Green Valley in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Wheelhouse, 2021
Mark Reigelman II
| | Painted aluminum, mirrored stainless steel and reclaimed cypress | |
Wheelhouse explores the industrial history of the Jennie Dean Park site through the lens of the great American pastimebaseball. Inspired by the mill that stood in this location in the early 1700's and the park's rich recreational history, the artwork references the structural anatomy of the region's historical mills, while playing on classic baseball terminology. Starting in the early 20th century, the park became a major hub for Black baseball clubs in the region, where game days were lively social epicenters for the community. Wheelhouse, which refers to the location of the strike zone that the batter considers ideal, nods to the mill's cyclical function and is reflected in the installation's 24 house-shaped slices extending up from the ground. The resulting structure is a permeable pavilion that recalls a dugout as well as the radiating spokes of a churning wheel. On the interior, mirrored stainless steel panels shimmer with the reflections of park activity and passersby, while a 20-foot bench crafted from reclaimed cypress offers visitors a comfortable respite. The radial repetition of the design offers both a thoroughfare and a gathering space, activated by the energetic uses, industrial roots, and sporting history that have shaped Jennie Dean Park and the surrounding community.
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports.
Location. 38° 50.649′ N, 77° 5.297′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Green Valley. It is at the intersection of South Four Mile Run Drive and South Nelson Street, on the left when traveling west on South Four Mile Run Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3610 S Four Mile Run Dr, Arlington VA 22206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (about 500 feet away); This is W&OD Trail: Shirlington! (about 600 feet away); Washington and Old Dominion Trail (about 700 feet away); Tracks Into History (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Additional keywords.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 22, 2023
2. Wheelhouse with the marker in the foreground
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 176 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
