Fresh Cut Barbershop Mural

Fresh Cuts

After learning of the artist Michael Anthony Hammond when I was researching the mural at Fiddlebacks Salon after my bike ride a couple of days ago, I saw in his portfolio that he had other spray paint murals here in D.C.  And one of those murals is only a couple blocks or so away from the Fiddleheads mural.  It is similarly on the outside wall of a hair salon, Fresh Cut Barber Shop and Salon, which is located at the intersection of Bates and North Capitol Streets, at 1518 North Capitol Street (MAP) in northwest D.C.’s Truxton Circle neighborhood.  So on this bike ride I rode their to check out another of Hammond’s murals.  

The Fresh Cuts mural includes, to a lesser extent, imagery of the business such as scissors, a comb and a barbershop pole.  But the theme and focus of the mural is music.  Depicting soul legend Donnie Hathaway, Jr., William Royce Scaggs, better known as “Boz,” and James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix, the musical theme is a reflection of the tastes of Bernard Fernandez, the owner of the barbershop. 

Fernandez’s love of music is surpassed, however, by his support and commitment to his community.  The role of the barber is deeply rooted in the community, and the barbershop is more than just a place where people go to get a haircut.  Fresh Cut is also a place where all generations of locals gather to talk about everything from issues of the day to neighborhood history.  And like the shop’s air conditioning provides a physical refuge from the outside heat, the fellowship within the shop provides an emotional refuge from whatever external stresses and troubles the patrons may be experiencing.   

Fiddleheads Salon Mural

They advertise the shop by saying, “Fiddleheads is a DC-based boutique salon specializing in curly hair … but we love straight people too.”  They go on to say, “If you’re graced with curly hair, you may feel cursed in the search for a stylist who knows how to show off your tresses in all their glory. Trust your hair to expert care at Fiddleheads, a comfortable, affordable, and fun boutique salon.”  Located at 25 Florida Avenue (MAP) in northwest D.C.’s Bloomingdale neighborhood, the shop does more than just cut and style hair.

On an outside wall of the hair salon is a mural by local artist Michael Anthony Hammond, who specializes in large-scale murals and canvas paintings.  His media of choice are spray paint and oil and sometimes acrylic, and his murals and paintings can be found throughout the D.C. area.  And the spray painted mural at Fiddleheads centers around a beautiful black woman whose face and body is painted in black and white and shades of grey.  But the woman’s curly hair, which takes up much of the mural, is very colorful and blends with the curls of the background behind her.  The mural makes for an excellent advertisement for the specialized salon.  And at the top of the mural is the salon’s name.  But as I learned when I was doing some research to find out more about the mural, it also serves another, more meaningful purpose.

The depiction of the woman in the mural, similar to the mission of the salon itself, communicates to women, especially black women, that hairstyles should be a natural, and relaxed expression of one’s self.  To passersby, the Fiddleheads mural is one that allows women to a see a positive portrayal of themselves and the beauty of their hair each and every day.  And based on the importance of hair, particularly in black culture, that’s a pretty good message for either advertising or art.

The Watergate Complex

The Watergate Complex

It is mainly now known for being the site involved in the eponymous and infamous political scandal involving the administration of President Richard Nixon.  But the Watergate is actually much more.  And to see it for myself and learn more about it, on this bike ride I rode by The Watergate Complex, located on the banks of the Potomac River in Southwest D.C.’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood (MAP).

The scandal stemmed from the Republican President’s and his administration’s continuous attempts to cover up its involvement in the June 17, 1972 break-in and bugging of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at an office building located within the Watergate Complex.  The scandal resulted in many importance consequences, including:  the impeachment and eventual resignation of President Nixon; the criminal indictment of 69 people and the conviction of 48, many of them top Nixon administration officials; subsequent electoral success by the Democrats; a shift in the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, and; general public disillusionment with the government.  Also as a result of the scandal, the metonym “Watergate” came to not only encompass an array of clandestine and illegal activities undertaken by and on behalf of the administration, but the entry of the word “Watergate” and scores of derivative “-gate” scandals into the popular lexicon.

