2010-03-17T16:32:48Z News and information about community-based arts from the Community Arts Network and Art in the Public Interest. tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2010, Linda Frye Burnham 2010-03-17T16:32:48Z 2010-03-17T16:12:59Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9286 2010-03-17T16:12:59Z

Participants at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital will learn how to build a carbon-neutral house today with filmmakers Jason Scadron and Liv Violette and builder Mark Turner. Premiering at the festival is "The Green House," a documentary that chronicles the building of the first carbon-neutral house and the designing of the first green show house in the Washington, D.C., area. The building of the house in McLean, Virginia, was captured from start to finish and the film imparts the engineering and technology that drives the house and the principles and methods of designing eco-friendly spaces. Other films showing today are Ana Sofia Joanes' "Fresh," exploring America's new sustainable food culture, and Eskil Hardt's "One Degree Matters," about the effects of climate change on society and the economy. The festival runs through March 28 at E Street Cinema.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Media Arts Participants at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital will learn how to build a carbon-neutral house today with filmmakers Jason Scadron and Liv Violette and builder Mark Turner. Premiering at the festival is "The Green House," a documentary that chronicles the building of the first carbon-neutral house and the designing of the first green show house in the Washington, D.C., area. The building of the house in McLean, Virginia, was captured from start to finish and the film imparts the engineering and technology that drives the house and the principles and methods of designing eco-friendly spaces. Other films showing today are Ana Sofia Joanes' "Fresh," exploring America's new sustainable food culture, and Eskil Hardt's "One Degree Matters," about the effects of climate change on society and the economy. The festival runs through March 28 at E Street Cinema. 2010-03-16T16:22:05Z 2010-03-16T15:53:14Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9285 2010-03-16T15:53:14Z

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Dance Philadelphia's Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective has received a grant from philanthropist Betty Londergan for its work with children. Londergan is giving away $100 daily for 365 days. 2010-03-17T18:32:44Z 2010-03-15T22:31:59Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9282 2010-03-15T22:31:59Z

Today CAN brings you "Creative City Fever: The 2010 City, Culture and Society Conference, Munich" by Tom Borrup, with questions and answers about the Creative Economy movement around the globe. Formerly executive director of Intermedia Arts, a community artspace in MInneapolis, Borrup now specializes in consulting and writing and teaching about creative community building -- leveraging culture, creativity and other community assets to advance economic, social, civic and physical development of place-based communities. He attended the Munich conference to hear experts from Singapore, Tokyo, Auckland, Toronto, Rotterdam and other world-class cities talk about unfolding creative-economy development and its consequences. Scholars were drawn from at least a dozen fields including the arts, explored some vexing questions. Among them: Is the Creative City idea an opportune rationale for repositioning investment, or a smokescreen obscuring issues of social justice, environmental sustainability and real inclusion for all people?

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org CANnews Today CAN brings you "Creative City Fever: The 2010 City, Culture and Society Conference, Munich" by Tom Borrup, with questions and answers about the Creative Economy movement around the globe. Formerly executive director of Intermedia Arts, a community artspace in MInneapolis, Borrup now specializes in consulting and writing and teaching about creative community building -- leveraging culture, creativity and other community assets to advance economic, social, civic and physical development of place-based communities. He attended the Munich conference to hear experts from Singapore, Tokyo, Auckland, Toronto, Rotterdam and other world-class cities talk about unfolding creative-economy development and its consequences. Scholars were drawn from at least a dozen fields including the arts, explored some vexing questions. Among them: Is the Creative City idea an opportune rationale for repositioning investment, or a smokescreen obscuring issues of social justice, environmental sustainability and real inclusion for all people? 2010-03-15T16:17:44Z 2010-03-15T15:59:16Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9279 2010-03-15T15:59:16Z

