Crystal Flight Commemorative Book Available!

The Crystal City Business Improvement District is pleased to announce the release of the Crystal Flight commemorative book highlighting the Crystal Flight program.  You can purchase the book for $15 directly from the publisher's website.

Placement Video

Ever wonder how all those 600 pound planes got placed throughout Crystal City? Here is a little sneak peek that shows how JK Moving & Storage got one of the fifty planes into place.

Crystal Flight Poster

Are you a Crystal Flight fan? You can download the full size poster with pictures of all of the planes by clicking here.

Crystal Flight gets National Blog Attention

What do Abe Lincoln, a Waterfall along the East River in NYC and Crystal Flight all have in common? Well, they are all free, fun, and unique public art projects throughout the country. Crystal City's Crystal Flight Project was included in this brief list of fun and free public art related activities around the country.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Public Art Fund /© Olafur Eliasson, 2008

http://www.petergreenberg.com/2008/08/07/free-public-art-projects/

Two Planes Receive a Fresh Look

The hot, Virginia sun and the elements can sometimes take a toll on the lifespan of certain designs. The Crystal City BID tapped Graffiti artist Kevin Irvin to give two of the Crystal Flight statues a fresh look!

City Bound

Sky Miles

Everclear Flies into Crystal City

Crystal City will host multi-platinum rock band Everclear at the 4th Annual Crystal Rocks on Sunday, June 8 from 2-6PM, located at 2200 Crystal Drive between 23rd and 20th Street. The street concert is free and open to the public.

Everclear just released a new album in April of this year titled "The Vegas Years." The disc features 14 recorded covers from 1994 to 2008, including versions of the Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed,” Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl” and Paul Revere & The Raiders’ “Kicks.”

The event will also feature the return of Crystal Flight graffiti artist Kevin Irvin who will modify an existing design using his funky, urban, Graffiti style! Kevin painted a plane earlier this spring at the annual Crystal Block party along 23rd's Street's Restaurant Row. See some of his work in the slideshow below. Kevin will be painting outside throughout the concert so be sure to stop by and take a look!

This is the fourth year of the concert series with past headliners that include the Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon and Big Bad Voodoo Daddies.

View Press Release

Professional Photos

The fun art continues with Crystal Flight! View professional photos of all 50 planes in the slideshow below! You can also go directly to the album link by clicking here.

DCist Writes About Crystal Flight

One of the metropolitan area's premier blogs, DCist, posted a response to a reader's question about the Crystal Flight planes. Read the blog entry here.

U.S. Air Force Cycling Classic

On Sunday, May 4th the Crystal City BID continued its support of all things Flight in Crystal City! The area played host to the the U.S. Airforce Cycling Classic, a professional cycling race with a community participatory ride, Crystal Ride, to benefit the Rasin Hope Foundation.

Results Press Release
Race Photos 1

Race Photos 2

Visitor Blog Entry

A colleague of a Crystal City BID staff member recently sent over this wonderful excerpt from a personal blog post that just had to be shared! It encapsaltes everything the Crystal Flight project was intended to bring to the streets of Crystal City.

Excerpt from Anonymous Blog Post
Buggy plane
After having dinner out [a rare treat], we happened upon this piece of public art. A neighborhood in Arlington is near the airport so they have all this (sic) planes on display that have been decorated by various artists. This plane, sponsored by the U.S. Air Force, is called "Fly Zone" by Jessica Van Brakle. It features these rather large flies on it. Vaughan thought it was pretty cool!
Hey! Look there are more flies over here!
Yep, there is a fly!
He got one last close look at a fly before we went home, he got a bath and went to bed. Whew! --

Crystal Flight In the News - Air & Space

Check out the latest mention of Crystal Flight in the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine! They put together a great article after multiple site visits photographing sessions in the studio and on the street!

Crystal Block - A Celebration of Art & Air

The second annual Crystal Block party was a stunning success! Despite looming rain clouds and unseasonably cool temperatures, the festivities of Crystal Block, which included musical acts Wicked Jezabel, Folsom Prisoners, and the Reflex, children's moon bounces and slides, cotton candy, popcorn, and tons of give-aways from area businesses, attracted several thousand visitors!

In addition to the three planes located in the area - Freddie's Flotsam & Jetsam, CC Sports Pub's Bounce Off and BB&T's Pennies from Heaven - 23rd Street was the temporary home for Chalk It Up and Graffiti Plane. Graffiti Artist Kevin Irvin spent most of the 5-hours of the party painting his plane for Arlington Sports in the middle of the road! Interested Block Party attendees had the chance to see him in action and his design evolve! Chalk It Up offered children and adults the opportunity to put their own creative energies to work! Painted with chalkboard paint, the plane was certainly "Chalked Up" by the end of the day.

BB&T also treated visitors to their both with a contest using their plane as inspiration. Can you guess how many pennies (or how much money) is actually on the BB&T plane, Pennies from Heaven?

The Planes Have Landed!

In case you have not noticed, the completed Crystal Flight Airplanes have "landed" all around Crystal City! JK Moving & Storage sent a Flat Bed Truck, a fork Lift, a box truck, and plenty of man power to get all 50 planes placed at their designated location.

The task was quite an event as eleven planes could be loaded directly onto the flatbed before it needed to be unloaded. It was certainly a sight to see the trailer traveling down the roads of Crystal City at about 5 MPH with dozens of on-lookers with smiling faces, cameras, and camera phones all pointed towards the spectacle! Many asked questions and expressed their delight at the arrivals, but nothing outdid the reaction of the Bright Horizon children who responded to a honk from the truck driver by rushing the window! Jaws dropped at hands waved as they saw the very plane they worked on unloaded and placed directly in front of their window!

Be sure to stop by one of the area restauraunts for an official map, but you can get a sneak peak at the 4.5-mile "Flight Path" that will take you to all 50 planes by downloading this map.

Crystal Flight Artists Complete!

It has been a busy few final weeks in the Crystal Flight Artist's Studio. The Crystal Flight artists have been striving to compelte the designs they proposed nearly four months ago and began implementing in January. Only four planes remain to be completed - Arlington Sports' Graffiti plane which will be painted by talented graffiti artist, Kevin Irvin at Crystal Block and the three planes that make up Solar Sorcery, the three planes sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and being completed by Butch Anthony.

