**ARTWORK DISPLAYED IS A SAMPLE.**I want to create an illustration featuring the landscape, activities, and architecture of DC. Featuring texture, color, and visual noise to depict an exciting visual experience. The artwork will be unique to the project in the style I create memory illustrations like attached. It will include buildings and identifiers of the area assigned, bikes, trains, and street scenes in addition to the green and color of DC..................Addie Moore is an interdisciplinary artist and illustrator living in Washington, DC. She creates work with mixed media on wood panel or paper, digital illustrations, and ceramics. Her work is about anxiety, memory, identity, time, and escapism and how they can affect perception or experiences.

For my proposal for the traffic control box project, I am particularly drawn to the beauty and symbolism of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms have a long and storied history in the District of Columbia, where they are celebrated each year during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. These vibrant pink and white flowers have come to symbolize the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. They are also a powerful reminder of the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan, where the cherry blossom is also a beloved symbol of beauty and hope. By filling the traffic control box with a vibrant and illustrative depiction of cherry blossoms, I hope to capture the beauty and significance of this beloved flower...........As a Mexican-born BIPOC artist, I draw inspiration from my experiences and the diverse cultures that have shaped my life. Having migrated to the US with my family as a young child in search of a better life, I have found a sense of identity and belonging through my art. For over two decades, I have honed my craft, specializing in acrylic and airbrush as my preferred mediums. Whether working on a small canvas or a larger-than-life piece, I strive to capture the vibrancy and richness of my subjects through my use of color and realism.

For this project I was inspired by all three themes. My DC community, full of enthusiastic foragers and the survey results for this project, led me to the idea of Native Fauna and Flora of DC. I love this idea so much because it really taps into both the other themes, DC proud and nature! One of my favorite things about DC is just how connected the city is to the local wildlife. From beautiful parks across the district to hiking trails like Rock Creek Park, there are so many opportunities to connect with your community in nature. For this piece, I began to combine native flowers, birds and butterflies (also mentioned in the survey). I asked my friends and neighbors for their favorite natives and tried to include as many as I could. I leaned on my existing illustration style focusing on bright expressive colors, and a confident blend of cartoon and botanical drawings. I really enjoyed building this proposal and would love to have the chance to adapt it to share. Species included: Cone Flower, Spring Beauties, Aster, Geranium, Cardinals, Robins, Pipevine Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, Common Eastern Bumble Bee.........................Frances Devanbu is a DC based artist and engineer currently working as a Systems Analyst at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (Go AFGE)! Frankie has always enjoyed creating and practicing her art in a variety of mediums including illustration, carpet making and leather work. From hikes in Rock Creek Park to picnics on Roosevelt Island, Frankie has drawn inspiration from the natural beauty of DC. In her spare time Frankie enjoys doing DIYs with fiancee, Amber, and taking walks with puppy, Pepper.

I emphasized the beautiful city of DC through my design by highlighting a person having a picnic by the reflecting pool with the infamous monument in the background. Notably, I created this rough draft with Adobe's Illustrator app and I would love the opportunity to have my design featured on an Upper Georgia Avenue Main Street Call Box...............Native Washingtonian and current resident, Crystal Frost, has been honing her artistic skills since a youth. Her love for art was birthed during her childhood through visits to various museums with her mom, and exposure to comic books by her dad. Overall, from watching Yu-Gi-Oh on weekend mornings with her dad, to visiting themed parks with her family, and playing video games such as Kingdom Hearts, Sly Cooper, etc. her childhood was filled with an abundance of visual art which ultimately molded her. Accordingly, Crystal’s exposure to a variety of art led her to experiment with various mediums throughout her childhood. In 2018 she established a clothing brand by the name of Hideous Cheese, which featured original graphic designs she created. Then, the following year she enrolled in college and during the winter of 2022 she earned her Associate's Degree in Fine Arts. Overall, Crystal continues to create space for herself in the arts and hopes to inspire other members of her community to do the same.

My inspiration for my art work is Takashi Murakami, I love the way he creates cute or even weird characters that have a hidden meaning to them. I also am inspired by surrealist paintings, just the factor of weirdness always makes me more interested in anything! ..........................Kaila Garcia (she/her) is a Filipino American artist who creates art with a hint of weirdness, through mixed media and vibrant colors. Kaila’s art works are inspired by her alter egos and surrealist paintings. She enjoys and is not afraid to work with any type of mediums, when working on her art. As she grows more with her art, Kaila would like to explore her creativity.

