Artist Studio

The U Street section of D.C. is a fresh, gritty beacon of style, seamless mixing old and new in a culturally diverse area. Once known as “Black Broadway” in the 20s and 30s, U Street deteriorated into an area of homelessness, drug use and urban blight in the 60s. All that began changing with the opening of a metro stop in 1991, linking the area to the rest of D.C. Today, a racially diverse crowd of tattooed musicians and Congressional staff members frequent the area’s stylish new shops, restaurants, bars and clubs.

I wanted this Artist’s studio to represent the grittiness of the inner city, merging with the young heartbeat of inventive style. Truly, it is more of a fantasy room, than reality. The wood plank wall and concrete floor look as though they were found in an industrial neighborhood. The artist in residence is temporarily using a magenta rug as the backdrop for his most recent painting. The model reclines on a sinuous velvet sofa, with utilitarian light fixtures positioned as needed. Heavy-duty steel shelving is needed for storage and display of inspiring objects. The walls are used to post ever-changing images and essences for future projects. The centerpiece of the room is the fabulous console, which demonstrates the collaboration of old design with new material.

… if Ben’s Chili Bowl can start serving vegetarian meals, U Street is a place where anything can happen.