She's Making HerStory: Jessica Hopkins

Washingtonian native Jessica M. Hopkins began drawing at the early age of four. By her being the fourth of nine children she quickly learned that communication is not limited to talking. She was recently diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer, and found her role to recovery through a motivational force. Jessica’s honors include a commissioned to create 15 48x48 canvases, for UDC, and illustrating for a medical book titled “Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Handbook” by El Gloria Harrison in 2009. Now she is currently a MFA candidate at Howard University.

       Jessica Hopkins is an expressionistic portrait painter, examining the role of identity and emotion through her subjects. Color is the motivating force behind her paintings,serving as a veil that covers the subject’s insecurities and guise. All of her portraits serve as self-portraits, which represents the faces of others to reflect her most inner being. Hopkins draws and paints from a diverse range of influences, from the Washington Color School to the melodic patterns of Africobra in order to evocatively explore the complex ambiguities and uncertainty of life.

She's Making HerStory: Kendra Chatmon

"The Offering"

Kendra Chatmon is a Native Washingtonian. She schooled on both the east and west coast.  She has worked in Northern California, producing educational television documentaries for an Oakland station, while also working on a collection of poetry/essays which she published in the early 1990’s.

 In the 90’s, she started her own art business, Ohma Creations.  She produced and sold original hand painted earthenware.  Her work has been exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum of American History and celebrities such as Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington have pieces of her work. 

Kendra traveled to Nigeria in 1996, with the goal of studying the local art while continuing her own educational pursuits.  She lived there from  2003 with her small son, whom she home schooled.   She found the people very receptive to her talents.  She worked in radio while there, producing thirty plus programs on topics ranging from women empowerment to children’s stories.  She also taught drawing/painting and creative writing in the local private schools.  Several murals were produced in Port Harcourt, Nigeria by her students.  Her interactions with the local tribal leaders and elders helped her compile research for an original illustrated children’s book, based on her African experiences.

Kendra is the mother of four children.  She has three grown daughters.  Her only son, who shared her African adventure graduated from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts and now attends college.  Kendra now lives in Ward 7 and teaches art at a private Christian school in Upper Marlboro.

She's Making HerStory: Erika Morrison

"Rendezvous"

Erika Morrison was born in Houston Texas, and has lived in Venezuela, Spain and Holland.

She is entirely self taught and has been painting for many years in a style which she considers unique.

An abstractionist artist.

Her paintings represent a desire for beauty in an increasingly harsh and unnaturally modern world,

where the emphasis is all too often loud and aggressive.

Having no desire to emulate this,

she uses elements of nature and architecture as a foundation 

along with expressions of color to create her own universe.

She is currently living and painting 

in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina.

A form of creative hibernation in splendid isolation.

She's Making HerStory: Bonnie MacAllister

"DIY USA"

Bonnie MacAllister renders moments in multimedia: documentary

photography, abstract paintings, film, and performance. 

Her films have been featured on ClassWarKaraoke.com (UK), and her writing has been published by Paper Tiger Media (Brisbane), nth Position (UK), Grasp(Czech Republic), and Dead Drunk Dublin (Ireland). Recent

stagings of her plays were at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the

Shubin Theatre, and the Adrienne Theatre. She has performed at NYFA

and the Cat Cat Club in Paris. She has recently shown her visual

artwork at the Delaware Art Museum, Galeria 6 (Mexico), the Center for

Green Urbanism (DC), University of Pennsylvania, Montclair State

University (NJ), and Florissant Valley Art Gallery in St. Louis, MO.

She recently exhibited as part of Look! on Lancaster Avenue as part of

“Women of Lancaster Avenue.” She studied under Jacques Derrida, Helene

Cixous, and Agnes Varda. She is a Fulbright‐Hays recipient to Ethiopia

and a Pushcart Prize nominee.

Artist statement

Often pieces are multi-genre, fusing painting, photography, slide

installations, spoken word, video, and performance. In photographic

stills, she mimics the lighting of times past, slips shutter speeds,

and she often animates using stop action techniques culled from 35 mm

and Holga images. She is drawn to pageantry, burlesque, and motion

portraiture. She will take multiple images of an act and piece it back

together in a deconstructed film, a slide series, or gif painting. Her

documentary photographic work depicts the Coptic imagery and the women

and children whom she visited in eight cities of Ethiopia in 2009.

