The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has commissioned a grand landscape portrait from Cuban American urban artist, Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada, to be placed temporarily on the National Mall; it will be open to the public Oct. 4 through Oct. 31.
The project covers 6 acres and falls midway between the World War II and Lincoln memorials along the south side of the Reflecting Pool.
The installation began in September and will be completed by the end of the month. The project will require approximately 2,000 tons of sand, 800 tons of soil, 10,000 wooden pegs and 8 miles of string. At the conclusion of the temporary exhibition, the high-quality sand and dirt will be tilled back into the soil to help the National Park Service as they move forward with the next phase of turf restoration on the National Mall.
