Public art helps to give a community a sense of place, yet often even longtime locals may not know the story behind the artworks. Led by an Arlington County Public Artist in Residence Graham Coreil-Allen, the Rosslyn Public Art Walking Tour explored the the history, design, and purpose of Rosslyn’s celebrated public art collection. These 90 minute tours took advantage of Rosslyn’s pedestrian-friendly character to explore a robust network of spectacular and hidden public spaces. Along the way Coreil-Allen created opportunities for playful interaction with public artworks and inclusive discussion thereof. Highlights included Liquid Pixels, the Le Meridien overlook, Cupid’s Garden, Anna and David, Bennett Park Art Atrium, and Dark Star Park. The second tour took place on August 1st, locally known as “Dark Star Park Day”, and culminated in a dramatic finale in which participants witnessed the annual shadow alignment of Nancy Holt’s iconic concrete spheres and earthworks. The tours also served as opportunities for Arlington Arts to invite the public to contribute to the Arlington County Public Art Master Plan Update.
The Rosslyn Public Art Walking Tour was developed with support from Arlington Arts, Rosslyn BID, and Walk Arlington.
Tours took place on July 12, August 1, 2017, and September 16, 2017. Photos courtesy of Arlington Arts and M.V. Jantzen.
