The Center for Green Urbanism-DC Host of 2011 Making HerStory

Established in 2010, the Center for Green Urbanism (CGU) is a 3,200-square foot facility located in Washington, DC’s Ward 7 on the edge of Fort Mahan Park, a national park site and gateway to the Fort Circle Park Trail.  The mission of CGU is to create a business-friendly environment that provides small to midsize businesses with affordable office space and services in a sustainable and energy-efficient “green” demonstration facility. CGU is the brainchild of environmentalist and photographer, Zandra Chestnut, along with husband, Dennis Chestnut, a Washington, DC community leader and Executive Director of Groundwork Anacostia River, DC.

What’s CGU all about?

An Environmental Model

·         Powered with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting and appliances and solar shade window treatments

·         Purified drinking water system and other water-saving devices

·         Eco-friendly interior design ( windows and wall coverings) by Design Scheme Interiors

·         Aggressive recycling and reuse practices

A Business Incubator

·         Offering short and long-term office space for small to mid-size organizations and start-ups

·         Spacious conference room and event space with a 120 person capacity

·         Wireless Internet

·         Network fax and copy machine

A Fusion Between Green Urbanism and Art

·         Home of the Tubman-Mahan Art Gallery, named after Harriett Tubman and Dennis Mahan

·         Year-round art exhibits, many focusing on Sustainable Art projects.

***Special Exhibition***

Making HerStory 6

Call for Entrants:

“Image of the Dreamer Makers”

Baltimore, MD

The Art with Joe Series at Peace & a Cup of Joe Café, with the Thickart Collaborative, in conjunction with “Making HerStory 6: the era of our dreams,” presents “Image of the Dream Makers,” a pictorial celebration of women in the arts.

Making HerStory celebrates the vast and diverse forms of creativity offered by women artists. This year’s focus is found in a renewed energy among many of the artists in the Making HerStory family.  HerStory 6 is about collaboration, growth, and sustainability.  “Image of the Dream Makers,” celebrates the women artists who contribute to the fabric of our history through their creativity.  This exhibition is unique in that it celebrates women in all forms of art—not just those who create 2-D work.  Its focus is on the women who create the art, not just the art itself.  Women artists will be celebrated from all genres in this exhibition: visual art, literary arts, culinary arts, music arts (signer, songwriter, producer, etc), theater arts (playwright, actress, director, light tech, etc), and the list goes on and on.  If this call reaches you and you think you’re an artist, you probably are.

We are seeking electronic submissions of individual “self-portraits.”  Self-portraits can be traditional self-portraiture, images taken by another, or a graphic.  Images should be submitted in JPEG format, preferably 300dpi.  Portraits should date no further back than 2009. 

Exhibition Dates

Exhibition dates are March 4 – April 16, 2011. As part of “Making HerStory,” there will be a Tea to celebrate this exhibition on Saturday April 2, 2011 at Peace & a Cup of Joe.

    

Entry Details

Interested participants shall submit an expression of interest of up to three (3) JPEGs (a resolution of at least 300 dpi prefered) of Portraits to herstory@thickart.com.  The curator will select one image for use in the exhibition.  Entrant should also fill out and return the attached form with biographical data.  There is NO FEE to participate in this celebration.  Portraits are for exhibition purposes only and will not be for sale. 

Deadline

Expressions of interest must be received by February 11, 2011 to be considered.  However, early entry is encouraged. 

For Additional Information:

Contact Michelle d. Parrish at mik@thickart.com. 

Washington, DC Call for Art!

Call for Art:

“Making HerStory 6: the era of our dreams”

Washington, DC

The ThickArt Collaborative, LLC, in conjunction with Authentic Contemporary Art and The Center for Green Urbanism (Washington, DC), seeks submissions for “Making HerStory 6: the era of our dreams.”

Making HerStory celebrates the vast and diverse forms of creativity offered by women artists. This year’s focus is found in a renewed energy among many of the artists in the Making HerStory family.  HerStory 6 is about collaboration, growth, and sustainability.  As 2011 marks the beginning of a new decade, we have coined this new season “the era of our dreams.”  In the spirit of collaboration, TAC is proud to come together again with Authentic Contemporary Art in co-curating this exhibit.

We are seeking submissions of two-dimensional original artwork in any medium that embodies the artist’s reflection on the theme, “the era of our dreams.” All artwork must be no larger than 30″W x 30″H in size and must be properly wired and ready to hang.  Unframed works should have neatly finished edges.

Exhibition Dates

Exhibition dates are March 4 – 31, 2011. The Grand Opening Reception is scheduled for Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Center for Green Urbanism, Tubman-Mahan Gallery.

    

Entry Details

Interested participants shall submit an expression of interest of up to three (3) JPEGs (a resolution of at least 300 dpi prefered) of artwork you propose to include in Making HerStory to herstory@thickart.com.

Deadline

Expressions of interest must be received by February 11, 2011 to be considered.  However, early entry is encouraged. 

Notification

Artists selected to exhibit will be notified no later than February 16, 2011; however, notification may be provided on a rolling basis from the issuance of this call.  There will be a $25 hanging fee for selected artists to reserve their place. Installation is scheduled for February 26 & 27, 2011.  Instructions for delivery of work shall be included in notification.

Artwork is to be for sale at prices established by the artist. Artist will retain 70 percent of all sales.

For Additional Information:

Contact Michelle d. Parrish at mik@thickart.com. 

She's Making HerStory: Heather Schmaedeke

Heather Schmaedeke always been interested in art and loves being able to completely immerse herself in the art of creation.  "I feel like I have been transported into the work, it’s almost like mediation.  What I enjoy most is visual problem solving; working on the interplay of color, texture and medium in the pursuit of creating something new and unexpected," says Heather.   For Heather, it is important for each piece to have the space it needs to grow organically, and then react to each addition to the piece.  "This allows for a visual dialog between the different elements within the piece, while inviting the viewer to participate in this visceral dialog," she explains.

  

She likes to use a variety of mediums in different combinations.  Her choice of materials is married to the image that she creates.  In her own words, "...the subject matter determines the tools that I use to create each piece.  When I work in my studio, I am reminded of the spontaneity, variety and mystery that is woven into daily life, it is up to me to notice and savor it.  I begin my pieces by unwrapping and examining life’s little nuances and reacting to them as they unfold.  I know that a piece has been successfully completed, when the artwork has become more than just the sum of its parts."

2011: The Era of Our Dreams

"Making Herstory 6," is on the horizon. Our theme this year is, "the era of our dreams." We believe this to be a fitting theme as we transition into a new decade. As artists, we've faced many struggles in the last few years making our futures as artists sometimes unclear. But, we see a new energy arising from the ashes of the last decade and its time to reclaim our dreams.

This year, it is not just about the art. We will be focusing more on collaboration, growth, and sustainability. We are also expanding our idea of art and including other products born from the creartive process.

As always, HerStory is a celebration. We are Making HerStory everyday and this, indeed, is the era of our dreams.