Capital Hill Boys Club: Peterbug

In honor of 50 Years of Peter Bug Day in DC, the CHBC Art Gallery produced and curated a new mural installation at the Peter Bug Shoe Repair Academy. Washington DC artists Ryan Mizta and Brian Bailey painted Adinkra symbols representing unity, strength, energy, beauty, peace, and “God Is King” while Lew the Artist painted a tribute portrait to John “Peterbug” Mathews.

“Peterbug is a living legend in his neighborhood, so much so that the street outside his shoe repair shop and academy has officially been named Peterbug Matthews Way.

John ‘Peterbug’ Matthews grew up in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and is a fifth generation Washingtonian. He attended DC schools and after college, Peterbug worked in various shoe repair shops.

He submitted a proposal to the Parks & Recreation department to open a shoe and leather repair academy in the abandoned building of the Buchanon Plaza playground. “Everybody thought it was a joke. ‘You can’t open up a school!’ Well, Harriet Tubman opened up one, Mr. Washington opened up one, Mary McLeod Bethune … ‘Wait a minute, why can’t we have one?”

Peterbug opened his school in 1977, where you can still find him today. He cleaned up the building, stood strong on his site, which had been an open-air drug market for some years, and began his mission to “save soles and heel people.” He took in kids and offered them education not only in shoe repair but also in business with computer and financial literacy. He considered it a victory if just one child turned to him instead of dealing drugs. Peterbug became a teacher, friend, role model, and community builder.” – @longwalksdc

This project was powered in part by Projectivity in support of the CHBC community murals program. CHBC describes the program as, “a vibrant initiative designed to bring people together through the creation of public art. This program not only beautifies neighborhoods but also fosters a sense of community pride and identity. By engaging local artists and residents, community murals become collaborative projects that reflect the unique culture, history, and values of the area. These initiatives can serve as powerful tools for social change, promoting diversity and inclusion by giving a voice to underrepresented groups. Additionally, community murals can enhance local economies by attracting tourists and encouraging local businesses. Overall, our community murals program is an excellent way to harness the power of art to unite and uplift a community.”