Release Date: May 8, 2020

Crystal City BID Debuts #LoveNationalLanding New Art Initiative Featuring Collaborations Designed to Inspire and Uplift the Community

Media Contacts:
RUBENSTEIN
Justina Lombardo: jlombardo@rubenstein.com / 718-207-9070
Mary-Kate Morrow: mmorrow@rubenstein.com / 215-847-0693

 

Crystal City BID Debuts #LoveNationalLanding, New Art Initiative Featuring Collaborations Designed to Inspire and Uplift the Community

 Campaign Launches with Unveiling of Painted Storefronts

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CRYSTAL CITY, VA – May 8, 2020 – The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) has launched #LoveNationalLanding, a new art campaign designed to enliven the local streetscape and unify the community, while also highlighting the work of area businesses and local artists.

The initiative kicked off with the unveiling of an array of vibrant artwork featuring sunbursts, blooming flowers, and oversized hearts emboldened with encouraging messages across several storefronts in National Landing, the district that encompasses Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard. Drawing inspiration from Andy Shallal’s #PaintTheStoreFronts program, and neighborhoods across the country that have utilized art to beautify the public realm during the COVID-19 crisis, the BID worked with curator Tom Pipkin to select a lineup of local artists who were then tasked with creating facade designs that would serve as a source of community-wide inspiration.

The artists are Cris Clapp Logan, known for her watercolor and ink illustrations; Jeff Huntington, aka JAHRU, whose colorful murals can be found across the DC area, Chicago and Brooklyn; Patrick Owens, a creator of bright murals, lettering and illustrations; Juan Pineda, a visual artist whose distinct style is characterized as urban contemporary street art; Erik Ricks, a celebrated muralist and sculptor; and Chelsea Ritter-Soronsen, a public artist and community-focused arts organizer.  Their uplifting designs are transforming the facades of National Landing restaurants and retailers including: Commonwealth Joe, Enjera, Freddie’s Beach Bar, Jaleo, Los Tios, and Vintage Dress Company. Additional storefronts will be identified for participation in the initiative in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled to introduce our #LoveNationalLanding campaign and couldn’t think of a better way to launch this initiative than the painted storefront campaign, which conveys our unwavering support for our small businesses and the vital role that public art plays in our community,” said Crystal City BID President and Executive Director Tracy Sayegh Gabriel.  “As this initiative advances over the course of the month, residents, workers and visitors can expect to encounter additional bursts of color and messages of encouragement throughout the National Landing area.”

In addition to the storefront beautification project, the BID has enlisted local muralist team Brocoloco to create eye-catching vinyl wraps that will cover two welcome boxes with frontages that span over 20’-by-8’. Brocoloco will also produce 100 sidewalk decals featuring positive and amusing messages that will be scattered throughout the neighborhood.  These features, along with a social media component, will roll out over the month of May. 

 

About the Crystal City Business Improvement District

The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) is a public-private partnership established to promote the vibrant Crystal City business, retail, restaurant and residential community. As Virginia’s largest downtown, the Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard - Arlington area consists of nearly 12 million square feet of office space in a mixed-use, walkable urban center that includes more than 32,000 residents, over 5,800 hotel rooms, and over 400 restaurants and shops. Nearly $4 billion in public infrastructure investment is anticipated over the next decade, and over $4 billion of private development is expected to be delivered by 2024. The BID is supporting the exciting transformation of Crystal City through placemaking, public art, transportation, economic development, events, and marketing/promotion. For more information, visit www.crystalcity.org.
 

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