You’re Invited to the
SOUL REVIVAL ARTSCAPE OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, July 17, 2010
2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Soul Revival: A Poetic and Visual Experience of Renewal

Meroe Art Gallery
West Baltimore Center for Urban Art
1623 West North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217

Co-Sponsored by Meroe Art Gallery and Authentic Contemporary Art

Exhibition Dates: May 1-August 1, 2010

FREE and Open to the Public!

Featuring:

DJ Fusion of Fusebox Radio
Spoken Word Performance by Baltimore’s Own Nina “Lyrispect” Ball (invited)
Musical Performance by James Terrell
Plus Face Painting for the Kids by
Art-n-Soul of Baltimore and light refreshments

In Baltimore during this year’s ArtScape? Come by and check out Soul Revival at Meroe Art Gallery on Saturday, July 17th!

This exciting exhibition features emerging artists and poets based the DC/Baltimore Metropolitan area on the theme of “Soul Revival.” What do we mean by revival? We are speaking of revival of the soul, spirit, neighborhood, community, nation, and even the world. The result is a eclectic visual range of artistic expression, ranging from realism to abstract and everything in between!

Selected works of from the artists work has been paired with a poet/ spoken word artist who developed a poem that expresses their view about the art. Their contributions is an integral part of the exhibition, resulting in an innovative creative representation from a variety of artists-literary and visual- of the meaning of Soul Revival!

Check out the the artwork and poetry of Soul Revival here!

Visual Artists (Authentic Contemporary Art):

Jade Andwele
Prudence Bonds
Sharon Burton
Keisha Carroll
Marshetta Davis
Sherria Green
Darren Jackson
J’Nell Jordan
Nilja Mumin
Heather Schmaedeke
Marcel Taylor
James Terrell

Poets and Spoken Word Artists:

Cherrie Amour
Nina “Lyrispect” Ball
Natasha Brown
Marguax Delotte-Bennett
Amy Jackson
Alan King
Dehejia Maat
Bonnie MacAllister
Stephanie Renee

Did you miss When Harlem Came to Paris in March? Want to find out more about purchasing the art that was created especially for the event by the talented, James Terrell?

The remaining artwork is available on-line for bidding until July 2nd!

That’s right, the pieces that were not sold are still available for purchase, with a percentage being donated to the Anne Bujon Educational Initiative of the Alliance Francaise de Washington which provides educational outreach to DC Public Schools.

Visit the When Harlem Came to Paris online auction here to bid and purchase one of the hot pieces available for sale!

The event was presented by Think Brown INK and HoneyComb Set LLC is designed to showcase the creativity, beauty, intellect and talent of women in the Washington area. ACA presented James Terrell’s wonderful portraits of women from the turn of century to the present which was selected to be featured as part of this exciting event.

Music was provided by DJ Heat from WPGC 95.5 and The Big Tigger Morning Show. Media partners include W.O.W Radio, which will broadcasted live from the event and EliteDC Magazine which will feature photos from the event in its e-newsletter and web site.

Below are highlights of the event, which includes a video of Sharon Burton, Founder/Creative Director of Authentic Contemporary Art, addressing the crowd. For more photos, visit the Authentic Contemporary Art’s Facebook Fan Page.

James Terrell’s Artwork displayed

James poses with two of his newest works.

A guest chats art with James…

A scene from the fashion show…

DJ Heat from WPGC 95.5

L to R: Natasha Brown of Think Brown Ink and Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art

Out to Launch will be an evening of music, fashion and art, featuring the debut of Crylittle Millinery for Biribelle Accessories and a live performance by vocalist, Carolyn Malachi and her Band. Authentic Contemporary Art along with Bluffa Jo Cosmetics, Eye Catching Entertainment, are co-sponsors.

The event will feature an exclusive “Out to Launch” Bloggers Lounge (for more info on the Bloggers Lounge or to RSVP your blog, please contact Simone Jacobson at simone.jacobson@gmail.com)

For more information and to RSVP, please click here.

Here’s some of the original artwork in the gallery that was selected to be highlighted for the event. All artwork featured during the event will be available for sale.

Acrylic on canvas

Gorgeous pencil and graphite piece!

Mixed media work by Gasby Brown

Through Shop 4 Art powered by art.com, we offer the world’s largest selection of art and décor items for homes and businesses, as well as professional custom framing and mounting services — all at great prices!

Click on the coupon below to get started on finding that special gift for your loved one today!

Authentic Contemporary Art is pleased to present the original art of James Terrell at “The Art of a Woman” a fashion and art exhibit from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on June 19 at District Restaurant and Lounge in Adams Morgan on 18th Street, NW in Washington, DC. For more information about James and his art, click here. Art will be available for purchase.

Image: James Terrell

The Art of a Woman, sponsored by Think Brown INK and HoneyComb Set LLC is designed to showcase the creativity, beauty, intellect and talent of women in the Washington area. Terrell’s wonderful portraits of women from the turn of century to the present was selected to be featured as part of this exciting event!

