LISTEN: Local Artist Starts Painting New Mural on Ben’s Chili Bowl Friday

Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON – The side of the Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street is getting a new mural. Artist Aniekan Udofia will start painting it Friday. Originally the mural, commissioned as part of the Department of Public Works and the Commission on the arts and Humanities MuralsDC program, was set to be unveiled Friday, but that date was pushed back to give everyone involved more time to work out the details.

Nobody will say who will be featured on the new mural, but DPW spokesperson Nancee Lyons said the people will have some sort of relationship with D.C.

“That’s the focus on this wall is to choose people who, living or dead, are still making a positive impact in people’s lives and on the community,” Lyons said.

The old mural, which was painted over in January, had portraits of actor Bill Cosby, former President Barack Obama, radio host Donnie Simpson and the Godfather of Go-go Chuck Brown. Instead of being just portraits, the new mural will tell a story, according to Lyons.

There was speculation the old mural, painted by Aniekan five years ago, was replaced with a plain white wall because of the controversy surrounding Bill Cosby after he was charged with felony sexual assault. A woman accused him of drugging her and molesting her. Cosby pleaded not guilty. His trial begins this month.

The owners of Ben’s Chili Bowl, the Ali family, would not confirm or deny the speculation. The family simply put a sign on the white wall that said “New Year New Mural.”

More than 20,000 people voted in a contest the Ali family had to chose people to be featured in the mural. That list of people was comprised of civil rights icons, singers and actors, including Cosby.

When asked if there’s concern that whoever is painted on the new mural could become controversial like Cosby did, Lyons responded: “I mean, I don’t think that you can think about that because you never really know what the future is gonna bring.”

A date hasn’t yet been set for the mural to be unveiled.