This post is a photographic essay of the opening/unveiling of the sculpture "Symphony in DC Major" by
Zachary Oxman, located on P Street between 7th and 8th Street's NW.
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| 120 feet by 16 feet sculpture on P Street NW at City Market (click to expand) |
Its official, Shaw now has the largest sculpture in the city...
Zachary Oxman, internationally acclaimed artist, and the talent behind "Symphony in
DC Major" and Shaw's latest art piece, unveiled his homage to three of Shaw's most beloved figures .
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| Composer and Jazz Musician Duke Ellington |
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| Neighborhood Namesake Colonel Robert Gould Shaw |
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| Expressionist Artist Alma Thomas |
On Thursday evening, with a large crowd of Shaw residents in attendance, the celebration delivered on the growing anticipation of DC's newest public art presentation.
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| JoGo Project sets the celebratory tone |
Music supplied by the "
JoGo Project" soon had people dancing in the street and food trucks and stands provided the eats. As you would expect, the city's and neighborhoods notables were in attendance, for what was a very special day for Shaw and the City.
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| Play Go-Go anywhere in DC and people dance! |
Roadside Development's Co-Founder Richard Lake took to the stage to MC the evenings event, Roadside Development are the developers of the City Market at O campus, and they commissioned the new public art piece for Shaw at the P Street location.
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| Richard Lake of Roadside Development, who built City Market at O |
The opening remarks done, next up was DC's Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian T Kenner
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| DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian T Kenner |
Deputy Mayor Kenner was followed by DC City Council Member for Ward 6 Charles Allen
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| Council Member Charles Allen - Ward 6 |
Then, Lisa Richards Toney who is the Executive Director of DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH)
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| DCCAH Executive Director Lisa Richards Toney |
Next up, Alex Padro ANC6E Commissioner, and Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets
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| Alex Padro has dual roles as an ANC commissioner (ANC6E) and Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets |
Last on the line-up of notable folks, was Drew Porterfield Longview Gallery, Director and Curator
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| Drew Porterfield, Gallery Director and Curator at Longview Gallery |
I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the Symphony in DC Major was commissioned by Roadside Development, and along with Shaw Main Streets and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities are responsible for bringing Zachary Oxman's sculpture to Shaw. LongView Gallery worked very closely with Roadside Development (I understand that Drew Porterfield assisted Roadside with the art pieces in the O Street complex) and have also sponsored previews for this project as well as opening a Collection of Zachary Oxman's work entitled "Optic Symphony: Movements is Steel" in their gallery.
Drew Porterfield had the wonderful position of introducing the artist Zachary Oxman and the cheers went up an octave welcoming the artist to the stage and Shaw.
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| Artist, Sculpture Zachary Oxman |
Mr Oxman's description of the work, his hopes for its acceptance were followed by the fun official opening of the 120 ft long work. A dynamite plunger, that looked to be 6 or 7 feet high had just about enough room for the participants to all grab and plunge down, the covers came off the 3 alcoves containing the major segments of the sculpture and for the first time Shaw and DC residence could see this awesome public art piece.
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| Ka-Boom! - DC and Shaw has a new Public Art Installation |
Zachary Oxman was joined by the other participants in the event, plus Mayor Vincent Gray, At-Large Council Member Vincent Orange, Council Member Frank Smith (Ward 1 1983–1999)
and Dr. Gwendolyn Everett, Associate Dean of the Division of Fine Arts at Howard University.
Photo ops followed as Zachary and others joined the public viewing the art for the first time
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| Mayor Gray, Zachary Oxman and Alex Padro following the opening |
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| Council Member Charles Allen and Zachary Oxman |
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| Following the ceremony - people flocked to view the artwork |
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| The crowd reflected in one of the "notes" of the connecting structures |
......and so I will finish of this post the way I started - with the art. The evening was amazing, the art and the wonderful attendance by the residents of Shaw and the City - that's what its all about.
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| Alma Thomas |
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| Colonel Robert Gould Shaw |
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| Duke Ellington |
Roadside Development's Co-Founder Richard Lake took to the stage to MC the evenings event, Roadside Development are the developers of the City Market at O campus, and they commissioned the new public art piece for Shaw at the P Street location.
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