Aerosoul: Murals for Our Time

DC Murals: Spectacle and Story is excited to announce AeroSoul: Murals for Our Time, an upcoming exhibition exploring the connection between the illegal graffiti art of the 1990s, and the contemporary street art mural culture. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the newly renovated Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, located at 901 G Street, NW. The exhibit is currently scheduled to open on June 10, 2021.

Street Art–public murals produced with spray paint–are ultimately derived from illegal graffiti. These murals have proliferated in the city over the past few years, producing riveting yet elusive images. The murals themselves are a popular attraction and have helped to rebrand DC as a contemporary arts metropolis beyond the national monuments.

AeroSoul will explore the tangled origin of this popular trope, illuminating its shadowed transformation from illegal sub-culture to sanctioned public art.

Four public programs over the course of the exhibition will include street artists and lively discussions. The event will delight youth and mural fans of all ages. The exhibition will provide a free, 75-page book that includes informative essays and images from the exhibition.

The project is anchored by a superb team that includes award-winning visual artist and author Cory Stowers (Curator); Blair Ruble, PhD (Wilson Center Scholar); George Koch (Founder of Artomatic); and Perry Frank, PhD (Founding Director, DC Murals: Spectacle and Story).

This major public project is made possible by a $30,000 HumanitiesDC Vision Grant funded by the city through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Grant provisions require us to match the grant amount, and we are achieving this goal through our bi-monthly walking tours; paid speaking engagements; and donations from our supporters.

The exhibition itself, the accompanying public programs, and our book are free to visitors. We are asking all those who love and appreciate the city’s treasure trove of public art to consider donating to help bring this first-of-its-kind exhibition to life! DC Murals is a 501c3 non-profit organization, so your donation is tax deductible.

We hope that you will donate, stay tuned, and spread the word.