Help celebrate Inner Ear Studios & DC’s music legacy!
Contribute your classic DC show flyers and Inner Ear photos to a new outdoor public installation commemorating the artists and music recorded at the iconic Inner Ear Studios.
This outdoor installation in Arlington will highlight DC’s music history and community through a semi-permanent, evolving wheatpaste installation of DC show flyers, photos, and reproductions of Inner Ear-related ephemera.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
- DC show flyers featuring bands that recorded at Inner Ear (album release show flyers a plus!)
- Your photos of Inner Ear studio (Did you record or mix there? Send us your images!)
- Ephemera from recording sessions at Inner Ear (track lists, mix notes, doodles, etc)
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Planned for the former site of Inner Ear Studios on South Oakland Street in Arlington, this commemorative installation is part of a new temporary outdoor arts and public gathering space at 2700 South Nelson Street. Together with public art and placemaking firm Graham Projects, and their partners EnviroCollab and Public Mechanics, Arlington County worked with community stakeholders to conduct a series of engagement conversations to imagine potential site uses and ideas. Based on the community feedback, Graham Projects and collaborators designed an inclusive, multi-use space inspired by the nearby Four Mile Run stream, the surrounding industrial landscape, and the cultural history of the site. The working name of this temporary outdoor public space is “2700 Arts Space”.
As part of the design for this new space part of the studio’s original wall has been preserved, and Inner Ear’s drum riser — built by James Canty (The Make-Up, Nation of Ulysses) — is being reconstructed as a mini-stage. These preserved pieces of Inner Ear will be incorporated into the wheatpaste installation. The installation is being led by public artists Graham Coreil-Allen and Bruce Willen (Double Dagger, Peals). Stay tuned for additional opportunities to participate!
ABOUT INNER EAR
Inner Ear Studio is a legendary recording studio founded by producer and musician Don Zientara in the late 1970s. Numerous iconic albums were recorded at Inner Ear by artists from DC and beyond, including Fugazi, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Bikini Kill, Mary Timony, Braid, The Teen Idles, The Make-Up, John Frusciante, Dismemberment Plan, Black Eyes, and many many others. From 1990 through 2021 the studio was located at 2701 South Oakland Street (now demolished) in Arlington, VA.
Thanks to Don Zientara for his commitment to DC’s music community and support for this project.
HOW TO SUBMIT
- Use the form below to upload your images and 2d media.
- Digital copies please!* High-resolution scans (300dpi) or images preferred. If you are unable to scan your images, good quality iPhone photos are also acceptable — make sure that digital photos are bright and evenly lit.
- *If you need help scanning your flyers or photos, please bring them on April 2, 2025 between 9am and 12pm to Arlington Cultural Affairs, 3700 S Four Mile Run Dr, Arlington, VA 22206. Please book a time online or contact Kylene King at kpking@arlingtonva.us or 703-228-0830. Can’t make it on April 2? Central, Aurora Hills, Shirlington and Westover Libraries have scanners for public use.
- This outdoor wheatpasted installation will use primarily black and white reproductions, and some color images may be converted to B&W.
- Submissions are due by June 1, 2025.
- Check back for details on a public wheatpasting workshop coming soon!
Visit Arlington County’s 2700 S Nelson Street project website for more information and to subscribe to updates:
www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Arts/2700-S-Nelson