This bold design of arrows celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of the DC community, encouraging viewers to be unapologetically themselves and to forge their own paths in life. Through its unique approach, the design sparks a conversation about innovation and creativity, inviting the community to think outside the box, look in different directions, and to embrace new ideas and perspectives. This design is a celebration of the DC community and a reflection of the city's ever-changing landscape, inspiring viewers to think about the impact of their choices on the environment and the people around them........................Jesse Kirsch is an award-winning graphic designer, art director, artist, and owner of No Plan, a graphic design, letterpress, and art studio. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, he has been working professionally in the arts for over 20 years. Jesse enjoys finding new methods of using geometry, color, and typography, often in a way that explores everyday subjects from a different perspective. Inspired by the juxtaposition of new and old technologies, his work combines the latest in modern design software with century-old vintage printing equipment. Originally from New Jersey, Kirsch now lives in Takoma Park, Maryland with his wife, two boys and cat Penny.

Playspace is a public art concept designed to celebrate the awe-inspiring images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), released from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in July 2022, just 12 miles from Ward 4, in Greenbelt, Maryland. Playspace features an artistic interpretation of images from JWST featuring colorful nebulae with playful illustrations of stars and constellations. Playspace is designed with the themes of community, placemaking, and nature in mind. Wherever it is installed, Playspace will be an engaging gathering space that invites children and families of Ward 4 to appreciate visual art, science, and each other.....................Meredith Meer is an interdisciplinary artist and designer with more than a decade of experience in art education research and practice. After teaching art in classroom settings for several years (including Ward 4's Capital City Public Charter School), Meredith founded Art Pod Studio, an art, design, and education studio that aims to unlock creativity in individuals and communities through holistic visual art experiences. Since childhood, Meredith has regarded artmaking as her most potent tool for self-expression and still finds a unique kind of solace in her sketchbook. While mindfulness, play, and abstract expression influence Meredith's personal artistic practice, she draws inspiration from trauma-informed pedagogy and Social-Emotional Learning for her philosophy as an art educator. As a designer, Meredith aims to blend her artistic and teaching influences with her experience in human-centered design to create products and experiences that make the transformative potential of artmaking accessible to everyone seeking it.

The nature around us should be protected, and cherished because without it we would be nothing. We owe everything to nature for it is what birthed us it is what gives us good health and reason, could you imagine a world with out it, what would that look like? My design is a reflection of nature the flower in the center is a symbol of its beauty while the shapes, and texture under, and around the flower is a mixture of my own self expression of the different elements, habitats and the state of a healthy environment. It shows what a health ecosystem should look like if it’s well taken care of by us humans. I create these designs to build conversations through out communities in hopes that one day people will care more and appreciate our planet, for it is the only one we have.............................GEANCARLOS MARTINEZ ALSO KNOW AS THERE ALONE IS A SELF TAUGHT DOMINICAN MURALIST AND ABSTRACT VISUAL ARTIST , BASED IN WASHINGTON DC. GEANCARLOS IS KNOWN FOR HIS RENDERINGS OF NATURAL IMAGERY — SILHOUETTED PLANT DESIGNS FLOW FROM HIS BRUSH, UNIQUELY STRETCHING OVER SURFACES. HIS ABSTRACTED ARTWORK INCORPORATES HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND FOUND OBJECTS TO CREATE TEXTURE. HE USES HIS PAINTING SKILLS TO CREATE CONVERSATIONS IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE WITH THE HOPES OF ONE DAY CHANGING THE RELATIONSHIP HUMANS HAVE WITH NATURE, AND ADVOCATING FOR A CLEAN EARTH AND AN ECO-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

Spring and cherry blossom season is in the air and people visit DC in droves to see the flowers in bloom, my design is geared towards the flower that is synonymous with the area..................... Dinah Myers-Schroeder earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from The Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Upon moving to the DC area, she worked at Zenith Gallery and Willowstreet Woodworks until her first child was born in 1993. Dinah resides in Wheaton, Maryland, Mrs. Myers Schroeder created public art for the Arts and Humanities Council of DC and Montgomery County (AHCMC). Most recently, she received the FY23 Artists and Scholars grant from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County for professional development.

