NoMa: Changing Vistas - Changing Views
This was part of the Lobby Project series sponsored by the NoMa BID installed in the lobby of an office building.
The title, Changing Vistas - Changing Views, was intended to invite people to consider both what we see in our city (the physical vistas) and what we think about what we see (our views) as well as how the two interact and define each other.
The NoMa neighborhood was extensively redeveloped in the early 20th century when Union Station was built. At the time of my show, another redevelopment project had begun. I aimed to illustrate how vistas and views in NoMa have changed historically, and how the views from NoMa’s streets change minute by minute everyday.
Changing Vistas
A series of photographs of the Mathmatica Building was used to portray the way the visual environment of NoMa varies constantly as people, things, and light move and change.
Changing Views
A series of lenticular pictures was used to show more gradual change in the neighborhood. These combine historic photos with present day photos of the same locations. These pictures were meant to portray not only the actual changes in NoMa, but also how views of what constitutes good urban development have changed over time. Some of these lenticulars are shown below.
Food Vendors: c. 1916 & 2015
In this lenticular, an image from the Library of Congress’ Harris & Ewing collection shows the “Fairview Hotel” at 1st St and Florida Ave. The owner, Keith Sutherland, was a former slave who was described as a “philosopher and prophet” in a 1933 Washington Post report of his death. When Sutherland wrote to Franklin Delano Roosevelt predicting a landslide victory for FDR in 1932, the President responded with a thank you note, saying he found the prediction “very encouraging.”
In 1897, Keith Sutherland was brought to court in a test case confirming that cook shop owners could be required to pay a license fee. It seems he was the first in the long line of licensed Washington food vendors.
Pierce Street NE: 1949 & 2016
The historic photo of the corner of Pierce and 1st Streets, NE comes from DC History’s collection of photos were taken by John P. Wymer who made a project of documenting neighborhoods throughout the District.
By 2016, there were new buildings at the intersection. A new apartment building is on the Northwest of the intersection where an ice cream factory used to be. On the Southwest side of the intersection the Mathmatica Building has gone up. A companion building is planned to go with it, but in this photo the space is being used for construction vehicles serving a project being built to the West along Pierce Street.
Woodies Warehouse: 1949 & 2015
The warehouse, built between 1937 and 1939 was one of the city's largest warehouses, notable for its design. When Woodward & Lothrop foundered in 1995, the building was taken over by the Bristol Group and converted to office space.
The lack of physical changes shown in this picture highlights the changed views about urban redevelopment, and the current concern with preserving valuable urban vistas. The Uline Arena, also visible in this lenticular, has its own story – and its own lenticular.