Did anybody hear how the !POWAR! reception went?

I sadly was unable to attend the !POWAR! reception at the last Gallery Hop on October 1st. Did anyone attend or hear how it went?

!POWAR! (People of Winston-Salem Art Reclamation Program) is a program to use public art to fight graffiti and raise awareness of gang activity. A pilot program was held during the summer after East Ward Council Member Derwin L. Montgomery held meetings with local artists to come up with creative ways to fight graffiti.

During the pilot program, nine students age 11-15 worked with artist Marianne DiNapoli-Mylet to create a “mobile” mural on sailcloth that will be used to introduce the program to schools, corporations and organizations. The students also created a gang-prevention coloring book that will be printed and distributed to local schools.

ReBlog from DWSP: Upcoming Business 40 Improvement Project Corridor Wide Announcement for Downtown W-S

http://downtownwinstonsalem.blogspot.com/2010/09/upcoming-business-40-improvement.html


Let's not forget as we share our thoughts on the Business 40 Redesign that our history and connection to each other are just as important as beautiful aesthetics. Bridges are for connecting, after all.

Conflict Kitchen: Phase 2

Back in July, I posted about a Pittsburgh project called Conflict Kitchen that is serving the community cultural understanding via delicious food experiences. The folks at Conflict Kitchen have asked me to post an update on the second phase of their project, an Afghan cuisine restaurant called Bolani Pazi. They are looking for community support to get the restaurant up and running. Visit their website for more information.

DATS 2010: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Update...

"Urban Ag" panel discussion, moderated by CFSA Executive Director Roland McReynolds...

Sharon Morrison, PhD, will be one of the panelists at "World Food in the Piedmont", an exploration abut how new populations are changing our ideas and attitudes about food. Dr. Morrision is Associate Professor at the UNCG Dept of Health Education and Director of the Undergraduate Program.

Greensboro's Table 16 will be one of the participating restaurants at "DATS MashUp", a collaborative, cross-cultural cooking experience teaming American chefs with refugee-immigrants.

3-day event at the stunning new Sawtooth in downtown WS!

Want to know more?

Check out:

http://youngprojects.blogspot.com

and in just a couple of days, the official registration site for DATS 2010...

http://2010.datstriad.org

See you there!

Solar Farm Doubles as Art Installation

Beautiful and breathtaking- you must check out this post from inhabitat.com on Light Sanctuary, designed by Martina Decker and Peter Yeadon.

Image from DeckerYeadon.com.

British Plan to Cut Arts Funding by 40%

So the British plan to slash arts funding by up to 40%, anticipating and expecting it to increase the philanthropic drive of the British people to save its own arts culture from faltering under such a large funding gap. While this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-knickers rationale…hmm…I’m left without much to say.

Arts organizations, especially the small ones, are always on the brink of folding in the U.S. How can arts survive? Combine form and function.

WFU Grad Explains How Photovoice and Psychology Came Together in Kenya

Janelle recently helped me make a discovery--North Carolina has some booming activity going on in Photovoice.

Janelle Summerville is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University and a current doctoral student at the University of Virginia. While attending WFU, she traveled to Kenya for a summer and asked female students there to document their identities using a digital camera. Janelle is a student of psychology, and these photographs provided her with wonderful qualitative data that helped shed light on the values of Kenyan girls--but I divulge too much. I'd rather let Janelle's words speak for themselves. The text of a short e-mail interview I did with Janelle is provided below. And thanks again for sparking my interest in Photovoice. I had no idea there was such a deep pool of scholarship and activity going on in this field. I can't wait to share posts on other NC projects later...

Janelle with the girls of Saint Edwin's Children's Home in Kimende, Kenya

Triad Community Arts: Why photography? What made you choose this medium to study self-esteem in Kenyan girls?

Janelle Summerville: As I was preparing to go to Kenya, I read several articles and books about incorporating art into psychological research. I became particularly engaged by the idea of utilizing different methods to encourage the power of the participant to actively play a role in representing themselves, rather than simply be represented by the researcher. Photography stood out for me for several reasons. From an artistic standpoint, the thought of seeing raw photography was fascinating to me. I was intrigued by the concept of what level of honest work would come out of girls who had never used a camera before and had lives that are not as image/media-dense as we have in the States. Secondly, I felt that photography gave the girls an opportunity to capture snippets of their lives in ways that transcends conversation and is not restricted the same way by self-perceived talent like you would find using painting or dance. Thirdly, the permanence and emotional power of it. Photography provided a way to capture a small segment of the reality of their daily experience and bring it back to present to others and share the experience, share their struggle in a way that a thousand words could not. Pictures speak to people and make things real for them, so I felt that it was my responsibility to bring that all back with me.

