Artist Reception for #myDeanwood: Honoring the Past to Create the Future
Photography, Textiles and Mixed Media show off DC’s Artistic Talent
For Immediate Release
Media Contact
Seshat Y. Walker
DeanwoodxDesign Project Director
info@deanwoodxdesign.com
Washington, D.C. – July 24, 2012 – On Friday, July 27, at 6pm DeanwoodxDesign invites the public to the opening reception of the project’s second featured artist exhibit “#myDeanwood: Honoring the Past to Create the Future” displayed at Tubman-Mahan Gallery located inside the Center for Green Urbanism at 3938 Benning Road NE. The exhibit features the work of artists Amber Robles Gordon, Sherry Burton Ways, Zandra Chestnut, Esther Iverem, Benita Elliott and Aaron Brown. Works will be on display from July 27 until August 31.
The opening reception is one of many free events taking place every weekend in Deanwood until late October. DeanwoodxDesign is funded by an ArtPlace grant from the DC Office of Planning (OP) and managed by Partners for Livable Communities (Partners). DxD is one of four Arts and Culture Temporiums that OP has funded through ArtPlace in the emerging creative neighborhoods of Deanwood, Anacostia (Lumen8), Brookland (Artland), and upper 14th Street NW (Spring Road to Longfellow Street).
The DeanwoodxDesign schedule of events is available online and at the Center for Green Urbanism as well as the other Temporium spaces, Deanwood libraries and recreation centers. The schedule features a list of DxD events, information about the Deanwood Heritage Tour and a detailed map outlining Deanwood Temporiums and attractions.
DeanwoodxDesign Creative Director Kimberly Gaines along with the DxD team use the #myDeanwood hashtag to note positive happenings within Deanwood in social media to counter some of the negative media this neighborhood receives.
“The intent of this exhibition is to give honor and praise to Deanwood’s history for we know it shapes our future. We are highlighting a community with all of its facets not just its negative dimensions,” says Kimberly, who is also the exhibition’s curator.
“There is amazing talent woven through these works. It shows that tradition is present even when flipped into new meaning. The future is bright because our foundation is strong.”
The neighborhood and all events are accessible by foot, bike, and public transit via Deanwood’s lush park trails, three Metro stops (Orange line - Deanwood and Minnesota Ave., and Blue line - Benning Rd.), and four Capital Bikeshare stations.
DxD collaborators include: The Center for Green Urbanism, Cultural Tourism DC, Deanwood Heights Main Streets, East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, IDEA Public Charter High School, George Washington University Event Management Program, Life Pieces to Masterpieces, The Fishing School, The National Building Museum, The National Hand Dancing Association, The Pink Line Project, WeAct Radio, and Word, Beats, and Life, Inc.
For more information, contact DeanwoodxDesign Project Director Seshat Y. Walker at info@deanwoodxdesign.com
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About the Center for Green Urbanism
Always looking for ways to decrease their carbon footprints, the Center offers temporary and long-term office space at affordable rates. Tenants share offices with the amenities of a professional environment including Wi-Fi, copying and fax capabilities. As stated in its motto, The Center for Green Urbanism is where urban meets nature. Here, urbanism is defined as “The culture or way of life of city dwellers.” Located inside the Center, the Tubman-Mahan Gallery maximizes on the plethora of available wall space. Exhibitions, openings, artist talks and other events occur throughout the year
www.centerforgreenurbanism.org
About DeanwoodxDesign
DeanwoodxDesign highlights one of the District’s earliest African American communities from a design perspective. During a four-month period (June 30-Oct. 31, 2012), DeanwoodxDesign will feature workshops, exhibitions, and cultural events that reflect the theme of “design” from four unique aspects: community, sustainability, multimedia, and lifestyle. This effort will illustrate how this neighborhood has historically developed and continues to nurture its creative community.
www.deanwoodxdesign.com
ArtPlace
ArtPlace is a collaboration of nine of the nation’s top foundations, eight federal agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts, and six of the nation’s largest banks. ArtPlace supports creative placemaking with grants, loans, research and advocacy.
The District of Columbia Office of Planning
The Mission of the Office of Planning (OP) is to guide development of the District of Columbia, including the preservation and revitalization of our distinctive neighborhoods, by informing decisions, advancing strategic goals, encouraging the highest quality outcomes, and engaging all communities. www.planning.dc.gov/DC/Planning
Partners for Livable Communities
Partners for Livable Communities is a non-profit leadership organization working to improve the livability of communities by promoting quality of life, economic development, and social equity. Since its founding in 1977, Partners has helped communities set a common vision for the future, discover and use new resources for community and economic development, and build public/private coalitions to further their goals.
www.livable.org
