WALKABILITY = SUSTAINABILITY

Name: Margaret K Rifkin - The Art and Walkability Project
Address: 1930 Flowering Tree Terrace, Silver Spring, MD, 20902-5816, US
Telephone: 301 318 2613

Helping to make Downtown Wheaton a great place to walk!

UPDATES!
May 2024

We have been working on more projects.

1. Georgia Avenue Median Art: We have been in discussions with the County Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) about installing art in the median of Georgia Avenue near the new mural: between Price Ave and University Boulevard. We provided letters of support from the Wheaton Urban District, Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez, State Delegates Aaron M. Kaufman, Emily K. Shetty, and Jared Solomon, as well as State Senator Jeff Waldstreicher. The Federal Highway Administration reviewed the concept and had safety concerns that it relayed to SHA. Therefore, this project is on hold.

2. Metro Station Art: We have met with WMATA
and the Wheaton Urban District about adding art. We are currently exploring options for the entrance on the eastside of Georgia Avenue. This involves obtaining permission from the owners of the apartments on top of the station entrance. This project is pending permissions.

3. Sidewalk Art: We are adding temporary chalk art on the sidewalks in the vicinity of the mural. We welcome folks to join us. You may even have seen a dinosaur and unicorn by some young artists who stopped by.

4. The Mural: We are watching it for any needed maintenance. The mural has served as the backdrop for a spoken word performance, improv dance, special occasion photos and more. We thank the Urban District and Capital One Bank for the installation of a viewing bench across from the mural. Come enjoy it.

Fun Mural Updates

from 2022

September 24th

You're cordially invited!

Come celebrate the finished mural on September 24th from 4:30 to 6:00 PM at 11301 Georgia Ave. by the Wheaton Streetery.

Hope to see you there!

August 23rd Update

Muralist, Eric B. Ricks, gives a free class on "How to Create a Mural".

August 17th Update

Let there be COLOR! Things are coming along well.

August 12th Update

The design is blocked out on the wall. Eric B. Ricks, the muralist, projected the mural design on the wall to position the butterflies and hummingbirds. Earlier in the day, he had already created guidelines for the geometric background and placed the two mandalas. Today, he is expected the delivery of the many colors of spray paint he will be using.

August 5th Update

The wall is washed and drying. Drainage repair (pictured), wall patching, and power washing have been completed. The wall must now dry. Priming too soon after power washing can trap moisture within the porous masonry and mortar of the wall. Moisture in the wall can bubble up from the pores over time and break the seal of the coating and cause peeling of the painted mural. Due to the rain and high humidity since the power washing was completed, we have not had enough time under the right conditions, for the wall to dry adequately. We are waiting until we do. The forecast shows a rainy week ahead. Wish for dry weather soon!

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July 24th Update

Eric B. Ricks talks about the mural at a community event hosted at the Hakuna Matata grill in Wheaton. It was hot outside, but we were cool inside.

VIDEOS of the Mural Installation

August 12th — Eric B. Ricks, the muralist, projected the mural design on the wall to position the butterflies and hummingbirds.

August 5th — Video of the lift arrival for our young friends Thomas, Philip, Alijah, Maya, Aidan, Ellie, Ru, and all our other fans!

July 24 — Video of muralist, Eric B. Ricks, talking about the mural at the community event hosted at Hakuna Matata Grill.

Video credit: DiAngela Payne

September 2 — Video of muralist, Eric B. Ricks, adding some finishing touches to the completed mural. Watch his shadow carefully as it helps him out!

WE NEED YOU!

Donate money to add more public art to Wheaton by clicking on the button below;
Consider providing services or equipment;
Become a sponsor for $5000 and be featured on this website and have an "art and walkability' photo shoot with you and your guests. You will receive a cool photo for your own website or trophy room.