At juvenile detention centers across the country, young offenders have an above-ground zine of their own: The Beat Within, a collection of youth-produced writing and art. It's published with the support of New America Media, a San Francisco–based association of ethnic media outlets, says Danielle Maestretti in Utne Reader (March-April 2010). The zine’s facilitators, who are sometimes former offenders themselves, conduct weekly workshops at a dozen juvenile halls. They encourage kids to write about what makes them happy or what choices they wish they’d made. Maestretti quotes cofounder and director David Inocencio, “I tell the kids what they’re helping create, by telling these stories, is a history book of the week. It’s an awesome platform when kids take it seriously and you’re able to watch them evolve as writers or as thinkers.” The Beat Within is here: http://www.thebeatwithin.org/news/.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Corrections At juvenile detention centers across the country, young offenders have an above-ground zine of their own: The Beat Within, a collection of youth-produced writing and art. It's published with the support of New America Media, a San Francisco–based association of ethnic media outlets, says Danielle Maestretti in Utne Reader (March-April 2010). The zine’s facilitators, who are sometimes former offenders themselves, conduct weekly workshops at a dozen juvenile halls. They encourage kids to write about what makes them happy or what choices they wish they’d made. Maestretti quotes cofounder and director David Inocencio, “I tell the kids what they’re helping create, by telling these stories, is a history book of the week. It’s an awesome platform when kids take it seriously and you’re able to watch them evolve as writers or as thinkers.” The Beat Within is here: http://www.thebeatwithin.org/news/. 2010-03-12T16:41:29Z 2010-03-12T16:21:30Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9275 2010-03-12T16:21:30Z

Creative-economy specialists Richard Florida, Charles Landry and Bill Strickland are among speakers at the Creative Cities Summit in Lexington, Ky., April 7-9, 2010. Areas of focus include talent attraction & retention, innovation, developing entrepreneurship, community design and civic engagement. Keynoter Florida is director of the Martin Prosperity Institute, professor of business and creativity the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and author of "The Rise of the Creative Class." He will discuss his forthcoming book, "The Great Reset." Summit sessions include "The Black Creative Class," "Sparking Social Innovation Within Your City," "Growing Entrepreneurial Culture," "Using Art to Change Cities," and more, plus a panel featuring mayors of Lexington, Louisville and Bowling Green, Ohio, and a pecha kucha session on Midwest projects. There are also tours of various Lexington creative-economy projects and local highlights like bourbon distilleries and the Horse Park.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Community Development Creative-economy specialists Richard Florida, Charles Landry and Bill Strickland are among speakers at the Creative Cities Summit in Lexington, Ky., April 7-9, 2010. Areas of focus include talent attraction & retention, innovation, developing entrepreneurship, community design and civic engagement. Keynoter Florida is director of the Martin Prosperity Institute, professor of business and creativity the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and author of "The Rise of the Creative Class." He will discuss his forthcoming book, "The Great Reset." Summit sessions include "The Black Creative Class," "Sparking Social Innovation Within Your City," "Growing Entrepreneurial Culture," "Using Art to Change Cities," and more, plus a panel featuring mayors of Lexington, Louisville and Bowling Green, Ohio, and a pecha kucha session on Midwest projects. There are also tours of various Lexington creative-economy projects and local highlights like bourbon distilleries and the Horse Park. 2010-03-12T17:43:50Z 2010-03-12T15:49:39Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9274 2010-03-12T15:49:39Z

Oakland's New Village Press has a new book out by two CAN writers: "By Heart, Poetry Prison and Two Lives" by Judith Tannenbaum and Spoon Jackson. Tannenbaum, author of "Disguised as a Poem: My Years Teaching Poetry at San Quentin," met Jackson at San Quentin State Prison in 1985, where he is serving life without parole. They have been collaborating ever since. Of "By Heart," part memoir, part essay, Gloria Steinem writes, "A boy with no one to listen becomes a man in prison for life and discovers his mind can be free. A woman enters prison to teach and becomes his first listener. And so begins a twenty-five year friendship between two gifted writers and poets. The result is 'By Heart' — a book that will anger you, give you hope, and break your heart."

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Literature/Narrative Oakland's New Village Press has a new book out by two CAN writers: "By Heart, Poetry Prison and Two Lives" by Judith Tannenbaum and Spoon Jackson. Tannenbaum, author of "Disguised as a Poem: My Years Teaching Poetry at San Quentin," met Jackson at San Quentin State Prison in 1985, where he is serving life without parole. They have been collaborating ever since. Of "By Heart," part memoir, part essay, Gloria Steinem writes, "A boy with no one to listen becomes a man in prison for life and discovers his mind can be free. A woman enters prison to teach and becomes his first listener. And so begins a twenty-five year friendship between two gifted writers and poets. The result is 'By Heart' — a book that will anger you, give you hope, and break your heart." 2010-03-12T17:44:33Z 2010-03-12T15:26:25Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9272 2010-03-12T15:26:25Z

