ARLINGTON, Va., May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Southeastern Development Associates in partnership
with Harris Teeter is pleased to
announce that it is unveiling a new work by Olalekan Jeyifous titled Present
Pastimes, on May 1 at
5:30 p.m. Present Pastimes is
the newest artwork in Arlington's
Public Art Collection and will be on public display at its UrbA
community at 624 N. Glebe Rd. UrbA is professionally managed by
Greystar.
"We were excited to incorporate Jeyifous' vibrant art into the
façade of our mixed-use development," Mary
Senn, Vice President, Southeastern Development Associations.
"At Southeastern, we believe art plays a crucial role in fostering
a sense of community, adding visual interest and character, and
making the space more inviting. Present Pastimes serves as a
focal point of UrbA, at the entrance to Harris Teeter on Glebe Road. It creates a space
for social interaction and provides a shared experience for
residents, workers and shoppers. Furthermore, investing in art
within mixed-use developments contributes to placemaking efforts,
creating unique identities for neighborhoods. Jeyifous' colorful
reference to the past celebrates the evolution of Ballston while transforming it."
Present Pastimes combines references to vintage
commercial signage and mid-century architecture that used to be
found in the Ballston area. The
artwork—a diptych window installation—presents a colorful reimaging
of a miniature golf course depicting leisure in a pre-digital,
bygone era. The Ballston Putt-Putt operated for more than 50 years
on Wilson Boulevard before the area's high-rise development.
The scene depicts several figures enjoying mini golf and
engaging in other everyday activities surrounded by period vehicles
and local flora. The scene brings a sense of nostalgia and update
the building's mid-century style with a contemporary look. The
result is a vivid, colorful display that acknowledges the everyday
and iconic historical architectural landscape while celebrating the
ongoing evolution and transforming of this thriving community.
"Adding a new work by Olalekan
Jeyifous to our collection is a prime example of how we have
endeavored to showcase artists of the highest caliber in the public
realm," says Angela Anderson Adams,
Director of Arlington Public Art, which is celebrating its 40th
Anniversary in 2024. "It also is gratifying to see the fruits of
our development partnerships with collaborators like Southeastern,
who demonstrate their commitment to incorporating public art into
their projects."
About Olalekan
Jeyifous
Olalekan Jeyifous is a
Brooklyn-based, Nigerian-American
artist widely recognized for his inventive design practice that
explores the relationships between architecture, community, and the
environment. He holds a Bachelors of Architecture from Cornell University and has showcased his artwork in
esteemed venues such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Vitra
Design Museum, the Guggenheim in Bilbao,
Spain, and the Museum of Modern Art, where his artwork is
featured in the permanent collection of the Department of
Architecture and Design.
In addition to an extensive exhibition history, Olalekan has
spent over a decade creating large-scale installations for a
variety of public spaces and was co-commissioned to design a
monument for congresswoman Shirley
Chisholm as part of the City of
New York's "She Built NYC" initiative.
Olalekan has received numerous awards for his artistic practice,
including the notable Silver Lion at the 2023 Venice Architecture
Biennale. Additionally, he is a recipient of the 2021 Fellowship by
the United States Artists, has been a Wilder Green Fellow at the
MacDowell Colony, and completed artist residencies at the Bellagio
Center, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Drawing
Center's Open Sessions program.
For more information on Olalekan
Jeyifous, please visit his website.
About Southeastern Development Associates
Originating
in 1987, Southeastern has provided commercial development and real
estate brokerage services throughout the country for almost 40
years. The company develops retail, hotels, multifamily, and
mixed-use development. Since inception, the company has completed
hundreds of projects and has established a proven track record of
financial strength, success, and integrity.
About Arlington Public Art
Arlington Public Art directly commissions artworks integrated
into the County's capital improvement projects, coordinates
artworks commissioned by real estate developers as part of the site
plan process and assists community groups to initiate public art
projects on public property. We also partner with local arts and
community organizations, artists and businesses to present
interpretative projects, temporary artworks, exhibitions and more.
Arlington Public Art is a program of Arlington Cultural Affairs, a
division of Arlington Economic Development, which delivers public
activities and programs as Arlington Arts.
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SOURCE Greystar