After being compelted, the planes were treated with a Clear Coat application to protect the paint from the damaging and color-depleting sun's UV rays as well as a protection against vandalism. The Crystal City BID would like to thank Byron Peck and City Arts for agreeing to assist with the application of the coating on all of the planes.

Be ready this week to see the planes landing all over Crystal City courtesy of our Crystal Flight partner, JK Moving & Storage! Be certain to stop by Crystal Block along Restaurant Row on 23rd Street between S. Fern and S. Eads Streets. You can pick up a "Flight Plan" showing all of the plane locations throughout Crystal City at local restaurants and stores throughout the area.

Crystal Flight In the News!

This week's Washington Business Journal included an article about Crystal Flight! Read all about it here: WBJ Article

Artist Spotlight - Byron Peck

Building on its participation in the first annual Vintage Crystal - A Taste of Wine & Jazz, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival procured local artist Byron Peck to paint the Crystal Flight plane it sponsored. "Mood Indigo's" artistic concept involves gradiated transitions of colors and abstract designs intermixed with depictions of Duke Ellington on opposite sides of the plane.

About Byron
Over the last twenty-five years PeckStudios and, more recently its non-profit partner City Arts, have been commissioned to create over 80 murals, mosaics, and other public artworks. The majority of our past public artworks are site-specific designs that are inspired by the unique environment for which they were created. Many have been created with input and participation from the communities in which the artworks are located. Our studio's approach to public art is to maximize the artwork's relevance to the architectural and natural environment of the site, in addition to local history, culture, and purpose of site.

About Duke Ellington Jazz Festival

The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival (DEJF) is an annual celebration that honors musical genius and native Washingtonian Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. Each year, tens of thousands of music lovers come together in the nation’s capital to share in the city’s rich Jazz history, to see local and world renowned Jazz artists and to pay tribute to legendary Jazz greats. The festival features more than 100 performances and programs in 35 venues citywide. Its impressive mix of local, national and international Jazz artists meets the diverse interests of Jazz aficionados and families from Washington, DC, and around the country and world. DEJF is a project of Festivals DC, Ltd. a non-profit educational organization.

The fourth Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will be held October 1 – 7, 2008 throughout Washington, DC. Go to www.dejazzfest.org to join the festival’s mailing list and receive periodic updates and schedules.

The Flight to Brighter Horizons

The children of Bright Horizons added their artistic input to the Crystal Flight program last week. With help from JK Moving & Storage who helped transport the plane to and from the temporary space provided by Vornado / CES, the three groups of children cooperated to create a truly unique and special plane!

Led by Bright Horizons Center Director Amiee Lacson, a group of the Center's younger toddlers painted the base, another older group painted the pedestal, and the oldest group painted the actual plane. The Bright Horizons' plane dubbed "The Flight to Brighter Horizons" will be located directly in front of the Center's Crystal City location at 2344 Crystal Drive.

Previous Posts about Bright Horizons
Kids & Community to Join the Fun

Crystal Flight In the News

Crystal Flight on the News!

Crystal Flight received some amazing PR this morning when Channel 9 news came out to do a live shot of the project on the morning news edition. Reporter Howard Bernstein toured the Crystal Flight Artist studio with CCBID President and CEO Angie Fox and interviewed Chuck Baxter (Flotsam & Jetsam for Freddies Beach Bar and Restaurant) and Christopher Kelley (Kong Returns for Gensler). A number of planes were specifically focused on by Howard including “Pennies from Heaven” (Courtney Stevens for BB&T), Barnstorming (Matt Wuerker for Politico), Fruit Flies (Pamela Marcon for the Crystal City BID), Chalk It Up (by the Crystal City BID), Crab Rock (Sandra Bacon for McCormick and Schmick’s), and several others!

Click here to see Howard Bernstein’s morning video blog.

[BID President and CEO with Channel 9 Reporter Howard Bernstein]

[BID President and CEO Angie Fox with rest of the BID team - Maurisa Potts, Marketing Director and Rob Mandle Operations Director]

Sponsor Spotlight - Cucina Vivace

Italy has influenced the cuisine of dozens of countries. That influence is reflected in the love so many have not only for Italian food, but for the comfort of the Italian dining experience. People see our shared history in every meal; making us all one family at the table. This cultural blending takes shape in “True Colors”, where the flags of five nations (Ethiopia, Romania, Croatia, US, and Nicaragua; representing the Cucina Vivace staff) blend into the predominant color scheme of the plane – the Italian flag.

About the Sponsor - Cucina Vivace

Welcome to Cucina Vivace, a trattoria and enoteca created by Chef Gordon Vivace. We take pride in offering you innovative, contemporary dishes born in the oldest traditions of Italian cooking. Variations on classic themes are created with the use of fresh, local ingredients, just as dishes have been created in Italy for centuries. We strive to bring you the heart of the Italian table, where recipes are uniquely crafted cook by cook with individual flair and become centerpieces in a social event. Our structure is a four course offering, though we encourage guests to share our antipasti and primi courses with no additional plate charges so almost any budget and appetite can enjoy our relaxing full dining experience. Our wine list is designed to bring you a preferred selection, representing the best Italy has to offer in a broad range of geographies while each uniquely complements the flavorful creations on our menu. We invite you to share an authentic four course dining experience with us, select a light meal, or just join us for coffee and dessert. Come as you are, from jeans to black tie. You can enjoy it all in a casual environment where one of the most revered Italian traditions continues – good food creates good friendships.

Website - Cucina Vivace

Artist Spotlight - Sandra Bacon

Crystal Flight's call for artists attracted a number of out-of-town artists. Completing the proposed designs for these artists can prove to be a struggle as artists have to plan travel, locate accommodations while in town, and complete the statue on an accelerated schedule.

Illinois artist Sandra Bacon was able to meet these challenges head on! Arriving in town and staying locally with her sister's boyfriends, Sandi arrived in the studio on Monday morning and had completed two statues - "From Earth to Space" for the Gramercy at Metropolitan Park and "Crab Rock" for McCormick and Schmick's by Thursday evening. Impressive to say the least, but they also LOOK impressive!

