With the help of a $25,000 grant, Arlington Cultural Affairs has launched the new Arlington Art Truck.

With the April 4 launch and debut of their art truck, Arlington Cultural Affairs has started to bring art to the community. The Arlington Art Truck is a mobile art installation which is designed to provide local area residents with the opportunity to view the finished works of artists, as well as watch artworks being made, and participate in interactive activities. The purpose of the art truck is to engage the community in the arts. It was made possible via a $25,000 federal grant Arlington County received from the National Endowment for the Arts last December, which the county matched with its own funding. The Arlington Art Truck made its debut at the Crosshairs Garage Races in Crystal City on April 4, with an interactive activity named "Bidpedal Soundscapes." Created by Emily Francisco and Alex Braden, Bidpedal Soundscapes is a stationary bicycle which activates a five-tiered turntable and creates a soundscape for the rider. Vinyl records on the turntable can be played at either slower or faster than normal speeds which creates a unique aural experience that caters to the rider’s preference. Arlington Art Truck will be featuring Bidpedal Soundscapes until early June during the following scheduled truck appearances: April 21 | Arlington Palooza | Alcova Heights Park | 1 – 4 p.m. April 26 | Phoenix Bikes Maker’s Ball | Crystal City | 6:30 – 9 p.m. May 5 | Arlington Mill Farmer’s Market | Columbia Pike and Dinwiddie St. | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. May 12 | A Courthouse 2.0 Project | 15th and Courthouse Road | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. May 23 | Clarendon Plaza | Clarendon Metro | 3100 Wilson Blvd. | 3 – 7:30 p.m. June 2 | Make Your Mark (Maker’s Fair) | 3700 S. Four Mile Run Dr. (in front of New District Brewing) | 1 – 4 p.m.   The art truck will also showcase Alicia Eggert’s “You Are Magic” interactive, inflatable sculpture which inflates as two people hold hands while touching the installation’s handprint kiosk, and then deflates as soon as participants let go. Area residents can experience “You Are Magic” at these Arlington Art Truck appearances in May: May 16 | Arlington Mill Community Center | 909 S. Dinwiddie St. | 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. May 17 | Food Truck Thursday (with Velo Fix and Art Market) | 1965 Crystal Drive | 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. May 18 | Central Place | 816 S. Walter Reed Dr., Rosslyn | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. May 18 | Bike to Work at New District Brewing | 2709 S. Oakland St. | 4:30 – 7 p.m. May 19 | Big Truck Day | Columbia Pike Library | 9 – 11 a.m. May 19 | A Courthouse 2.0 Project | 15th and Courthouse Road | 1 – 4 p.m. May 20 |  Taste of Arlington | 3550 Wilson Blvd. | 12 – 6 p.m.     On several dates during the summer months, the Arlington Art Truck will feature illustrations of plant life and animals by artist Kate Samworth as well as provide the opportunity to participate in hands-on art activities in which residents can create their own illustrations of plants, butterflies, and insects. “Going Native: Flora and Fauna of Arlington” will be making the following scheduled appearances: June 7 | Ballston Mega Market | Welburn Square, Ballston Metro | 4 – 7 p.m. June 16 |  Blues Festival | Walter Reed and Glebe Road | 12 – 8 p.m. June 24 | Pops for Pets | Lubber Run Amphitheater, 200 N. Columbus St. | 5 – 8 p.m. June 30 | Arlington Farmer’s Market | 14th and N. Uhle St. | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. July 10 | Crystal City Farmer’s Market | 18th and Crystal Drive |4 – 7 p.m. July 29 | Fairlington Farmer’s Market | 3308 S. Stafford St. | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. August 2 | Ballston Mega Market | Welburn Square, Ballston Metro | 4 – 7 p.m.   Make sure to mark your calendar for these great opportunities to experience the Arlington Art Truck! To learn more about the Arlington Art Truck and other Arlington arts events, visit Arlington Arts’ website! What do you think? Which exhibit are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

Did you hear that Yellow Lance mussels were placed on the endangered species list? Read all about it here!