About The Project

Art on Call is a citywide effort led by Cultural Tourism DC to restore Washington’s abandoned police and fire call boxes as neighborhood art icons. These call boxes were installed throughout the capital in the 1860s. Although they became obsolete with the introduction of the 911 emergency call system in the 1970s, they have remained on the streets.

The Dupont Circle Art on Call project, entitled "Diverse Visions| One Neighborhood," explores neighborhood history and local fire and police events. It also celebrates our diverse political, artistic, and intellectual community by presenting original artwork by 22 local artists featuring the hub of our neighborhood, Dupont Circle and the beautiful fountain designed by Daniel Chester French.

Dupont Circle is one of 25 communities participating in Art on Call, and the second to complete all of its boxes. Completed works may also be seen in Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, and Sheridan/Kalorama.

About The Award

Dupont Circle Art On Call Project
District of Columbia 2006 Mayor's Awards for
Excellence in Historic Preservation/
Excellence in Community Involvement

In 2003, the Historic Preservation Office launched the Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation. This award honors significant contributions made by individuals, organizations, and businesses promoting historic preservation in the District of Columbia. Find out more about the award at:
Mayor's Award

Participating Artists

The following artists created original pieces of artwork for this project and generously donated the right to use a reproduced image on each call box.

Go to the online tour to see artwork for each box.
Or click links below to go to individual artists' websites.

Box #1: Supon Phornirunlit
Box #2: Freya Grand
Box #3: Colin Winterbottom
Box #4: Ann Marie Ferramosca
Box #5: Jordan Potash
Box #6: Cherif Mamadou
Box #7: Robert Kent Wilson
Box #8: Carol Popper Galaty
Box #9: Sepi Majd
Box #10: Matthew Parker
Box #11: Tom Wagner
Box #12: Deena Gorland
Box #13: Jody Bergstresser
Box #14: Nicolas F. Shi
Box #15: Eric Kammer
Box #16: Arlette Jassel
Box #17: G. Byron Peck
Box #18: Cornelia Atchley
Box #19: Steven Stichter
Box #20: Lily Spandorf
Box #21: Tom Jennings
Box #22: Eric B. Ricks

Project Unveiling Event

The unveiling event was held on September 10, 2005 in and around Dupont Circle. It featured an official unveiling ceremony, music, refreshments, guided walking tours, antique and modern fire equipment and an art show featuring original artwork created by the participating artists that was hosted by PNC Bank, Dupont Circle Branch.

Our thanks to the following community representatives, busineses and organizations for their contributions to the successful unveiling:

Event Contributors:

Speakers:

  • Robert Aubry Davis, emcee, Around Town WETA-TV
  • Stan Jackson, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
  • Jack Evans, DC Council Member
  • Linda Cropp, DC Council Chairman
  • Marilyn S. Newton, Dupont Circle Call Box Committee Chair
  • Angela Fox, CEO and Executive Director of Cultural Tourism DC
  • John Deatrick, Chief Engineer and Deputy Director, District Department of Transportation
  • Adrian H. Thompson, DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief
  • Larry D. McCoy, Commander of the Third District, Metropolitatn Police Department

Project Sponsors

Art on Call is a program of Cultural Tourism DC with support from DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development District Department of Transportation.

The Dupont Circle Art on Call community project has also been generously supported by the following local organizations, businesses and residents.

Corporate Sponsor:

Organizational Sponsors: Dupont Circle Citizens Association, The Dupont Circle Conservancy, Inc.

Box Sponsors:

  • Box #1: Abdo Development
  • Box #2: Gil Hill and Carol Galaty, Steve Hoglund, Donald L. Jones, Jim Lahey, Gordon P. MacDougall, Phil Polivchak, Donald Lewis Wright
  • Box #3: The Sulgrave Club, Steve Hoglund
  • Box #4: Rosely H. and Robert E. Greenlee, Margaret Stosik
  • Box #5: In Memory of Lorence (Larry) Fasano, Bergenfield, N.J.
  • Box #6: The Mansion on O Street
  • Box #7: The “Blackie” Auger Family
  • Box #8: The Mansion on O Street
  • Box #9: The Mansion on O Street
  • Box #10: Blue Capital Management, Inc., Boston Properties, The Dupont Circle Citizens Association
  • Box #11: The Mansion on O Street
  • Box #12: Alan and Heather Kaye Jacobs
  • Box #13: Ruth and Sam Alward, Marston and Edith Chase, John and Marilou Hyson, Larry Muenz and Judy Meritz, R. Bradley Runyan and Steven Nelson, Tom M. Schaumberg, Beth Louise Webb, Steve and Linda Weitz
Dupont Circle Art On Call Development Committee Members

Marilyn Newton, Chair
Michael Beidler
Laura Brower/Cultural Tourism DC
Phil Carney
Elaine Faye
Carol Galaty
Bill Glew

Gil Hill
Steve Hoglund
Gary McLeod
Amanda McNeely
James H. Mears
Gerald Allan Schwinn

Fabrication: Gelberg Signs
Graphic design courtesy of: e-lanestudio

Art on Call is a program of Cultural Tourism DC with support from DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development District Department of Transportation.

This community project is also supported by Dupont Circle Citizens Association and The Dupont Circle Conservancy, Inc. and generous donations from community residents and businesses.

©2005 Dupont Circle Call Box Project No reproduction or distribution of any site content without consent of author.Links to this or any other page on the site are permitted. No hyperlinks to pictures are permitted, query info@dupontcirclecallbox.com for copying permission.