From Earth to Space
This plane articulates the ascent from the core of the earth to the mysteries of the universe. With wonder at the beauty of the earth's inner core, through the atmoshere and into the cosmos, this painting refers to mystery, man's ascent to the heaves, the face that is presented to the heavens and the face that is presented to man on earth.

Crab Rock
This plane is a lighthearted look at the underwater world with the notion of "if crabs could fly". The artwork whimsically portrays the dichotomy between the weightlessness of underwater with the weightlessness of air.

About Sandi
Sandra Bacon is a versatile artist known nationally for the drawing/paintings and her public art. Her recent series of paintings, "Shattered Earth" has recently been shown at the Peppers Art Gallery in Redlands, California and at Deerpath Gallery in Lake Forest, Ill. She participated in last summer's Cool Globes exhibit in Chicago and her artwork was shown outside the Field Museum, at Navy Pier, at the United Nations(NY), and at the Chicago Department of the Environment.

Currently she is working on another Cool Globe for San Francisco, and an installation called "Lawn Games", at the Peggy Noteabaert Nature Museum (Chicago). Learn more about Sandra at her website by visiting her website.

About McCormick and Schmick's

Since teaming up in the early 1970s, Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick have established more than 50 restaurants and catering operations throughout the country - an extraordinary feat in a business with the highest attrition rate of any in the United States. The two men, very different yet surprisingly compatible, have established themselves as entrepreneurs with one collective vision, to run the nation's premier family of seafood restaurants.

The history of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants began when Bill McCormick purchased Jake's Famous Crawfish Restaurant located in Portland, Ore., and brought the more than 100-year-old landmark back to life.

When asked the secret of how he revitalized a restaurant on the brink of closing, McCormick says, "I like nothing better than being a good host." In addition to his spirited personality, McCormick has an ability to bring out the best in other's managerial skills and strengths, a combination essential in a successful business.

Part of the managerial talent McCormick tapped was Doug Schmick, a management trainee. The two formed a partnership in 1974, creating Traditional Concepts, a precursor to today's McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants. In 1979, they opened the original McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in Portland, Ore. Since that time, the company has expanded to more than 50 restaurants across the country.

About the Gramercy at Metropolitan Park

The Metropolitan. Apartment homes located in the Washington DC Metro area offering all that you could hope for. From inspiring architecture, stylish interiors, compelling locations and impeccable service, everything is designed with one purpose in mind – to make you feel at home. All your tastes and expectations, preferences and ambition, needs and desires. Met.

Visit to TivoliToo!

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the manufacturing facility where our Crystal Flight planes were created! Take an inside look at Tivoli Too!

Thanks for the tour, Hart! It was a pleasure!

Artist Spotlight - Gensler Team

One of the most interesting aspects of artistic projects like Crystal Flight is seeing how different creative minds can come up with such different design schemes. The designs of "Kong Returns," envisioned by Christopher Kelley and "Plane Jane" by Matt Rowan (coming to life with the help of co-workers from Gensler, the plane's sponsor), represents two examples of this variety. Art that draws from popular culture has a way of resonating with an extremely wide audience and for this reason, will likely be a big hit amongst area visitors!

"Kong Returns" is an attempt to recall childhood memories of the classic movie era. The vintage plane seemed to naturally lend itself to a theme of this type. The biggest challenge has been how best construct Kong’s hand. After many hours of trial and error it seems like a plan of action has finally been settled on. This Crystal Flight project has been a team effort as Christopher is joined by co-workers Beth Ready, Matt Rowan and Scotty Hasty collaborating on two separate planes: "Plane Jane" and "Kong Returns." Both planes are sponsored by Gensler.

An irreverent melding of the decidedly masculine fighter plane with the feminine design for a shoe, the "Plane Jane" reframes the viewer's expectations. Clad entirely in glossy black "patent leather" and the signature single button, the design motifs of the classic Mary Jane shoe find a new home on a jet.

So why was the "Mary Jane" chosen as a motif? A simple answer could be that it rhymes with plane. A more complex answer is that it provokes an immediate response depending on the viewer. Most women immediately understand the title, as frankly, the fairer sex has a much better understanding of shoes and their styles. Men tend to be a bit more confused, sparking conversation and debate as to why, exactly, one would clad a plane in black and stitchwork. Is it inappropriate? It it an attempt at being surreal? Is it a comment on war? Is it just a joke? The answers are up to the viewer- we're just setting up a topic of conversation. After all, provoking those types of things is what we believe great, fun design should do.

Artist Statement - Christopher Kelley - Kong Returns
A graduate of the University of Florida with a Master of Architecture degree in 1997, he is presently a project architect with Gensler in Washington, DC. Due to his dedication to the professional development of emerging professionals, Christopher has served on several local, state, and national boards and committees for the American Institute of Architects. Equally passionate about design of an academic nature, he has been a guest design critic and participated in panel discussions at various universities. He also actively pursues architectural and design competitions as a means of testing his pedantic ideologies. As a result of constantly exploring theoretical approaches to architecture, he has received several design awards and has had work exhibited at venues throughout the United States.

Artist Statement - Matt Rowan - Plane Jane
For Matt Rowan, The Crystal Flight project has been more of a true team effort than a one-man-show. Joined by three co-workers from Gensler, the group, affectionately known as "The Morning Zoo," is actually collaborating on two separate planes: "Plane Jane" and "Kong Returns." Both planes are sponsored by Gensler.

With a broad base of experience designing everything from corporate interiors, lighting fixtures, transportation systems, to custom china, Matt currently leverages this diverse background as designer in Gensler's Brand Design Studio. His exposure to multiple viewpoints and philosophies began at an early age, with the bulk of his childhood spent in Hawaii. The global city of Washington D.C. was his next home, offering a much more exciting but decidedly less tropical environment in which to grow. After attempting to abandon his artistic tendencies as a pre-med student at William & Mary, Matt quickly redirected himself towards the study of art, architecture, and psychology. While those three disciplines may initially appear to be disparate, Matt believes that all relate to the human experience, expression and perception of the spaces in which they live. Matt furthered his study of this philosophy at Art Center College of Design in California, where he graduated with honors with a degree in Environmental & Industrial Design.

