“Tonight is the opening of the K Street Virtual Gallery, DC’s first outdoor, permanent, digital art gallery”

Remember that projection we wondered about a few weeks ago?

From the NoMa BID:

“On Wednesday, April 19, the NoMa Parks Foundation will unveil the K Street Virtual Gallery, a new, permanent outdoor art installation located in the 400-foot rail underpass on K Street between First and Second Streets NE.

Featuring 12 high-lumen laser projectors, each carefully calibrated and synchronized to cast a series of images on to the reticulated stone walls that flank the roadway, the K Street Virtual Gallery will enliven and brighten this section of K Street NE. The Gallery will be illuminated 24/7.

“I’m excited to welcome the latest art exhibit, the K Street Virtual Gallery, to the NoMa neighborhood. Brightening our shared spaces, even underpasses where thousands of people pass through on foot, bike, scooter, and car, helps foster a stronger sense of community,” said Charles Allen, Councilmember representing Ward 6 where the K Street Virtual Gallery is located. “And I love having a space and opportunity to showcase local DC artists all at the same time.”

The artist selected for the inaugural exhibit of the K Street Virtual Gallery is My Ly. Ly is the founder and creative director for My Ly Design, a local, woman-owned, minority-owned CBE practice in DC focused on architecture, interiors, urban design, and public arts. Ly’s extensive urban planning and placemaking experience is an integral part of her design inspiration on how people move through city streets. Ly’s exhibit will be on display through the summer of 2023, when a new artist will be announced.

“We’re excited to bring this new canvas featuring dynamic, rotating works by local artists to NoMa,” said Maura Brophy, President & CEO of the NoMa BID and President of the NoMa Parks Foundation. “The opening of the K Street Virtual Gallery further demonstrates the NoMa BID’s commitment to the arts and local artists, and expands upon the work the BID has already done to curate one of the largest collections of public art in DC.”

The K Street Virtual Gallery will feature a variety of rotating exhibits throughout the calendar year and will include works by local artists representing diverse backgrounds. The NoMa BID will serve as lead curator for the gallery. Artists interested in participating in future “calls for artists” to exhibit digital works in the K Street Virtual Gallery may contact: [email protected].

“The opening of the K Street Virtual Gallery completes the trilogy of immersive art installations that the NoMa Parks Foundation envisioned and built to improve the experience of people traveling between the east and west sides of the neighborhood,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, former President of the NoMa Parks Foundation. “We’re particularly pleased that the K Street Virtual Gallery provides changing displays for residents and visitors and ongoing opportunities for digital artists.”

Underpass art installations, including the new K Street Virtual Gallery, were recommended in the 2012 NoMa Public Realm Design Plan. NPF worked with community stakeholders on this plan to outline the potential for great public spaces in NoMa, and in 2014, launched a design competition to better illuminate the underpasses on M and L Street NE. In 2018, NPF held a community opening for Rain, followed by Lightweave in 2019.

For each of NoMa’s three underpass art installations, the NPF worked with experts in the field to create bespoke and immersive art experiences. NPF selected DCL as the fabricator for the K Street Virtual Gallery. DCL has more than 30 years of experience designing and installing environmental graphics and experiential art for museums, universities, stadiums, and private property owners.”