DCist: Photos: What D.C.-Based Semi-Finalists For the NoMa Underpass Project Have Done In The City
The NoMa Parks Foundation announced the nearly 50 semi-finalists, representing 14 countries, selected to compete for the chance to transform the neighborhood’s underpasses.
The goal is to take the four underpasses that connect the east and west sides of NoMa and turn them into public art spaces. Finalists will be selected this summer, and installation is scheduled to begin in 2015.
While there are many well-known international and national firms and artists in the running, we’re going to focus on the past work from local ones. You can see the full list here.
DC will spend some green to get some green in NoMa. Mayor Gray recently authorized $50 million for new parks in the fast-growing neighborhood.
Mayor Vincent Gray recently signed a measure to let the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) spend $50 million in parks and public realm funds for the neighborhood.
The first of the parks is planned for the underpasses under the tracks approaching Union Station, on Florida Avenue and K, L, and M Streets NE. The NoMa Parks Foundation is evaluating at least four more sites for future green space in the area.
If all ugly urban spaces were potential canvases, what might flourish in dark underpasses? The NoMa Parks Foundation has issued an RFQ for proposals from artists, designers, and architects to transform four dark underpasses connecting the east and west sides of the NoMa neighborhood in D.C. The foundation envisions “art parks,” which “will beautify, enliven and activate” the sites, but beyond that they are not married to any particular vision. And they are open to having one artist design all four, or contracting with four different entities.
Residents of NoMa hope to turn their neighborhood’s burly, industrial underpasses into contemporary art installations.
The NoMa Parks Foundation is seeking artists and designers to come up with designs for “art parks” in the underpasses, which run under the train tracks along Florida Avenue and K, L and M streets NE.
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