This piece depicts garden flowers and tree leaves popular in Washington, DC which includes; red maple, holly, rose, chrysanthemum, cherry blossom, marigold, ginkgo, daffodil, dogwood, silver maple, willow oak, elm, sycamore, cone flower, peony, lavender, and iris. This piece is an appreciation to the beautiful nature in Ward 4, which includes a section of Rock Creek Park, and pride people take in their outdoor spaces. Overlaid on a light blue terrazzo pattern which is reminiscent of an egg, the plants featured are scans of watercolor paintings with visible paper texture. This texture references the human creation of the physical art piece. The digitally rendered background is meant to blend with a clear sky. The work is a quiet contemplation for pedestrians, who may begin to notice more of these plants as they move through the city. The grouping of items are in rainbow order, a subtle reference to the pride flag and the queer community................Katie Macyshyn (they/she) is a well rounded painter with over 2 decades of oil painting experience. An expert in portraiture, Macyshyn transforms photographs into realistic and colorful customized paintings. Highly knowledgeable about interior and exterior painting techniques and applications, they have completed beloved public art in Washington, DC including The Ramones at Slash Run and the Little Free Libraries Women in Literature in Takoma Park. Adept at commercial and residential projects, Macyshyn also offers staining, custom finishing, decorative painting, and epoxy installation. She has been included in gallery exhibitions in the Washington DC region including group shows at VisArts, IA&A at Hillyer, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

As I was looking through the survey responses, I notice a considerable number of answers relating to DC Pride and nature. I was a southeast girl when my family first move to the DMV from New Mexico. Living in DC exposed me to a culture that I deeply love and appreciate. I would also say that DC build a foundation for me to explore art. Especially graffiti art. My memories of living in DC involves seeing splashes of color and designs, plastered on the side of a building. Or trains being moving billboards of artists tags and landmarks. So, I decided to incorporate that art form into DC since this is a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and people. And just like those buildings and trains, I wanted DC to plaster over nature. Just like Tupac Shakur wrote, “The Rose that grew from concrete.” DC natives are roses, or in my design, they are Kwanzan cherry blossoms. I chose these flowers because I researched your Instagram account and saw a new Kwanzan cherry tree in front of a public library. Boom! My inspiration.............................My name is Jade Hull. I am new to the graphic design field and art world but I am excited to share my creations. I specialize in photo remixing, collages, and logo design. I have always been a creative as I have journeyed through different art forms such as acting and film making. But designing has been a burning passion that I have recently let out to bloom. I am able to fully express myself and my emotions through my designs. When words fail, art prevails!

My design, titled ""The Seasons of Rock Creek,"" combines themes of DC Proud and Nature & Environment. The four panels of the design are inspired by natural spaces and familiar scenes of upper Rock Creek Park and Ward 4 neighborhoods. These scenes include Beach Drive (autumn), rowhouses covered in snow (winter), native flora and cherry blossoms (spring), and Boulder Bridge (summer). The plants featured in my artwork are geraniums, kalmia, sycamore leaves, and holly, inspired by their namesake streets in Shepherd Park. I wanted to pay homage to Shepherd Park's motto, ""A Garden of Diversity,"" a source of community pride mentioned by multiple survey respondents. The accented colors in the outline of the DC flag also bring extra bursts of color to each season, while serving as a ""Welcome!"" beacon on Georgia Ave as residents travel across the border between Maryland and DC. I hope that my artwork can bring the same sense of comfort, serenity, and belonging that spending moments in northwest DC's green spaces bring, even as the seasons change and the city continues to evolve year-to-year!"....................Claire is a hobby illustrator living in Petworth, DC. She is a marine scientist by day, but loves to be in touch with her creative side through art and music. She believes art is one of the most powerful communication tools to connect us with each other and with nature. In particular, she is passionate about merging design and data to solve problems and tell stories that help us better understand the complex relationship between different communities, their histories, and the environment. Claire works with a variety of media including ink, colored pencils, watercolors and digital drawing. Her illustrations have been featured in the Columbia Science Review, Sapient Undergraduate Journal of Biological Anthropology, and the eno Environmental Art and Literature magazine.

"Artwork title: ""Stitching Together DC: A Quilted Tapestry of Community"" The artwork is based on quilts made by DC textile artist Kay Janis (Ward 5 resident) Quilt patterns are appealing, familiar, meaningful, and versatile. For Upper Georgia Ave to honor the cultural heritage of diverse communities in Washington, DC. Many quilt patterns have African, Native American, or other cultural roots, and incorporating these designs into public art can help to celebrate and recognize the contributions of these communities to American culture. Using use bold colors and intricate designs, the applied art will add interest to a utilitarian object like a traffic box. Additionally, quilt patterns can evoke feelings of comfort and home, which can help to create a sense of community pride and belonging. " .............. Michael Janis is the Director of the Washington Glass School. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2012, Janis went to England's University of Sunderland and taught at the UK's National Glass Centre where he became an Artist-in-Residence at the Institute for International Research in Glass (IIRG). The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities awarded him the 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Award for “Excellence in the Arts”. Michael draws inspiration from the natural world and the beauty of the human experience.