TCA: In the article I read [on Wake's website], you stated that Kenyan girls do not tend to value themselves as individuals the same way U.S. children do. What values did you find some of the girls had?

JS: In the short time I was there, I found that academics were highly valued, being useful to the group as a whole (through work to sustain and maintain the children’s home such as cooking, cleaning, food errands, etc.) was also highly valued. Girls as young as 7 would participate in the daily operations of the building in a way that many U.S. children would not be allowed to – but it was of vital importance that the girls worked together to promote the well-being of all. Physically, long hair was valued, although the girls all had their hair completely cut off. Additionally, I was a bit surprised to hear how highly valued light skin and more caucasian traits were.

TCA: How was the process of using photography to collect information different from using surveys or interviews? What benefits and drawbacks did you find with this process?

JS: They worked so well together. Photography opened up conversations in interviews that would have never happened and allowed for a starting point for discussion and exploration. Surveys, in my opinion, often offer a preliminary understanding similar to a sketch before it is filled in with paint or a skeleton without flesh. It’s a wonderful base and support from research, but neglects some of the detail you can get with interviews and an artistic method. In the end, I used a mixed-method approach and photography was an integral part of the full picture of self in the context of an orphaned Kenyan girl. The only drawbacks came from the organizational aspects such as downloading and labeling the COUNTLESS photos that the girls took. Additionally, the director of the children’s home did not want me to leave the cameras with the girls for fear that they would be assaulted for them or feel driven to sell them for food, etc. I felt silly for not considering that possibility, but was able to adjust my plan in order to accompany them to different places and spend enough time with them each day that we could get diverse photographs to represent their daily lives and experiences. The major benefit was the look on the girl’s face taking photographs as they ran around capturing anything and everything. It was such a joy being able to be a part of that and giving them a chance to represent themselves in that way.

Upcoming August Events

African American Atelier Presents: 25UNDER25
Through August 6 - Greensboro Cultural Center - Greensboro
25under25 highlights a diverse group of eclectic and vibrant young artists from the Triad Community. An extensive range of expression and media will be showcased, integrating the experiences and perspectives of the members of the millennial generation.
333.6885 or info@africanamericanatelier.org

Pathway to Freedom
Through August 20 - 8 PM - Snow Camp Outdoor Drama Site - Snow Camp
An exciting account of the struggles and heroism of the 1840's and 1850's along the "Underground Railroad" from NC to Indiana. Both individuals and some organized religions fought slavery in the legislature and on the farms, while some, led volunteers and free slaves in clandestine efforts to help escaping slaves to freedom. Music in the play is the music of the period and enriches the emotions of the play.
800.726.5115 or snowcampot@aol.com

Alternate Roots Annual Meeting
August 10 - 15 - Lutheridge Conference Center - Arden, NC
In 2010, Alternate ROOTS launches a three-year initiative, The Aesthetics of Diversity. It will explore issues and opportunities to advance a progressive agenda in the South through the lens of the South’s newest citizens, immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries, India, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Aesthetics of Diversity will examine questions of art and culture focusing on place in 2010, people in 2011, and traditions in 2012. The goal is to build bridges across and among diverse communities and inform discussions such that members of various communities have a lens through which to view how they may positively impact change in their community.
404.577.1079

Photography Dialogs: John Rosenthal and Linda Foard Roberts
Wednesday, August 11 - 5:30 PM - Green Hill Center for NC Art - Greensboro
Rosenthal will speak about his latest series of color photographs of New Orleans taken one year and a half after Hurricane Katrina. Roberts will present her large format digital photographs "Simple Truths" portraying her family and home. Both photographers will then discuss the nature of their medium.
333.7460 or liz.busch@greenhillcenter.org