Matt currently lives with his wife, Claire and son Will in Herndon, Virginia.

Gensler
Gensler is a global design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, with more than 3000 professionals networked across 30 offices on five continents. Consistently ranked by U.S. and international industry surveys as the leading architecture and interior design firm, Gensler leverages its deep resources and diverse expertise to develop design solutions for industries across the globe. Since 1965, Gensler has collaborated with clients to create environments that enhance organizational performance, achieve measurable business goals, enrich people and communities, and enhance everyday experiences. For its longstanding commitment to the advancement of sustainable design, Gensler received the Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2005.

This year Gensler is celebrating over 25 years in the Washington DC Metro Area. Clients include Crystal City BID, Rosslyn BID, Arlington County, Discovery Communications, Corporate Executive Board, Gaylord Entertainment, and numerous Federal entities. We are also proud to have built a strong reputation and relationships throughout the development community, working with those who make an impact on the built environment of this community every day.

Crystal Flight In the News!

Crystal Flight recieved another mention this week in the Alexandria Times! Read the whole article here!

The article highlights the upcoming participation of some of Crystal City's youngest artists, students at the area's newest Day Care facility, Bright Horizons. The plane, sponsored by Bright Horizons, will be moved to a temporarily vacant space by JK Moving and Storage next week. The plane will be painted throughout the day by Bright Horizons' children and their parents on Friday, March 28th.

If you have a moment during the day, feel free to swing by the pedestrian concourse in 2345 Crystal Drive to see the action.

Artist Spotlight - Beth Baldwin

Brenda Baldwin's design approach comes from a fascination with rockets, robots, and outer space. Beth's plane seeks to create a design for her jet plane sponsored by the Crystal City Marriott, that makes kids exlaim 'cool' and grown-ups chuckle in remembrance of their childhood dreams of wanting to fly jet planes and go into space when they grew up. Beth's design illustrates this facsination in a manner that characterizes space and futuristic space travel in a more imaginative way, to use Beth's own words, "more Jetson's than Star Trek!"

Beth Baldwin was born in Trenton, New Jersey and raised in Bucks County Pennsylvania. From the age of three Beth painted whatever she could get her hands on- rocks, wood, and sometimes to her parents chagrin, walls.She went to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania to persue being a set designer and received her BFA and went promptly to Ohio University to persue her MFA for scenic and prop design. Beth moved to Washington DC in 1998 for an internship with the Shakespeare Theatre in the props department. They hired her permantently three months later and Beth made props for almost 10 seasons making everything from fake pigs, to gravity defying bocce balls. She left the Shakespeare Theatre in August 2007 to persue her own art and to making more art happen in and around her adopted city of Washington, DC.This is Beth's fourth public art project, having participated in DC's Pandamania, University of Maryland's Fear the Turtle and Arlington Virginia's Tour of Arlington Mini-Golf classic.

About Beth's Sponsor - Crystal City Marriott
The Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport is located steps from hip restaurants and trendy shops and a short Metro ride away from Washington DC, offering the perfect location for both business and leisure travelers. Comfort and convenience define this Arlington, Virginia hotel that offers luxurious guest rooms and suites coupled with high-tech business amenities. For those looking to host an event in Northern Virginia, the Crystal City Marriott offers a variety of event facilities and services for conferences, meetings, weddings and receptions. Families and couples will enjoy a wide variety of Arlington vacation packages to choose from that feature low rates and great perks. The hotel is ideally located just one mile from Reagan National Airport and is a short commute to the downtown Washington DC area. This Crystal City, VA hotel is also located near the best tourist attractions in the Washington DC area including the Arlington Cemetery, Kennedy Center, and the Pentagon.

Artist Spotlight - Brenda Sylvia

Brenda Sylvia has been diligently working on her two planes, Crystal Constellations and Safe Landing for the Crystal City BID and the Oakwood, respectively. Brenda M. Sylvia is a landscape painter who loves nature despite living in an urban area. The act of painting outside and experiencing nature firsthand is an integral part of her work. The beauty of nature inspires and energizes her paintings and sculptures.

When thinking about jets and airplanes, our relationship to the sky above us naturally comes to mind. "Crystal Constellations" captures the some of beauty and the mythology of that sky. Throughout history mankind has looked up into the night sky and appreciated the beauty of the stars. Many cultures have named groups of stars and built elaborate stories around them. I have included representations of some of the more popular of these constellations in my jet.

"Safe Landing" is a tribute to the need for natural spaces near our urban centers such as Crystal City. Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary is located just across the George Washing Memorial Parkway from Reagan National Airport. It is an oasis both for wildlife and for the people who go there to reconnect to nature. This jet is a reminder of some of the beauty of the trees and wildlife you can find there. (Learn more about Roaches Run.)

About Brenda
Brenda received her Master of Fine Arts in Painting from The George Washington University in 2004, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from James Madison University in 1993. She has exhibited in three Artomatic shows (2002, 2004, and 2007), including last spring in Crystal City. As a result of that exhibition, she was invited to have a solo show at the Pershing Park Café from July through November 2007. Her other local solo exhibitions include “Urban Streams” at the Arlington Campus of GMU, “Views of Huntley Meadows,” and her thesis show, “A Sense of Place” at the Dimmock gallery at GWU. She also participated in a four-woman show at the Rock Creek Gallery in Washington, DC called “A Feeling of Intimacy.” In July of 2007 Brenda was commissioned to create a sculpture of a horse built of recycled materials for the Virgin Festival Concert in Baltimore, MD. Each of the last three years, she has received art grants to build sculptures at Playa Del Fuego, a Burning Man Regional Arts festival.

For more information check out Brenda’s website at http://www.silverravenstudios.com/.

Brenda's Sponsor for Safe Landing - Oakwood

Oakwood Worldwide is the world's largest rental housing solution company, providing high-quality, furnished and unfurnished accommodations throughout North and South America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

Through its vast selection of world-class accommodations, Oakwood offers the perfect housing solution for short and extended-stay needs, alike. Five-star service is provided in hundreds of locations with more than 3,000 staff around the globe dedicated to serving its clients and guests.

