The trend of bringing the arts to historic Route 1 in Hyattsville seems to be coming to our side of Rhode Island Avenue. Our across-the-border neighbors in Maryland still have the more artsy atmosphere to it (for now) but we recently got a new art studio of our own.
Art Enables, located at 2204 Rhode Island Ave NE (across from the Family Dollar), is a nice addition to the neighborhood and the Avenue. One of the Director said that the organization is a “positive for the community”. Art Enables’ website self-describes the organization as:
“In the Nation’s Capitol, a studio and gallery for emerging artists with developmental and/or mental disabilities. Their chance to make art comes through Art Enables. Their reasons for doing it are their own: to have something to do, to make money, to feel important, to tell the world who they are, to become famous. All those reasons and more.”
The organization welcomes artists to create all types of art and the studio sells the art, including paintings, handmade jewelry, and even birdhouses, for very reasonable prices. The artists themselves receives 60% of the sale price. In addition, many pieces of the art created here is sold in other DC locations like H Street Playhouse and Dumbarton.
Art Enables is celebrating its ninth birthday on February 25th. The center used to be located at the Millenium School but has recently relocated and chose Rhode Island Ave NE as their new home. This year, the International Organization on Arts and Disability (an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts) has selected Art Enables along with two other organizations to showcase a large scale visual art at The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Kennedy Center from January 12-February 13 (www.vsarts.org). The other two organizations chosen are The Fountain Gallery of New York City and The Arts of Life of Chicago.
I encourage everyone to stop by and take a look at this positive art studio on our Avenue! The location is open to visitors Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm. Or visit them online by clicking HERE.