The 12th annual Allied Media Conference will examine participatory media as a strategy for social-justice organizing, June 18-20, 2010, in Detroit. Conference tracks include "The Art and Practice of Disability Justice," "Communication Strategies for Ending the Prison Industrial Complex," "Indigenous Media and Technology," "Creating Safe Communities," "Medios Caminantes: Medios creando, fronteras derrumbando," "Do-It-Yourself Technology," "Radio Active: From the streets to the airwaves," "Rad Art: 2-D images for 3-D movements," "Trans & Queer Youth Media," "Eco-Justice Media Making for Sustainable Communities," "Media Policy for Social Justice," "INCITE! / To Tell You the Truth," "Pop Ed Intifada: teaching and learning for collective liberation" and "Kids." Participants include Thousand Kites, 7th Generation Indigenous Visionaries, Creative Interventions, Palabra Radio, The Beehive Collective, Justseeds Artists Cooperative, Media Action Grassroots Network, INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, The Palestine Education Project and more.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Media Arts The 12th annual Allied Media Conference will examine participatory media as a strategy for social-justice organizing, June 18-20, 2010, in Detroit. Conference tracks include "The Art and Practice of Disability Justice," "Communication Strategies for Ending the Prison Industrial Complex," "Indigenous Media and Technology," "Creating Safe Communities," "Medios Caminantes: Medios creando, fronteras derrumbando," "Do-It-Yourself Technology," "Radio Active: From the streets to the airwaves," "Rad Art: 2-D images for 3-D movements," "Trans & Queer Youth Media," "Eco-Justice Media Making for Sustainable Communities," "Media Policy for Social Justice," "INCITE! / To Tell You the Truth," "Pop Ed Intifada: teaching and learning for collective liberation" and "Kids." Participants include Thousand Kites, 7th Generation Indigenous Visionaries, Creative Interventions, Palabra Radio, The Beehive Collective, Justseeds Artists Cooperative, Media Action Grassroots Network, INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, The Palestine Education Project and more. 2010-03-12T15:27:23Z 2010-03-12T15:02:53Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9271 2010-03-12T15:02:53Z

Appalshop's Thousand Kites initiative is working with the Virgin Islands Prison Project on a campaign to "Stop Prisoner Renting." Across the U.S., states are renting out their prisoners to other states as income sources for their department of corrections, says 1000K. The Virgin Islands and Virginia have such a contract, separating families across an ocean and keeping people in segregation for years. The VIPP works to end the practice and uses 1000K's film "Up the Ridge" and its radio program "Holler to the Hood" to inform the V.I. public about these Appalachian prisons and to keep families in touch. As a result of the campaign, 150 V.I. men were returned home after five years of solitary confinement in Virginia and V.I. activists launched a weekly radio program. Hear a "Holler" interview with VIPP's Kim Lyons here.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Corrections Appalshop's Thousand Kites initiative is working with the Virgin Islands Prison Project on a campaign to "Stop Prisoner Renting." here.]]> 2010-03-10T18:24:11Z 2010-03-10T18:15:06Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9270 2010-03-10T18:15:06Z

This spring, Auburn University continues its annual interdisciplinary series, Art in Agriculture, which brings together artists, designers and scientists to examine a topic related to agriculture, food, the environment or natural resources. This semester’s series is titled, “Reclaiming Ground,” and includes two exhibitions, several workshops for kids and seven lectures. One exhibition combines agriculture and architecture, called “Agritecture,” and another features sustainable designs by students in the Landscape Architecture Program, Design Program and Art Department. The lectures investigate questions such as: What is the role of the artist and designer in society at large? Can ordinary citizens make a difference in their local ecologies? How can a university encourage its students to become involved in their community? Art in Agriculture is jointly hosted by AU’s College of Agriculture, College of Liberal Arts and Department of Art.

Jamie Haft jhaft@communityarts.net Environment This spring, Auburn University continues its annual interdisciplinary series, Art in Agriculture, which brings together artists, designers and scientists to examine a topic related to agriculture, food, the environment or natural resources. This semester’s series is titled, “Reclaiming Ground,” and includes two exhibitions, several workshops for kids and seven lectures. One exhibition combines agriculture and architecture, called “Agritecture,” and another features sustainable designs by students in the Landscape Architecture Program, Design Program and Art Department. The lectures investigate questions such as: What is the role of the artist and designer in society at large? Can ordinary citizens make a difference in their local ecologies? How can a university encourage its students to become involved in their community? Art in Agriculture is jointly hosted by AU’s College of Agriculture, College of Liberal Arts and Department of Art. 2010-03-10T16:32:05Z 2010-03-10T16:18:47Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9268 2010-03-10T16:18:47Z

