Mural Slam Brings Exciting Art to Fairfax City

If you were in downtown Fairfax on May 12, you probably saw artists working away on giant boards in Old Town Square on eye-catching original murals. Later in the day with rain threatening, the artists moved indoors to the now-empty space that once housed the Pacers store. I visited after dinner and had a chance to meet with and talk to the artists about their work. The experience reminded me of visiting artists lofts in New York city when I lived there. And that was really cool and fun. We have been more accustomed here in Fairfax City to art presented in a more contained format, decorously framed and suitable for hanging perhaps over the couch or in the entry hall. These works explode out to the very edges of the boards and seemingly expand beyond. But you can still imagine them hanging in your space. Some of the works lend themselves to a rapid interpretation – those two Mickey Mouse style-hands next to a large “4” and a heart? Ah yes, the fingers of the left hand form a V, the fingers of the right hand form an A. VA is for lovers! Other works take a bit longer to interpret, drawing you in with multiple layers of shapes and colors that reward the patient viewer with subtle hints of humor or drama. A large tree spreads its roots over a developing city. Does the city feed the tree or does the tree feed the city? For a city nicknamed "Tree City," this work seems especially apt. And that dashboard with the unhappy looking steering wheel? A tribute to traffic woes? Could that split mural showing a concerned looking man (perhaps a politician) superimposed on a cartoon that appears to be literally "talking out of both sides of its mouth" be a witty comment on politics? A figure is curled into a protective posture. Does this mural evoke despair or hope? There's more in these stylish murals than immediately meets the eye and the more you look, the more you'll see. I've included some of the photos I took of the event, which was sponsored by Kimco Realty. I'd like to see more art projects like this.