Public Art Tour: Soundwaves of Shirley Horn

Text

Inspired by how DC's music history serves as a solid foundation for today's arts and entertainment culture, "Soundwaves of Shirley Horn" honors a musical legacy local from this neighborhood. Famous jazz musician Shirley Horn (1934-2005) was a Washingtonian that broke barriers and helped define the jazz genre both locally and globally. A musical prodigy, Horn pursued formal music education at nearby Howard University at just 12 years old. She collaborated with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and other greats during her career. The mural represents sound waves of Horn's music captured through recording software abstracted in Chalk Riot's style. The ribbon illustrates vocals, the purple orbs a piano, the yellow line represents other instruments, and the white dots are poignant spots of percussion.

ARTIST: Chalk Riot
DATE CREATED: 2021
MEDIUM: Concrete, paint, and sealant
DIMENSIONS: 1200 sq. ft. (1200 cm)