Mural Is Latest Edition To Public Art Collection
A 4,500 square foot wall that runs between Piney Branch Road and New Hampshire Avenue was once a billboard for gang graffiti. The space was littered with messages that mark territory and further thug life’s mores.
But those themes are gone. They’ve been replaced by the “Turning Point” mural, a multi-colored mosaic, which provided out-of-school youth with a unique learning experience and exposure to art.
Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson with artists and project managers for the Turning Point Mural Project / Photo: Office of the County Executive
The piece was officially welcomed to the community during a recent ceremony by a roster of dignitaries. Among them: Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, and State Senators David Harrington and Jamie Raskin.
“As I drove through this community today, I saw nicely landscaped yards, parents playing with their children outside and people enjoying this great weather. This is truly a livable community,” said Johnson in a recent statement. “The Turning Point mural will add to the aesthetics and pride of this great neighborhood.”
The project was made possible through a collaboration with Arts on the Block, community-based organizations, and dedicated members of the county’s law enforcement sector.
Metropolitan areas have been decorated throughout the years with public art, and Prince George’s has acquired its own signature pieces. For instance, there’s the imposing guardian statues at the Bunker Hill Fire station – a trio of 12-feet tall stainless steel sculptures that pay tribute to the Brentwood, Mt. Rainier and Colmar Manor Fire Stations that service those communities. And there’s the bronze horses just outside the county court house in Upper Marlboro.
Currently the county has some 20 pieces of public art which are either on display or in some stage of development. The works are tied to county construction projects funded by bonds.
For more information on the county’s public art program or to get an application, point your web browser to www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/pdf/NorthviewBowieCallForArtists.pdf.
--PGS Staff
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