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City Fitness wants to inspire our clients to exercise. We believe part of this inspiration comes from the physical surroundings of the facility including our beautiful original art work. Our permanent collection includes beautiful murals painted by local artists as well as black and white photography. We also host temporary exhibits in a variety of mediums.
We are Cleveland Park’s neighborhood gym. We believe in supporting the arts and work directly with local artists to exhibit their work in the gym. This gives our members an opportunity to see their artwork and our gym a fresh look.
Permanent Artwork
Original Mural #1
Claudia Too! by Manuel J. Navarrette, 1996
“Claudia Too! is intended to be an original piece about the ever-flowing streams of time and motion underlying self-inflicted limits born of everyday life habits and conventions. The piece is the end result of a long creative exchange and collaboration between Lucinda, Dega and me. I give my gratitude for the opportunity and support to bring Claudia Too! to the Cleveland Park Community and to you all.” —Manuel J. Navarrette
BFA and Masters in Arts Education from Catholic University, Manuel Navarrette has been an active participant and contributor of both the local artistic and educational communities since 1989.
His large-scale artwork under commission reflects and is always the culmination of ideas, motivations and expectations driven from the creative voices of both the commissioners and the artist. His commissioned mural art projects have all been specifically tailored to fit and enhance the structure and character of a host of sites. They can currently be admired at numerous public and private venues. They all intend to represent the pulse of our diverse and ever-changing community.
Original Mural #2
The Archer by Marela Zacarias, 2001
In the mural, The Archer, the image is doing the yoga Pose Natrajanasana or the “king of dancers.” The pose works with balance, concentration, patience and stability. Physically it firms the abdominal wall and upper thighs, tightens the upper arms and expands the rib cage. As its name suggests the position turns your body into the shape of bow—the kind of bow that is used to shoot an arrow. Behind is the figure is the symbol for prana or “life force.” The vibrant colors used represent the seven chakras also called energy centers, located along the spine. The intention of this mural is to inspire us to aspire to be our best.
Marela Zacarias, a native of Mexico City, came to the United States in 1996 to study at Kenyon College, OH. She graduated Spring 2000 with a major in “Social Movements in Art and Religion,” a synoptic major that combined Art, Political Science and Religion. Her concentration was on mural art as a tool for social change. This was also the topic of her senior project, along with a show of her artwork at the Horn Gallery for the Arts.
During her senior year she was invited to paint a 14’ by 11’ mural at Central Connecticut University titled The Rebirth of the Student Movement. Since graduation she has worked with mural artist Mike Alewitz on a mural project for the State of Maryland which included five murals about Harriet Tubman and the Undergound Railroad.
Marela has painted various other murals and banners in her career including Metamorfosis in Mexico City; Our Neighborhood with the Amerikids group in Anacostia, Washington, D.C.; and the Columbia Heights Community Mural in Washington, D.C. In addition, she has taught mural painting classes to teens at the Latin American Youth Center in Washington, D.C. Learn more at her web site: http://www.marela.org.
Landscape photography by Britt Leckman
Britt K. Leckman is a Northern Virginia photographer, currently working as a Media Technician at Northern Virginia Community College. He is a contributing member of the Del Rey Artists Association.
Original Photograph #1 • High Sierra Mountains, Owens Valley, CA July 1997
Original Photograph #2 • Greys Meadow, Independence, CA July 1997
Original Photograph #3 • Pine Creek Round Valley, CA July 1997
Original Photograph #4 • Pine Creek Round Valley, CA July 1997
Original Painting
Daily Routine by Anyahlee Suderman, 2004
Anyahlee Suderman, native Bostonian, and graduate of the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC, has been selling her fine art and commissioned pieces for over a decade. In 2002, Anyahlee founded and ran the non-profit, Urban Artists Coalition (UAC), with the mission to teach art to disadvantaged youth and provide opportunities to local DC artists. In addition to teaching art programs to young people and fundraising she is also a working artist and a new mother.
Anyahlee is currently living and painting murals in her home town, Boston, as Director of Art Builds Community, a summer mural program employing urban youth.
Anyahlee is available for commissions, murals and educational endeavors. Most artwork is for sale. To view Anyahlee’s fine art and learn more about Art Builds Community, visit www.anyahlee.com or email Anyahlee.
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