Creative Place Making
Placemaking projects present innovative solutions for local challenges; a place where art, culture, and design are at the heart of every community. The initiative is meant to amplify and uplift the community by creating new works, iconic installations, and rejuvenating landmarks of the residents' beloved city.
Art in Public Places was formed to provide meaningful opportunities for artists, to contribute to the development of art and culture in Prince George's County, and to visually enhance public settings for its citizens. The program also strives to further its mission through collaborations with other organizations and private sector construction in the County to facilitate the presence of public artwork in a greater variety of locations.
Public Art Projects In Progress
Bladensburg Branch Library
The original branch was dedicated on October 21, 1978, in a 1920’s-era building that had formerly been the Bladensburg Elementary School and then the Board of Education Media Center. It will be a 22,834 square-foot building – almost three times the size of the original building and feature an original sculpture and wall art installation for the newly constructed Bladensburg Branch Library.
The nautical motif will be carried throughout the remainder of the branch in a less literal interpretation through the selection of fixtures and finishes. In reference to the theme, the prow of a ship, which indicates the entrance to new children’s collection will captivate young patrons through its ‘Discovery Harbor’ theme. The reference sketch provided is depicting a water-themed "alebrije", a brightly colored Mexican folk-art sculpture.
4820 Annapolis Rd. Bladensburg, MD 20710
900 Harry S Truman Dr. North, Largo, MD 20774
UMCRMC Parking Garage
The new University of Maryland Capital Regional Medical Center (UMCRMC) Parking Garage will be adorned with a primary piece of artwork that will span the 7-story North, East, and West elevation and is visible from Medical Center Drive, Emergency Drive, and Lottsford Road. The artwork will help establish an artistic sense of place for county residents and hospital visitors.
American Job Center Mural, Oxon Hill
I believe that the arts are an integral part of a healthy culture and everyone who engages with the arts, whether they know it or not, is being changed and affected. I am committed to creating work that engages the viewer, strengthens bonds and encourages understanding of a blended community.
6800 Oxon Hill Rd., Suite 298, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Example Bus Shelter
Artist: Mark Fuller West Palm Beach, FL
Municipality Bus Shelter Project
Blue Line Corridor
Art pieces in the form of a bus shelter will be created that represent stories, culture, and architectural elements distinct to each individual municipality. This public art project will consist of multiple sustainable features, that will highlight civic interaction, collaborative partnerships, and the improvement of the quality of life. These bus shelters are designed to activate neighborhood advancements and to serve as aesthetically pleasing landmarks for years to come.
Completed Public Art Projects
Shady Glen Fire/EMS Station
Washington Glass
Community Hero’s, 2022
Materials: Handmade Glass and Steel
Artist Statement:
The iconic fireman's ladder was the inspiration for the powerful sculpture at the entrance to the Shady Glen Fire Station. Washington Glass Studio abstracted the strong visual form and incorporated internal lighting to the vertical tower, responding to both the Fire Department and the classic architectural building form the artwork compliments.
100 Shady Glen Dr. Capitol Heights, MD 20743
9400 Piscataway Rd. Clinton, MD 20735
Surrats-Clinton Branch Library
Carey Dean
Reminisce, 2022
Material: Stained Glass Mosaic
Artist Statement:
The mosaic is comprised of thousands of hand-cut stained glass pieces assembled to depict views of Chesapeake Bay from Calvert Cliffs State Park. Known in the region as an area of outstanding natural beauty, locals and out of state visitors come to Calvert Cliffs to see and experience the forest, majestic cliffs and dig for fossils along the sandy beaches. The design is the artist’s interpretation inspired by the most photographed views of the area seamlessly fused together to create a single image. Carey Dean uses a painterly approach to mosaic and works from multiple viewpoints in order to capture the essence of a particular location.
Hyattsville Branch Library
Curtis Woody
The Faces of History, 2022
Materials: Mixed Media Collage
Artist Statement:
The development of the project began with extensive research regarding the history of Hyattsville, Maryland using online as well as printed material. Reference materials comprised of old newspaper articles, books, photographs and websites. The collage showcases historical images of townspeople, and architecture, in addition to current residents, along with typography, words and sentences to illustrate Hyattsville’s story. Mixed media of worn and textured paper, white chalk, and clay paint create a juxtaposition of color, pattern and scale to achieve a warm effect with unity.
6530 Adelphi Rd. Hyattsville, MD 20782
Valerie Thebegre
Update to the Flying Saucer, 2022
Materials: Ceramic Mosaic Floor and Polystyrene Fiberglass Orbs with Glass Tiles
Artist Statement:
The the original library structure of the Hyattsville Library was centered around the flying saucer which was part of a 25-foot mosaic which sits under the flying saucer and depicts a fictional galaxy. This is surrounded by blue rings with 12 colorful orbs representing objects in the galaxy. This is an interactive piece and the orbs double as seating.
5200 Marlboro Pike Capitol Heights, MD 20743
William Hall Academy Beautification Mural
Ryan Allen
A Community Moving Forward, 2022
Material: Spray Paint
Artist Statement:
The mural is a visual representation of dreaming bigger not only from one’s personal aspect but also from a community one. The linear movement of the mural represents moving forward in life through adolescence. The red house is representative of the past and just how far Capital Heights has come as a community by staying united. The Flowers and butterflies represent new life. How many of us have thrown paper airplanes as a kid? Dreaming bigger not only can we throw them, but we can also fly them, own them, and build them. There are no limitations when one seeks out the information and knowledge that it takes to accomplish anything and a lot of the time that requires opening a book.
Green Meadows Shopping Center
Juan Pineda
Untitled, 2021
Materials: Acrylic Paint and Spray Paint
Artist Statement:
This mural is part of a comprehensive redevelopment project that incorporates the arts in growing economic development and community viability. The mural compliments the landscaped urban pop-up park to enhance the emerging cultural and main street retail corridors.
6587 Ager Rd. Hyattsville, MD 20782
4512 41st Ave. North Brentwood, MD 20722
Sis’ Tavern Restorative Project
Jay Durrah and Jimmie Drummond
Untitled, 2021
Materials Acrylic on Canvas, Mounted on Slat Wall
Artists’ Statement:
A collaboration between two artists celebrates the rich history of Sis’ Tavern as a staple of the Town of North Brentwood. aying homage to black entrepreneurship as it relates to being the first African American community incorporated in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The treatment of this site also represents the beginning of new memories that will be cultivated at this landmark. The artistic gesture establishes the site as a "place-making" public space for community gatherings.
New Carrollton Conservation Project
Heidi Lippman
Dawn & Dusk
Materials: Glass and Stone Mosaic
Artist Statment:
Heidi Lippman is trained as a painter, sculptor, craftswoman, and the scope of working in the public realm focuses on her skills. Lippman's monumental projects utilize mosaic, terrazzo, rooftop installations, and enhanced glass walls. The intent is to bridge a gap between architecture, art, and the public through stunning, expressive symbolism directly culled from each site’s unique topology. Architectural cues drive the choice of media, realized in the highest caliber craftsmanship with up-to-date technology. Lippman's approach stresses the notion that “The challenges inherent in a collaborative process are the forces by which the promise of unique, timeless and exciting work is forged.”
4700 Garden City Dr. New Carrollton, MD 20784