By KRISSI HUMBARD — Art can be found in many forms around Hyattsville: murals, sculptures, colorful buildings, neon signs — and now even on lamp posts!
The City of Hyattsville recently partnered with local artists to create a series of decorative banners that celebrate what makes Hyattsville a great place to live, work, and play. A total of 50 banners will soon hang from city-owned lamp posts on Route One between 43rd Avenue and Hamilton Street, as well as in Magruder Park and along Hamilton Street in the West Hyattsville Commercial Corridor.
“These banners mark the city as a hub of arts and creativity to all who live here and drive through,” said Mayor Candace Hollingsworth. “We are proud of our arts identity, the many ways we incorporate the arts into daily life, and our countless talented residents and businesses.”
Heather Djunaidy of Heather Djunaidy Design created eight unique designs that highlight Hyattsville’s local landmarks and attractions, including its two Metro stations, community garden, dog park, library, and artistic displays. Djunaidy’s designs are featured on 45 of the new banners around town.


 
Five additional banners were created in partnership with the SoHy Collective, a group focused on developing a visual and commercial identity to promote and support small businesses and nonprofits in the SoHy district along Route One in southern Hyattsville. SoHy Collective issued a Call for Artists earlier this year and then selected the works of five artists to each be displayed on banners in the SoHy district. Those artists are: Ray Everhart, Betsy Martin, Peter B. McClintock, Isak Shah, and James Wine.
Wine, who reviewed the submissions, said, “I’m proud to have been a small part in helping to grow our arts community in Hyattsville. Artistic engagement, and art as a service, is incredibly important to public life. Thanks to the SoHy Collective, and Green Owl [Design], for helping to establish Hyattsville as a true arts district.”
SoHy plans to issue another Call for Artists in three years, to replace these banners and highlight the work of other local artists.
“The new banners are a perfect example of what happens when our administrators, our artists and our business owners collaborate to enliven Hyattsville,” said Sue Mondeel, owner of Tanglewood Works and point person for SoHy Collective. “We are thrilled with the result of using local art to define our Southern Hyattsville identity as a place to find handmade and handcrafted [goods] in our city.”