We Are Inspired by Teen Artists

For the second year in a row, we are collaborating with the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy located a stone’s throw away from the future 11th Street Bridge Park. Under the thoughtful direction of art teacher Jennifer Sonkin, these talented students are creating prototype public art for our new civic space. Their final versions will be on display at THEARC’s ArtReach Gallery this spring. Check out their amazing work below!

When built in its larger form, this lushly landscaped bridge will rise above a real pool of water. To make the artwork interactive, visitors will be able to write messages on floating stones. Wow.

These talented young artists selected icons from both sides of the river – Anacostia’s Big Chair and the Navy Yard’s mighty USS Barry – to illustrate how the future 11th Street Bridge Park will help stitch together the city. In their final version, the students plan to have the USS Barry large enough to allow visitors to walk into it. That’s one big ship!

A key goal of the 11th Street Bridge Park is to inspire the next generation of river stewards, and this art work showcases the need to clean the river if we’re going to make a swimmable and fishable river. The final art work will include a life size tire swing.