Quality accommodations and an extensive array of services and conveniences...welcome home to Oakwood, the most trusted namein housing worldwide.

Brenda's Sponsor for Crystal Constellations - Crystal City BID

Crystal City, Arlington's largest downtown, is transforming. Bright and vibrant, Crystal City now features an abundance of fine restaurants, cafes, specialty stores, outdoor movie nights, bike trails, and two award winning theaters with Arena Stage and the Washington Shakespeare Company. With its quick access to the Metro area and proximity to Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, the area is attracting many well-known businesses, non-profits, artists, tourists, and residents - all who are excited to call Crystal City home. From our hotels to our transportation options, Crystal City is also a green and environmentally-minded area - visitors can feel good about their stay with us, inside and out. Established in April of 2006, the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) is creating a soul for Crystal City. A public-private partnership, the BID is providing a higher level of service to visitors, workers and residents in Crystal City - driving to become world-class destination in both Arlington and the greater DC region. Whether you are a seasoned tourist, a working professional or a aspiring resident, come experience Crystal City!

Artist Spotlight - Nicholas Donnelly

Nicholas Donnelly sees his participation in Crystal Flight as a great release! The blank design templates provided to all artists immediately illicited ideas and concepts of fun in Nicholas. Incorporating a fun, whimsical, and nostalgic concept of paper airplanes contrasts well with some of the more stark contrasts of steel, concrete, and glass in Crystal City.

About Nicholas

Nicholas Donnelly is a 26 year old, Washington D.C based visual artist, primarily focusing in sculpture and filmmaking. He also currently works extensively with digital media, photography and other more traditional fine art practices. Nicholas has an established background in period modern furnishings and decorative arts. He is actively earning a BFA from the Corcoran College of Art + Design, in his Junior year of study. In 2007, at the 108th annual Corcoran Awards Ceremony, Nicholas received the Martha Von Hirsch Award for Excellence in Sculpture and the Fine Arts Faculty Award.

As a young artist in Washington, I'm presently compeled to explore the acceptable limits and boundaries of conceptual art and crafts. In general, my work begins as a commentary on modern life, often highlighting notions of consumerism, religion, and psychology. My process then typically incorporates altered found and appropriated objects to invent unlikely but provoking sculptural homages to the mundane (the antithesis of our current digital age). These composite expressions of the contemporary daily grind are often very colorful, playful, and optimistic. My usage of imagery and appropriated material expresses sympathy for orphaned objects, discarded items, and small pieces of misplaced americana. Essentially those lost fragments are treated as tokens of innocence, childhood and vulnerability. However on closer inspection each piece is delicately torqued with some acrid detail or subtle satirical touch. The resulting sensation of tension and anxiety is meant to demonstrate my codependent relationship to a globalized and anonymous existence in the 21st century. In essence, my work is intentionally futile, a passive aggressive narrative about the unavoidable accumulation of memory and ones subsequent culmination of identity by default. My intention simply is to express the pluralistic nature of being 'twenty something' in 2008. Learn more about Nicholas by visiting his website.

About Nicholas's Sponsor - Bureau of National Affairs (BNA)
BNA is the leading independent publisher of print and electronic news and information products for professionals. BNA produces more than 300 news and information services, including the highly respected Daily Report for Executives, Daily Labor Report, and Daily Tax Report. Visit BNA at http://www.bna.com/.

Artist Spotlight - Diana Gamerman

Artist Diana Gamerman is working on two artistic designs for two separate sponsors. "Jewelry Plane" immediately struck a chord with one of the first Crystal Flight Sponsors, Crystal City Shops. This "rich" design consists of discarded and donated jewelry adhered all over the plane!

Diana's second plane represents one of the most ambitious plane designs amongst the group. "Blue Jay" turns the Crystal Flight statue into the likeness of an actual bird! The "Blue Jay" will likely find its home amongst the shrubs and trees near its sponsor, the Hyatt Regency - Crystal City.

A Word from the Artist

"During the past several years I have taken on the challenge of putting jewelry on different forms. My first project with this idea was working on a mannequin. It took me some time but the end result turned out very well. Most recently I worked with a deer head and again the finished piece turned out very well. When I heard about the Crystal City project, I decided that one of the airplanes would be my next goal."

"Besides constructing these projects, one of the biggest challenges is building up an inventory of jewelry. What is amazing about this project is all the people who have helped me with this issue by giving me jewelry. My sponsor for this project, Crystal City Shops, has generously provided me with a large amount. It was so helpful when Brenda Davis and her assistant have given me bags of jewelry. Another friend, Barbara Nash, provided me with another stash of jewelry as well as good moral support. All the ladies at my exercise class were also excited about the project and have donated many pieces of jewelry. Other artists, working on other air planes, have left bags full of nice jewelry that seem to appear when I arrive each day. This list includes Robert, who works next to me, as well as Chuck. I want to thank each and everyone. All this support has helped me move along with the project."

"The blue jay plane is also coming together. My inspiration for this plane is from the blue jays that come to my bird feeder in my back yard. I want to thank all the fellow artists who compliment my Blue Jay and tell me what they like best about it."

About Hyatt Regency - Crystal City

"A contemporary and stylish landmark hotel, Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport offers chic accommodations, elegant function space, outstanding service, and exceptional dining. The hotel is just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C.'s many historic sites, including world-famous monuments and museums, as well as the many restaurants and shops of nearby Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown."

About Crystal City Shops

There’s a hot new scene in Crystal City... alive with the coolest, most current restaurants and sidewalk cafes that color tree lined streets, inspired shopping and world class hotels.

Explore over 200 stores, shops and eateries. Plan a meeting at any of over a dozen hotels or just grab a cappuccino and relax in one of Crystal City’s nine beautiful parks.

Artist Spotlight - The Lange Family

For the Langes, Crystal Flight has been a family affair, even bringing their young infant son Sebastian to the kick-off party in January. Together, the trio have been working on three planes separate planes: "Breaking the Color Barrier," "City Bound," and "Freedom's Flight." The planes are being sponsored by the Marine Corps Marathon, Crystal Gateway Marriott & BIN 1700, and Boeing.

