The West Hyattsville Metro is getting a new mural, and you can help.

On Saturday, May 20, two professional muralists will lead the public in a paint-by-numbers exercise to complete a mural on both sides of an underpass at the Metro station.

Cory Stowers and Henry Portillo of ART B.L.O.C. DC, which designs and paints murals around the D.C. area, will be on hand to lead the public in painting with brushes and cans of spray paint.

For Stowers, the mural will bring things full circle. A Hyattsville native, he got his start in art spray-painting graffiti in the area—including this very same underpass—as part of a local hip hop-influenced group called the Double Down Kings.

The mural, which features arrows, stars and telephone poles in a psychedelic design, was chosen by a jury of local artists from more than 28 submissions. It is the first piece of public art at the station, which opened in 1993.

Approved after a two-year process, the mural is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Art in Transit program, which has put a lot of art at stations on the Green Line, including Georgia Avenue-Petworth, Columbia Heights and U Street.

To join the mural-painting crew, head to the West Hyattsville Metro on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Mount Rainier’s PanTones Steel Band will perform, Brentwood’s Artist & Craftsman Supply will offer related children’s activities and two D.C. food trucks will be at the site as well. Parking is free.

Support the Wire and Community Journalism
Make a one-time donation or become a regular supporter here.