Award of D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities PABC Grant

Kim’s Garden is thrilled to announce that the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities has awarded a Public Art Building Communities (PABC) Grant to Deirdre Saunder to fund the installation of her artistic mosaic in the courtyard of the park. A renowned D.C. area artist, Ms. Saunder’s public installations include the Hopscotch Bridge mosaic figures in Washington, D.C., the Glenmont Metro Station “Swallows and Stars” frieze in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the Silver Plaza Fountain mosaic, also in Silver Spring. A Rhodes Scholar and native of Zimbabwe, Ms. Saunder received her BA in Art and Higher Degree in Education from the University of Cape Town, and MFA in Studio Art from Oxford University. She is currently an art teacher and artist at the Maret School in Washington.

Rendering of the proposed mosaic, which echoes the patterns and colors of the landscaping plantings and will use stones, pebbles, broken porcelain, tiles, glass pieces and other recycled materials, as well as “found objects” related to gardening that reflect Kim Brenegar’s sense of whimsy and love for conservation.

From http://dcarts.dc.gov/DC/DCARTS: “The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities provides grants, professional opportunities, education enrichment, and other programs and services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in all communities within the District of Columbia. DCCAH is governed by a volunteer board of Commissioners who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The purpose of the Arts Building Communities program is to provide grants, performances, exhibitions and other services to individual artists, arts organizations and neighborhood/community groups so they can express, experience and have access to the rich cultural diversity of the District. The Public Art Building Communities (PABC) grant program offers funds to DC artists and nonprofit organizations for the creation and installation of permanent public art projects with a life span of at least five (5) years.”

Following an inspection of the mosaic site, hardscaping expert Fernando Silva 

congratulates mosaic artist Deirdre Saunder.

Master tile layer Peter Tabri and mosaic artist Deirdre Saunder 

measure for the future installation.