She's Making HerStory: Akua Walker

"The Pianist"

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Akua Walker has continuously been exposed to the world of arts which early on developed and shaped her painting skills all. The native Washingtonian’s inspiration comes from life’s everyday experiences and challenges. The people that she encounters daily are her motivation to create art. She uses whatever emotion that is generated from balancing work, life, family, and relationships and in turn, pours that energy onto the canvas. 


Many times you can find this Artist simply sitting down listening to music while meditating and with the stroke of a brush, she will start creating. She believes those images come from God or some higher power. Although Walker has never had formal training, her creations have evolved and she continues to hone her craft. For this Artist, to live is to create.

Akua’s work has been showcased at “Taste of Kings” Art and Poetry Showcase, the “Jazz Brunch” and Art Exhibition at Howard University, the 2009 Artomatic showcase, and three of her own successful art showcases with the most recent being December 3^rd, 2011 at Jin Lounge DC. She was a featured artist on the Graylivin.com blog for the month of December 2011 as well as a featured guest on the “Jazz Collector’s” show on WPFW 89.3 FM on November 29, 2011.  Whether it is counseling, dancing, music or art, she puts her heart into all that she touches.

Making HerStory7: Call for Art

Call for Art:

“Making HerStory 7: journey of creative spirits”

Washington, DC

The Making HerStory Art Series, in conjunction with The Center for Green Urbanism (Washington, DC), seeks submissions for “Making HerStory 7: journey of creative spirits.”

Making HerStory celebrates the vast and diverse forms of creativity offered by women artists. This year’s focus celebrates the journey women artist travel in their quest to explore their inner creativity.  HerStory 7 continues to encourage collaboration, growth, and sustainability among women artist.  2011 marked the beginning of a new decade which we coined  “the era of our dreams.”  As we carry on through this new era in 2012, we continue to travel the journey of creative spirits.  In the spirit of collaboration, the Making HerStory series is proud to come together again with the Center for Green Urbanism 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, “journey of creative spirits.” All artwork should be no larger than 30″W x 30″H in size and must be properly wired and ready to hang.  Larger works may be considered on a case by case basis. No saw-toothed hangers or hooks will be accepted.  Unframed works should be properly wired and have neatly finished edges.  In addition, there is limited space for small sculptured media. 

Exhibition Dates

Exhibition dates are March 1 – 31, 2012. The Grand Opening Reception is scheduled for Friday, March 2, 2012, 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 13, 2012 to be considered.  However, early entry is encouraged. 

Notification

Artists selected to exhibit will be notified no later than February 19, 2012; 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 25 & 26, 2012.  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. 

Art Down to Earth: Carla Jupiter

Carla Denise is an artist that keeps her art down to earth.  She describes it as soulful and funky...

expressionism with an urban edge to which people can not only relate, but also access. 

She started taking her art serious in 2000.  After moving into a new home, the bare walls overwhelmed her; thus, creating her first painting--a three piece abstract. It quickly became a conversation piece to everyone who visited.  She has been painting every since!

Expressing the beauty in life through paintings, her art is influenced by fashion and patterns.  She works with acrylics, blending color, shape, and form; celebrating the love of life; dreaming; long summer days; friendship;  roots; learning; and positive growth. "Each piece of art carries with it, a moment, thought, or emotion, through it’s vibrant liveliness and movement, concentrating in the area of all things positive..  Everything is and will always be painted in a positive light," says Jupiter.

May her next piece of art be for you!  Carla Jupiter is a 2011 Making HerStory participant.

Rising Pheonix: Jade Andwele

Jade Andwele is a visual artist, writer, crafter, poet, and performer who focuses on healing and community building through multi-dimensional art and creativity.  As an alum of the University of Virginia (Women’s Studies & African American Studies) and Howard University Graduate School (Sociology), Jade fuses her scholarly background with the arts to advocate for women, the Black community, and youth with a focus on social justice, and sexual and mental health. She is an active playwright and performance artist as a founding member of the award winning theater company The Saartjie Project in Washington DC.  

