Art to Support Community Goals: Takoma Langley Crossroads

Abstract

The students in this course, led by Professor Brandon Donahue-Shipp at the University of Maryland, collaborated with the Takoma Langley Crossroads Development Authority (TLCDA) to create a public art and beautification initiative focused on sustainability and community engagement. The project involved repurposing old street planters along New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard through custom mosaic tile artwork. Guided by site visits, community engagement, and a hands-on workshop with local mosaic artist Graciela Granek, students developed designs rooted in the cultural and aesthetic identity of the neighborhood. The culmination of the project featured a public installation and event in early May, where students displayed their work and facilitated interactive art activities. The project served as a platform for creative placemaking, blending environmental consciousness, community voice, and artistic practice in a highly visible public space.