Mosaics & Music

Dawson’s Market at Rockville Town Square is hosting the unveiling of a 5-foot long mosaic of peace and an afternoon of award-winning entertainment to raise funds for the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation’s Peace Day. The celebration honors Mattie J.T. Stepanek, a Rockville teen who earned notoriety as a well-respected poet and award-winning peace activist while living with Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, which took his life just before his 14th birthday. The teen found friends in politicians and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey who praised his powerful messages of peace. The event includes the unveiling of the 5-foot mosaic created during last year’s Peace Day (an Artivate activity) and also celebrates a new community mosaic being created through VisArts. The mosaics will be transported nationwide as part of the Mattie Stepanek Foundation message of peace and then be permanently installed in the MainStreet community being built in Rockville. A commission cello piece by Wytold, a performance by Chic’s Sylver Logan Sharp, performance by rap artist Omekongo Dibinga, spoken word &Heartsongs (Mattie Stepanek’s published book of poems), conversations with elected and community leaders, and wine and appetizers provided by Dawson’s Market will also be part of the event. Proceeds go to help fund the free street fair Peace Day Celebration on July 13 in honor of Mattie Stepanek’s birthday. $25 per person, or $30 per person at the door. 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.