CITY BOUND - The sensation of travel
Every generation travels, driven by a desire to discover new places, enjoy new sites, and follow history. People seek momentos to help remind themselves of the places they have seen and visited. Often these souveniers come in the form of stickers from cities, airlines, and hotels. "City Bound" represents a three-dimensional testament to the journeys made through time and places visited. In an attempt to stay true to vintage themes, a simple black and white background was selected to showcase authentic reproduction travel stickers. We hope that this theme reminds all to enjoy the fine food, wine, and accommodations found throughout the world.

BREAKING THE COLOR BARRIER
People of all ethnicities join in the sport of running, such as in the Olympic Games, and the many Marathon Events held each year throughout the world. Whether Asian, Caucasian, African-American, or Indian; tall, short, skinny, fat, young or old, man or woman, running offers a spirit of exercise that is possible wherever a person lives. "Breaking the Color Barrier" illustrates this cross-section of diversity through images of individuals depicted across the surface of the plane. Running and jogging (or exercise in general) helps to unite us all and creates pathways to break the color barrier.

FREEDOM'S FLIGHT
The colors red, white, yellow, and blue and the American flag's stripes and stars, have long been a tradition and anchor for the United States and its corporations. We wanted to celebrate this sentiment by highlighting its history and putting forth the dynamics of energy and freedom. "Freedom's Flight" represents a spirited showcase that reflects the creativity and ingenuity found throughout our great nation.

About the Artist - Shauna Lee Lange
Born in Rhode Island in 1963, Shauna Lee Lange grew up in southern New England. After serving six years in the U.S. Navy, she studied public administration (arts) at Roger Williams University and thereafter joined the Federal Civil Service working in support of the U.S. Government. Shauna Lee has lived in Florida, Italy, Bahrain, Arizona and Massachusetts. She now makes her home in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband Alex and their infant son, Sebastian. An adult daughter, Lauren, resides in Brooklyn.

Lange’s work encompasses artistry in ephemera assemblage, mixed media, and collage. She has a keen interest in the public arts arena and outsider or visionary art. In 2006, she founded and now runs a full service professional arts advisory firm within Metropolitan DC. Her arts concentration is in the area of art writing, art design, art consulting and art coaching. She participates in community service projects and loves great books.

http://www.shaunaleelange.com/

About the Artist - Alex Lange
Born in Germany in 1942, Alex Lange grew up in Switzerland. After a transatlantic voyage to the United States at the age of 17, he went on to serve two years in the U.S. Army. He attended Pratt Institute and Yale University before becoming a professional architect. Alex has lived in London, New York, and Wisconsin. He now resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Shauna Lee and their infant son, Sebastian. Four adult sons include: Alexander of New Jersey; Matthew of Chicago; Christian of Chicago; and Philip of Williams Bay.

Lange’s work encompasses large scale, commercial architecture including projects such as London’s Canary Wharf and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. His drawings are clean, straightforward, spacious and insightful. He has a keen interest in sports as an avid skier, tennis player, and soccer coach. He is an accomplished competitive pool player and speaks several languages. Alex is co-founder of shauna lee lange arts advisory, a full service professional arts consultancy within the Metropolitan DC area.

Artist/Sponsor Spotlight - Trilogy Design Group, Inc.

Some Crystal Flight sponsors that rely on creativity in their businesses, have chosen to come up with and implement their own designs. As a creative design firm, Trilogy Design Group is one such sponsor and will be completing "The Arc Takes Flight." Learn more about Trilogy and their evolving plane by continuing below.

A Word from the Sponsor/Artist

As the creative force behind “The Ark Takes Flight,” Trilogy Design Group, Inc. is thrilled to be a part of the Crystal City Flight.

Like so many creatives in our industry, the designers at Trilogy juggle lives as graphic artists and fine artists on a daily basis. When the opportunity to design and paint a Crystal City airplane sculpture walked through our door, we pounced on it! “The Ark Takes Flight,” combines our own identity, with Noah’s Ark, creating a world where our Trilogy brand co-exists with the passengers aboard the Ark. The Ark has been easily transformed from the infamous water bound boat into a flying fortress. “The Ark Takes Flight” is an important piece for Trilogy Design Group because it symbolizes the creative journey designers embark upon when faced with a project where the realm of possibilities is endless and the only inhibitor is the fear of flight itself. Take the leap and fly!

Trilogy Design Group is a creative design firm located in the heart of downtown Norfolk, VA specializing in identity and brand development, with an additional focus on marketing collateral, print advertisements, website design, and packaging.

For those curious design seekers, please visit us at http://www.thinktrilogy.com/ and take a walk through our creative habitat where small voices roar, ideas take flight, and inspirational designs are achieved with intelligent and thoughtful decision making. That jungle out there? It’s our playground.

Crystal Block 2008

We officially announced our 2008 Crystal Block Celebration this week. Not only will we be celebrating the wonderful flavor and entertainment of the 23rd Street Restaurants, but also the landing of all of the Crystal Flight airplanes on the streets of Crystal City.

Sunday April 13th, 2008

1PM to 6PM

Along 23rd Street's Restaurant Row

(between S. Fern Street & S. Eads Street)

The Crystal Flight highlights of the day include a first hand look at two of 23rd's Streets planes, Flotsam & Jetsam (Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant) and Bounce Off (Crystal City Sports Pub). Graffiti artist Kevin Irvin will also be working on his plane for Arlington Sports throughout the day! Block party patrons will also have an opportunity to "leave their own mark" on one of the planes courtesy of one of the BID's planes "Chalk It Up." Finally, the BID will be unveiling the official "Flight Plan Map" which will take area visitors on a 4.5 mile walking tour to all 50 planes throughout Crystal City.

The Block party will also feature live music on the street from the groups listed below and various other entertainment from area restaurants.

The Reflex (80’s)
Folsom Prisoners (Country Classics)
Wicked Jezabel (Classic Rock)

View the complete press release here.

Metro & Parking (PDF)

Parking (Google)

Artist Spotlight - Roger Cutler

Of the many artists that have been in the studio space, Roger Cutler is one of the ones that have been diligently working to perfect their works from day 1. Roger is working on "Starry Flight," a Vincent Van Gogh inspired piece for sponsor and Crystal Flight partner Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group. You can learn a bit more about Roger by reading on below or visiting his website at http://www.rogercutler.com/.

