WALKABILITY = SUSTAINABILITY
Helping to make Downtown Wheaton a great place to walk!
Do you have a wall that people can see from the street?
Would you like
an artist to make it beautiful?
let's talk: 301 318 2613
Updates for January 2026
Metro Station Art: This project is awaiting next steps with the owners as well as funding. We have met with WMATA , the owner of the apartment building, and the Wheaton Urban District about adding art. We are focussing on the Metro entrance on the east side of Georgia Avenue.
Temporary Pavement Art: We worked with Creative Wheaton to host a temporary art plaza at the Taste of Wheaton/Wheels in Wheaton Placemaking event the weekend of May 31 -June 1st 2025. We also helped host chalk drawing on pavement at the Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival September 28th 2025. We had many young artists and parents join in.
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The Mural at 11301 Georgia Avenue: We are thrilled to report that Urban Artistry Dance Studio has moved into the second story. This synergy of a dance studio and the visual arts is magic. It is exactly what we hope for in Wheaton's Arts and Entertainment District . The mural has already served as the backdrop for a spoken word performance, improv dance on the sidewalk, special occasion photos and more. We thank the Urban District and Capital One Bank for the installation of a viewing bench across from the mural. Come enjoy it. We are keeping an eye on it for any maintenance.
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A new documentary film, Creating Community Through Murals, featuring artist Eric B. RIcks is about our mural. The film was created as part of the Teen Summer FIlmmaking Workshop 2025 youth offered by Docs in Progress. It was also selected for screening at the Wheaton Film Festival. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0VVEbnEVZk.
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Georgia Avenue Median Art: This project is on indefinite hold. We had been in discussions with the County Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) about installing art in the median of Georgia Avenue near the new mural: between Price Ave and University Boulevard. We provided letters of support from the Wheaton Urban District, Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez, State Delegates Aaron M. Kaufman, Emily K. Shetty, and Jared Solomon, as well as State Senator Jeff Waldstreicher. The Federal Highway Administration reviewed the concept and had safety concerns that it relayed to SHA.
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Timeline & Videos of the Mural Project
at 1301 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, Maryland
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​September 24th
You're cordially invited!
Come celebrate the finished mural on September 24th from 4:30 to 6:00 PM at 11301 Georgia Ave. by the Wheaton Streetery.
Hope to see you there!
August 23rd Update
Muralist, Eric B. Ricks, gives a free class on "How to Create a Mural".
August 17th Update
Let there be COLOR! Things are coming along well.
August 12th Update
The design is blocked out on the wall. Eric B. Ricks, the muralist, projected the mural design on the wall to position the butterflies and hummingbirds. Earlier in the day, he had already created guidelines for the geometric background and placed the two mandalas. Today, he is expected the delivery of the many colors of spray paint he will be using.
August 5th Update
The wall is washed and drying. Drainage repair (pictured), wall patching, and power washing have been completed. The wall must now dry. Priming too soon after power washing can trap moisture within the porous masonry and mortar of the wall. Moisture in the wall can bubble up from the pores over time and break the seal of the coating and cause peeling of the painted mural. Due to the rain and high humidity since the power washing was completed, we have not had enough time under the right conditions, for the wall to dry adequately. We are waiting until we do. The forecast shows a rainy week ahead. Wish for dry weather soon!
July 24th Update
Eric B. Ricks talks about the mural at a community event hosted at the Hakuna Matata grill in Wheaton. It was hot outside, but we were cool inside.
VIDEOS of the Installation
August 12th — Eric B. Ricks, the muralist, projected the mural design on the wall to position the butterflies and hummingbirds.
August 5th — Video of the lift arrival for our young friends Thomas, Philip, Alijah, Maya, Aidan, Ellie, Ru, and all our other fans!
July 24 — Video of muralist, Eric B. Ricks, talking about the mural at the community event hosted at Hakuna Matata Grill.
Video credit: DiAngela Payne
September 2 — Video of muralist, Eric B. Ricks, adding some finishing touches to the completed mural. Watch his shadow carefully as it helps him out!
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Thank you Mural Sponsors
and Individual Donors.
Greenhill Realty Co. and Wheaton Arts Walls Foundation
generously provided funding for both the mural and the solar lighting.
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Thank you to our partner and fiscal sponsor, One Montgomery Green.
This project is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council.
This project is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
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The Montgomery County Planning Department
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
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