Artist Mary Geisser is blogging from Providence, R.I., where she's leading "Pages of Possibility," a book-making workshop with children ages three and up at the Fox Point Community Library. "Books are a gateway into imagination, literacy, information and creativity," writes Geisser. "They are powerful tools to excite young learners into learning to read and write. When children are provided with opportunities to create their own books they are given a method to share their own stories, poems, and ideas." In Week 1, 22 children made accordion books; the focus of Week 2 was making paste paper for book covers and collages. The blog has a rss feed and the Web site has a gallery of books in progress, recipes for materials and a bibliography. The project will culminate with an exhibition of the children’s books and artwork at AS220, May 2-29, 2010.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Visual Art Artist Mary Geisser is blogging from Providence, R.I., where she's leading "Pages of Possibility," a book-making workshop with children ages three and up at the Fox Point Community Library. "Books are a gateway into imagination, literacy, information and creativity," writes Geisser. "They are powerful tools to excite young learners into learning to read and write. When children are provided with opportunities to create their own books they are given a method to share their own stories, poems, and ideas." In Week 1, 22 children made accordion books; the focus of Week 2 was making paste paper for book covers and collages. The blog has a rss feed and the Web site has a gallery of books in progress, recipes for materials and a bibliography. The project will culminate with an exhibition of the children’s books and artwork at AS220, May 2-29, 2010. 2010-03-10T16:18:52Z 2010-03-10T15:59:12Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9267 2010-03-10T15:59:12Z

The Beehive Collective's latest project is "The True Cost of Coal," a graphics campaign that details the ecological effects of the coal industry and mountaintop removal. The Hive is on the road with this project and will be at Boston College today, March 11, 2010, as guests of ALC Political Action, the Arts and Responsibility Project and the Global Justice Project. In 2008, the Hive allied with Appalachian grassroots organizers fighting mountaintop-removal coal mining, a practice that "blasts mountains into moonscapes to fuel the ever-growing global demand for electricity." Working with Appalachian collaborators, they've designed a "visually-stunning multi-tool for activists and ordinary folks ... a graphic that honors history, respects complexity, shows everyone's place in the big picture, and inspires real solutions." They'll show it at 7 p.m. tonight in Higgins 300. Visit the Hive site for details and tour stops.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Environment The Beehive Collective's latest project is "The True Cost of Coal," a graphics campaign that details the ecological effects of the coal industry and mountaintop removal. The Hive is on the road with this project and will be at Boston College today, March 11, 2010, as guests of ALC Political Action, the Arts and Responsibility Project and the Global Justice Project. In 2008, the Hive allied with Appalachian grassroots organizers fighting mountaintop-removal coal mining, a practice that "blasts mountains into moonscapes to fuel the ever-growing global demand for electricity." Working with Appalachian collaborators, they've designed a "visually-stunning multi-tool for activists and ordinary folks ... a graphic that honors history, respects complexity, shows everyone's place in the big picture, and inspires real solutions." They'll show it at 7 p.m. tonight in Higgins 300. Visit the Hive site for details and tour stops. 2010-03-09T16:36:56Z 2010-03-09T16:19:14Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9265 2010-03-09T16:19:14Z

Landscape artist Mary Miss is keynote speaker at the second annual symposium by iLand (interdisciplinary Laboratory for Art, Nature and Dance) in New York City. The March 26-27, 2010, symposium is titled "Connecting to the Urban Environment: Creating embodied and relational approaches to environmental awareness." Mary Miss developed "City as Living Lab," a framework for making issues of sustainability tangible through collaboration and the arts. Miss has collaborated with architects, planners, engineers, ecologists and public administrators on projects like creating a temporary memorial around the perimeter of Ground Zero, revealing the history of New York's Union Square Subway station and turning a sewage treatment plant into a public space. The event also features iLand Founder Jennifer Monson, choreographer, who will present her recent work on aquifers and waterways in relation to urban development.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Environment Landscape artist Mary Miss is keynote speaker at the second annual symposium by iLand (interdisciplinary Laboratory for Art, Nature and Dance) in New York City. The March 26-27, 2010, symposium is titled "Connecting to the Urban Environment: Creating embodied and relational approaches to environmental awareness." Mary Miss developed "City as Living Lab," a framework for making issues of sustainability tangible through collaboration and the arts. Miss has collaborated with architects, planners, engineers, ecologists and public administrators on projects like creating a temporary memorial around the perimeter of Ground Zero, revealing the history of New York's Union Square Subway station and turning a sewage treatment plant into a public space. The event also features iLand Founder Jennifer Monson, choreographer, who will present her recent work on aquifers and waterways in relation to urban development. 2010-03-09T16:09:26Z 2010-03-09T15:57:22Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9262 2010-03-09T15:57:22Z

