Karlisima fights to save her Adams Morgan mural
By hola | Published | 6 Comments
Karla “Karlisima” Rodas, a D.C. mural artist who Hola Cultura included in our 2012 webumentary “Muralismo DC/DC Muralism,” is fighting to stop plans to paint over her four-year-old mural in Adams Morgan.
“The Light of the World,” depicting a candle shining a rainbow of colors, has adorned the facade at the Potter’s House on Columbia Road since 2010. But this summer, the Church of the Saviour, which founded the bookstore, coffeehouse and place of worship in 1960, is getting ready to remove the mural as part of renovations to the building.
Rodas has launched a petition drive seeking to change minds. So far, however, church members have not been swayed. The church issued a statement via an Adams Morgan listserv on July 29 saying that members decided to remove the mural after conducting several “listening sessions” with community members as a precursor to the renovations.
“One concern that came up repeatedly was how the interpretation of the mural as ‘religious’ might discourage people from checking us out – people who would otherwise really enjoy what we have to offer,” according to the statement issued by Tim Kumfer, the House’s transition manager.
Rodas, however, questions how much listening the church has engaged in, saying that community members she’s spoken with love the mural and want to keep it.
Watch Our Video Interview with the Artist
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