The artist behind Arlington’s countless posters satirizing local politicians has launched a new outdoor pop-up studio and zine.
Wilson B., aka @ArlingtonAF, is probably best known for his signs riffing on local political candidates, the Arlington GOP, Advanced Towing and other well-known entities.
Now equipped with a mobile art workshop strapped to a bicycle, the creator has begun displaying his works to passersby in high-traffic areas across Clarendon and Courthouse. He hopes to add a splash of color to the county’s public spaces and drum up interest in his new satirical zine, “Maximum A-R-L.”
“A blank canvas is what it comes to my mind,” he said about Arlington. “There’s so much potential, and there’s new people coming in, and Arlington is awesome. It’s just super unique.”
On Saturday afternoon at Courthouse Plaza, Wilson B.’s “ArlingtonAF Art Studio” showcased some conversation starters, including the artist’s famous satirical prints, an award-winning sign poking fun at ARLnow commenters and a pastel replica of Pablo Picasso’s “Girl before a Mirror.”
Under the shade of his studio cart umbrella, Wilson printed and stapled copies of the inaugural edition of “Maximum A-R-L,” a “part s—-post, part printed media” product inspired by Maximum Rocknroll, a former printed zine from the punk rock world.
“Print media is back, baby!” the cover reads, superimposed over the face of former Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey. “Nevermind the Vihstadts, here come the Kay Crystals.”
On the back are comics and a crossword with niche Arlington references thrown in, like “Freddie’s brunch.” In-between, pages are filled with satire and story submissions, which he is currently accepting — with a few stipulations.
“If you’re an out-of-county resident, you have to write something about Arlington,” he said. “Fiction is okay. The setting has to be in Arlington, any timeline. Interpret that last bit any way you want.”
He told ARLnow he created the zine with his editor and friend, a laid-off federal worker. They plan to publish 10 editions of the limited-time zine leading up to the November election, selling them for $5 each.
“Political satire is as old as apple pie,” he said. “It’s old as American pastimes, like baseball.”
The artist is currently distributing the zine at his studio, inside a former Arlington GazetteLeader newspaper box in Courthouse and a former Express box in Clarendon.
He intends to host the ArlingtonAF Art Studio in Clarendon weekly from Monday through Friday this summer, with Saturday mornings reserved for the Courthouse Plaza.
Eventually, he’d like to coordinate with the Arlington Arts Commission to find ways to encourage more street studios. Until then, he plans to create more stickers, posters and possibly postcards to sell on his website, Pentagon Giftshop.
One more thing?
“I’m going to start doing some pastels of Arlington,” he said. “I want to do a series. I have some ideas; they need to be big.”
