Crystal City BID Launches Crystal Flight with a Colorful Opening Party

On Jan. 29, sponsors, artists, and other VIP guests attended the artful event receiving a sneak peek of the planes, before the artists inject their color and vibrant designs starting February 1.

The artist will work through the winter in time for them landing on the streets in April. Major project partners

Lowe Enterprises, Miller and Long and JK Moving and Storage, Inc. helped unveil the new planes. Party guests also got a tour of the artist studio.

50 planes, 50 artists, 50 sponsors - all symbolizing that Crystal City is truly taking off!

Visit the Crystal Flight Artist Studio

Come see the artist inject their color and vibrant designs by visiting the Crystal Flight Artist Studio & Viewing Window.

The artist studio & viewing window is located inside of 2461 S. Clark Street building and is accessible during regular building hours during the week, Monday through Friday 8AM to 6PM.

View studio location: http://www.crystalcity.org/uploads/File/Parking%20Map-Crystal%20Flight.pdf

The artist will work through the winter on their designs and have them completed in time for them landing on the streets in April.

The Planes! The Planes!

Are Here!

The planes arrived in the Crystal Flight Artist Studio in early January. Minnesota based Tivoli Too where the master scupltures and manufacturers of the planes. Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group, generously provided the studio space in Crystal City to store and decorate the planes. Miller & Long graciously donated the concrete bases to have them installed on the streets. And finally, JK Moving & Storage provided the critical technical support for the handling of the planes and they will put them on the streets in April.

Crystal Flight - A Celebration of Art & Air

Welcome to the kick-off of the Crystal City Business Improvement District's Crystal Flight Blog!

This blog will be updated regularly to capture the activity from the talented artists, sponsors, and document the community impact. This high-profile public art project will bring a new whimsy and flare of urban texture to Crystal City come Spring 2008.

Project Background
In Spring 2008, Crystal City will celebrate its long-standing connection to flight when 50 airplane statues (25 fighter jets and 25 vintage planes) land on the streets of Crystal City. Each Crystal Flight plane is sponsored by an area business, designed and decorated by talented local artists, and then placed throughout Crystal City beginning April 2008. Aimed to attract visitors from all over, this series showcases Crystal City’s integral relationship with the concept of “Flight,” as illustrated by the proximity to Washington National Airport and the local presence of the United States Air Force, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and more.

For a listing of major partners, plane sponsors and participating artists: http://www.crystalcity.org/eventdetail.asp?IdEvent=250.

JK Moving & Storage

http://www.jkmoving.com/

"We have been working in and around Crystal City for quite some time, and we've watched it change at a faster and faster pace - with more color, more art, and more energy. At the core of this transformation is the Crystal City Business Improvement District. When they came to us for help with some of the technical aspects of the Crystal Flight project, we were excited to have the opportunity to work with them directly.

Not only is this a fun and highly visible project, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to highlight our initiative to promote recycling and reuse in the commercial office moving environment. Though people may not realize it, our business involves an incredible amount of waste disposal - from outdated electronics to unwanted office furniture, paper, filing cabinets and more. With most moving companies, these products end up in a landfill. However, we at JK Moving and Storage have a different approach. You can learn more about this in the coming months when we announce an extended partnership with the BID. In the meantime, check out our website http://www.reusedc.org/, and don't forget to visit our Eco-Plane, as designed by Pixels and Ink, when you come see the planes land in April."

Steve Kuhn, Executive Vice President - JK Moving and Storage