WASHINGTON 鈥� If you鈥檝e walked through D.C.鈥檚 NoMa neighborhood over the last week or so, you鈥檝e likely seen artists at work bringing new murals to the community.
This year鈥檚 festival features 15 muralists, many of whom are from the D.C. area. Kaplan Bunce, however, came to participate from Hawaii and says his work is greatly influenced by his Apache heritage.
鈥淚 really wanted to make a piece for the people of Washington, D.C., to honor the original inhabitants of this land, the indigenous people,鈥� Bunce said. 鈥淚鈥檝e really fallen in love with it here. 鈥� Everybody鈥檚 been super supportive and really thankful 鈥� that鈥檚 really the reward of getting to do an event like this, is interacting with the public.鈥�
Farther down the Metropolitan Branch Trail, 17-year-old Julia Chon was painting cheerful-looking animals on a rich blue background.
鈥淢y parents got divorced when I was 14, and after that I kind of dove into art. It was just a way to work through a lot of emotions. 鈥� It kind of grew over the last two years, like a lot 鈥� very fast! And now I鈥檓 here during a mural for the first time,鈥� said Chon.
She鈥檚 incorporating her Asian heritage in her mural鈥檚 design, and says the two cranes represent her grandparents.
Continuing down the trail, artists Mas Paz and CHELOVE are working on a collaborative mural.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an annual festival, and the art is somewhat ephemeral 鈥� it鈥檚 not going to be there next year. So you鈥檙e always excited to see what鈥檚 going to be painted that year, and make sure you鈥檙e there for the creation of the artwork,鈥� CHELOVE explained.
Another artistic duo is working just a couple of blocks over. Artist Matt Corrado is working with retired surgeon Stuart Battle.
鈥淭his year, I was good pals with Kelly, who is the director of the D.C. POW! WOW! And he had mentioned that AARP was interested in sponsoring and had pitched the idea of an artist collaborating with a senior citizen. I had the perfect person in mind: my father-in-law,鈥� said Corrado.
鈥淚 retired about two years ago, so I have been taking classes at Montgomery College. I had to have something to do because after 40 years of stress, stopping is difficult,鈥� Battle said. 鈥淭his has given me something that I can do and I enjoy very much, to paint and draw.鈥�
The two decided on a bright portrait of Albert Einstein, who Battle says he admires.
The POW! WOW! D.C. events run through May 27, but you will be able to see the completed murals throughout NoMa for the next year.
