Thursday evening events will highlight public murals and artworks, and discussions with artists
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, invites residents and visitors to enjoy the vibrancy of downtown Silver Spring’s public art with free artwork tours scheduled to take place on select Thursday evenings during spring and summer 2019.
Montgomery Planning, Silver Spring Regional Services Center, Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District, and Silver Spring Urban District organized the events to connect residents and visitors to the exceptional artworks in downtown Silver Spring.
The sold-out opening Art Walk features an insider’s look at treasured Silver Spring murals and sets the model for similar tours in May and June. It will take place on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and begin at TTT-Tacos, Tortas, & Tequila (8407 Ramsey Avenue, Silver Spring, MD). The April 18 Art Walk event will feature five artworks:
- A discussion of the mural Neo Indigenous, created by New York graffiti artist and Mexican native Marka27, will be held at TTT-Tacos, Tortas, & Tequila. The mural is a private work of art commissioned by TTT owner Ivan Iricanin.
- The second stop will be Silver Spring’s most beloved artwork, Penguin Rush Hour, created by artist Sallie Calmer at the Silver Spring Transit Center. The painted mural was restored by the Silver Spring Urban District and transferred by the Montgomery County government onto a new permanent medium before reinstallation at the transit center.
- The third stop on the Art Walk is Silver Spring’s newest artwork, Traincarmachameleon, near the intersection of Bonifant Street and Georgia Avenue. The mural faces a new residential building on Georgia Avenue and the future Purple Line light rail. Artist Goodloe Byron will explain the behind-the-scenes process of creating this mural. This new public art installation project was a public-private collaboration between the Silver Spring Urban District, Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District, and Washington Property Company.
- The Art Walk will continue with two additional mural stops in Fenton Village along the Georgia Avenue corridor. Discussions will include information about the history of the artworks, the impact of public art on community revitalization and the technical differences between painted murals and other genres of public art.
Additional 2019 Art Walk dates include:
- Thursday, May 30, 5:30 to 8 p.m.; meet-up location at Denizens Brewing Co. (1115 East West Highway)
- Thursday, June 13, 5:30 to 8 p.m.; meet-up location at Silver Branch (8401 Colesville Road)
- Thursday, Aug. 15, 5 to 8 p.m.; meet-up location at Astro Brewing (8216 Georgia Avenue)
Montgomery Planning will provide free appetizers for attendees on a first come first serve basis. Drinks and main entrees are available for individual purchase. The Art Walk is free to the community; however, registration is limited to 40 people to make the tour enjoyable for all participants so sign up early. Visit the https://silverspringartwalkapril.eventbrite.com to sign up. Events will be held rain or shine.
More information on the Art Walk tours is available at the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District website.
Questions? Contact Molline Jackson at Montgomery Planning; molline.jackson@montgomeryplanning.org or 301-495-4573.