@midnightforum.org
Albus Cavus
2451 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.albuscav.us/
albuscavus@gmail.com
City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center at the Thomas Eakins House
1727-29 Mt. Vernon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: 215.685.0750 Fax: 215.685.0757
Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican muralist summed up the importance of murals, "mural painting must help in [a person's] struggle to become a human being, and for that purpose it must live wherever it can; no place is bad for it, so long as it is permitted to fulfill its primary functions of nutrition and enlightenment" (Rivera & Wolfe, 1934, p. 13).
Sharon Burton
Prism, Metro Gateway Mural Anne Marchand 2008, acrylic on concrete, 9' 4" x 160'
Building Blocks, High Up Close to Heaven, 2006 Mural, acrylic, 7' x 18' 
If you've ever thought about collecting, NOW is the time to jump in according to JW Mahoney. There is much offered in Washington, DC at the galleries, art organizations, student exhibitions and venues like Artomatic. Mahoney states that we are now experiencing a Renaissance in the arts. According to Irvine, DC is known for its diversity and excellence in artists and galleries at the national level at art fairs. The panel agreed that art in DC does not receive adequate coverage in the local papers like the Washington Post. They have one attuned journalist on staff. With the lack of press coverage, we are missing a player(s) in the field. Role, responsibility and contribution to the arts should be wake up calls for the press, not to mention the excellent content and diversity of what is happening in the arts in DC. There are many bloggers who are filling the information gap beautifully and we STILL need the print media to roll the presses on the art world in DC. The printed word and pictures still hold weight in the minds of collectors and the art world.
Lenny Campello offers these guideline to beginning collectors:
Sharon Burton recommends visiting open studios and going to artist talks to acquaint yourself with the artists process of creating the work and to learn about their concepts. Visit galleries and art organizations to discover the art that you like. Blogs play a very big part in getting the word out about exhibitions. Burton recommends looking through auction catalogs. Mahoney suggests....Talk to other collectors for recommendations on artists and galleries. Visit artists studios to learn about and interact with the artist.
According to Martin Irvine, art is about information. Good galleries inform collectors about the artists and about the general art field. The whole system is based on trust. The art gallery's main mission is (should be) to create value for its artists and collectors. 
