 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2010 Contact: Kristina Bilonick, Program Director, WPA [email protected] / 202.234.7103 x 2 The Meaning of Making Presented by Washington Project for the Arts, Hello Craft, and Civilian Art Projects in conjunction with CraftweekDC 2010 What: A drop‐in hands on crafting social, followed by a panel discussion featuring local artists and artisans working in the realm of handmade. This event is free and open to the public. Beer and pizza will be available for a suggested donation. When: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 4‐6:30pm‐ Drop in Make Something Awesome crafting social (powered by Hello Craft) 6:30‐8pm‐ panel discussion, The Meaning of Making Where: Civilian Art Projects, 1019 7th Street NW (across from the convention center) Panelists: Tom Ashcraft, Artist and Professor of Sculpture at George Mason University; Christine Ernest, founder of Maganda Design; Dana Ayana Greaves, Artist and founder of Artistic Aya clothing and accessories; and Carole Greenwood, chef, artist and musician Moderator: Betsy Greer, author of Knitting for Good and founder of craftivism.com Sponsored by: Pabst Blue Ribbon Washington, DC – Washington Project for the Arts (www.wpadc.org), Hello Craft (www.hellocraft.org), and Civilian Art Projects (www.civilianartprojects.com) are pleased to announce, The Meaning of Making; a drop‐in crafting social followed by a panel discussion that will take place at Civilian Art Projects on Wednesday, April 21st between 4‐8pm (1019 7th Street, NW DC). The event is part of a week‐long lineup of craft‐focused events that are tied into CraftweekDC 2010. (http://www.craftweekdc.com/index.html) The public is invited to join WPA and Hello Craft at Civilian Art Projects to participate in an afternoon of crafting and socializing at the Make Something Awesome area of the event between 4‐6:30pm. The Make Something Awesome area is powered by Hello Craft, and will feature 3‐5 easy crafts that you can make on the spot and take home such as duct tape business card holders, embroidery, and button making. In addition to the craft activity, the Civilian Art Projects’ store, The Shop, will be open for business. The Shop is stocked with handmade clothing, accessories, and small works made by local artists and artisans. Most pieces are under $50 and all are 100% handmade. At 6:30pm there will be a panel discussion, The Meaning of Making, which takes a close look at the lives of four people who make with their hands for a living or hobby. A diverse mix of panelists take on the subject from various viewpoints ranging from visual arts to cooking, crafting, design and woodworking. Craft‐Conscious blogger and author, Betsy Greer of craftivism.com, will moderate the talk (see below for panelist and moderator bios). Tom Ashcraft is a visual artist who makes drawings, sculptural objects, installations, solo and collaborative public works. Tom has exhibited and produced work throughout the United States including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston‐Salem, NC; Atlanta Center for Contemporary Art, Atlanta, GA; Washington Project for the Arts, Washington, D.C.; The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.; Munson‐Williams‐Proctor Institute, Utica, NY. He is represented by Hemphill Fine Arts, Washington, D.C. His commissions include BOOKWORK’S, a conceptual collaboratively‐ designed bookstore, for the Washington Project for the Arts, Washington D.C.; and the Mt. Rainer, MD Roundabout, in collaboration with artist David Chung. (www.tomashcraft.com) Christine Ernest is a part time maker, writer and handmade enthusiast on top of her full‐time media/communications job. She makes jewelry, buttons and handmade clothing in addition to blogging for the Washington Citypaper’s craft blog, Cut the Craft and her own blog, Maganda Design (http://magandadesign.blogspot.com/). Dana Ayana Greaves is a DC‐based artist and designer who combines high‐art craftsmanship with street style to create unique jewelry and couture that have sold in local boutiques and national museums. You may have seen her creations in Lucky, DC Magazine, Daily Candy, The Washington Post, or on Today. She has designed one‐of‐a‐kind pieces for celebrities including musician, Erykah Badu. (http://www.artisticaya.com/) Carole Greenwood is best known as a chef, living and working in Washington, DC. Having trained in Paris as the first winner of the Anne Crutcher Fellowship from Les Dames d'Escoffier; she continued working in London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Santa Fe and Key West before returning to her native Washington, DC. She has owned and cooked at her restaurants, Greenwood, Buck's Fishing & Camping, and Comet Ping Pong since 1996 and is well‐known as one of the first DC chefs cooking in the currently fashionable style using seasonal and local ingredients. During the Bush administration she became infamous for refusing to serve then Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Greenwood was nominated for a James Beard Award in 2008. Greenwood graduated form The University of Richmond and studied at the Corcoran College of Art & Design. She has had solo exhibitions at Civilian Art Projects and Strand on Volta. Currently, Greenwood is working on an underground food/art movement and is the front‐ woman for the local indie‐rock band, The Beatins. (http://www.civilianartprojects.com/artists/greenwood) Betsy Greer received her M.A. in Sociology from Goldsmiths College in London in 2004. Her master's dissertation was on knitting, DIY culture and community development. This dissertation subject quickly earned her the title of "that girl who knits" in the department. In November 2008, her first book, Knitting For Good! was published. Her web site Craftivism.com explores ‘Craftivisim’ ‐ a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper and your quest for justice more infinite. (www.craftivism.com) Civilian Art Projects is a gallery in Washington, DC representing emerging and established artists. Civilian presents a challenging exhibition series supporting "museum ready' artists working in a broad range of media including painting, photography, sculpture, works on paper, and other emerging forms. Beyond the exhibition program, the gallery regularly supports and sponsors events of local and national cultural significance and participates in panel discussions, lectures, and other forums geared toward enhancing discourse and understanding. Hello Craft is a 501c(6) non‐profit trade association (pending), dedicated to the advancement of independent crafters and the handmade movement, as well as empowering small business owners and educating the public to the benefits of buying handmade. Founded in 2008 by four crafters/craft fair organizers who share a love of making, Hello Craft actively pursues its mission through the educational facets of their website, and various events held throughout the year such as Field Trips and the annual 3‐day conference the Summit of Awesome. www.hellocraft.com Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) is an independent, non‐profit 501 c(3) organization whose mission is to provide essential resources to support the creative spirit and success of regional artists. We present contemporary art through imaginative and provocative programs, and we connect artists with the community in both traditional and unexpected ways. www.wpadc.org CraftWeek DC is organized by Washington, DC area artists, galleries, and the James Renwick Alliance (JRA) to recognize the growing community of artists in the Washington DC area working in ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, and wood. www.craftweekdc.com We would like to thank our beverage sponsor, Pabst Blue Ribbon. # # # 