Arts on the Block

Where Creative Young People Set Their Sights on Bright Futures

e-Newsletter: May 2009

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The CWS Mural

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COMMISSION ARTWORK

Enliven and enhance your home, office, place of business or worship with an AOB-created masterpiece! Designed to your specifications, AOB's artwork adds beauty and "soul" to any space!

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Arts on the Block is pleased to update you on some of the new happenings with our program, our talented young apprentices, and our beautiful artwork!

Contents:

“Artpreneurs, Inc.” – A New “M.O.” for Arts on the Block!

Arts on the Block on Facebook

"Pour Your ART Out": One heck-of-a workshop!

Child Welfare Servces Design Team

Summer 2009 "Pour Your ART Out" Workshop

YOUR Commission…It’s Not Too Late!

Save the Date: "Benches on the Block" Party August 1

AOB on TV

Yoga at Studio Gallery

"All the Right Moves"

Best Wishes to Our Departing Intern and Volunteer!

And...Welcome, Vanessa!

Special “Thanks” to the Collaboration Council!

DONATE NOW!

After six years of providing services for young people under our parent organization, Career Transition Center, Arts on the Block has applied for non-profit status under the name “Artpreneurs,Inc.” and will become a non-profit corporation. We’ll still operate under the name “Arts on the Block” and look forward to building our repertoire of initiatives for this special population under our new structure. Despite the current economic climate, we are charting this new course because we’ll attract more support and operate more effectively as an independent entity. We are excited about this change, and grateful to CTC, our Advisory Board/Board of Directors, and all others whose continued support has brought us to this exhilarating - and critical - point in our evolution!

AOB is on Facebook! An easy way to show your support – and become an “insider” – is by becoming a fan. Not already on FB? Find out more about our Facebook presence.

Lead Artist Carien Quiroga and apprentice David R. cutting out panels for Child Welfare Services mural.

Spring break for the most recent crop of Arts on the Block apprentice artists was anything but a vacation. Rather, it was the race to the finish of an intense – and intensely gratifying – five month workshop. The volume and quality of work produced was a highpoint for Arts on the Block. Lead teaching artist Carien Quiroga again extracted the best from the 21 young apprentices –assisted by AOB alumna Natalie Ramirez, a rising senior at the University of Maryland.

The workshop’s grand finale took place April 29 with the dedication of a new mural, “Blossoming Youth,” produced during the workshop. MORE

Apprentice Artists Edgar A., Baindu K. and Eirene W. at mural dedication.

Although all 21 apprentices in the recent workshop participated in the creation of the mural for Child Welfare Services, three young artists comprised the team whose design was selected by CWS staff. Typical of Arts on the Block apprentices in some ways, totally unique in others, we thought you might be interested in learning more about the members of this dynamic trio. MORE

Projects awaiting the apprentices in our upcoming workshop are stacking up! Topping the list is a bench facing in mosaic for the soon-to-be-built White Oak Transit Center. AOB was awarded the contract for the Transit Center project as a result of a competitive bid by the Public Arts Trust of the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County on behalf of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. Other commissions include a mosaic mural for an I. M. Pei-designed apartment complex near Nationals Stadium, and another for the Family Justice Center in Rockville. AOB board member June Linowitz is commissioning the latter for the Center, and played a major role in securing the former. (Many thanks, June!)

YOUR Commission…It’s Not Too Late!

If you are considering commissioning artwork for your home, office, restaurant, or store, we will continue to accept summer workshop orders through June 22 or until we reach capacity; whichever comes first! Let us know of your needs; we’d love to talk shop with you!

Due to the constraints of many foundations, summer programming for non-profits is difficult to fund. Income from commissions does not entirely cover costs, so right now is great time to donate to Arts on the Block. If you are not commissioning a work of art, consider sponsoring an apprentice, or simply making an online contribution. THANK YOU!

Downtown Silver Spring mosaic bench back in process.

In celebration of 21 new AOB-created mosaic benches to be installed in Downtown Silver Spring, we hope you’ll join us for our "Benches on the Block" party at the Pyramid Atlantic store on Ellsworth Drive that promises to be loads of fun! Mark your calendars for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, and sit tight for more details!

Montgomery County residents: while you have your calendars out, please note the following dates: Wednesday, August 19 at 8 p.m., Saturday, August 22 at 3:30 p.m., and Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 p.m. That’s when you can catch a half hour-long interview of AOB director Jan Goldstein and alumna Whitley Dowling on Montgomery Cable Access 21. Host Toby Beach did an outstanding job of highlighting the “essential” Arts on the Block in the interview – we hope you’ll tune in! If you do not have cable or if you switched to satellite, you can watch the interview on AMTV's live webstream at http://www.accessmontgomery.tv!

For Washington, DC residents: Goldstein was also interviewed, along with two other non-profits serving area youth, for “The Nonprofit Edge,” a production of UDC Cable Television. Air dates and times TBA.

We’re hoping to make both of these interviews available 24/7 via postings to the internet. Becoming a fan of Arts on the Block on Facebook is the best way to catch announcements of these uploads and other updates!

Yoga at Studio Gallery

Heartfelt “thanks” to artist Jacqui Crocetta, yoga instructor Jeffrey Kenney, AOB board member Carla Reid and the other “yoginis” who participated in this unique benefit for AOB held April 25. Participants packed the gallery and tackled challenging poses in the presence of stunning works by Studio Gallery artists. We were honored to be the beneficiaries of this innovative event!

“All the Right Moves”

State Senator Jamie Raskin invited AOB apprentices to design a logo for a new initiative aimed at bringing chess to every school in Montgomery County. The winning design for “All the Right Moves,” modeled in the photo of Pei Hsieh (below), was created by artist Ala Alsulaihat. Congratulations to the very talented Ms. A.!

Best Wishes to Our Departing Intern and Volunteer!

John F. Kennedy HS intern Pei Hsieh and volunteer Diane Jackson

Very best wishes to John F. Kennedy HS Intern Pei Hsieh and volunteer Diane Jackson, two individuals who devoted many hours of service this past school year to tackling the endless administrative needs of Arts on the Block. Pei is enrolling in Montgomery College in the fall. Diane is taking the summer off, and will then begin training as a hospice volunteer. We wish them much success in their future endeavors. They have endeared themselves to us, and will be greatly missed!

And…Welcome, Vanessa!

Welcome to Walter Sondheim Jr. Maryland Nonprofit Leadership Program summer intern Vanessa Kong, who starts on June 1 working part time in the AOB office and part time in the studio. Vanessa is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, and, from what we hear, a fantastic writer – don’t be surprised if she authors the next newsletter!

Special “Thanks” to the Collaboration Council!

AOB director Jan Goldstein was one of five fortunate representatives of local organizations to partake in the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs, California this past April, thanks to support from the Montgomery County Collaboration Council. It was a tremendous opportunity to learn about “best practices” and network with other out-of-school time professionals. Also, Goldstein and AOB Lead Teaching Artist Carien Quiroga were panelists, along with Maryland Multicultural Youth Center staff, addressing youth and workforce development at the May 20 “Excel Beyond the Bell” Symposium, sponsored in part by the Council. Thank you, Collaboration Council, for your unceasing efforts on behalf of the youth of Montgomery County!

DONATE NOW!

Your support of Arts on the Block is tax-deductible – now and as we move forward as “Artpreneurs.” We are especially in need of extra assistance for our summer workshop, which currently is less than fully funded. Please show your support - DONATE NOW