Jade recently founded the Community He(ART) Project, an arts organization, through which she facilitates creativity workshops and community programs in Virginia. Jade is also a rising graduate student at the Eastern Virginia Medical School where she is completing requirements to become a licensed Art Therapist. When she is not creating and performing, Jade can be found playing at the beach with her pit bull, Nyia. Jade is a 2011 Making HerStory participant.  Learn my about Jade by visiting www.jadeandwele.com.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Shawn Yancy is Making HerStory

"I don't believe in coloring between the lines,"

Many years ago, when we first met Shawn Yancy, it was by chance that we gained a first glance at some of her early art.  We were in shear awe that our favorite local news personality was one of us: an artist.  The scale of her work was unbelievable in size and complexity and we were instant fans.  Making HerStory is elated to boast that it was our platform on which Shawn made her artistic debut. 

An award winning journalist, Shawn Yancy anchors FOX 5 News at 5 and 10pm. When she's not telling people's stories on the news, she's telling her own stories through her art. Her most recent mixed media collection was shown through the Art Registry for Dress for Success DC. “It was an exploration of techniques and mediums. It evolved into a collaboration of moods and emotions,” says Yancy.

Shawn has been drawing, painting and creating as long as she can remember. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three sons.  This marks her 3rd season supporting Making HerStory.  She is currently planning a new exhibition slated to open in June 2011 at the well known Washington Design Center.  On Sunday March 20, she will join the H6 team by moderating a panel discussion following the screening of "Who Does She Think She Is," at the Center for Green Urbanism; 2pm; Free.

        

"Mouth Music:" Stephanie Renee

March 1st marked the beginning of Women's History Month.  The HerStory girls wore their Alice Paul "Jailed for Freedom" pins to get in the spirit.  It also marked the opening of "Making HerStory 6: the era of our dreams."  On Friday night, tucked away quietly in relax mode at the opening reception in the Tubman-Mahan Gallery, was vocalist Stephanie Renee.  The tweets began to flow, Stephanie Renee was in the building...and rightfully so; because, she is making herstory.  


Stephanie Renee makes no apologies for her lifelong immersion in the arts and embraced her destiny early--as most of her family remembers (though convincing them that this is how she would earn her living would be a bit more difficult). An accomplished singer/songwriter, journalist, broadcast producer, actor, arranger/composer, educator, filmmaker, and poet, Stephanie is always looking for the next creative mountain to climb. Her latest a cappella EP, "MOUTH MUSIC," is her third solo recorded effort and joins a long list of appearances on other successful releases with such artists as Steal Vybe, Marlon D, Opolopo, Patti LaBelle, and Jill Scott. Her next project is a series of short films tracking her family’s impressive century-old legacy in entertainment, titled THE EMBASSY.  Stephanie joins the line up of events for the sixth annual Making HerStory celebration with an EP launch party in celebration of the release of "Mouth Music," on Thursday March 10, 2011 at the Center for Green Urbanism, 3938 Benning Road, NE at 6:30pm.

Light a Fuse: Mary Nichols aka DJ FUSION!

Mary Nichols, also known as, DJ Fusion, is a Radio, Mixtape, and Club DJ,  whose main musical focus is the Urban Music Genre (Hip-Hop, Reggae, Funk, Jazz, Soul/R&B, House, Disco, Electronica, Rock, Disco, World Music, etc.), on the independent and mainstream level.

Nichols founded the syndicated FuseBox Radio Broadcast in 1998 to be a media outlet that consistently exposes the absolute BEST of Hip-Hop and Soul Music  from all over the world along with bringing quality interviews, news, and commentary. Along with fellow co-host,DJ, Producer, and Partner Jon Judah, who joined FuseBox in 2004, the FuseBox Radio Broadcast works daily to fulfill its mission and bring great sounds, vibes, and content to the masses.

From its original roots at Rutgers University Radio, the syndicated FuseBox Radio Broadcast is a 3 hour mixshow that has spread to over 25+ international FM & Internet Radio stations and website outlets <http://www.blackradioisback.com/p/fusebox-radio-broadcast.html>  as of February 2011.

The business FuseBox Media LLC was founded by DJ Fusion & Jon Judah in the mid-2000s to expand on their radio show ventures as well as work with other media extensions (including the official syndicated FuseBox Radio Blog, BlackRadioIsBack.com <http://www.blackradioisback.com/>  - an updated re-visioning of their original Exit9HipHop.com site), music production, mixtape hosting and more. Mary Nichols is also a freelance writer, speaker, and panelist.  She is a 2011 Making HerStory participant.

