Banner Image

DC Alley Museum Murals and Music Festival, 09/23-24/17!

The DC Alley Museum, Blagden Alley’s outdoor murals and mosaics collection, will celebrate the addition of five new murals with a two-day festival on Saturday, September 23, 2017 and Sunday, September 24, 2017, sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

The alley, located between 9th, 10th, M and N Streets, NW, will host musical performances, dance performances, a yoga class, children’s art activities, a dedication ceremony for the new murals, and for the first time ever: a nighttime illumination of all the murals in this historic alley.

The festival, presented by Shaw Main Streets in conjunction with the DC Alley Museum, also encourages visitors to patronize the businesses that line Blagden Alley by not offering food or beverages of any kind, as these are available from the businesses. Many of the artists responsible for the murals will be present to interact with the public and share their visions in creating these public works of art.

The five new murals are: “AEC vs The Pension Building (Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future)" by Bill Warrell; "T.Y." by Captain.Izabella.Sparrow; “LOVE” by Lisa Marie Thalhammer; “Let.Go” by Rose Jaffe; "Respect: John Thompson" by Billy Colbert; “Stella” by Jim Duckworth; and “Scared Yet” by Stephen E. Lewis.

The murals will be illuminated on the night of September 23rd from dusk to 1:00 AM, in collaboration with the annual Art All Night festival in Shaw. Music and dance performances will be conducted outdoors from 7:00-10:00 PM, with music continuing indoors at Nobody Media from 10:00 PM-1:00 AM.

Saturday night’s entertainment will include:

Tia Yim Kung Fu Lion Dancers: 7:00PM.

Matt Cohen/MT Rainier: 7:30 PM.

Danger Painters: 8:00 PM.

Boat Burning: 9:00 PM.

Luke Stewart at Nobody Media, 926 N Street, NW, Rear (Blagden Alley): 10:00 PM-1:00 AM.

Projections: Robin Bell: 8:00 PM-1:00 AM.

On Sunday afternoon, from 1:00-6:00 PM, film screenings, live music, children’s arts activities, including painting, button making, and printing of silk screen t-shirts, will highlight the dedication ceremony for the new murals at 2:30 PM.

1:00 PM Lisa Marie Thalhammer Meditation Yoga

1:00-5:00 PM  Kids Art at Long View Gallery, led by Sydney Buffalow. Interactive Art: “You are an Artist”—Paint with Acrylics and Watercolors. #loveshaw lips, anyone? “Paint Your President!” Who is Your President? Trump? Obama: George Washington? Mom? “Using your Hands”: Trace a handprint and let your imagination run wild! Plus exhibition of art created during Art All Night.

1:00 PM Broto Roy

1:30-2:30, 3:00-4:00  Children are engaged in screen printing of DC Alley Museum t-shirts and making buttons with images from DCAM murals at Long View Gallery, presented by Soul & Ink.

1:30 PM Film Screening: “Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC” (A documentary film by Scott Crawford) at Nobody Media

1:50 PM Music TBA

2:00 PM Bill Warrell Kid's Mural Draw On

2:15 PM Ancestral Duo (Jemal Moore & Luke Stewart)

2:30 PM Ribbon Cutting/Dedication of New Murals by Bill Warrell, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Rose Jaffee, Billy Colbert, and Captain Izabella Sparrow and special invited guests.

2:50 PM Janel Leppin  Volcanic Ash

3:00 PM Film Screening: “The Legend of Cool “Disco” Dan” (A documentary film by Joseph Pattisall, narrated by Henry Rollins) at Nobody Media

3:40 PM Music TBA

4:00 PM Christina Rios/Forces

4:00 PM Bill Warrell Kid's Mural Draw On

5:00 PM Nag Champa Art Ensemble

The Alley-Oop Murals and Music Festival is presented by Shaw Main Streets in conjunction with the DC Alley Museum, with major funding from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and support from Douglas Development and other sponsors.

For more information on the DC Alley Museum, visit www.dcalleymuseum.com.