by Cassandra Hetherington

Kennedy Street is having a hard time lately. From wild west style shootouts to police chases through alleys, the ongoing tragic deaths on Kennedy Street seem an almost insurmountable challenge. Covid has caused huge problems for small businesses all along the commercial strip, both long-established, and recently hatched. Through all of this, a beacon of hope shines in the form of a mural planned for the corner of 5th and Kennedy Street NW.

With support from the Brightwood community, Uptown Main Street (UMS) has embarked on a campaign called “Spray the Love” to raise the necessary funds to add a mural to not only Kennedy Street but also upper 14th Street NW.

No one is saying that a mural will fix the decades of problems that have occurred on the fifteen blocks of Kennedy Street, but organizers are hoping it will bring a community in pain together while beautifying a portion of the neighborhood. Negativity is contagious, why not try positivity?

UMS has received permission from a homeowner with a large blank exterior wall currently facing a graffiti covered parking lot. A veteran teaching artist, living within the community, has also been selected. The artist is eager to not only beautify this portion of Kennedy Street, but to involve local youth in the mural’s design. Participating youth will additionally learn graffiti art skills which are transferable to clothing design and style writing.

UMS has worked mural magic already at the recently opened 14th Street Graffiti Museum at 14th and Crittenden Streets NW. What started as a tribute to Cool “Disco” Dan by members of his crew, Fierce Fighting Crew has grown to include several temporary pieces featuring prominent Washingtonians with a Get Out the Vote message.

Gabriella Mossi, Executive Director of UMS, said that parents with young children, stuck inside during the pandemic, are the Graffiti Museum’s most frequent visitors. Programming in the spring for inside the Graffiti Museum includes yoga and graffiti art classes, talks, and movies. One lucky couple has even selected it as their wedding venue. The Graffiti Museum has instilled a sense of pride within the community which is exactly what Kennedy Street needs right now.

UMS is also raising funds to add another mural along the 14th Street NW Corridor just a few doors away from the Graffiti Museum. For now the interior of the Museum is open by request between 11am - 5pm, just call or text (202) 270-1461, the exterior is accessible and visible from the sidewalk.

Creating a mural involves more than throwing some paint up on a wall. The space on Kennedy Street will need to be cleaned of dirt and existing graffiti, weeds and vegetative growth removed, cracks in the wall repaired and the complete wall surface prepped with a layer of base paint. The entire process to create a mural from preparation to completion takes as little as three days, once supplies are acquired.

Art can be a starting point for difficult conversations and a method to engage people. A mural of this undertaking is an opportunity for Brightwood residents to express their shared humanity and help heal a hurting community. If these murals are able to come to fruition, UMS has plans to continue adding more art on both corridors.

If you would like to donate any amount of money to make these two murals happen, you can do so on the Uptown Mainstreet Website.