[RP TownTalk] Mural Idealist

[Melissa Avery]

It is very interesting that you have chosen Native American symbols as a place to start your artistic ideas for a mural, but it looks as though you have chosen symbols from southwestern Indians.
 
Are you aware that we have a very long and influential history of Native American culture in the Riverdale Park area?
 
The kind of native American that resided in this area were the Woodland Indians. Woodland Indian period was from 1000 BC to 1600 AD.
 
Captain John Smith explored the upper Anacostia River, which included the tributaries in today's Riverdale Park. In fact, the area you propose is located near to a tributary of the Anacostia River. The Indians he found near the tributaries of the Anacostia River were called the Nacotchtanke. Riverdale Park is part of the Anacostia River Trail and a Federally designated historic district.
 
Many residents in the area have found arrowheads while digging in their yards and therefore have experienced a connection with the past.
 
A mural with Native American symbolism in this town would be better served if it had representative symbols of the indigenous people of the Anacostia region.
 
Melissa 




________________________________
From: Christopher Martin <chrism at pgcps.org>
To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
Cc: Alice Ewen Walker <alice at ewenwalker.com>; James n Julie Coleman <jnjcolemans at yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:09:49 AM
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Mural Idealist


Hello Riverdale Town Talkers,

A note from Community Based Classroom Teacher / Riverdale Resident / mural planner:
In my class's conception of this mural  -- the rainbow squares and/or other squares in this rough sketch (see http://www.muralcollaborative.netfirms.com/muralintro.htm) could be filled with symbols designed by local artists/ community members, working side by side with CBC students.  In that sense, if there are any strong Symbols of Riverdale that Historic Preservationists want to fit into the mural - you're more than welcome to..  There are about 7-10 or more squares available with this sketch.  We'd love to have and want input/asistance from any artists or aspiring artists from town - neighbors Jim L and Sherita S... that means you! :)     

If we - cbc artists, riverdale artists/community members-  wanted to change the design to some degree to include landscapes/moments from town history.. we could do that also.  The process of community involvement is as important as the artwork in this mural.  The challenge is getting multiple artists/ideas into a coherent mural.  I think the sketch's division by squares / rainbow of symbols has the potential to incorporate many different perspectives into a unified landscape.  By allowing CBC students to follow through with their initiative here, getting community involvement (including the elementary school too) from experienced artists and beginners - this mural can serve many purposes.  It's a big enough bridge for us all to fit under it!  

CBC students would like to start attending the Thursday Market to assist us locals create potential design squares, have a children's drawing space, and raise a little $ for the project, but as of yet have not gotten the go ahead from Town / Market leaders.  Town / market leaders... what's up?


For more info about CBC and its students go to www.pgcps.org/~cbc.

Thanks for your time.

Chris Martin 
301-918-8726
chrism at pgcps.org


      
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