The program will consist of a happy hour with exclusive art, fashion, green product and accessory vendors; speakers (inspirational female entrepreneurs); and an art-fashion show. This is the ultimate networking event for creative individuals and a perfect opportunity to purchase exclusive summer fashion and accessories.Tickets are $15 (see below for link to purchase).

Hosted by Washington native Marisa Elise, an internationally-known fashion, urban and music-industry model, The Art of a Woman will also provide attendees the opportunity to be interviewed by veteran Journalist Victoria Gaither and included in a post-event video, be pampered by massage therapists, and sample sushi from a sexy and artistic exhibit. Music will be provided by DJ Heat from WPGC 95.5 and The Big Tigger Morning Show. Media partners include W.O.W Radio, which will broadcast live from the event and EliteDC Magazine which will feature photos from the event in its e-newsletter and web site.

The evening’s agenda includes:

5:30 – The Happy Hour and VIP red-carpet interviews featuring fashion and a fabulous sushi display. Also, shop for exclusive products, jewelry, fashion and art in the live “Art Gallery”

6:30 – Introduction of participants

7:00 – Fashion & accessories Art Show begins

7:45 – “Business as an Art,” featuring comments from female moguls-in-the-making (including Authentic Contemporary Art founder, Sharon Burton!)

8:30 – Shopping and schmoozing

9:30 – Conclusion

Visit http://theartofawoman.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets. $15 entry includes light food during happy hour and drink tickets for the first 100 people who register.

Welcome to our fifth podcast for the year 2010. For the month of June 2010, we are celebrating our newest exhibition, Soul Revival: A Poetic and Visual Experience of Renewal. The exhibition is on view at Meroe Art Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland until August 1, 2010.

This exciting exhibition features emerging artists and poets based the DC/Baltimore Metropolitan area on the theme of “Soul Revival.” What do we mean by revival? We are speaking of revival of the soul, spirit, neighborhood, community, nation, and even the world. The result is a eclectic visual range of artistic expression, ranging from realism to abstract and everything in between! Selected works of from the artists work has been paired with a poet/ spoken word artist who developed a poem that expresses their view about the art. Their contributions are an integral part of the exhibition, resulting in an innovative creative representation from a variety of artists–literary and visual– of the meaning of Soul Revival. During this podcast, which is part one of a two part series on the exhibition, we talked to two participants of this exhibition Nijla Mu’min and Alan King.

Image: Nijla Mu’min

Nijla Baseema Mu’min is a writer, filmmaker, and photographer from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications in 2007. She attended Howard University’s MFA Film Program. In 2006, she founded Sweet Potato Pie Productions, a production company specializing in the creation of narrative films, documentaries, and photography that examine the most intimate details of the human condition. Her photography was featured at the Harvard Kennedy School’s “Beauty, Diversity, and Strength” Photo Exhibition. She was also selected as an interviewer for Spike Lee’s “Refresh the World” Symposium in January 2009. She is the recipient of the 2009 Paul Robeson Award for Best Feature Screenplay, and her writing is to be featured in the forthcoming Girlchild Press Anthology, “Woman’s Work: The Short Stories.”

Image: “Learners”, silver gelatin print, Nijla Mu’min

Nijla has written and directed numerous film and video projects. She is currently working on a documentary entitled “BACK UP! concrete diaries,” that explores how women deal with street harassment. Her most recent venture is the conception and development of a feature length screenplay, entitled Salaam.

Image: Alan King

Alan King’s poems have appeared in Alehouse, Audience, Boxcar Poetry Review, Indiana Review, MiPoesias and RATTLE, among others. A Cave Canem fellow and VONA Alum, he’s been nominated for both a Best of the Net selection and Pushcart Prize. When he’s not reporting or sending poems to journals, you can find Alan chasing the muse through Washington, D.C. — people watching with his boys and laughing at the crazy things strangers say to get close to one another.

Alan wrote The Cave in response to the mixed media collage, “Believe” by Sharon Burton as part of Soul Revival.

You can check out our conversation by clicking the podcast player to the right column of this blog or download the mp3.

Meroe Art Gallery in West Baltimore was charged with Soul Revival –positive energy, engaging art, and poets on FIRE at Saturday night’s opening.

An excited and spiritually filled crowd descended on the gallery as artists, poets and everyone in between viewed the work, the poetry, and even created their own artwork and poetry on the huge canvas that hung on one of the walls, inviting public participation in the exhibition.

Thanks to the artists, poets, collectors, family and friends who filled the gallery and supported the opening. Very special thanks to ThinkBrownINK, Meroe Art Gallery, Sondai Expressions and others who provided support for the opening.

Videos of the performances will be uploaded soon! Check out the photos from the opening here.

Mark Your Calendars for the Artscape Open House for July 17, 2010…details coming soon!