Mural In The Works

A public mural appears to be coming to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray, but not before the project is discussed and public comments are collected.

The Del Ray Mural Youth Project, which is to coincide with next month's Art on the Avenue festival, proposes a temporary art piece to be painted on the exterior wall of the recreation center's gymnasium. Local artists Leisa Collins, Corinne Marlowe, Forest Allread and five youth teams will help construct the mural during the festival on Oct. 2.

The mural is to depict life in Del Ray along with elements of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Art on the Avenue will donate all of the money for the mural's construction.

The project plans are currently on display at the recreation center and can be viewed during regular operating hours. The public is invited to view the plans and submit comments to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts through Sept. 20.

Comments can be submitted in a notebook next to the recreation center display or by e-mailing the Alexandria Commission for the Arts at aca@alexandria.gov with the subject line "Del Ray Mural."

The mural will also be discussed Monday at the Del Ray Citizens Association membership meeting at Mount Vernon Community School at 7:30 p.m. A group representing the project will be in attendance.

"There are a lot of opinions about this project," DRCA President Sean Crumley said. "It's our goal to help build understanding and consensus in everything we do. We hope to find a consensus for this project and that will be a major step moving forward."

The intention for the mural is to have it replaced every two years during the Art on the Avenue festival.

The five youth teams that will help construct the mural will represent the Charles Houston Recreation Center, Mount Vernon Recreation Center, Youth for Human Rights Greater D.C. Chapter, City of Alexandria Mentoring Partnership and the Alexandria-Fairfax Boys and Girls Club.