Suzanne Njeri Tetu: Biography

"Purple Maiden"

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Suzanne Njeri Tetu has been involved with the visual, performing and literary arts since early childhood.  Relocating to the United States in the mid- 1990s to pursue her creative goals, Suzanne has avidly studied and engaged in the disciplines of drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, theater, literature, and creative writing. 

A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, New York Film Academy, and a certified Kukuwa Dance Workout instructor, Suzanne enjoys all forms of creative expressionism with a passion for the studio arts.  During her time in the United States, Suzanne has embarked on a variety of endeavors ranging from commissioned portraits to illustrating book covers and storyboards. 


In 2010 she established her art business presenting to the world all that is "Exclusively, Njeri!"  Suzanne is a 2011 HerStory participant.

Hot Projects in the Works 2011

• Calvert County Student Art Show, Visual Arts Judge                        
• Creative Quarantine with artist Larry Poncho Brown
• Commission pieces, child portrait
• Commission piece, church history painting

Image of a Dancer: Tawana Alston in her owns works

"Who am I?  I often ask myself the same question.  They call me Tawana Alston.  The applely core of me exists in being Woman, Wife, and Mother of three beauties.  Never before have I truly thought of myself as an artist, but the artistry is woven and intertwined in my heart and head."

Now let’s talk about dance.  My passion for dance began as a child about the age of 5.  I was like most other little girls dreaming of becoming a superstar...Envisioning myself in a classical ballet like Swan Lake.  Thank you mom for helping me connect those early dots.  She put me in studio dance classes.  It was then when I developed the appreciation, but wasn’t ready to go the real disciplined route.   I became an observer of sorts.  It was not until I joined the Ebenezer A.M.E  [Ft. Washington, MD] Dance Ministry that I felt dance in my heart.  It was total reciprocity; Jesus was in and ministry through dance poured out.  At the applely core of me, liturgical and interpretive dance seeds were planted firmly.  But on this journey I found respect for dance as an art form.  Ballet is so necessary…..good discipline! Like Alvin Ailey is to black dance.  Modern and lyrical technique is the dance space that comes natural for me.  You may see inflections of hip-hop in my choreography.  Hip hop takes a shape of its own….steeped in its culture. Young people have it down….as I watch them ticking, locking, popping, jerks/rejerks & choreoing it until the judges say that was the best or that needs work ….Still willing to conquer that New Age stuff though.

My inspiration to dance and choreograph comes from music.  I usually internalize the rhythms and lyrics to to the songs.  I find balance with movements until they take shape.  They help me keep order amid the attention-deficit life of teaching.   The finished product usually tells a story.  But to smooth out the elements of these 2 worlds, I birthed a new baby called Parallel Visions, LLC.  This is my dance company, a place where I can work out this artsy business.  Currently, I am a part of the Production Staff at Renaissance Christian Academy, a freelance dancer, and a choreographer."  

She's Making HerStory: Anike Robinson...in her own words

"As an artist, writer, high school teacher, and activist, I look for opportunities to educate people through a variety of methods. I am an advocate for diversity in the arts, the classroom, and the media. I was raised during an era when South Africa still had the shackles of apartheid tied to its feet; supported and paid for by American dollars. Even as a young student, I learned firsthand how to organize, educate, and disseminate information about Apartheid and other issues of concern. By watching and working with TransAfrica, I learned how protests, film festivals, and fundraisers could rally support and influence public opinion. In the 1980’s, constant and accurate media coverage and the challenge of organizing people in support of sanctions against Apartheid helped to open the prison doors of Nelson Mandela and hundreds of other freedom fighters imprisoned on Robin Island. So what does this have to do with me as an artist and creator of Sweetroot?

Almost twenty years later, the lessons learned about local and national politics have served me well as an artist. My work incorporates prose, wood, resin, found objects, and other materials to tell stories. My first collection entitled, "The Memoir Series," included 14 paintings ranging from 20”x20” to 20”x 60” in size. This collection chronicles my life as a child growing up inside the household of an activist.

My latest work explores the world of myth, magic, and the overlapping worlds of religion and the unseen world.  The unseen world, that seems fused to my dreams, blooms in my waking life in the form of mixed media paintings, talisman, and objects."

Anike Robinson is a supporter of Making HerStory and is a 2011 participant.

