Riverdale Public Park Initiative Introduces Sculptures To The Community

Back to Blog

Previous Article Next Article

The Town of Riverdale Park and the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation are pleased to announce the installation of six sculptures as part of the Riverdale Park Public Art Initiative. Five sculptures are now on year-long display, at select locations where five new sculptures will be called for annually. Designed to create a publicly accessible, outdoor sculpture gallery, the Initiative brings together public and private partnerships to locate sites that will turn ordinary street-corners, offices and parks into unexpected showcases that delight and enlighten residents and visitors alike. Drawing on a robust response from the local artist community the Initiative seeks installation opportunities within the Town’s 6 wards. This first year of installations features 3 new sculptures to the area’s growing trail art along the Anacostia Tributary Trail System and Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. The Initiative’s first year of rotating sculptures include Gateway artists Alan Binstock’s “Third Portal” at the RI Ave Trolley Trail, Paul Steinkoenig’s “Abundance” at Chambers Funeral Home, Forty Third Place’s “Reclaimed Wood Micro House” at Riverside Neighborhood Park; DC-based Becky Borlan’s “Prisms” at Beale Circle (formerly housed at 38th Ave./Studio 3807 in North Brentwood); and Florida-based Craig Berube-Gray’s “Slices of Heaven” at Riverdale Recreation Park. The Initiative’s first commission, “Great Blue Herons” by the late Joanna Blake, is set to install mid-December at the JD Williams Professional Building at the corner of East-West Highway and US Route 1. This Environmental Artwork’s sponsors include the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, the Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council, the Riverdale Park Arts Council, and former Riverdale Park Councilman Jonathan Ebbeler. “Herons” showcases three detailed blue herons crafted into the sustainability movement’s universal recycling symbol and speaks to Prince George’s County and the Town’s focus to promote environmentalism, while bringing public art to popular transit routes. An unveiling for “Herons” will be announced shortly. The public is invited to enjoy a Walking Tour of this year’s sculptures on Saturday, December 17th during the Riverdale Park Farmers Market. The Tour will begin promptly at 2pm and last an hour. To learn more about the Initiative, go to http://hycdc.org/rppai or call the Hyattsville CDC (301) 683-8267.