Long before a presidential scandal unfolded, the Watergate was well known. But its initial reception was poor.  When models of the complex were unveiled in 1961, critics said the structure “would ruin the waterfront”.  Other critics denounced its modernist architectural design as out of place with the more traditional architecture of the national capital city, with many calling the detailing “clunky.”  Many individuals also felt the complex blocked views of the Potomac River, tended to overshadow nearby monuments and other buildings, and consumed too much open space.  However, public opinion eventually shifted, thanks in large part to media coverage of the new development.

Built between 1963 and 1971, the Watergate complex is a group of six buildings next to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  The 10-acre site contains an office building, three apartment buildings, and a hotel-office building, as well as tiers of fountains designed to create sounds like a waterfall, landscaped rooftop terraces, swimming pools, and a 7-acre park. It was designed to include 1,400 apartment units, a 350-room hotel, office space, shops, 19 luxury “villas” (townhouses), and three-level underground parking for 1,250 vehicles.

Often called a “city within a city,” the complex was the first mixed-use development in D.C., and was intended to provide so many amenities that residents would not need to leave.  Among these were a 24-hour receptionist, room service provided by the Watergate Hotel, health club, restaurants, shopping mall, medical and dental offices, grocery, pharmacy, post office, and liquor store.

Once completed, the Watergate was considered one of Washington’s most desirable living spaces, popular with members of Congress and political appointees in the executive branch.  The Watergate South Tower (pictured below) has been home to a number of notable individuals, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and Jacqueline Mars, heiress to the Mars candy fortune. Tenor Plácido Domingo once lived there, as did Clare Boothe Luce, the author, politician and diplomat.  And while she was secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice owned two apartments, using one as her gym and guesthouse.

The Lincoln Assassination Conspirators

On this day 165 years ago, four persons were hanged before an audience of approximately 3,000 people here in D.C. for their participation in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  Lewis Thornton Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt, and Mary Surratt were hanged at the Washington Arsenal shortly after 1:00pm on July 7, 1865. 

On the same night that an actor named John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln in the back of the head at Ford’s Theatre, the conspirators’ plot also included the assassinations of Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward.  Atzerodt was the intended assassin of  Johnson, and was found in a room in Johnson’s hotel with a revolver.  Powell attacked Seward, slashing him repeatedly with a knife.  Seward survived the attack, but his face was permanently disfigured.  Powell was later arrested at Mary Surratt’s boarding house.  Herold accompanied Powell and guided him to Seward’s house, but remained outside the house holding Powell’s horse.  Herold met Booth as they fled D.C., and was with Booth when Union troops tracked him down to a barn in Virginia.  Herold surrendered and was taken into custody while Booth temporarily maintained a standoff before being killed by Union troops.  

At trial, Atzerodt was convicted of Conspiracy to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson.  Powell was convicted of Conspiracy to assassinate Secretary of State William H. Seward.  Herold was convicted of Conspiracy and aiding John Wilkes Booth’s Escape.  And Mary Surratt was convicted of of Conspiracy.  

Four additional conspirators were tried by the military commission for the conspiracy that resulted in the murder of the 16th president.  The others were:  Samuel A. Mudd, who was convicted of Aiding Booth’s Escape; Michael O’Laughlen, and Samuel Arnold, who were convicted of Conspiracy to Kidnap the President, and;  Edman “Ned” Spangler, who was convicted of Aiding and Abetting Booth’s Escape.  Mudd, O’Laughlen and Arnold were sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor, while Spangler was sentenced to six years.  After being imprisoned at Fort Jefferson, near Key West, Florida, O’Laughlen died of yellow fever in 1867.  The remaining three were pardoned by President Johnson in 1869.

A ninth person, Mary Surratt’s son John Harrison Surratt, Jr., was also charged with Conspiracy.  He had escaped after the attacks in 1865.  but was captured in Egypt in 1867.  He had a civilian trial which ironically ended in what is referred to as a “hung jury.”  He then went on a public-speaking tour after his trial detailing his relationship with the other conspirators and arguing for his innocence.  

On this bike ride on this very hot day, I rode by Fort Lesley J. McNair, formerly known as The Washington Arsenal, where the hangings occurred.  While Fort McNair is closed to the public for security reasons, I rode by the (rebuilt) wall of the fort near where the hangings were carried out.  On the other side of the wall, where the gallows were located, there is now a tennis court.   

Historic photo obtained from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.