My artwork is an ode to the Black squirrels, which was one of the first things that I saw to be unique to DC. The artwork is also a nod to the 70 bus, which has saved me from taking many long walks up and down Georgia Avenue. The squirrel runs across red , green, and yellow lines that represent the Metro lines that converge in the Upper Georgia Avenue area..................Austin D. Morris is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Washington, DC. Austin is an alum of Howard University and a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Through his art, Austin combines nostalgia and science fiction. This allows him to give credit to the past while also creating an image of what he wants for the future.

"As I am becoming a growing deaf artist in DC of a couple years, I am learning a lot of things as I navigate through the art world. I was and still am so new to everything, how to run an art biz, run a pop-up, how to market, and how I present myself to people. Recognize what works and what doesn't. Communication plays a huge factor for me. When people learn I'm deaf, the reaction, the body language, and communication immediately changes because chances are they are probably meeting a deaf person for the first time and/or do not know how to communicate back. For what I'd take for a normal reaction and that is a turmoil I will forever have to live with. I wouldn't change my identity regardless! If anything, it taught me to be a resilient + patient person. This is why I love to make my work visual and colorful as possible. I communicate through my artwork, representing the culture, diverse and style. Dreams are built on beliefs and that comes within the community. The community in DC is so small, yet so strong and supportive, I honestly would not know where I'd be if I never made the move to DC. It's home. As I also noticed the most common references in the community survey are, community, strength, diversity, love and the cool thing is we all believe in the same things.

"Blooming Blossoms" celebrates cherry blossoms all year long as a reminder of renewal and the fleeting nature of life. ..........................Rashad Ali Muhammad is a multidisciplinary collage artist known for creating vivid and captivating works reflecting the vast complexities of our human existence. With a formal graphic design and photography education, Muhammad blends his acquired skills to create art that fascinates and expands the mind. His love for innovation and continued experimentation fuels his whimsical and enchanting artistic sensibilities. He works primarily in mixed media analog and digital collage. Muhammad is a resident artist at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. His art has been exhibited extensively throughout the Washington Metropolitan area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) with various national and international exposure. Notable solo shows include the Strathmore, MD, Anacostia Arts Center, DC, and the Art League, VA. His artwork has appeared broadly in print and digital media, including the Washington Post, Kolaj Magazine, and British GQ."

The artwork submitted is an amalgamation of some of Rodger's earliest works, evolved to fit the theme and requirements of this project. The overarching message is ""Warm Embrace"", telling the stories of the friendships and bonds we build when we're careful to care about one another. The style you'll see in Rodger's submission is ""Simple, yet expressive, using as few details as possible to still tell the necessary story, through exaggeration, movement and vibrant color."" Following the themes ""DC Proud"" and ""Community"", the work depicts chocolate city in some of its finest moments, from brotherhood, to fatherhood, to love and friendship. Each warm embrace is a reminder of the love that the city embodies, and serves as a reminder of how much we need each other. A parent and a son. Two brothers and undeniable friends. Two timeless lovers. The embodiments of bonding, that we all need in our lives....................Rodger Brown is a self taught graphic designer and illustrator of over 10 years. Graduating from Florida A&M University, Rodger was confident in teaching himself the creative side, and pursued a business degree to bolster his knowledge. Though design has been the bulk of his career, it's not until the 2022 that Rodger considered himself an "artist", putting down the for profit business of design and picking up the pen for his own ideas and exploits. Since, Rodger's been featured in local art show "Pancakes and Booze" in January of 2023, and has his eyes set on several other local shows throughout the year. The style you'll see in Rodger's submission is "Simple, yet expressive, using as few details as possible to still tell the necessary story, through exaggeration, movement and vibrant color." Rodger is tremendously honored to represent the cities great artists for the Upper Georgia Ave Main Street Project.

In this artwork, "Hope Together," I lift up my hope for a diverse, equitable, and caring community of people living, working, and playing together. I use figures and a rainbow of colors to convey character and emotion, and groups of figures to portray community and tell stories. With vivid imagination and bold colors, I try to suggest reconciliations, healings, and solutions. My art is racially and culturally inclusive, encouraging diverse people to talk with each other. I try to bring hope, healing, and joy to people, and to reflect my belief in the great value of each person—and that we all can hope together for a just, inclusive, and loving community to live in together.....................Anni began making art in 1987, working as a painter, illustrator, and fabric artist. Since then, she has created hundreds of commissioned art pieces for schools, community centers, churches, and individuals. Her art has also been featured on greeting cards and book, magazine, worship bulletin, and devotional covers. She has displayed paintings in numerous art galleries and church and seminary galleries nationwide. In her work, Anni focuses on themes of justice, love, antiracism, peace, and devotion.