Roger Cutler was born in Washington DC and grew up in suburban Maryland. When I was younger I was interested in math and science. Although I briefly considered going into aerial photography after getting my pilot's license, I had no interest in art.

I first started thinking about painting when working on an animated computer project for a museum. While using a "paint" program on the computer that simulated the act of painting I began to wonder what it's like using real paint. A few years later I saw a friend's book on street murals and thought "hey if I'm painting on something as big as the side of a building, the fact that I don't know how to paint isn't much of an obstacle." After painting several large outdoor murals I started painting smaller pieces.

About the same time I rediscovered an interest in photography which really took off when I realized cameras are just gadgets I can take apart & modify -- even make my own. As a result I made cameras that can take a complete 360-degree panoramic image, put them on 20-foot tall poles, and launched them on kites. I've also had great fun experimenting with different ways of developing film using things you wouldn't normally expect to find in a darkroom like coffee, tea, and vitamin C. Because I've heard a million times "amateurs can't develop Kodachrome at home" I had to try it. A bit tedious, but it worked out pretty well for something that is supposed to be impossible.

For the last six years I've been planting and distributing thousands of sunflowers of all colors, sizes, and shapes. The project started on the roof on the Museum of Modern Arf where I planted over a hundred sunflowers to beautify the museum and its neighborhood. Two years later the project grew to the point so much I gave away over a thousand sunflower plants. Last year when Artomatic was in Crystal City I gave out thousands of seeds and 125 sunflower plants. This year is no different. As many sunflower seeds and plants will be given out as possible. The goal is to help artists to create art inspired by the sunflowers they grow. Later in the year there will be a "Vincent Van Gogh Sunflower Art Show" to celebrate. More information about the sunflower project is on www.sunflowerartfestival.com.

Artist Spotlight - Pixels & Ink

Today's spotlight highlights a team of artists from Pixels & Ink Incorporated. Applying their creative design expertise, the team submitted two extremely creative design themes: one espousing the potential of recycling and reuse and a second exploring the importance of imagination touted by PBS.

Pixels developed the PBS theme in conjunction with the plane's sponsor, PBS, a major employer in the Crystal City neighborhood. The green-themed plane, Eco-Plane, is being sponsored by JK Moving & Storage, a program partner and sponsor that has adopted an environmentally-friendly business philosophy.

Eco Plane-
This plane was inspired by a group conversation we had at lunch one day about how cool it would be to cover a plane with all recycled or renewable materials. We all strive to be as environmentally conscientious as possible in our personal lives as well as our professional lives, and so we thought that creating the Eco-Plane would be a fun way to express the importance of doing so.

So far the plane is coming along nicely, although we have hit a bit of turbulence, so to speak. One of the difficulties was making the base of the plane into a planter to accommodate the types of plants used in green roof construction. To do this, we had to build up a concrete edge all the way around the existing base, adding at least another couple hundred pounds to the already very heavy planes. So far, so good, though, as you will note from our progress photos. The next big hurdle will be figuring out how to get our recycled aluminum cans to lie flat enough against the wings of the plane so that they can withstand the curious hands of viewers and the elements of nature. Once we complete this, we¹ll be on the home stretch!

Be more PBS plane-
The concept for this plane was another group collaboration between our team and the great folks over at PBS. Of all the colorful PBS branding and products there are, we thought that a PBS Kids themed plane would be the most fun to create and the most fun for viewers to see. And of course, who can choose between all of those cute PBS kids characters?!
It was tough, but we could only fit so many of them on the plane, so with the help of PBS, we narrowed the group down to seven key characters that are flying the “Be more PBS” plane. To really convey the whimsical spirit of the characters and of the PBS Kids brand, the plane will be painted in their bright green signature color, accented with stripes of purple and orange, and of course, the faces of characters such as Dot, Dash, Clifford, Curious George, Ruff, Word Girl, Hooper and Arthur. The base of the plane will represent the sky through with the plane is flying, along with the special Be More PBS words...Be more adventurous, creative, inspired, adventurous, etc.

About Pixels & Ink

Pixels & Ink, Incorporated (P&I) is a full-service graphic and multimedia design studio. Founded in 1995, P&I has nearly 50 years of combined experience in all aspects of marketing solutions. P&I strategically tailors clients’ marketing and design needs to meet the overall goals of their organizations. The P&I creative team, a mix of seasoned professionals and innovative young artists, works with clients to understand their unique business needs and craft results-oriented plans by offering broad experience in all aspects of print and publishing solutions including newspapers, newsletters, brochures, annual reports, direct mail and magazines. The impact of print collateral is enhanced when teamed with a variety of multimedia design solutions including websites, interactive CDs, three-dimensional illustrations, animations and promotional videos. Incorporating multimedia with traditional design approaches, P&I offers complete design and marketing solutions.

By establishing a corporate identity, creating web presence, multimedia design, advertising and publication layout, P&I offers one-stop shopping for all your design needs. Moreover, P&I maintains a cohesive group of dynamic and creative talent to deliver the latest in industry trends and standards. And in addition to producing great graphic design, P&I’s artists are constantly involved in the local community and art scene, participating personally and professionally in Crystal Flight, Artomatic, the Corcoran School of Art + Design, AIGA, ADCMW, and the Torpedo Factory.

Crystal Flight Design Concepts!

Have you been dying to see ALL of the Crystal Flight designs? They have all been assembled here for you viewing pleasure! You can also download a poster board of all of the designs here.

Kids & Community to Join the Fun

The Crystal City BID announced creative participation for two Crystal Flight Planes in a press release issued today. You can read the full press release here!

One plane will be decorated by the children of Crystal City's newest and largest day care facility, Bright Horizons. The Center Director of Bright Horizons - Crystal City, Amiee Lacson, agreed to sponsor one of the Crystal Flight statues and give her children a chance to get in on the fun! The children, with artistic assistance from Amiee and parents will spend a day working on the plane in space donated by Vornado - Charles E. Smith. Project Partner JK Moving and Storage will assist with the transport of the plane to the space.

The second plane will be covered with Chalkboard paint and placed along Crystal Drive allowing passersby to add their creative thoughts onto the plane.

