Traveling in the era of COVID-19 has reignited interest in a traditional American travel trend: the road trip. This has literally allowed people to walk out their doors if looking to get away for vacation or to get to a job site safely, unlike other travel methods currently available. For our latest project, we went above and beyond in our efforts to observe shelter in place, and decided to live in an RV for a month-long, cross-country trip. The destination was Deanwood Elementary School in Washington, DC. Our mission was to get artist Harumo Sato there safely so she could paint a few mural projects.
Our hosts in Washington DC were Kelly Towles and his wife Virginia Arrisueno. Kelly is a husband, father, artist, festival director, city food guide, friend, and gracious host. He spends a productive portion of the afternoon in isolation from the outside world making art, while balancing a career in the arts with his wife. Arrisueno is a wife, mom, artist, Peruvian American entrepreneur, and small business owner. She stays busy running the operations at Steadfast Supply, a store in the District of Columbia showcasing products from independent artists and small companies from around the world. Together, they have synchronized their busy schedules to share parenting duties for their son Atticus, making it all look seamless.
Even though we are low maintenance and our intrusion was minimal, we know hosting guests can be challenging, especially now during COVID-19 and with social distancing protocols. Kelly checked in with us periodically and apologized for the flood of meetings he was managing in preparation to launch POW! WOW! DC, the annual mural festival coming this fall. Even though he was busy, seeing a friendly face after a long cross country drive was so welcoming. In between calls, Kelly develops new concepts for his art which include 3D laser printing and tile mosaics. The results are far from boring. Walking into his 2,000 square foot workspace reminded me of our old E7S gallery space.
Epic spaces speak for themselves, and Kelly’s is no different. Artwork is everywhere: on walls, shelves, and in the production line. Cute industrial looking city garbage cans, mailboxes, and delicious looking ramen bowls are fabricated in resin casts and by using 3D laser printers. The sculptures are fun, and a great idea to put into reproduction with technology one can use in their own personal studios. On the line, Kelly is working on mosaics that look like subway walls we might find in an underground station. He cuts tile daily and has been working with this medium for four years; currently Kelly is working on a mosaic sculpture of Pikachu.
When asked if he was producing specifically for a client, the response was no. Kelly is focused on enjoying the process to create concepts and see them evolve into what a client potentially could never imagine on their own. He explains that once you have created a collection of works that you enjoy making, then the outside audience can come critique or most importantly request a commission for hire, because they’ve simply come to appreciate and enjoy the work as much as the artist. This can further contribute to someone's career and business as an artist.
Our team of artists was on the site of the art installation until the late night hours. Due to our busy days and Kelly and Virginia’s packed schedules, we unfortunately only shared a few hours together on the first and last day of the trip. This trip had been in the works for several months, and our hosts offered us a place to stay across the river from our worksite. Locating local contractors, fabricators, and photographers was easy and accessible with recommendations from Kelly’s company The Holy Bones.
A power list of restaurants providing take out was a great way for us to connect with the local food scene. We did not have enough time to explore all our options. Some of the favorites were Pisco y Nazca the ceviche trio is as memorable as Canta Rana in Lima, Peru) and Dukem, an Ethiopian grocery store and restaurant that reminded us of home. Down the street was DCity Smokehouse, serving meat that deliciously disintegrated in our mouths. Amy’s Neapolitan Pizza had me regretting not ordering a larger pie for myself. Maketto Cambodian Taiwanese exploded our minds with the punch of flavors. There was also Imm Thai on H, Pow Pow Vegan Fusion...all these flavors are located on H Street, a local strip packed with cuisine from around the world and highlighting the diversity in DC.
After spending a month in Washington DC, our country’s capital, during the ongoing pandemic and our current political crisis, we felt really connected to the everyday people who make cities special outside the bureaucracies and governments. It was a great experience on the East Coast and we certainly can’t wait to be able to visit our dear friends and all their home has to offer. We look forward to revisiting to see the continuance of murals, museums, and explore this cultural melting pot.
