Art + Media House Students Help Revamp Columbia Heights

Throughout the summer, students at LAYC’s Arts + Media House are working on several projects including designing and painting new murals in various locations across the District of Columbia and adding audio tours and refurbishing call boxes. The call boxes are being refurbished to allow people who view them to call a number and learn about the history of Columbia Heights. Call boxes were formerly used during emergencies. According to Cultural Tourism DC, police and fire call boxes were installed throughout DC starting in the 1860s. They began to become obsolete with the introduction of the 911 emergency call system in the 1970s, and the working electronic components were all removed by 1995. Yet the call boxes remained, too large and heavy to remove and subject to deterioration from weather and vandalism.

The Arts + Media House is documenting the student’s work and progress through their innovative Immediate Reaction blog. To check out video blogs, visit www.immediatereaction.org or click here.