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Vibrant murals transform this Virginia city into a giant art gallery

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In Virginia, Crystal City is known for being very safe and clean, but because so many of its buildings are constructed with so much concrete, the area can also come across as a little stale. In a roughly 10-year effort to visually revitalize the area, this concrete canyon has been transformed through the visual arts in order to become a vibrant and colorful area.

With Art Walls, CEO and president of the Crystal City Business Improvement District (CCBID) Angie Fox said, "We were looking at ways to shift perceptions, and in our world, concrete is canvas. We can infuse art into the fabric of Crystal City so that you experience it as you walk around. Whether you’re into art or not, certainly the color and the vibrancy can have an impact."

Sine 2008, Art Walls have been mounted around the city, renewing areas like a 160-foot-long underpass that was once dark, gloomy, and a bit scary. Along with these artworks, the CCBID also replaced yellow sodium lights with white LED lights and did away with some shrubbery at the top of the Crystal City Metro entrance.

After finding artists from events like Artomatic or venues like the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the CCBID then proceeds to license images of interest, screenprint them, and mount them in the appropriate areas. Fox estimated that around half a million dollars have been spent on Art Walls since 2008.

Less than five miles away in Washington, D.C., there are plans to create a similar program. Fox said that the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District has shown interest and was even provided a tour by the CCBID.

For those who may be interested in taking an arts tour, Curbed has created the below map with all of the Art Walls currently mounted in Crystal City.

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Emerald in Action

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Artist: Janis Goodman

Currents

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Artist: Marsha Staiger

Ecoscape

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Artist: Sondra N. Arkin

Mental Maps

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Artist: Ted Milligan

Supernature

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Artist: Matthew Best

Confluence

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Artist: Camilo Sanin

Tropicalia

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Artist: Fabiano Amin

Lunar Scape

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Artist: M.M. Panas

ArtJamz Winner

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Artist: Doug Fruehling

Acoustic Landscape

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Artist: Marsha Staiger

Epipelagic One

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Artist: Camilo Sanin

Artist: Christina Hayman

Radiance

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Artist: Valerie Theberge

Artist: Susan Finsen

Passion

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Artist: Maryann Pranulis

Artist: Tory Cowles

Artist: Anne Marchand

Circles and Rings

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Artist: Susan Finsen

Crystal Wynwood Mural

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Artist: No Kings Collective

To Ava, with Love

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Artist: Ethan Kerber

Shine & Dazzle

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Artist: Kevin Irvin

Sparkle

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Artist: Greg Minah

Mural23

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Artist: Jeff Huntington, Mas Paz, Juan Pineda, and Cita Sadeli

Sunburst

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Artist: Bud Hensgen

Harbor Lines

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Artist: Leslie Johnston

Ellipsis

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Artist: Anne Marchand

Artist: Michele de la Menardiere

Rhythm & Balance

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Artist: Marsha Staiger

Emerald in Action

Artist: Janis Goodman

Currents

Artist: Marsha Staiger

Ecoscape

Artist: Sondra N. Arkin

Mental Maps

Artist: Ted Milligan

Supernature

Artist: Matthew Best

Confluence

Artist: Camilo Sanin

Tropicalia

Artist: Fabiano Amin

Lunar Scape

Artist: M.M. Panas

ArtJamz Winner

Artist: Doug Fruehling

Acoustic Landscape

Artist: Marsha Staiger

Epipelagic One

Artist: Camilo Sanin

Fire

Artist: Christina Hayman

Radiance

Artist: Valerie Theberge

Engage

Artist: Susan Finsen

Passion

Artist: Maryann Pranulis

Azure

Artist: Tory Cowles

Prism

Artist: Anne Marchand

Circles and Rings

Artist: Susan Finsen

Crystal Wynwood Mural

Artist: No Kings Collective

To Ava, with Love

Artist: Ethan Kerber

Shine & Dazzle

Artist: Kevin Irvin

Sparkle

Artist: Greg Minah

Mural23

Artist: Jeff Huntington, Mas Paz, Juan Pineda, and Cita Sadeli

Sunburst

Artist: Bud Hensgen

Harbor Lines

Artist: Leslie Johnston

Ellipsis

Artist: Anne Marchand

Emerge

Artist: Michele de la Menardiere

Rhythm & Balance

Artist: Marsha Staiger