Arts Initiative Announced For Wisconsin Ave. Pedestrian Tunnel

Walking beneath Wisconsin Avenue through the Bethesda Metro pedestrian tunnel is soon to become a more artistic experience.

The and the Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District Wednesday announced their “Tunnel Vision” project, which will display the work of local artists in a public art exhibition to be hung in the pedestrian tunnel that runs beneath Wisconsin at the Metro station.

The group is asking for Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. artists to submit their artwork to be considered for the exhibition, which will showcase the work of 12 selected artists. There’s also a category for young artists, 14 – 17.

“This is a project to help beautify the Bethesda Metro, to enhance the tunnel, and to get people looking at public art,” said Stephanie Coppula, a spokeswoman for the Bethesda Urban Partnership. “It’s a specific initiative of the Arts and Entertainment District.”

The group obtained permission from the county, which owns the tunnel, to move forward with the project, Coppula said. The tunnel is not operated by Metro.

Artists selected to participate in the exhibition will be paid $500 for the license to use their image. For more information about applying, visit www.bethesda.org.

The deadline for submission is March 9.