PORT TOWNS TO DEDICATE SECOND YOUTH MURAL
Mural was created by local youth under the guidance and instruction of a professional artist from
the Gateway Arts District, depicts part of the history of music in the Port towns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Adrian Tirtanadi
(Port Towns CDC)
(301) 864-1093
ptcdc@porttowns.org
THE PORT TOWNS, PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD (July 11, 2008) – The Port Towns
Community Development Corporation has completed its second youth mural. This mural,
created by local youth under the guidance of a professional artist from the Gateway Arts District,
depicts much of the musical history of the Port Towns. A dedication will proceed on July 27th
2008.
The Port Towns Youth Mural Program utilizes local youth artistic talent to create inspiring
murals that educate the community on the history of the Port Towns; as well as create and
market the Port Towns as a destination, facilitating economic development through heritage
tourism.
The process to create this mural began over a year ago, when a request went out to local youth
to come and take part in the mural program. Participating youth were briefed on the music
history of the Port Towns by Melissa Avery, a local music historian, given a tour of the Port
Towns, and provided with design and drawing classes with our professional artist.
“We enjoyed the research portion of the project almost as much as the studio time. We spent
hours hearing stories about the musicians, listening to their music online, and digging up old
photos. It was a cultural and anthropological expedition into the past, very valuable to all of us. ”
Says Melissa Glasser Bruzera, our professional artist, “The students who worked on the mural
were exposed to Life Drawing, Composition, Scale, and Perspective, all essential design tools
for their work as young artists. Most importantly, they all know firsthand how to take an idea
through all of its phases from research to production.”
After an extensive design process, painting on the mural began in December. The mural
displays influential local musicians and clubs from the 1940s-1950s era, including some of the
first people who played “rock n’ roll, as well as a few important contemporaries.”
Artists depicted on the mural include Joe Stanley, Patsy Cline, Roy Buchanan, Ruth Brown, Link
Wray, Wanda Jackson, and Bobby Parker. Clubs depicted include the Rustic Cabin Restaurant,
the Surf Club, along with the Crossroads Club.
According to Sadara Barrow, Executive Director of the Port Towns CDC, “The murals are a key
piece of our revitalization strategy. Murals deter crime and graffiti, improve community
perceptions, and act as anchors for historic tourism. The design and participation for this year’s
mural was excellent, and we look forward to bringing the community more murals in the future.”
This mural is part of a series of 12 planned as part of the Port Towns Youth Mural Program.
This year we have applied for funding for two more murals. The first one will discuss the history
and legacy of slavery in the community, including the role the bustling seaport of Bladensburg
played in the slave trade. The second one will be about how our Diversity is a source of
strength in our community today: more on these murals to come.