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.

She's Making HerStory: Meet Tamara Thomas in her own words

"As an artist I create.  'The Art' I channel allows many to experience the creative self of the 'engager' and consider what they/we are co-creating.  I am excited to be part of this awareness of the feminine contribution and the re-balancing of feminine and masculine energies on this plane.  The 'Art' illuminates women's internal power to create the realities she desires to experience.  The 'Art" in this show [H5] include the honoring of systems and names given to systems found in a variety of cultural traditions.  Via this process, messages are delivered.  Interaction between engager and 'Art' allows for receiving of vibrations of the 'Art."  When the receiver makes contact with this vibration...the cycle of creation continues and the 'Art' is sealed in continuance. 

'The Art,' ever birthing from many conscious and unconscious influence in my life, possesses spiritual and technical layerings.  In it, one can experience the layering of nature, thoughts, perspective, interlacing of chords, thoughts, vibrations, overlapping and inter-acting of dreams and realities--all creations.  Materials that contribute to layering, vibrancy, transparency and texture all aide in my desire for 'The Art' to be felt internally, externally, and have 'vibrational' impact continually."

*Tamara Thomas is a native of Trinidad and Tobago.  Her mediums include Batik and mixed/multi media 2d works.  She has exhibited in both the U.S. and the Caribbean. 

She's Making HerStory: Meet Therese Brown in her own words

"This series, and much of the work I produce, expresses my ongoing relationship to the earth and the theme of introspection.  The connectedness of nature and the surrounding world, guides my understanding of what's within myself and how I fit into the whole.

My work uses a variety of techniques, but almost always includes some film, traditional darkroom printing, and/or alternative/historic print making such as cyanotypes. These hands on methods of photography help me slow down the process and offer the element of surprise, with the cyanotypes in particular producing a unique, one of a kind artwork for each print made."

*Therese Brown resides in the SanFransico Bay area with her husband and two children.  She has been a photographer for over 22 years.

She's Making Herstory: Meet Ras In Her Own Words

"London born Cheryl "Ras" Thuesday, is a six-year freelance designer and illustration junkie who resides in Washington, DC.  Her clientele consist of BBH, Big Chair, and Children's Hospital.  This bohemian painter studied graphic design at the School of Visual Arts.  Find her at your nearest coffee shop sipping on a lovely mocha, or walking around town looking for her next inspiration."

She's Making Herstory: Meet Patricia Steck in her own words

"I paint because I can't remember a time when I didn't.  Painting and drawing is what allows me to express my thoughts, my disappointments, my past and present experiences.  It also gives me the opportunity to engage, perhaps connect with people I'd never meet in an interesting way.  I tend to gravitate to using imagery, double entendre, and metaphor to tell a story in my paintings.

I choose Gouche as my medium because it allows me more freedome with color intensity.  I can lay the colors down dry brush, giving a more flat but funky, rich color...or, wet brush which lets the texture of the paper show through giving the images a dreamy quality the same way traditional watercolor can be used."

*Pat Steck is currently on staff at the Arts and Cultural Heritage Dvision at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, MD.  She holds an Associates Degree from the Maryland College of Art and Design and has worked in the field of graphic design for over 25 years. 

Art is the Intersection

When Michelle d. Parrish created the "Making HerStory" brand concept, it sort of just happened.  An exhibition that she had developed turned out to be a woman only showing and happened to fall at the start of Women's history month.  She thought it would be a good idea to tie the two together.  Little did she know that other fellow female artisans would agree.  Since that time, she's met dozens of women artists with whom she's talked, laughed, mentored, broken bread, and created.  She's found much diversity among the women she's met making the opportunities to learn and grow astounding.

What amazes her most is the "oneness" she feels among the women she's met in HerStory.  "The stereotypical boundary lines of difference do not exist in HerStory.  ...Not in age, race, skill level, genre, ethnicity, religion...it does not exist," says Parrish.  Her favorite example of that of the relationship between she and co-curator, Jennifer Judelsohn.  "Jen is Jewish and I am Christian; so, when we began working together we had to find balance on weekends because she observed on Saturday and I on Sunday.  In our desire to respect one another, we found an amazing number of similarities between us."  HerStory 5 is their second year working together as co-curators, but they have been friends since they met a few years prior.

