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.”
I think he graduated from JEB Stuart.
Yes he did!
True. Justice High School did not exist at that time, and his diploma reads J.E.B. Stuart High School. I’m no fan of the confederacy, but it’s OK to acknowledge that the school, and the man, existed without celebrating it.
Todd Crespi is quite an accomplished artist. Very impressive!
Great paintings of recognizable scenes of Mason District!
Not representative of life in Annandale today, which is increasingly crowded, congested, expensive. These kinds of features appear to be a staple of a inside-the-NoVa-beltway “don’t worry, be happy, life is good in Arlington, Alexandria, FC, Annandale, etc….” online news outlets.
Perhaps you were looking for the Doom and Gloom Today blog instead of Annandale Today…
You can obviously see the hardships for yourself. Why do you want more of that–do you actually WANT to hear more about the bad and ugly, or would you appreciate an occasional dose of sunshine? There is some of both to be found here, regardless.
Touch grass. Maybe even smoke some.
Yes. The more expensive and congested Annandale becomes the more “Don’t Worry. Be Happy. Life is Good in Annadale.” features appear. Focus should be on preserving what’s left of Annandale’s suburban quality of life. Start by ending the festival mess on the 7000 block of the Pike.
Todd lives down the street from us. He often adorns the corner by his house with artwork and messages. It’s wonderful.
It’s true that things are not always great, but it’s also true that we can still focus on the good and positive at the same time.