Inside view of part of the Tubman-Mahan Gallery (image courtesy of The Center for Green Urbanism)

Authentic Contemporary Art to manage exhibitions for a new community incubator for environmentally-friendly businesses in Washington, DC

Authentic Contemporary Art (ACA), a five year old virtual and community-based resource for contemporary art by emerging artists announces a new partnership with the Center for Green Urbanism to showcase exhibitions of contemporary art. The Center is a new business incubator providing office space for small to mid-size businesses and start-ups interested in locating in Ward 7 in far northeast Washington, DC. The Center is located at 3938 Benning Road NE on the edge of Fort Mahan Park, a national park site and gateway to the Fort Circle Park Trail. The building is located directly across the street from the new Benning Road Library and is walking distance from the Minnesota Avenue metro stop on the orange line.

As a part of this new collaboration, Authentic Contemporary Art will provide curatorial direction and management of regular exhibitions of contemporary art in the Center’s Tubman-Mahan Art Gallery, located within their eco-friendly remodeled building and workspace.   The inaugural curatorial exhibition ReCREATE,a group exhibition of artwork made from recycled materials from artists across the country, will coincide with the Center’s official Open House, scheduled for Sunday, October 17, 2010.

“We’re very excited at the partnership with The Center for Green Urbanism, which allows us to extend our mission to make art more accessible to the community,” describes Authentic Contemporary Art Founder and Creative Director, Sharon J. Burton.  “We look forward to attracting new collectors and exposing emerging artists from the DC area and across the globe, especially those who work focuses on the environment or who work with eco-friendly materials.”

In May of this year, The Center for Green Urbanism’s Co-Founder Zandra Chestnut approached Burton with the idea of a partnership as a result of ACA’s history of working with talented emerging artists in professional art exhibition installations across the Washington, DC area. Burton immediately saw the potential of the Center as an excellent place to showcase art, with sleek hardwood floors, natural light, expansive wall space and environmentally-friendly interior design. She also believes in the incubator’s mission to promote green and eco-friendly businesses in a urban community.

“We are thrilled to gain Sharon’s expertise and the exposure that this partnership will garner for both the Center and for Authentic Contemporary Art.  We believe that artists play a significant role in sharing the beauty of our planet from their unique perspective,” added Chestnut.

Exhibitions will be free and open to the public to visit during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, and weekends by appointment.  Anyone interested in joining the invitation list for Tubman-Mahan Art Gallery exhibitions and events can submit their name and email address at Authentic Contemporary Art’s website at http://authenticartonline.com/contact.htm

About The Center for Green Urbanism

The Center for Green Urbanism is located in downtown Ward 7 in far northeast Washington, DC and provides affordable business incubator space for entrepreneurs to work. Meeting spaces are available and wi-fi is accessible throughout the facility. The Center is a design model for a “living green business” in an urban setting, by decreasing our carbon footprint — promoting home gardening, using energy efficient CFLs and appliances, solar shade window treatments, a purified drinking water system, water saving devices and the recycling of trash and waste.

The Center sits on the edge of Fort Mahan, a national park site and gateway to the Fort Circle Parks Trail. Hiking and biking trails are close and Metro Bus and subway are a short walk away. The address is 3938 Benning Road NE Washington, DC 20019. You can reach the Center via telephone: 202-506-3867, email: contact@centerforgreenurbanism.org. The hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm open on Saturday and Sundays only for scheduled activities refer to the calendar of events for scheduled activities. Visit the website at www.centerforgreenurbanism.org.

The Tubman-Mahan Art Gallery can be reached via email at TubmanManhanGallery@gmail.com and Twitter at @TubmanMahanArt

About Authentic Contemporary Art

Authentic Contemporary Art (formally Authentic Art Consulting) was founded in 2005 and now serves as an alternative source for emerging and contemporary art. Based in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area, Authentic Contemporary Art (ACA) creates opportunities for art collectors and emerging contemporary artists to connect through exhibitions and through a juried online art gallery. We also work with a variety of design and art professionals to find the right artwork to fit the right space.

ACA also provides opportunities for individuals who are interested in visual art to learn more about collecting and conserving art through workshops, gallery visits and special events. ACA partners with a variety of art and interior design professionals and organizations to present contemporary art that is accessible and affordable to the novice collector and attractive to established art connoisseurs.

For more information, visit the website at www.authenticartonline.com, email at artinfo@authenticartonline.com or call 1-888-861-1395.

Build/Renovate Your Own Castle IV
Presented by Port of Harlem Magazine

Saturday, June 19, 2010
11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Honfluer Gallery
1241 Good Hope Road, SE
Washington, DC

Limited to 40 participants! RVSP here.

What You Must Know About Building in the City
Architect Genell Anderson
AMAR Group

Where Can I Get the Money?
Mortgage Consultant Noel Shepherd
MetLife Home Loans

Save Energy. Save Earth. Save Money
Contractor Jabali Nash
Housing Evaluations Plus

Collecting Art to Beautify Your Walls and Benefit Your Pocket
Art Collector and Dealer Barry Lester
Attitude Exact Gallery

How to Design A Beautiful Space
Design Principals Sherry Ways and Susan Featherstone-Schemm
Design Scheme Interiors, LLC

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.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has engaged the national consulting firm AMS to help outline a draft of a Five Year Strategic Plan, which is now available online for your consideration.

Community leaders, grantees, artists, educators and fellow Washingtonians have contributed to this draft. Now they are asking you to submit your comments and concerns online.

Please submit all comments to ams@ams-online.com.

The deadline for public comments is Friday, January 8, 2010

Journalist, performer and photographer Khadijah “Moon” Ali-Coleman creates a video montage of photos documenting arts events throughout the Washington DC from 2008-2009.

The events include:

-The dedication of the new arts center opened in 2008 by the African Heritage Drummers and Dancers and Kuumba Learning Center in southeast DC

-The Homecoming Celebration produced by the Saartjie Project, an arts group that performs work inspired by the life of Saartjie Baartman

-A Kwanzaa celebration held at Artmosphere Cafe, a black-owned arts venue & restaurant that closed its doors in the Spring of 2009

-Arts events produced by Liberated Muse Productions, the producers of the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest and other arts events throughout the city

To purchase the song “Kwanzaa Time”, email LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com

What is art? Is tagging ‘art’ or just ‘street art’? This video was shot around Washington, DC and the second half mural was shot on location at Girard Street Park.

Courtesy of the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities.