Paintings celebrate Mason District
Four paintings highlighting Mason District have been installed in the office of Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez.
The artist, Todd Crespi, says he was inspired by Jimenez’ goal to celebrate the vitality of Mason District through the arts.
The painting in the upper left in the image above depicts a Spotlight by Starlight concert with the Ochoa Boys at the amphitheater at Mason District Park.
The painting in the upper right celebrates the Justice High School track team. The painting on the lower left is an imaginary scene of a community festival – with Silverado in the background.
The final painting shows a woman on a bus traveling by Aldi on Columbia Pike. Crespi made up a story about her: “She’s a nursing student at Northern Virginia Community College listening to music and dreaming about her future.”
Having grown up in the Ravenwood community in Seven Corners and graduating from Justice, Crespi says, “It’s rewarding to paint scenes of local life with all the familiar landmarks.”
Related story: Local artist displays political portraits in yard
He’s planning 20 more paintings of Mason District scenes, including one showing President Lincoln in Lincolnia hitching a ride on Beauregard Street and one with George Washington surveying Seven Corners.
Crespi painted the baseball/Spiderman mural for Collector’s Cabinet on Gallows Road, installs political portraits in his front yard during election season, and recently started putting up painted signs to slow traffic in his neighborhood.
As a former courtroom sketch artist, Crespi covered the Supreme Court for CNN. He’s currently working on two big projects – a documentary film about an American founding family and an illustrated book about his life in New York City and Hollywood in the 1970s.
Crespi spent six years in New York and 10 in L.A. pursuing a career in acting and hanging out with celebrities, including Andy Warhol, Ann-Margret, Natalie Wood, and many more. He spent a year living as a guest in the home of Cass Elliot of the Mamas and Papas.
He had roles in several TV series, including “The Magician,” “Room 222,” and “Manhunter,” and performed on stage with Richard Chamberlain in “Richard II.”
Crespi eventually moved back to Fairfax County. “This is my home,” he says. “You miss the environment where you grew up.”