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Five years after art students at Bryant High School created a colorful mural on a large wall outside the school on Popkins Lane, another part of the Richmond Highway corridor is about to be beautified by public art.
A team of artists from Community Art for Everyone, a nonprofit that enables neighborhoods to express themselves in creative ways, is preparing to paint a mural on the north-facing side of a building located at 8121 Richmond Highway. Team members began the project March 18 by power-washing the building surface, and the next steps are to apply primer, outline the design and then start painting the week of March 21. The project is expected to take about three weeks to complete.
The mural project was conceived by the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC), a nonprofit economic development organization that is continually seeking to enhance the attractiveness of the corridor. From 2002 to 2018, SFDC conducted a façade improvement program for businesses fronting on Richmond Highway, and for many years, the organization held the yearly Mary Thonen Richmond Highway Beautification Awards program.
SFDC Executive Director Evan Kaufman said after scouting the corridor for potential mural locations, he approached the owner of the commercial space located next to DaVita Kidney Care and got the go-ahead to move forward with the art project.
The mural project is being funded by the SFDC budget, a grant from Arts Fairfax, Transurban and the property owner. SFDC currently is awaiting word on another potential grant from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia to fund additional murals, said Kaufman. Future locations for the community artwork are still under consideration, and Kaufman encourages the general public to submit ideas.
Sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 35 degrees. Sunny during the morning, clear overnight.
Yea! Ericka, thanks for the great news and keeping the community informed of what's happening locally.
Ericka, thanks for sharing. I haven't seen any notice or coverage about this project by the Bureau of Land Management except for your "On the MoVe" posts. Thanks for helping to keep the community informed. Recommend that readers review and submit comments. From my listening to the meeting, I get the sense that
I am strongly opposed to any expansion of parking at the Mustang Loop parking lot. I support repaving with a permeable material. In my opinion, moving the pollinator garden is a waste of county resources. It adds a valued bit of nature to an otherwise sterile parking area and pavilion.
Erika, thanks for the update.
You're welcome!