Road Tattoo on Vermont Honors Fallen DC Soldiers
The Road Tattoo runs along the 800 block of Vermont Avenue NW,between H and I Streets. (Luis Gomez Photos)
A contingent of volunteer workers completed artist Steed Taylor‘s Road Tattoo on the 800 block of Vermont Avenue NW yesterday–before the late afternoon thunderstorm hit.
The Tattoo honors DC-area soldiers who have died in recent wars and the names of five children of local soldiers were incorporated into the design. There was a brief dedication ceremony in mid-afternoon attended by mothers of three solders. The Veteran’s Affairs Department is on the east side of the street.
The group included as many as 20 volunteers at various times on Saturday and Sunday; installation work was halted on Saturday afternoon due to the extreme heat. Taylor and gallery plan b on 14th Street NW worked with the District Department of Transportation to plan and implement the street art. This project was originally planned for 14th Street NW between Q and Church Streets.
According to Paula Amt, owner of gallery plan b, regular high-gloss latex paint is used. The asphalt paving material soaks up the paint and Taylor’s Road Tattoos can last up to three years.
Examples and photographs of Taylor’s exhibit were on exhibit at gallery plan, which is on 14th Street between Church and Q Streets.