Recycle Labyrinth Swap-a-Thon
Saturday, August 14 - 2-5 PM - SECCA Grounds - Winston-Salem
During the Swap-a-Thon event, volunteers from Piedmont Craftsmen will help guide visitors through creating and experiencing the labryinth.The community is asked to bring useable household items (non-clothing) that they can incorporate into the labyrinth while walking through it. (Please limit the size of the items to be no larger/heavier than a microwave oven. If you can't carry it easily, then it is too big.)Visitors may also select one item to take home that they can use, making the labyrinth an ever-changing installation as items are added and taken away.At the close of the project, the labyrinth will be disassembled and left-over items will be donated to local non-profit organizations, such as Habitat ReStore, Rescue Mission, and Goodwill Industries.
Free. 725.1904 or seccainfo@ncdcr.gov

Again and Never Again: Can We Coexist with Ourselves?
August 19 - September 1st - Guilford College Art Gallery - Greensboro
Environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck will create, with community participation, a monumental installation made entirely from recycled materials, Aug. 19-Sept. 1. (316-2483 to schedule time.) She will discuss her endeavor to live one year without using disposable plastic products at the reception in the Guilford College Art Gallery, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 5-7 p.m. as part of 'green & beyond', the college-wide theme year on sustainability. Exhibition runs through Oct 1.

Lanterns of Hope
Saturday, August 28 - 6:30-9 PM - Summer on Trade - Winston-Salem
During Summer on Trade at the corner of Sixth and Trade Streets, the Forsyth County Public Library will be providing attendees with peace lanterns to decorate with their own art.
Free. E-mail esparze2@forsyth.cc.

Catch Up with DWSP

Recently, the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership blog has had several arts-related posts. Check 'em out:

Winston-Salem Bus Shelter Competition!

Charlotte Blog takes notice of efforts in the City of Arts and Innovation

MICD 25 Spotlight on Winston-Salem, NC

Acts of Creation Opening at Enrichment Center

A reblog from Life in Forsyth: Local Acts of Creation.
Don't miss the opening of Acts of Creation at the Enrichment Center this Friday!

DATS 2010: Food for Thought update

DESIGN, ART, TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM

An Annual Piedmont Event About Important Ideas

2010: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Sawtooth Center, Winston-Salem

October 9, 10, 11

(This notice covers my contribution to DATS 2010. Click here for the official site.—Andrew Young)

My paid role is to insure multicultural and alternative viewpoints through the creation of venues and other forums at this year’s event. Food is about culture. It is one of those rare, big tent themes in which everyone in the Piedmont has an interest. Everyone can bring their experience and know-how.
The best gardener I knew was my grandmother. The most flexible cook I knew was my mom. Both were frugal and could do a lot with a little. In my view, those are high standards for designers, artists, and technology innovators, whether in good economic times or bad. (more)
Why I proposed food as the DATS theme (more)
Food Geography (more)
Participate in a venue (more)

Recreation of a UN shelter, food and water at Festival Park.

Grant to Fund Master Plan for Business 40 Bridges

Today the Winston-Salem Journal published new information on the Business 40 bridges project. The Creative Corridors Coalition will administer a grant to the Arts Council and City of Winston-Salem to assemble a team of urban designers, artists, and planners to create a master plan for the two-year construction project.

My hope is that the new bridges will allow for safer, more inviting pedestrian activity. I did some basic research a few years ago on bridges for the Florida Community Design Center in Gainesville, Florida. Here were a couple of my favorites:

One not so practical for two- or four-lane traffic:

By Miro Rivera Architects, this bridge is over Lake Austin in Austin, TX.

Zubizuri Bridge in Bilbao, Spain.

Documentary by WFU Student, Courteney Morris, Now on YouTube

Just got word that a short documentary by Wake Forest University student, Courteney Morris, is now available on the university's YouTube page. Here it is below:

Citizen Artist!

While browsing the Community Arts Network website (pretty much the best resource there is on socially-minded and interactive art), I found a syllabus for a class called Citizen Artist. The collaboration between high school and college students reminded me so much of Transforming Race, a project I posted on earlier, I couldn't wait to get a link to the syllabus up on the blog.

'Conflict Kitchen' Feeds You Public Art in the Form of Food

A delicious sandwich shop has sprung up in Pittsburgh called "Conflict Kitchen." Funded by the Sprout Fund, the Waffle Shop, and the Center for the Arts in Society at Carnegie Mellon, the restaurant is an experiment in public art. Conflict Kitchen only serves a yummy dish from a country with which the United States is in conflict. Currently, Conflict Kitchen is serving up an Iranian dish called Kubideh. Later in the year, the Conflict Kitchen will serve up dishes from other countries. Check out the great NPR story on the project.

