Street and Mural Art in The Shaw Neighborhood

Take a trek with WPS through the Shaw Neighborhood, the epicenter of mural art in Washington, DC!

Guided by DC resident and WPS director E. David Luria, we will begin our photo Safari at 8th Street and Florida Avenue Northwest and make our way slowly through the streets, photographing all of the colorful mural art that greets us along the way.

We will find, for example, a memorial to Duke Ellington, the famous jazz pianist who was born in a house in Shaw, we will find colorful swaths of paint on many of the building walls and alleys. Many of the pictures have been done by DC’s premier mural artist, Aneikan Udofia, who has been commissioned by the city to decorate its walls.

Our photo Safari also takes us to the iconic Howard Theater , the Lincoln Theater, and to the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl, the black owned business that survived the 1968 riots and has been a favorite stomping ground for Barack and Michelle Obama.

Along the way we will also photograph the unique African American Civil War Memorial, dedicated to the Black soldiers who fought in the Union Army in order to help defeat the cause of slavery.

Our Safari ends at 16th and U where you will find a huge portrait of one of the most popular women in the country, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

What to Bring:

• Camera
  
• Telephoto Lens
• Extra memory cards
• Extra charged battery
• Accessories, such as filters
• Weather appropriate clothing

Where to Meet

Meet at southwest corner of 8th Street and Florida Ave NW (put 800 Florida Avenue NW in your GPS), some parking available on nearby streets, closest METRO is Shaw/Howard University at 1701 8th St NW]. Safari ends at 16th and U St. NW.