Josh Gibson Statue
(Washington, DC) – The DC Creates Public Art program of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) is thrilled to announce the dedication of two new public art works at Nationals Park. These exciting projects showcase public art to the approximately 2.5 million patrons attending baseball games at Nationals Park each year. This places significant artworks in Center Field Plaza and along the main concourse, which adds to the texture of an up and coming and vibrantly diverse retail neighborhood.
Omri Amrany of Timeless Creations, Inc., located in Highwood, IL has been commissioned to create energetic bronze figures to commemorate great legends in the history of baseball in Washington, DC – Frank Howard, Josh Gibson and Walter Johnson. The white bronze sculptures evoke team spirit and will encourage the public to reflect and learn more about baseball’s history. Amrany states that the figures “Capture the incredible motion of each of the ballplayers in a contemporary figurative style, brought to life through their spirit, the strength of their emotion and most importantly, their skills as world class athletes.” His respect for their spirit is clearly reflected in the figures he presents at the ballpark.
“Players spring after fly balls, make spectacular leaping catches, stop ground balls which are seemingly out of reach and hit pitched balls with their bats that travel faster than many cars.” The Ball Game, by Washington, DC artist Walter Kravitz, is a new public art work that encompasses the spirit of the game and skill of its athletes. The piece is comprised of four suspended mobiles with approximately 48 hand-painted figures hanging in action. Each of the mobiles will rotate to a familiar, yet freshly composed tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” This multi-media work celebrates the strategy, skill and grace of the game while creating a magical atmosphere along the concourse at the top of the Grand Staircase.
The artworks were selected by a jury of stakeholders, DC residents and arts professionals at the end of a competitive process. Both projects are commissioned and owned by the DC Creates Public Art Program and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The projects have been commissioned in collaboration with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club (WNBC), the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission (DCSEC), and HOK Sport (Architect), for the stadium. Local officials are hoping the ballpark will not only be a sports venue serving as a cornerstone for the new Anacostia River waterfront entertainment district, but also be viewed as an impressive sports architecture and arts destination.
CONTACT: Mas Tadesse, PR | Masresha.Tadesse@dc.gov
Emily Blumenfeld, Partner, Via Partnership, LLP| blumenfeld@viapartnership.com
Lisa Pagano, Washington Nationals, lisa.pagano@nationals.com
About the Washington Nationals Baseball Club
The Washington Nationals Baseball Club, owned by the Washington, D.C.-based Lerner Family, was relocated to the District in 2005 from Montreal. The team competes in Major League Baseball’s National League East. The Nationals play 81 home games each season at Nationals Park, the ‘Home of the National Pastime in the Nation’s Capital’, located in Southeast Washington.
