TAKOMA: New Mural in Takoma Park Celebrates Migration and Freedom of Movement. Collaboration with Community and Artist

BADWOLFDC:  When the community and art come together wonderful things happen. This project is an example to all local communities that, that intangible, art, can bring a community together and together a project such as this can be achieved....Kudo's to all involved (from the children to the adults to the artists and the politico's - you did good.

Mom's, Dads, Teens, Kids - a spot for everyone

This fall, with generous support from the City of Takoma Park, the Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority (CDA), and the collaboration of local residents with the Krsko Creative Group, a large-scale mural is being created on Holton Lane across from the United States Post Office. The mural is the first public art in the Takoma/Langley Commercial Management District in decades and celebrates the Takoma/Langley community as a destination and home to diverse cultures.
The concept for the mural was developed through an interactive process during community discussions with local residents. Themes of diversity and freedom of travel are portrayed symbolically with migratory animals from various continents. The background sky is a collage of flowers from different parts of the world.

Hey a little music never slowed anyone down

Local residents and business owners participated in the mural-making and engaged in all the steps of the creative process: development of sketches, art workshops and wall painting. Volunteer painting sessions were held every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning and more than one hundred local residents were directly involved.

The next great muralist?

A celebration of the completed mural was held on November 28 at noon at the mural site, with the community, local officials, business representatives, and the artists. The event was a part of a larger ‘Small Business Saturday” celebration with vendors and live music.

The Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority is a business association founded in 1987 to market and promote, provide maintenance, amenities, and security for the Takoma/Langley Crossroads Commercial Management District. The mural project is supported by Takoma Park’s Community Grants Program, which has been promoting development of successful cultural projects in other parts of the City for many years. The Holton Lane mural is significant in its large size and in engaging neighbors to contribute to the artwork.

Alicia Cosnahan and Peter Krsko

The lead artists for the mural and participatory workshops are Alicia Cosnahan and Peter Krsko, who work as Krsko Creative Group. They conceptualize, produce and fabricate creative solutions to the client’s unique needs. The Group’s imaginative talent combines a broad background in arts and sciences with a generous mission to provide services for good people who aim to build a better world. The artists have been creating innovative public art up and down the East Coast for over a decade, bringing murals, sculptures, and educational events to community centers, schools, libraries, bike trails, and urban centers. Based in Washington, DC, their prolific expression in Montgomery County includes multiple community public art projects. 

Visit www.peterkrsko.com for Krsko Creative Group’s full portfolio of high quality works of art, consulting services and production services.

****All Photographs courtesy of Peter Krsko