Image from kubidehkitchen.com

Digital Arts & Technology Symposium 2010

There is a bit of information available on the Center for Design and Innovation's website regarding the food-focused Digital Arts & Technology Symposium (DATS) scheduled for this fall, and Greensboro artist and blogger, Andrew Young, has plenty of brainstorming available. Check out his blog to get psyched for DATS 2010.

RECYCLE LABYRINTH SWAP-A-THON

Learned of this cool community art partnership between Piedmont Craftsmen and SECCA via local blog, Life in Forsyth. Scheduled for Saturday, August 14 from 2 to 5 PM. Visit Life in Forsyth for more information!

Upcoming July Events

Art Can! Feed the Hungry
Saturday, July 3 - Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon - Greensboro
Art Can! is a new Fun Fourth attraction, sponsored by the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, to create a temporary public art installation made of canned foods items. Architects Shermin Ata of Shermin Ata Architects with Micah Martin and Emily Hinton of Moser Mayer Phoenix Architects have joined forces to design a U.S. Flag public art installation constructed out of Campbell Soup cans. Fun Fourth attendees will be able to watch the installation as well as construct their own designs made out of donated canned goods.
373-7523 or alayman@uacarts.org

Opening: Frau Fiber and Sewing with the People
Friday, July 2 - 6 - 11 PM - Elsewhere Artist Collaborative - Greensboro
Elsewhere is sewing non-stop this June with particularly exceptional visiting artist Frau Fiber. Our fabric workshop has undergone a renovation to become Revolution Textiles, a new site for community convergence around the patterns that thread our times past and present. We're hosting a full month of textile-related events and fabric related programming. Frau Fiber is working with former mill workers, Boys and Girls Club groups, newcomer women, and people like you who want to learn to sew and/or help create a collaborative quilt utilizing Elsewhere's fabrics collection. A special opening event for the collaborative quilt, featuring a free community dinner and ceremonial final stitch.
549-5555

Opening of Happy Hill: Past and Present
Friday, July 9 - 7 PM - Diggs Gallery at WSSU - Winston-Salem
Happy Hill is Winston-Salem’s oldest African American community. For generations, residents have preserved the oral history of the neighborhood and its families. The exhibition documents this important legacy through the art and testimony of community leaders such as Georgiana Paige McCoy, Maurice Pitts Johnson, Kathleen Bitting Mock, Pastor Edith Jones, Nathaniel Tucker, William “Rock” Bitting, Jerry Hanes, Glen Johnson, Ben Piggott, Leander Sales, Kayyum Allah, James Funches and others. The exhibition includes architectural models of area homes embellished by local participants, paintings, photographs, video documentation of the community and a multi-media installation of a juke joint. The show features works by celebrated artists Chandra Cox, Juan Logan, Larry Sass, Leon Woods and Willie Little.
750-2458

StoryLine and SECCA Partner to Collect Arts-Based Community Stories

Check out SECCA's blog for more information.

Littoral: Redefining Art

While trying to decipher the meaning of a Lockheed Martin ad I read about in the Washington Post this morning, (It reads, "The shape of littoral dominance has a familiar look." Hmm...) I found a United Kingdom organization, Littoral, whose mission has very little to do with seashores and coasts but everything to do with community arts.

Littoral is "a nonprofit arts trust which promotes new creative partnerships, critical art practices and cultural strategies in response to issues about social, environmental and economic change."

Most of their work, collected under the title New Fields, examines and promotes the relationship between arts and agriculture.

Image from Littoral website.

A particularly unique project involves a collaboration between trade unions and artists called Routes. Littoral puts it best: "Invoking the historical links between the arts and the trade union movement, the project was framed to encourage the unions to rethink their cultural role as promoters of cross community unity in post-settlement Ireland."

In 2003, Littoral learned that "Transport House" (image below) , the trade union headquarters building, would be sold. Transport House was very important both historically and architecturally. Littoral led two artists to document the history of the building and propose future uses (such as a cultural and community arts center for working people) Again with Arts Council funding, two artists were employed to document the history of the building, and its possible future use as a cultural and community arts centre for working people. Visit Littoral's website for an extensive and captivating explanation of what has followed the initial proposal.

Photo of Transport House by Frankie Quinn.