As an artist, Parrish's style is organic which most would say is an overflow from her personal style.  She is connected to and believes in the creativity of each woman with which HerStory has come into contact.  She firmly believes that once an artist participates in the program, she is forever art part of HerStory.  As Parrish to eloquently puts it, "We make art.  We are women.  In those things, we are one.  Art is the Intersection by which our paths cross and we connect."

What is "the Inclination to Rise?"

Last year HerStory did it's usual tour of Artomatic in support of its participating artists and other women in the arts. It was fantastic, inspiring, and motivating. On that same day, co-curator, Jennifer Judelsohn, hosted "cupcakes and conversation" at her display area. It was there that I saw, "the inclination to rise." It was the theme of Jen's exhibition. As if Jen's work had not always inspired me to think and feel deeply, this theme resonated with me long after I left the event.

This year's theme, "the inclination to rise," is inspired by Jen and her work and its appropriate connection to women. I asked Jen to tell me about theme and these are her words:

"Life is not for the faint of heart. In the natural course of things, everything moves toward a state of entropy, chaos, decay, and death. In my own life, I have dealt with a chronic illness for more than twenty years and have come face to face with this sense of decline.

In the past few years I have began a journey in which I follow the impulses of my body— to rest when it wants to rest, and to move when it wants to move. Often I get up only because I have an “obligation to rise.” On days when I have no such obligation, I have allowed myself the time to rest.

For a while, I thought I would never get up if I did not have a reason. Yet, over time, I have found that I have 'the inclination to rise'...

...a call to spirit to move beyond the ordinary, to rise up in the face of pain, exhaustion, deep fatigue. Though the experience is personal to me, the query is universal: What inspires the soul to rise above the obstacles and challenges and natural propensities of life? Perhaps it is a desire for connection, a curiosity to discover something new, an experience of something inspiring or beautiful, or a sense of adventure. Perhaps it is all of these things and more."

HerStory5 Is Here!!!!

The fifth anniversary of Making HerStory is here! We gearing up and getting ready but we can't do it without you. So we're calling on you:

Call for Art:

“Making HerStory 5: the inclination to rise”

The ThickArt Collaborative, LLC, and Neshama Soulworks Studio, LLC, in conjunction with the Peace & a Cup of Joe Café (Baltimore, Maryland), and Beanetics Coffee Roasters (Annandale, Virginia), and friends, seek submissions for “Making HerStory 5: the inclination to rise.”

Making HerStory celebrates the vast and diverse forms of creativity offered by women artists. Making HerStory highlights art by women in many forms: visual, written and spoken word, and music. This year’s event will mark the fifth annual celebration of women in the arts. In celebration of HerStory’s fifth anniversary, five youth female artists, ages 6-18, will be provided scholarships to participate in this year’s exhibition.

We are seeking submissions of two-dimensional original artwork in any medium that embodies the theme of women’s inclination to rise.” Nude or risqué material will not be accepted. 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.

Each venue has limitations of space, so a variety of sizes is preferred. The curators will determine which venue best suits your work. Individual artists may submit up to three works for consideration.

Exhibition Dates

Exhibition dates are March 1, through April 23, 2010. The Grand Opening Reception is scheduled for March 13, 2010, at Peace & a Cup of Joe.

Entry Details

Interested participants shall submit an expression of interest including an artist’s statement (no more than 100 words) and a biographical statement (no more than 100 words); and 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 and jennifer@soulworksstudio.com. An application form is included for your convenience (send us an email for the attachment).

Deadline

Expressions of interest must be received by January 30, 2010, to be considered. However, early entry is encouraged.

Notification

Selection of exhibiting artists is at the sole discretion of The ThickArt Collaborative and Neshama Soulworks Studio. Artists selected to exhibit will be notified no later than February 7, 2010; however, notification may be provided on a rolling basis from the issuance of this call. Upon notification, exhibiting artists must sign an artist’s agreement with The ThickArt Collaborative and Neshama Soulworks Studio and submit a $25 hanging fee to reserve their place. Installation is scheduled for February 27 & 28, 2010. 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; The ThickArt Collaborative and Neshama Soulworks Studio will receive a commission of 30 percent on all sales.

For Additional Information:

Contact Michelle d. Parrish at mik@thickart.com or Jennifer Judelsohn at jennifer@soulworksstudio.com.