The day #TentacleTuesday came to Van Ness

Somewhere in the DC area, it’s Tentacle Tuesday.

Happy #TentacleTuesday. The tentacles are out on Albemarle and Connecticut Ave, NW. #StreetArt #WashingtonDC #TrafficBox pic.twitter.com/PDWnaQNrCW

— Theodore Carter (@theodorecarter2) July 18, 2017

The tentacles appeared in Van Ness on Tuesday, July 18th on the traffic signal box on the southeast corner of Connecticut and Albemarle. This whimsical popup art arrived courtesy of author and artist Theodore Carter, who in years past has decorated the traffic signal box at Fessenden and Reno. (Remember the robot? Or King Kong on the Empire State Building?)

Neither of those efforts stayed for long – the city quickly took them down. Perhaps in recognition of the ephemeral nature of his chosen medium, Carter has been taking his tentacles to spots around the District for a few hours at a time, always on Tuesdays, of course. And he keeps an eye on the creation.

Sitting at @BreadFurst watching people walk by #TentacleTuesday unaware. pic.twitter.com/zuIk6mxluH

— Theodore Carter (@theodorecarter2) July 18, 2017

The unaware can easily check Twitter and Facebook to find out what’s up. Carter helpfully labels the piece with the #TentacleTuesday hashtag. And DCist talked to Carter about this project – and why he’s so keen on sprucing up signal boxes.

In Van Ness, Carter found an appreciative audience.

bizarrely beautiful art pop up in #VanNess #DC #tentacletuesday pic.twitter.com/pSDFVUgYSm

— ＭＯＬＬＹ ＳＨＥＰＨＡＲＤ (@molly_shephard) July 18, 2017

Thanks for bringing an unexpected piece of whimsy to the neighborhood, Theodore!