About Bright Horizons

Founded in 1986, Bright Horizons Family Solutions is the world's leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, early education and work/life solutions. Conducting business in the United States, Europe, and Canada, we have created employer-sponsored child care and early education programs for more than 600 clients, including 90 of the Fortune 500. Bright Horizons has consistently been the only child care organization named to the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" list by Fortune magazine. For more information, visit www.brighthorizons.com.

Wizards Show Off Their Painting Skills

Washington Post Sports Columinist Dan Steinberg was at the Verizon Center yesterday to witness Washington Wizards players put their personal touches on their Crystal Flight "Above the Rim" plane. Who would of thought professional NBA players got painting skills?

A special thank you to our plane sponsor Archstone and to JK Moving & Storage in transporting the plane from Crystal City to the Verizon Center.

Post Links:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/03/wiz_painting_skills.html

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/03/wizards_take_flight.html

Artist Spotlight - Anne Marchand

Anne Marchand has been greatly familiarizing herself with Crystal City! In October of last year she added colorful stripes to the streets of Crystal City - a smaller version of the street striping she completed in downtown DC along H Street - for the Marine Corps Marathon. Anne has also helped the Crystal City BID ad our signature color and stripes to our office walls. It was nearly a certainty that Anne's experiece in working with street statues (Anne worked on both the Panda's and the Party Animals) as well as her familiarity with Crystal City would lead her to participate in Crystal Flight!

Anne is completing "Flying Home" for artist sponsor Holland & Knight. Known for her renditions of cityscapes, Anne envisioned the capturing of Crystal City's changing architectural identity. Read on below for a more detailed Artistic Statement directly from Anne. You can also learn more about her by visiting her blog and website.

About "Flying Home"
Sleek Modern architecture of Crystal City, a contrast to the Victorian brownstones of DC, inspired me to create the vintage airplane, “Flying Home,” for Crystal Flight. Patterns of billowy clouds on the wings of the Vintage Plane, “Flying Home,” signifies the airplanes return to “home” territory in Crystal City. Painting with signature primary colors, the body of the airplane is a building that symbolizes the passengers homes. Emblems of modern apartment buildings; windows, balconies and terraces adorn the column and base of the design. Hints of cultural interchange and proximity between Crystal City, National Airport, and DC inspired me to include a view of the Potomac River along the base of the design. I am portraying an idea with exuberant colors that says “Hello! Welcome Home to Crystal City.” Many thanks to Holland and Knight and the Crystal City Bid for providing resources for the Crystal City architecture and the Crystal Flight project.


About the Artist

Anne Marchand was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She developed a color sensibility early in childhood while visiting Honduras, CA at the ripe age of two with her uncle and grandmother. Since then, she has loved exploring patterns and color palettes of world cultures. Her impressions during her early life are full of music, architecture, art, and movement. Marchand studied fine arts and art history at Auburn University and the University of Georgia where she received her BFA and MFA degrees. In her travels through the United States, Marchand gained a visual vocabulary of form and color in nature. She has taken inspiration from the space and color of the desert southwest as well as absorbing the richness of colors from other countries including Europe, Central America, Mexico, India and Thailand. The striking textures in her abstract paintings are experiments in surface richness. Her paintings are energetic and gestural; the colors, bright and luminous. The energy of urban living influences her rhythmic designs and color harmonies in her cityscape paintings and murals. Marchand loves to contrast bright reds, oranges and yellow with opposite colors that leap with exuberance. She superimposes bright colors over bird’s eye views of the city, suggesting the vitality of the communities that she paints. You can see her murals at Eastern Market, the Takoma Community Center, and the Westminster Playground in Washington, DC. Her work is in the City Hall Art Collection.

In 2007 Marchand’s work was exhibited in the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Artist Council Exhibition. In 2006, she exhibited in a solo exhibition at the Zenith Gallery in Washington, DC and in the desert Southwest in Sedona, AZ in 2005.

Marchand produces her paintings in her Washington, DC studio. She reads poetry and loves to walk in the neighborhoods of Washington, DC. Marchand has exhibited extensively in the United States in galleries in Washington, DC, New York City, Santa Fe, Sedona, Florida, California and Hawaii. She has been awarded four Individual Artist Fellowships through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. In 2003, she was awarded an Artist In Residency Grant by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to teach a mural workshop in Culiacan, Mexico. Anne was selected Liquitex Artist of the Month in 2004. After completing a 34’ Public Art Mural at the Westminster Playground in Washington, DC in 2002, she was nominated for the Mayor’s Art Award for Excellence in Artistic Discipline. Her mural was included in a Visions Award to the Westminster Neighborhood Association from the Committee of 100 on the Federal City. The Washington Post published an article about her contributions to the community through her mural work.

Artist Spotlight - Courtney "Tucy" Stevens

Pairing this creative artist up with sponsor BB&T was a no-brainer for obvious reasons! Painted black and covered with hundreds of "Honest Abes," "Pennies from Heaven" by Courtney "Tucy" Stevens is sure to make the miserly squirmish!

Trucy's plane is right in front of the viewing window so stop by during regular business hours to take a look!

About the Artist

I graduated with a BFA from the University of Colorado, with a concentration in metalsmithing. An interest in mixed media lead me to myriad means of expression, including mosaics, murals, papier mache, collage, found-object sculptures, encaustic painting, Sailor’s Valentines, fiber art, assemblage, decoupage, stone and wood carving.

My pieces have been sold through several gallery and museum shops, including The Whitney Museum “Store Next Door”, the Museum of American Folk Art, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, and the Baltimore Visionary Art Museum’s Sideshow.

During my career I taught classes in mosaics and other media. On the commercial side, I designed, fabricated and installed window displays for a number of retail establishments as well as created theme pieces for private events.

I was awarded the second place prize for my mixed media/sculpture submission to a juried exhibit developed for Art in City Hall in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2006.

I have been striving to continue my artistic growth and breadth of media through ongoing sculpture, drawing, fiber art, and encaustic painting classes at the Art League at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia.

The passion of my art is drawn from a love and connection to nature. Throughout my designs, repetition is used to create visual continuity and emphasis. I truly enjoy exploring new outlets for fresh ideas.