The Mama Ayesha's Restaurant Presidential Mural facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Mama Ayesha's Restaurant Presidential Mural |
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| Artist | Karlisima |
| Year | 2009 |
| Type | Paint & Tile |
| Dimensions | 7.3 m × 18 m (24 ft × 60 ft) |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| 38°55′24.51″N 77°2′48.67″W / 38.9234750°N 77.0468528°W | |
| Owner | Mama Ayeshas |
The Mama Ayesha's Restaurant Presidential Mural is a huge painting in Washington, D.C. It was finished in 2009. This large mural shows eleven American Presidents. The first President shown is Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the last is Barack Obama.
An artist named Karla Rodas, also known as Karlisima, created this artwork. She was born in El Salvador. The mural was paid for by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Many people in D.C. call it the city's "largest postcard" because it's so famous.
What the Presidential Mural Shows
This amazing mural is painted on the outside wall of a Middle Eastern restaurant. The restaurant is located in a part of D.C. called Adams Morgan. The painting shows several United States Presidents. They are standing in front of the famous White House.
Right in the middle of the mural, you can see Mama Ayesha. She was the owner of the restaurant. She stands between President Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan. They are shown with their arms linked together.
Look closely at the mural for more details. In the top left corner, a bald eagle is flying. Nearby, trees are losing their leaves, showing it's Fall. In the background, you can see the Lincoln Memorial. Near the White House, there are cherry blossom trees in full bloom.
On the right side of the mural, you'll spot more famous D.C. landmarks. These include the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the United States Capitol. There's even a blue space in front of the reflecting pool. This space is ready for the next President to be added! On both sides of the painting, there's a colorful mosaic of the American Flag.
How the Mural Was Created
The idea for this mural came from Mama Ayesha's family. They have been running the restaurant since it first opened in 1960. The mural was paid for by several groups. These included the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mama Ayesha's Restaurant, and other people who donated money.
Artist Karlisima started working on the mural in 2007. She spent two years painting it, finishing in 2009.
Originally, the family thought about including someone else in the mural. They wanted to feature Helen Thomas, a well-known reporter who covered the White House. She was also a regular customer at the restaurant. The plan was to show her sitting at a desk, writing. However, Helen Thomas politely said no. She was a modest person and suggested that Mama Ayesha should be in the mural instead. So, Mama Ayesha became the central figure.
Meet the Artist: Karlisima
The artist, Karla Rodas, is from El Salvador. She moved to Alexandria, Virginia with her family when she was a child. She went to Annandale High School and then to Washington University. After college, she returned to the D.C. area. She became one of the city's most famous mural artists.
You can see her artwork in many places around D.C. and nearby. Her paintings are on walls and in collections at places like Famous Luigi's, Cafe Atlantico, and Wesley United Methodist Church.
When the mural was finished, Karlisima shared her thoughts:
This project helped connect the community, Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant, and art. It brought together everyone who made this mural possible. It couldn't have happened without the support of the community, the D.C. Commission, the restaurant, and all the groups that funded it. I hope this mural will help schools, children, and everyone learn about the history of the Presidents. This is a gift to Washington D.C. to celebrate an important moment in American history. It will be there for people to see for many years to come. This shows that mural art is for everyone to enjoy.