The National Center for Creative Aging is expanding its frontier to the garden with "Creativity Matters: Civic Engagement and Gardening Symposium," April 12-14, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Events begin with "Generating Community: How Does Our Garden Grow? Intergenerational Program Development," a training by Susan Perlstein, founder of NCCA and Elders Share the Arts, at IONA Senior Services, recently named a “Center for Excellence in Dementia Care” by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Day 2 is a full-day workshop at the United States Botanic Gardens, located at the foot of the U.S. Capitol, with keynotes and breakout sessions with garden experts. Day 3 focuses on civic engagement and community involvement as participants visit and work at the Common Good City Farm and other D.C. gardens. It's all sponsored by the MetLife Foundation.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Elders The National Center for Creative Aging is expanding its frontier to the garden with "Creativity Matters: Civic Engagement and Gardening Symposium," April 12-14, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Events begin with "Generating Community: How Does Our Garden Grow? Intergenerational Program Development," a training by Susan Perlstein, founder of NCCA and Elders Share the Arts, at IONA Senior Services, recently named a “Center for Excellence in Dementia Care” by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Day 2 is a full-day workshop at the United States Botanic Gardens, located at the foot of the U.S. Capitol, with keynotes and breakout sessions with garden experts. Day 3 focuses on civic engagement and community involvement as participants visit and work at the Common Good City Farm and other D.C. gardens. It's all sponsored by the MetLife Foundation. 2010-03-09T16:39:30Z 2010-03-09T15:40:43Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9260 2010-03-09T15:40:43Z

Artists and teachers working together on diversity may be interested in an upcoming free online workshop by Facing History and Ourselves: "Civic Dilemmas: Religion, Migration, and Belonging." Through facilitated online activities and conversations, the workshop, April 7-14, 2010, will consider how schools negotiate both the needs of diverse student populations and a democracy's need to create a sense of belonging. It will feature three Facing History publications: "Stories of Identity: Religion, Migration, and Belonging," "What Do We Do With a Difference: France and the Debate Over Headscarves in Schools," and "Identity and Belonging in a Changing Great Britain." By registering for the workshop, you are committing to logging on to the site and participating in the online discussion at least three times, for a minimum time commitment of three hours over the one-week period.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Cultural Democracy Artists and teachers working together on diversity may be interested in an upcoming free online workshop by Facing History and Ourselves: "Civic Dilemmas: Religion, Migration, and Belonging." Through facilitated online activities and conversations, the workshop, April 7-14, 2010, will consider how schools negotiate both the needs of diverse student populations and a democracy's need to create a sense of belonging. It will feature three Facing History publications: "Stories of Identity: Religion, Migration, and Belonging," "What Do We Do With a Difference: France and the Debate Over Headscarves in Schools," and "Identity and Belonging in a Changing Great Britain." By registering for the workshop, you are committing to logging on to the site and participating in the online discussion at least three times, for a minimum time commitment of three hours over the one-week period. 2010-03-09T16:40:20Z 2010-03-09T14:57:22Z tag:www.communityarts.net,2010:/apinews//7.9256 2010-03-09T14:57:22Z

The relationship between a theater project at a rehabilitation center in Sri Lanka and the massacre of child soldiers there three months later will be explored in an upcoming lecture by James Thompson. Thompson will examine complicity between the two events and the responsibility of the theater practitioner to both during "An Unfortunate Incident: a performance lecture on the Bindunuwewa massacre," March 10, 2010, at the University of Manchester in England. It's sponsored by an organization called methods@manchester: research methods in the social sciences. Thompson is director of research in the School of Arts Histories and Cultures, director of the Centre for Applied Theatre Research and director of In Place of War, a research project on performance and war. He discussed the massacre in "Performance Affects: Applied Theatre and the End of Effect" (Palgrave, 2009), a book exploring performance projects in disaster and war zones.

Linda Frye Burnham burnham@apionline.org Theater/Performance The relationship between a theater project at a rehabilitation center in Sri Lanka and the massacre of child soldiers there three months later will be explored in an upcoming lecture by James Thompson. Thompson will examine complicity between the two events and the responsibility of the theater practitioner to both during "An Unfortunate Incident: a performance lecture on the Bindunuwewa massacre," March 10, 2010, at the University of Manchester in England. It's sponsored by an organization called methods@manchester: research methods in the social sciences. Thompson is director of research in the School of Arts Histories and Cultures, director of the Centre for Applied Theatre Research and director of In Place of War, a research project on performance and war. He discussed the massacre in "Performance Affects: Applied Theatre and the End of Effect" (Palgrave, 2009), a book exploring performance projects in disaster and war zones.