In Our Hood

Disappearing Arts Communities: In Our 'Hood

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:23:00 -0400

The In Our Hood show is now halfway through its run and we don’t want the show to close without providing an opportunity to have a focused dialogue on the idea of “Disappearing Arts Communities” in gentrification. By that We mean, Explore the ideas of organic v. commercial culture, and the future of the DC Art scene with artists of all disciplines and arts enthusiasts. Let’s chat about what is happening, and what we want to see happen! Sponsored by IZZE sparkling juice!!! next Wednesday, June 20, 2012 from 6:30- 8pm at Artspace DC 614 S Street Northwest.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Art is beautifully messy at times! May 23, 2012- Artspace DC,...

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:28:24 -0400

Art is beautifully messy at times!

May 23, 2012- Artspace DC, 614 S Street NW: City Arts participants Lark & Diana learn how to silkscreen tees as a part of the second half of the In Our ‘Hood/KOKASI (Zulu word for ‘hood) workshop under the tutelage of visiting artist Cannon Hersey. This workshop series was presented in partnership by Artspace DC and City Arts.

A sampling from the opening!

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 12:27:52 -0400

A sampling from the opening!

The Venue for Gentrification: Good? Bad? Indifferent? has been announced

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:30:01 -0400

3:30-5:30pm Saturday June 9, 2012

CPDC Gateway at Wardman Court

1350 Clifton Street NW Washington DC 20009

Note: Please use the 14th street entrance*

WOOT WE'RE in the Post!

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:06:01 -0400

WOOT WE'RE in the Post!

A Few New Artists Step into Our 'Hood...

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:34:00 -0400

These artists were a ’lil late to the party but better late than never look out for the MORE that’s mentioned on the exhibition flyer as it refers to the following talented people:

Stephanie Reyes

Sarah Murphy

Amber Byrne Mahoney

Charles Jean Pierre

Kristina Bilonick (@Artspace DC)

Have you RSVP'd??? In Our Hood is less than a wk away!

Sun, 20 May 2012 18:38:27 -0400

Have you RSVP'd??? In Our Hood is less than a wk away!

The In Our Hood Fundraiser was shouted out!

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:51:38 -0400

The In Our Hood Fundraiser was shouted out!

Kokasi (hood) @ Artspace DC

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:27:36 -0400

In Our Hood artist, Cannon Hersey did an AMAZING workshop with the young artists of City Arts today! Can’t wait to see what happens at next week’s session when they create art together!

Event Schedule...Stayed Tuned for Updates

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:05:00 -0400

May 25, 2012 Opening Reception:

6-8pm @ Artspace DC 614 S Street NW

7-9pm @Pleasant Plains Workshop 2608 Georgia Ave NW

Note: There will be pedicabs available to take patrons from Artspace to Pleasant Plains Workshop - bring cash

June 9, 2012 Gentrification: Good? Bad? Indifferent? Transformer FRAMEWORK PANEL #17: organized by Transformer, Artspace DC & Pleasant Plains Workshop

3:30-5:30pm @ TBD (check back for venue)

Panelists: Sean Lynch (Artist, Sean Lynch: Disappearing Communities Transformer), Cannon Hersey (Artist, In Our Hood), Lydia DePillis (Writer, Washington City paper), Sylvia Robinson (Community Activist, proprietor of ECAC co-founder Georgia Avenue Task Force)

Moderators: Kristina Bilonick (Curator, PPW/ In Our hood)

Melissa Matthews (Curator, Artspace DC/ In Our hood)

Note: Post Panel Reception to be held @ Transformer 1404 P street NW

June 21, 2012 Disappearing Art Communities Panel Discussion

6-8pm O street Studios 52 O Street NW

Panelists & Moderator: TBD

June 30, 2012 Community Potluck Cypher & Closing Reception

1-3pm Artspace DC 614 S Street NW

Bring yourself, some food, and a good spirit to commune with your neighbors, area poets, musicians, and visual artists to talk and jam around the idea of community and ideas of gentrification.

Kristina Bilonick of Pleasant Plains is a cultural rockstar!

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:32:34 -0400

Kristina Bilonick of Pleasant Plains is a cultural rockstar!:

Huge congratulations to In Our ‘hood co-curator and owner of Pleasant Plains Workshop, Kristina Bilonick for being recognized by an official white House blog as a beacon in her/ our community!

Drum Roll Please...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:23:00 -0400

The In Our Hood Artists List

Albus Cavus, DECOY, Chanan Delivuk & Alberto Gaitán, Rachel Dickerson, Tiffanie Drayton, Billy Friebele & Michael Iacovone, Jamal Hardy,Cannon Hersey, Minda Merinsky, Kendra Rubifield, Jenn Verrier, Helen Warren, Michelle ‘Huggie’ Williams , City Arts

Come Check out their amazing work at the Opening Reception:

Friday, May 25 , 2012
6-8pm at Artspace (614 S Street NW), 7-9pm at Pleasant Plains Workshop (2608 Georgia Ave NW)

Also check out the When page for updates on In Our Hood events. The calendar is shaping up beautifully.

