Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, Brookfield to Honor Mural Artist

From Bethesda Urban Partnership:

BETHESDA, MD – Juan Pineda, the mural artist who recently completed the remarkable mural at 3 Bethesda Metro Center, will be honored on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10:30am. A special dedication will be held at the site of the mural. The second installment of Bethesda’s “Paint the Town,” an initiative to promote public art murals in downtown Bethesda, resulted in the awe-inspiring mural along the plaza and bus bay that now colorfully welcomes residents and visitors to downtown Bethesda.

“We are thrilled that our second “Paint the Town” mural has been completed,” said Cathy Bernard, President of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, “Because of the partnership and generosity of Brookfield and Arts Brookfield along with the Bethesda A&E District, the Metro Bus Bay area is now a vibrant and inviting welcome to visitors and residents in downtown Bethesda.”

Juan Pineda has been painting murals in the Greater Washington, D.C. area since the mid-1990’s. His artistry created a public art piece that not only beautifies the surrounding area, but also highlights Bethesda as a community that embraces and supports the arts.

“Juan has created a truly remarkable piece of art that brings color and life to the Plaza,” said Simon Carney, Senior Vice President with Brookfield. “His mural is a fitting debut for our Arts Brookfield program in the D.C. region and provides a glimpse of the transformation we plan for Bethesda Metro Center.”

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, Brookfield and Arts Brookfield selected Juan from a talented pool of 50 artists from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia who applied for the opportunity. Juan began painting on August 22, 2016 and over the course of six weeks, he transformed the overhang above the escalator, five substantial columns and the bench that stretches along the bus terminal sidewalk, into an urban-contemporary masterpiece.

Images via the Bethesda Urban Partnership.