The CHAAAP story began back in 2011, when local Capitol Hill resident Stephen Young was walking around the neighborhood with his two daughters. As they passed the lettered street signs, he pointed them out and said, “E St. E is for Elephant! K St…K is for Kangaroo.” And in that moment, a creative idea was born: why not share that fun, educational experience with all Hill residents by installing animal sculptures on the street signs?

Stephen brought the idea to CHAW, and of course, it was right up our alley!

In 2014, CHAW received a pilot grant from the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) and sent out a call for artists. With the artistic direction of Bruce McKaig and a panel of experienced jurors, we selected an initial 10 artists to create fantastical, whimsical, unique, and artistic representations of animals for each of ten streets in the SE quadrant of DC.

Funded by a recent grant from the DC Community of the Arts and Humanities and in partnership with Eastern Market Main Street (EMMS) and the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Alphabet Animal Art Project has installed 10 additional sculptures throughout Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B to intentionally broaden the span of the Alphabet Animal “path.” As a continuation of the previous 2014 project, the Alphabet Animals will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. CHAW has engaged with a roster of nearly all the original artists including Beth Baldwin, Charles Bergen, Undine Brod, Susan J. Champeny, Breon Gilleran and Mary Frank in collaboration, Carolina Mayorga, Davide Prete, Evan Reed, and Maureen Smith.

Our goal is to help create a more vibrant, livable, walkable community for all of our neighbors.
Read more about the project in this exciting feature in the Washington Post.