Check out our new “In Our Hood” logo, designed by...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:57:00 -0400

Check out our new “In Our Hood” logo, designed by Allura Rayford, exhibition assistant funded by City Arts! The rest of the “In Our Hood” team is so proud of Allura for her hard work on this awesome graphic that embodies the spirit of gentrification “in our hood” and ‘hoods around the nation!

Gentrification...Good? Bad? Indifferent?

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:34:00 -0400

In light of the work that we at Artspace are doing with IN OUR HOOD, one the Artspace board members, Maybelle Bennett submitted this food for thought:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2011/10/gentrification-always-bad-revitalizing-neighborhoods/316/

A blog post by Kaid Benfield, the director of the Sustainable Communities and Smart Growth program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, co-founder of the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system, and co-founder of Smart Growth America. who writes (almost) daily about community, development, and the environment.

This blog post poses many relevant questions about the issue of gentrification particularly on the D.C. landscape. Here are some of the questions we found most poignant, please let us know your thoughts… Post to our Fb page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artspace-DC/135599816542073 or tweet your opinion on any of the issues or questions below to @artspacedc or @inourhood_dc

Is gentrification necessary in order to rebuild population in D.C. as a result of “Black flight,” particularly, the steady migration of the black middle class to suburbs?
Is said flight a result of a lack of resources that seem to accompany gentrification? i.e is the aforementioned question a bit of catch 22 (egg before the chicken or chicken before the egg)
Is community opposition to gentrification a matter of a lack of education about the process or an intrinsic fear of the common belief that gentrification is the process of cleaning up/revitalizing neighborhoods for a new crop of residents as opposed to a new beginning for current residents?
Is that fear in of itself, irrational?
Is there any validity to the political catch 22 that seems to be occurring in DC local government?

CALL TO ARTISTS

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:24:00 -0500

Artspace DC in conjunction with Pleasant Plains Workshop and a growing list of community partners presents In Our Hood. An exhibition exploring themes of gentrification of Northwest Washington DC most particularly in relation to three historic neighborhoods within the Northwest quadrant of the city; Ledroit park, Shaw, and the U Street Corridor.

Over the past decade, the face of Northwest D.C. has certainly changed. Neighborhoods once ravaged with violence and drugs have become hipster havens and cultural destinations. This resounding change is exemplified in no better places than the historic Ledroit Park, Shaw, and U street Corridor neighborhoods.

As gentrification takes root, one cannot refute that there has been a lot of positive change. From Starbucks and Potbelly to cleaner streets and midnight dog walking, these neighborhoods have virtually erased the stigmas of yesteryear. However, this community wide socioeconomic boom of sorts has not been without drawbacks.

Displacement; rents go up but salaries do not- longtime residents and mom & pop shops are, have been, and continue to be driven out in favor of expensive condos and five dollar coffees. Cultural commercialism; there is undoubtedly a spike in cultural activity but it appears to be a water downed (more palatable for mass appeal) version of the neighborhoods former offerings. No impromptu Go-Go bands in front of Ben’s Chilli Bowl or Backdrop photos in CVS’ parking lot.

Northwest D.C. is growing up and out in a beautiful and in many ways, a bittersweet fashion. As such, In Our ‘Hood is communal exhibition project that seeks to allow 100 local Artists to participate in a project that will recount, chronicle, bring to life the past, present, and future of these historic neighborhoods through a variety of media.This exhibition will be a community affair, Art will be housed in 3-5 different locations simultaneously and the exhibition will be tied together through a walking tour of the neighborhoods along the Heritage Trail.

We Invite YOU (artists of all disciplines) to submit work for consideration for this exciting project. All media including all manifestations of visual, performance (music, dance, theater), and new media (video, photography) art will be considered. There is no application fee for this exhibition.

Eligibility

YOU MUST BE WORKING OR LIVING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Complete applications must include the following:

Website OR Artist C/V

Artist Statement (250 words or less)

Up to 5 images of work no larger than 1mb (each) or 3- 5 minutes of video for performing artists

All submissions email/ snail mail must be received by March 5, 2012 @ 11:59pm

Email Submissions should be sent to:

DC.Artspace@gmail.com

subject line -IN OUR HOOD

Snail Mail submissions should be mailed to:

New Community Artspace

Attn: Melissa A. Matthews

614 S Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

Accepted artists will be notified on April 5, 2012 via email. Works to be hung will be delivered, exhibition ready on May 5, 2012 and the exhibition will open on May 18, 2012.

Did you vote support Artspace’s In Our Hood Project...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:17:12 -0500

Did you vote support Artspace’s In Our Hood Project Today?!

Just 15 days and a few Hours left to support In Our Hood !

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:48:25 -0500

The In Our Hood project is nominated for a $25K grant from the pepsi refresh everything project.

Support by voting at http://www.refresheverything.com/inourhood and texting 110554 to 73774 (Pepsi) Everyday until Dec. 31st.