A mural featuring detailed pink and mint line work now wrap around Synetic Theater, on S. Bell Street in Crystal City.
Renderings for the mural outside Synetic Theater(photo via Crystal City BID)
Over the summer, the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) and developer JBG Smith launched a contest to find a muralist to makeover the facade of Synetic Theater. After receiving 24 entries, a jury of representatives narrowed down to five finalists to create conceptual designs.
The runners-up designs featured tropical florals, silhouettes of people, and geometric shapes. In October, artist Jay Shogo was declared the winner for his wavy line representing “the experiences and connections we all share with others,” according to the mural website.
“Each design concept that was submitted by our finalists was captivating and thoughtful, and we appreciate the level of artistry that went into creating them,” said Jason Najjoum, Managing Director of the Synetic Theater, in a statement. “Jay’s dynamic use of flowing lines make for a thrilling design.”
Although there were two local artists among the five finalists, Shogo is from Tokyo, Japan. His murals can be found in various parts of the world including New York, Los Angeles, Austria, Barbados, and Korea.
“Jay’s design is sophisticated and bold and serves as a beautiful addition to the Crystal City streetscape,” said Crystal City BID president Tracy Sayegh Gabriel. “There have been exciting productions at Synetic Theater for years, but the street environment hasn’t matched the energy behind the doors — until now.”
The mural was painted in November.
Synetic Theater, which performs at 1800 S. Bell Street in Crystal City, is a physical theater company noted for telling “classic stories through movement, music, technology, and visual arts” — but without words.
Charity W. is a professional and skilled writer with a diploma in Mass Communication. When she is not glued to her computer screen, Charity spends her time reading, traveling, and watching movies. She is an expert on Arlington Virginia and keeps current with local events and occurrences.
