ARLINGTON, Va. — If home is where the heart is, as far as Arlington County is concerned, art is where the people are.
Originally a part of the “10 miles square” parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the nation’s capital, Arlington has spawned some of the D.C. area’s most creative and forward-thinking attitudes toward art projects for the past four decades, ranging from music, to community sculpture, to providing creative workspaces for artists.
This week, Arlington Art Truck has launched, under the guidance of Cynthia Connolly, an influential photographer, letterpress artist and curator known for her contributions to D.C.’s 1980s punk rock scene.
“The Arlington Art Truck is a van that is basically a mobile toolbox,” said Connolly, whose official title is Arlington Cultural Affairs Special Projects Curator.
WATCH: Bike-powered 5-tiered turntable. New interactive art from #ArtTruckArlington. https://t.co/siDhLMQ2Kv pic.twitter.com/ZvEeBcGrq0
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) April 5, 2018
“An artist will drive somewhere with me, we unload the project on a street, or park, or sidewalk in Arlington, and we invite people to interact with the artist,” she said.
The blending of art in the community is familiar for Connolly, given her connection with the “do-it-yourself” ethos that has permeated her work since she booked bands at d.c. space and created the black sheep logo on the cover of Minor Threat’s 1983 album “Out of Step.”
In shepherding the initial offering of Art Truck, Connolly is showcasing an eye-catching and ear-catching piece, using sound in sculpture.
“This is Bipedal Soundscapes, which is a bicycle-powered, five-tiered turntable system, designed by Emily Francisco and Alex Braden,” Connolly said. Participants pedal an exercise cycle, which powers five record players simultaneously, creating a cacophony.
Connolly said Arlington has a long history with artists — and groundbreaking sounds.
“There have been a lot of group houses that housed independent record labels in the 80s and 90s, including one I was part of — Dischord Records.”
“In the ’80s, when rents were cheaper in Arlington than D.C., a lot of musicians moved to Arlington,” Connolly said. “Not only because the rents were cheaper, but because the houses were separated — they weren’t row houses — so you could practice in the basement and not disturb your neighbors,” she added.
“The fact that the Metro opened, and when it went as far as Ballston (in 1979), that was another reason people moved,” Connolly said. “Dischord was near Clarendon, and you could take the Metro and walk from the Metro, so that was a big deal.”
In addition to Dischord, punk and new wave labels based in Arlington included Simple Machines, TeenBeat Records and Wasp Records.
Now, in a county and region well-known for its traffic-clogged roadways, Connolly said it makes sense to bring art to people.
“For the public, it’s easier for them to catch it at the farmers market or walking down the street — the idea of Art Truck is to learn something about the artist, and something about the county in three to 10 minutes,” she said.
“So, instead of looking at Instagram, you’re actually interacting with real human beings and learning something about art.”
While some might question the importance of art in the politically-driven D.C. community, Connolly doesn’t.
“Art is about creativity, and creativity is important to constantly apply in our lives,” while considering the world as it is, and how it can be improved upon, she said. “For me, art is the tool to promote creativity, and I think it’s very, very important for the happiness and well-being of all of us.”
