The Lab Mag Summer 2026

THE LAB

MAGAZINE

Official Publication of the Gateway Media Arts Lab Summer 2026

WHERE CREATIVITY & COMMUNITY MEET Exploring the artists, spaces, and experiences shaping the Gateway Arts District.

Welcome To The Lab Gateway Media Arts Lab

exhibition venue, The

is an incubator program

Lab provides space for

of the Gateway

ideas, projects, and

Community

partnerships to grow.

Development

Through professional

Corporation (Gateway

development

CDC). Located within the

programming, media

Gateway Arts District,

production, and

the Lab supports artists,

community

media professionals, and

partnerships, the Lab

emerging creatives

helps amplify local

through access,

voices, document

collaboration, and

community experiences,

opportunity. As a

and contribute to the

coworking space,

cultural and economic

residency program,

vitality of the Gateway

production hub, and

Arts District.

@GATEWAYMEDIAARTSLAB

THE GATEWAY

ECOSYSTEM

The Gateway Arts District spans Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Hyattsville, bringing together artist studios, galleries, local

Gateway CDC helps drive this ecosystem through property development and management, economic development initiatives, and arts and community

businesses, and public

programming that

spaces that support a

connect artists,

thriving arts and

residents,

culture corridor in

businesses, and visitors

Prince George's County,

throughout

Maryland.

the district.

IN THIS ISSUE

05 | CREATIVE JOURNEYS WHAT A WEEKEND AND SHEWA STUDIOS 06 | OPEN STUDIOS TOUR A CELEBRATION OF THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT’S CREATIVE ECONOMY 07 | INSIDE THE STUDIO PUBLIC STORAGE STUDIOS ARTISTS SPOTLIGHT: JIMMY JAMES GREEN & SHANGE JAARA LILAA 08 | NEW SPACES IN THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT MATERIAL THINGS & LIBERATION STUDIOS + GALLERY 09 | COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS HERE’S WHAT'S NEXT 10 | LOOKING AHEAD 25 YEARS OF THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT

FASHION DESIGNER: @MAYAB.ATELIER

CREATIVE JOURNEYS WHAT A WEEKEND is a DMV lifestyle brand and entertainment project built around three interconnected pillars: a cultural brand, a mobile app, and a feature film. Through storytelling, events, and digital experiences, the platform celebrates the energy, culture, and spirit of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

As a partner of Gateway CDC, What A Weekend has been engaging with businesses and organizations throughout the Gateway Arts District, helping expand visibility for local artists, businesses, and communitycentered experiences. Through storytelling and promotion, the partnership supports efforts to connect new audiences with the people and places that make the district vibrant.

SHEWA STUDIOS AT 39TH STREET STUDIOS AT GATEWAY ARTS CENTER

SHEWA STUDIOS, founded by awardwinning filmmaker Mignotae Kebede and THR33 Productions, is a film and media production space located in the Gateway Arts District.

The studio supports

participated in Gateway Media Arts Lab's Resident Artist Program, where she developed her work and strengthened connections within the district's creative community. Today, Shewa Studios continues

filmmakers, storytellers, and creative professionals

its partnership with Gateway CDC while serving as a creative

through production resources, collaboration, and community centered programming. Before

resource for filmmakers and storytellers and an example of how artists can establish and grow independent creative

opening Shewa Studios, Kebede

spaces within the Gateway Arts District.

THE LAB | 05

OPEN STUDIOS TOUR

A CELEBRATION OF THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT’S CREATIVE ECONOMY

MOUNT RAINIER

BRENTWOOD

NORTH BRENTWOOD

HYATTSVILLE

ARTISTS OPENING THEIR STUDIO DOORS ACROSS THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT

OPEN STUDIOS TOUR is more than an event; it's an invitation to experience the Gateway Arts District from the inside out. Each year, artists across Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Hyattsville open their studio doors to collectors, neighbors, and visitors, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the spaces where creativity happens. Scan the QR code to learn more about Open Studios Tour and future opportunities to explore the Gateway Arts District.

THE LAB | 06

INSIDE THE STUDIOS PUBLIC STORAGE STUDIOS PROVIDES AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE FOR ARTISTS AND MAKERS IN THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT. THE STUDIOS SUPPORT CREATIVE EXPLORATION, PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. THIS ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS TWO ARTISTS WHOSE WORK REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT 'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY.

To learn more about Jimmy James Green and explore his artwork, scan the QR code.

Shange Jaara Lilaa is a wellness practitioner and botanical artisan whose work is rooted in ancestral wisdom, community care, and holistic healing. Through handcrafted botanical products and wellness experiences, she creates opportunities for reflection, connection, and healing.

Scan the QR code to connect with Shange Jaara Lilaa.

THE LAB | 07

Jimmy James Green is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the Af rican diaspora through painting, collage, printmaking, and design. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and former apprentice to muralist Jon Onye Lockard, he creates work rooted in culture, history, and the Af rican American experience.

NEW SPACES IN THE ARTS DISTRICT

Material Things is a North Brentwood based studio working across clay, wood, and metal. Through handcrafted works and hands on workshops, the space celebrates craftsmanship, material exploration, and the art of making. Learn more by scanning the QR code.

Liberation Studios + Gallery is a disciplinary gallery and studio space, located in North Brentwood, supporting artists, curators, writers, and culinary practitioners. Artist led and rooted in care, the space fosters collaboration, collective making, and creative exchange. To learn more about Liberation Studios + Gallery, scan the QR code below.

THE LAB | 08

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

THE LAB | 09

The Gateway Farmers Market brings together neighbors, farmers, makers, bakers, artists, and local vendors in a vibrant weekly gathering that celebrates community, culture, and connection. From fresh produce and handmade goods to seasonal flowers and specialty foods, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Rain or shine. Scan the QR code to learn more and plan your visit.

Every Saturday | 9 am – 1 pm April 18 - November 7, 2026 3716 Rhode Island Avenue Mount Rainier, MD 20712

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT

As the Gateway Arts District approaches its 25th anniversary, we celebrate the artists, organizations, businesses, and community members whose creativity, collaboration, and vision continue to shape this vibrant cultural corridor.

For 25 years, the district has demonstrated the power of the arts to transform places, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for connection. Through artist studios, public programs, creative businesses, and community partnerships, the Gateway Arts District remains a place where culture, community, and creativity thrive.

We believe art is more than expression, it’s a tool for liberation, preservation, healing, and possibility. By supporting artists and investing in creative spaces, we help ensure that culture remains accessible, community-centered, and rooted in the people who make this district unique.

THE LAB | 10

JOIN US IN SHAPING THE NEXT 25 YEARS OF THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT!

SUPPORT THE NEXT 25 YEARS YOUR SUPPORT HELPS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS, SUSTAIN CREATIVE SPACES, AND EXPAND COMMUNITY-CENTERED PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT. ATTEND. CREATE. PARTNER. DONATE.

WITH SUPPORT FROM:

3311 RHODE ISLAND AVE, MOUNT RAINIER, MD 20712 LAB@GATEWAYCDC.ORG | GATEWAYCDC.ORG