So the project isn't quite over but the mural is complete. All of our hard work has come together to uplift the community and I do believe we have done that. Working on the mural period has given many of us a small sense of community, meeting every Saturday to complete this project has been a building process and task all at the same time. I want to thank any and everyone who had anything to do with it. The young people we worked with, I know had a great time bringing their designs to life and gained a sense of accomplishment coming to the site every weekend. From a dream to reality, it came to life. That's what Underground Tree Projects is striving to do: dream big or go home. One dream at a time makes life worth living it each day!

All of the artists who came through:
Michael Diggs
Meghan Taylor
Joel Bergner
Elizabeth Stewart
Dawn J.

Those who helped/sponsored:
Melody Douglas
Sankofa Bookstore & Cafe
Everlasting Life
Home Depot
Wal-Mart
Duron Paints & Wallpaper
Mentoring Works 2

I combined the design with images and laid it out in Photoshop! This is sorta what our mural will be looking like.

*There is a tree breaking ground, upside down and the roots branch off into circled images, where we will have historical places and people placed inside. There will be seven cirlce images (not six).

This weekend was major fun. I mean Saturday for one was full of making sure all strings were in place. The plywood (3 @ 4x8) was delivered... by us. :) and we got the wood all primed and ready, sketched out the mural, which we've been coming up with for the past 2 weeks. It was more than lovely to see our individual designs make one cohesive piece. This is totally a learning experience for me and others on the project. I'm glad that key people who have been working on this project believe in the goal and purpose of this project, which is community. We spent 4 hours Sat. planning, sketching and then painting. Next Sat. here we come, I'm excited! 

FYI: I keep getting reminded that this world is cut throat but at the same time I keep being reminded that I have favor. So thanx world for ever evolving in my psyche!

Two weeks into the GV mural project and we have some lovely design ideas at hand.  The artists, muralists, supplies are in place but the youth are trickling in it seems. Enthusiasm and support for the project is totally there!! Still moving forward, painting will begin next week. Our design is forming and coming together very nicely thanks to all the lovely artists helping with the project!! UTP loves all your efforts and we dig on support from the community also. 

FYI: I hear creating gets easier as time teaches you more lessons, so just like my friend the rooted tree I stand strong. We, UTP stands strong ya dig!! 

Ok so Friday Melody and I put up the banner for the project. It's a wonder how this gets done. I set out on foot friday and hit every business I needed too. yup. yup. 

Duron literally gave us 15 gallons of paint, now I'm sure we won't use it all so happy painting to the youth, us and anybody else who wants some!! (I pleasantly showed them an inkind proposal, smiled and got what I needed.) 

Home Depot hooked us up with a couple gift cards on Saturday too!! 

It's like pulling teeth with some orgs, specially these big businesses like Wal-Mart, Duron and Home Depot. But persistence proves to work every single time! Calling, remembering peoples names, speaking with a fierce passion... man that can get you far. 

So this morning I picked up my gift cards from WalMart, Home Depot is underway, meeting the assistant manager in a few. I love it: getting things for free are nice! 

It's like christmas all the time when you write letters and specify what you want, turn it in with ample time to spare and then follow up almost every week, waiting is key. Stay patient and when one door isn't opening, bump it and go to the next one. 

So a local contractor donated 8 gallons of paint to us more than a month ago, we have space for our celebration at Sankofa Bookstore and we've even worked it out to the point where we will be presenting our installed pieces at their outside stage on Aug. 28th!! Everlasting life and Sankofa will even be providing food!!!

WE dig on community support!!!! 

The project will take place at 2828 Georgia Ave. NW:

6 Saturdays: 2-4pm 1st two Saturday's, 2-6pm following 3 Saturday's
July 10-Purpose: Draw design

July 17-Community: Complete design

July 24-Taking Action: Paint, wall located at Georgia and Columbia (3012 Georgia Avenue)

July 31-Taking Action: Paint

Aug 7-Taking Action: Paint

Aug 28- Celebration Ceremony, youth are honored and presenting of mural to family and community members, Performances and food.

Check out the curriculum, sponsors, all that good stuff!! 

Alright so in the mist of all this planning for the Grounded Visions Mural Project I broke and gathered up a few folks:: We went out and painted signs for the arts market out in the Rhode Island Shopping Center. 


Quest set us up with the boarded signs, even some paints, water, all that! 

Quest, Diggs, Stephen, Holly and I all personalized our own signs::dopeness I must say. We didn't quite finish so we took our signs home to work on them. 

I know I took mine home and banged it out!  

Got carried away with painting so few pics but Stephen will be uploading his soon!! 

The arts market went down yet again this past weekend. Went great. Now as for the curriculum meetings-it was highly productive. We've etched out what activities, techniques and time frames we are working with. 


Thanks Melody, Stephen, Diggs and everyone who has already contributed and those who were there in spirit! 

It's a new thing!! The Rhode Island shopping center has a new arts market, catering to young artists on the up and coming. Quest Skinner has taken it upon herself to help the sprouting talent in and around the DC area. While setting up she offered advice, selling tips and display techniques to myself and the other artists on deck. I was truly glad she invited me out, so for that I invited a couple of artists I knew as well. Michael Diggs made an impromtu appearance and Elizabeth Stewart displayed her art on a table as well. Diggs and I shared a space and what do you know we both sold a single piece! I was super stoked. 

All the excitement distracted me and these are the only photos taken. Next saturday there will be more, I think!! :)