Is it a herd, a swarm, a school, a flock, a pod, drove, or clowder?* The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) is bringing animals to Capitol Hill, and not just a parade of elephants or a pace of donkeys. Picture, as you stroll around the neighborhood, animal sculptures related to each lettered street—on G Street, a gorilla, or gopher, or maybe a gecko. For E Street, an eagle? Or an elephant, an egret, or even an eel? The animal possibilities are limited only by the letters of the alphabet--and the amount of money we can raise!

Money raised on Give to the Max day will go directly to our Capitol Hill Animal Alphabet Arts Project (CHAAAP). Conceived by Capitol Hill resident Stephen Young and planned in conjunction with the District Department of Transportation, CHAAAP will issue a call to local artists for designs for animal street sign sculptures, with winners chosen by a panel of judges. Winning artists’ designs will be commissioned and installed on or near the appropriate street signs.

Add interest to our local streetscape, highlight local artists, and make residents smile as they go through their days. What’s not to love about the Alphabet Animals?

Please make a donation and help us reach the day’s goal of $3,000--enough to bring two new animals to our streets. And, as an added incentive, Stephen Young, Capitol Hill parent and the project’s originator, will match the first $500.

Thank you very much!

* a “clowder” is a group of cats. Do you know the others?

At the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), the arts connect and transform people. Now in its fortieth year, CHAW provides classes and performances for all ages in all artistic disciplines. Take a look at our website (www.chaw.org) and our blog (http://chawbeyondthewalls.wordpress.com) to see the many, many ways CHAW builds community through the arts in DC!

More information on CHAAAP

The Capitol Hill Animal Alphabet Art Project (CHAAAP) will create animal sculptures that will be installed on lettered streets throughout Capitol Hill, beginning with streets included in the DDOT performance parking fund. The animal sculptures may be part of the street sign, next to the sign, or affixed to the sign.

The idea for CHAAAP was proposed to CHAW by Capitol Hill parent Stephen Young. He was walking with his two sons and explaining the alphabet using the lettered streets when he thought that an animal sculpture would enhance the learning experience.

#give2max