The newest pieces of public art in downtown Bethesda are large in scale, and are both installed over entrances to the Montgomery County-owned Public Parking Garage 57 at Bethesda Row. Montgomery County's Department of Transportation partnered with Bethesda Row property owner Federal Realty, which commissioned the murals by artist Andrea Cobb of Durham, North Carolina. Cobb says the flowers represent joy and pleasure, the hearts represent love and emotion, and the olives represent peace and friendship.
“We have seen great success in the past with public art installations on our public parking garages within downtown areas,” MCDOT Director Chris Conklin said in a statement. “Public art can increase foot traffic for local businesses and draw interest in parts of downtown that would otherwise be overlooked.”
“Marking nearly 30 years rooted within the greater downtown Bethesda community, we sought to improve Bethesda Row’s retail mix, and enhance the public experience throughout,” said Federal Realty Senior Vice President John Tschiderer, “Our latest multi-million-dollar investment represents a substantial property improvement project, including façade upgrades, re-designed public gathering places, improved landscape, new public seating, enhanced lighting and art additions throughout along with the new public parking art installations, which will better incorporate the garage into the greater neighborhood presentation.”
“We are excited about this partnership with Federal Realty, which brings art into our communities,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Public art installations contribute to vibrant downtown communities and raise the profile of the arts by making art exciting and accessible. We hope to encourage more partnerships like this in the future.”
Photos courtesy MCDOT
8 comments:
That is a nice one. Why does the color look more yellow in the bottom image?
Learning
...because they are two completely different pieces...are you being serious?
Yes, I didn't realize they were on separate sides of the garage. Why are you so serious?
Learning
Thinking is 'learning's' next frontier.
@11:04 AM - If you paid attention, you'd have seen the difference between the two images and not be seen as so obtuse.
12:57 & 7:24 Shish so serious, Maybe ya'll had your cars towed or something.
Haha, sorry Learning. Didn't know if you were making a joke or drunk or what.
Why didnt a local artist get commissioned?
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