PUBLIC ART RESTON

OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SERVING TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ART IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND INCLUDE: 1. ARTISTS RESIDENCIES AT TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN RESTON WHERE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS VALERIE THEBERGE AND SHAHIN TALISHKHAN LED WORKSHOPS WITH STUDENTS WHO REALIZED A MOSAIC BIRD BATH AND MOSAIC POLES FOR BIRD HOUSES THAT WERE INSTALLED ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS. THE PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED BY FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH A PUBLIC ART PROFFER AND GRANTS FROM ARTSFAIRFAX, THE VIRGINIA COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS; 2. GUIDED TOURS OF THE PUBLIC ART AT LAKE ANNE VILLAGE CENTER; 3. AND ARTIST TALKS WITH MARCO RANDO, ZACHARY OXMAN, AND BEN VOLTA.

PUBLIC ART RESTON, IN COLLABORATION WITH ATLANTIC REALTY COMPANIES AND RESTON ASSOCIATION, SELECTED ARTIST BEN VOLTA TO CREATE A PERMANENT PUBLIC ARTWORK FOR THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALLS OF THE COLTS NECK ROAD UNDERPASS. THE PROJECT INCLUDED AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. BEN VOLTA WAS INSPIRED BY THE 55 MILES OF PATHWAYS AND COMBINED 710 DRAWINGS CREATED BY AN INTERGENERATIONAL TEAM OF OVER 650 RESTONIANS TO CREATE A COLORFUL CONNECTOR THAT REVERBERATES COLLECTIVE ENERGY AND RHYTHM. IN WORKSHOPS LED BY THE ARTIST FROM MAY TO JUNE 2019, STUDENTS FROM HUNTERS WOODS AND DOGWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND SOUTHGATE COMMUNITY CENTER, SENIORS FROM HUNTERS WOODS FELLOWSHIP HOUSE AND HUNTERS WOODS AT TRAILS EDGE, AS WELL AS RESTON RESIDENTS, ADAPTED A QUOTE BY HENRY DAVID THOREAU TO INSPIRE CREATIVE ACTION: DRAW A PATH (HOWEVER WIDE, NARROW, STRAIGHT, JAGGED, CROOKED, CURLY AND WINDING) IN WHICH WE CAN ALL LOOK AT AND ENJOY WITH LOVE AND REVERENCE. THE PERMANENT PUBLIC ARTWORK ENTITLED THOREAUS ENSEMBLE IS SUPPORTED BY A PUBLIC ART PROFFER BY ATLANTIC REALTY COMPANIES, AS WELL AS BY GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIP BY CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.