Where the light is, and is not

Many times over, residents of  Carroll Avenue / Quebec Terrace have cited the lack of adequate night lighting as one of the most pressing issues contributing to their discomfort in living in this community.  As a next step in using art and design to help raise the quality of life for CAQT residents, Arts on the Block and the YMCA organized a walk-through of the area on Nov. 7 to assess first-hand where the lighting needs are greatest. About 20 individuals — residents, property owners, members of the Montgomery County Police Department, the State’s Attorney’s Office and lighting artists, among others — walked the entire area, pausing frequently to note and discuss our observations. Meeting back at the YMCA Community Center afterwards we prioritized, from our perspectives, where resources would be most effectively used. The list included the main (mosaic) stair area; the area around the YMCA; individual buildings, especially entryways and addresses, and the Quebec Terrace sidewalk area.

 

The Next Project

Steps pre-stair mosaic; potential site of pop-up event

Arts on the Block is excited to announce that the next project in the CAQT neighborhood will be an arts-and-media spring after-school program/summer camp for middle school-aged youth who live in either CAQT or Nob Hill apartments.  Guided by visual and performing artists, professional youth development staff and teen mentors, participants will plan, promote and ultimately perform in a pop-up (or temporary) event close to the stair mosaics next August.  This project is generously supported by the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation and is a partnership of various non-profit organizations, including the YMCA Youth and Family Services, Gandhi Brigade, Imagination Stage and Arts on the Block. Sign up for the blog and follow our progress!

June 29th, 2011: Universal Merge Dedication Ceremony

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The “Universal Merge”, CAQT stair mosaic, dedication ceremony was an enjoyable event held on Wednesday, June 29^th.  The event was well attended by community members and stakeholders.  Speeches were given by County Executive Ike Leggett, Council President Valerie Ervin, Councilmember George Leventhal, Aide to Congressman Van Hollen Lillian Cruz, 3^rd District Commander Don Johnson, AOB Executive Director Jan Goldstein, AOB apprentice artist Alexis Wallace and community member Alicia Lopez.  Neighborhood children helped beautify the community by participating in a symbolic planting activity alongside one of the mosaics.

Arts on the Block continues to raise funds and support for future public art projects in the CAQT neighborhood.  It is hoped that a lighting and plaza project will be underway in the future.

What happened at the stair mosaic press event and dedication? Here is the tip of the iceberg!

   Until our main blogger Mary Kendall returns from vacation, you can catch    some great pix from the dedication in an  Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County facebook album  – and  ours!

Also, check out the Montgomery County press release, and the article  “Quebec Terrace stairways in Silver Spring get a dash of color in public safety arts project” in the Gazette.

Here are a few choice words spoken by County Executive Ike Leggett:

   “These beautiful stair mosaics are important to us in many                ways. These are steps you take each day to get to bus stops,                  parking, and home; but the stair mosaic project represents steps you can take to help you get to a better place in life…It is exactly initiatives like this one, conceived by Arts on the Block, that demonstrate that despite obstacles, good things are accomplished when we work together.”

 MCPD Third District Commander Donald Johnson, representing  Chief Tom Manger, added  “People don’t generally think right away that artwork correlates to a reduction in crime, but I have seen the difference that it can make.  Since the completion of the “Turning Point” mural along Piney Branch Road at New Hampshire Avenue, that area has been graffiti-free.  And we know that as neighbors get to know one another better, they look out for one another, and call us sooner when someone or something doesn’t look right in their neighborhood.”

A heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who came to the event and made this a standout day in AOB history!

Stair Mosaics Press Event!

What: CAQT Stair Mosaics Dedication Where:  1002 Quebec Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20903 When: Wed., June 29, 2011, 11:00am    We are thrilled to have the following speakers at our event: Isiah Leggett, County Executive Valerie Ervin, County Council President George Leventhal, County Councilmember Lillian Cruz, Representative from Congressman Van Hollen’s office  Don Johnson, Montgomery County Police Department 3rd District Commander Jan Goldstein, Executive Director of Arts on the Block    Alicia Lopez, CAQT resident Alexis Wallace, AOB apprentice

AOB Executive Director Jan Goldstein

It’s finished! And we couldn’t have done it without the support of the community, property owners and managers and various community stakeholders!

An extra special thanks goes to the following organizations, individuals and companies:

AOB Apprentices – Designed by summer 2010 Pour Your Art Out AOB apprentice, Alexis Wallace, and made by Victor, Josh, Pilar, Aggie, Audrey, Lauren, Nancy, Genia, Nicolette, Davidson, Mina, Keith, Carlton, Michael, Grace, Christian, Francisco and Moises, apprentices enrolled in Pour Your Art Out in program year 2010-2011.

Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County – One of our funders!

Peter Tebri installing mosaic tiles with mortar

Carroll Apartments LLC – Mr. Bob Williams, property owner, gave approval to install the art work onhis property and made a significant financial contribution to the project.

