High Heel Race Mural
Led by artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer the “High Heel Race Mural” was painted in Oct 2024 at 17th & R streets NW in Washington DC, with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs & students from the Latin American Youth Center and the 17th Street community.
“I just want [people] to feel a big hug of color. I want them to feel embraced, I want them to feel like they belong here. Like this is a neighborhood for them, that they’re accepted that they’re loved.” - Lisa Marie
In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, The Historic Dupont Main Streets & ANC2B, Mural Artist Lisa Marie led students from the Latin American Youth Center in the creation of The High Heel Mural at 17th & R Street, Washington DC in October 2024.
MISSION:
We are working with LGBTQ+ youth who are being targeted nationally and saying that in D.C. we care for you, we support you and want to provide opportunities," - Japer Bowles, Director of Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs
“I just want [people] to feel a big hug of color. I want them to feel embraced, I want them to feel like they belong here. Like this is a neighborhood for them, that they’re accepted that they’re loved.” - Lisa Marie, Mural Artist
We get to be a beacon, not just across the city, but across the country for how great things can be when you have freedom, equality, love, safety in your own neighborhood," - Vincent Slatt, ANC 2B Commissioner
Project prESS:
WJLA: Local artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer unveils new mural for High Heel Race
by Good Morning Washington & Kidd O’Shea
Mon, October 28th 2024
Washington, D.C. (7News) — Lisa Marie Thalhammer came to the studio on Monday to talk about her newest mural on 17th street.
Lisa Marie designed her mural out of epoxy for the High heel race.
DC News Now: New mural in Dupont Circle honors history of annual High Heel Race
Before hundreds of pairs of high heels hit the pavement on 17thSt. next week, a different type of heel is stepping out. On Wednesday, a local artist, along with the help of the Mayor’s Office for LGBTQ+ Affairs and other community members, painted a new mural at 17th and R streets in Northwest, paying homage to the annual High Heel Race.“I just want [people] to feel a big hug of color. I want them to feel embraced, I want them to feel like they belong here. Like this is a neighborhood for them, that they’re accepted that they’re loved,” artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer, who designed the mural, said.
Thalhammer has designed several murals in D.C., including the iconic LOVE display in D.C.’s Blagden Alley. She said working with students was the highlight of this latest project. “We’re teaching the students about the history, about the LGBTQ history. A lot of students don’t learn LGBTQ history, so this is an opportunity too, to educate,” Thalhammer said.
This mural was commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs. The office’s director, Japer Bowles said this is about visibility and the city’s preparations for World Pride 2025. "It's showing that we have space and we're taking up space. Not just physically, but in art, music, in festivals and events. In this particular moment, we are working with LGBTQ+ youth who are being targeted nationally and saying that in D.C. we care for you, we support you and want to provide opportunities," Bowles said.
“It sets us up as a tourist destination,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Vincent Slatt. "People still want to come home to the traditional gayborhood. People still want to come to a special place. We get to be a beacon, not just across the city, but across the country for how great things can be when you have freedom, equality, love, safety in your own neighborhood," Slatt added.
This year’s race is Tuesday, October 29. The winner of the High Heel Race is the person who can navigate 17th Street the fastest while wearing stiletto heels and the most elaborate costumes. The race started back in the '80s, with wagers among bartenders, drag queens, and community members on who could race the fastest in high heels along a strip of bars in the area. In 2018, Mayor Muriel Bowser proclaimed the race an official mayoral event.
USA9: DC students design and install new mural for 17th Street High Heel Race
Author: Lorenzo Hall - Published: 11:37 PM EDT October 23, 2024
WASHINGTON — The 17th Street High Heel Race is known for its fun, fashion, flare and fierce competition.This year, there’s already a standout star ahead of the 37th annual race. Students with the Latin American Youth Center worked with well-known muralist, Lisa Marie Thalhammer to design and install a new mural along the race route.
“When you walk by and see a big beautiful high-heeled rainbow artwork on the street, I think you just feel like you belong here,” Thalhammer said.
The mural includes six different heels and was painted through the district’s Arts in the Right of Way program. The heels represent all the different types of people—and heels—that race down 17th Street each year. “This is simply taking up space in a queer and fashionable way,” Japer Bowles, Director of the Mayor’s Office for LGBTQ+ Affairs, said. “I hope people can see themselves be a little bit more free and honestly honor our history.”
The High Heel Race started more than 35 years ago when a group of drag queens made a bet and raced from bar to bar on Halloween night—in their high heels. Founders and JR’s Bar continued the tradition ever since. It’s now sponsored by the Mayor’s Office, which pays for the fees associated with the event. Thousand of spectators and participants come out every year. “It’s one of the biggest nights for the community because it is a tradition and what it means to have the city cover the fees, and help with the logistics, it’s very worth it. It takes a lot to do this and we’re really proud that we get to do this,” Bowles said. The mural was done in partnership with local high school students who are members of an LGBTQ+ organization. Students helped design the heels and paint the mural. The High Heel Race is set for Oct. 29. The event begins at 6 p.m. with the race starting at 9 p.m.