Community members – Hundreds of community members helped make the mosaic at community events. Events were held at the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School and Carroll Avenue/Quebec Terrace YMCA Community Center.

Denchfield Landscaping– Kurt Denchfield, CAQT property owner and owner of Denchfield Landscaping, made a significant in-kind

Young boy helping clean the tiles

contribution to the project. His company installed the flagstone step treads and re-poured the concrete at the top and bottom of the stairs to ensure equal step height.

Equity Management – Elcira Diaz, Carroll Apartments and Siems Properties community manager, has been a great help in both maintaining and supervising the site of the stair mosaic.

Marga Bergman – Marga, an architectural engineer, provided in-kindconsultation services throughout the project.

Carien, AOB lead artist, Peter and Carlos

Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families– Another fabulous funder!

Montgomery County DHCA Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – And yet another fabulous funder!

Montgomery County Police – The police have been a terrific advocate for this project!

New Hampshire Estates Elementary School – Thanks to school staff, we held one mosaic making eventat the elementary school. Both teacher and students joined in the fun!

Peter Tabri – The mosaic craftsman who installed the tiles on the risers.

Peter making some final adjustments

Siems Properties LLC – Seimer Seims, property owner, also financially contributed to the project and supported project costs associated with engaging the community in making the art work.

YMCA Youth and Family Services – A dedicated and vital partner to the project, YMCA staff helped Arts on the Block engage residents in the project and ensure that the community has a sense of ownership for the mosaic itself.

Again, thanks to all for assisting with this important public art and crime prevention initiative!

The Installation: Part 1

AOB Lead Artist, Carien Quiroga, and Mosaic Craftsman, Peter Tabri, lay out the tile and get ready for the installation.

We are excited to report that the CAQT stair mosaic project is nearing completion.  The first of two stair mosaics was installed on May 27^th and 28^th.  It looks absolutely stunning.

Carlos prepares a strip of tiles for installation.

Mosaic craftsman, Peter Tabri, installed the mosaic.

The second stair mosaic will be installed on June 3^rd and 4^th.

Peter laying mortar on the first riser.

Almost there...

Smoothing out the surface....

Children sitting beside the stair mosaic..

It's done!

The last piece...

It Has Begun….

Bye-bye graffiti!

The CAQT Project is moving forward!!!  Thanks to many community partners, the first phase (installing the 1 ½” thick flagstone step treads) of the installation began on Thursday, May 5, 2011!

Colorful mosaic tiles will be installed on the risers in between each step.

Denchfield Landscapingis kindly providing the labor for this phase of the project, specifially the company is installing the treads and doing some concrete work at the top and bottom of the stairs to ensure that the steps maintain an equal height.   And look at their beautiful work!

Mr. Siemer Siems, one of our supporters!

Thanks to financial contributions from Siems Properties LLC and Carroll Apartments, Arts on the Block was able to purchase the flagstone step treads, mortar mix and concrete at a very reasonable price from Ernest Maier Block Companyin Bladensburg!
Also a big thanks goes to the on-site property manager, Elcira Diaz, for helping us maintain communication with the property owners and provide overall support to the project!

Richard Jaeggi from the Gandhi Brigade documenting step tread installation

An additional thanks is extended to Richard Jaeggi, Executive Director of the Gandhi Brigade for assisting us with documenting the work. We are looking forward to producing a fun video about the stair mosaic project!

Stay tuned for details on the mosaic tile installation on the step risers. It is going to be absolutely beautiful!!!

Step tread installation almost complete on one of the staircases

Stair Mosaic Tile Setting: Take 2

Children help place tile on paper grid with AOB apprentice

On Friday, March 18, Arts on the Block held their second tile setting event at the YMCA Carroll Avenue/Quebec Terrace Community Center.  Over 50 community members attended the event and a great time was had by all!  Thanks to a kind donation from Siems Properties, LLC (one of the CAQT property owners), event participants enjoyed dinner catered by El Pollo Sabroso. 

Community stakeholders, Michael Avant from the YMCA and Gretchen Hilburger of the former CSAFE Program, join in the tile setting fun with AOB apprentice!

Community members reported that they are very excited for the installation of the stair mosaic and feel that this improvement will have a great impact on the quality of life in their neighborhood!  All of the tiles are now set and we are hoping for a May installation!

Children and apprentices work together to make flags in support of pedestrian safety. The flags will remain on display at the CAQT Community Center.

Tile Setting Day at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School

On top of a large paper grid, community members and AOB apprentices place tiles in the pattern of the mosaic design.

On Wednesday, March 2, Arts on the Block collaborated with the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School to hold a community tile setting day.  Over 35 teachers, parents and children attended the event and made flags that promote pedestrian safety and set tile for the stair mosaic.  Check out the pictures below!!

Young boy cutting tile for the mosaic.

Young girl shows her pedestrian safety drawing tied to her backpack.

AOB apprentice, Mina, and AOB lead atrist, Carien Quiroga, work on setting tiles for stair mosaic.