Blog
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Showcasing MakeWork Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Last Friday evening, we hosted The Arts at Work, one of the most diverse gatherings of artists and art lovers that one could ever hope to find in Chattanooga. Young and old, rural and urban, visual and verbal—all were in attendance to see and celebrate the MakeWork grant process at work.
The board and funders of CreateHere recognize that creativity and innovation are fundamental parts of a community’s success; the MakeWork arts grants are one of the fullest expressions of this sentiment. This year, MakeWork awarded $125,000 to individual artists and their projects in a wide range of artistic disciplines, including culinary, literary, new media, visual, and performing arts.
The guests of honor during The Arts at Work were MakeWork recipients past and present. Selected artists gave updates on their own individual artistic processes and plans for the future while audience members enjoyed food from local small business success stories such as Café Lemont, Link 41, Niedlov’s Breadworks, and La Altena. Wendy and Brandon Buckner, proprietors of The Hot Chocolatier and recipients of one of this year’s MakeWork grants, brought their signature chocolates to the table and explained how the grant will enable them to refine their art and further learn from the European chocolate-making tradition.
Justin Wilcox, one of this year’s 16 grantees, was not able to attend the Arts at Work showcase, but he joined the gathering via video to tell how the MakeWork grant will benefit his band, Moonlight Bride, and provide them with funds for a tour. “In bigger cities, no one cares about anyone but themselves,” Wilcox said. “That’s not the case in Chattanooga. It’s a great city with cool people who care.”
Other projects being completed with the help of this year’s round of MakeWork grants range from Bridget Miller‘s line of eco-clothing made with all sustainable materials to videographer Leif Ramsey‘s cultural exploration of spiritual ceremony vs. consumerism in Black Friday, a feature-length documentary film. A vision for social change is not a requirement for MakeWork grantees, but the program encourages Chattanooga artists to operate, on their own terms, as leaders of important cultural movements.
MakeWork artists work with the shared belief that a small group of thoughtful individuals can and will make a difference for Chattanooga. The program also proves that the arts in Chattanooga are constantly expanding.
Interested in applying for a MakeWork grant? Contact Jessica [at] createhere.org to be notified when applications for the 2011 grant cycle are due.
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The Arts At Work: MakeWork Showcase Schedule Friday, July 23, 2010
The Arts at Work: A MakeWork Showcase Schedule
Friday, July 23
6 pm to 9 pm\\\ Introductions will begin promptly at 6:15 PM \\\
Presentation Order:
Each Grantee will present for approximately 3 - 5 minutes.Past Recipients
Carl Cadwell - musician
Tim Cofield - videographer
Mary Barnett - photographer
Stratton Tingle & Jon-Michael Brown - musicians
Courtenay James - painter
Dave Porfiri - videographer
2010 Grantees - 7:00 PM
Wendy Buckner - culinary artist
Aaron Cabeen - woodworker
Carlos Colon - musician
Shane Darwent - photographer\\\ 10 Minute Intermission: 7:30 - 7:40 \\\
Matt Downer - musician
Linda Duvoisin - videographer
Caleb Ludwick - literary artist
Frances McDonald - visual artist
Mark Mcleod - visual artist
Bridget Miller - fashion designer
Christopher Oughtred - visual artist
Leif Ramsey - videographer
Winter Giamportone on behalf of Justin Wilcox - musician
Nora Bernhardt - visual artist\\\ Conclude @ 8:30 \\\
Grantees and Guests are encouraged to stay until 9 PM to mingle, connect, and enjoy featured treats from SpringBoard Graduates and other local staples, including:
Cafe LeMont, Hot Chocolatier, La Altena, Niedlov’s Bakery, Link 41, Sequatchie Cove Farm, and Big River.
The Land of Shadow @ Loose Cannon Gallery
Friday, July 23
8 pm and 10 pmImmediately following The Arts at Work, check out a project by sculptor and MakeWork 2009 recipient John McLeod at the Southside’s Loose Cannon Gallery.
The Land of Shadow, directed by Daniel Patrick Fay, is a multi-media experience combining object based performance; featuring puppets designed and performed by Daniel Patrick Fay, experimental music composed and performed by Andrew Livingston and installation created by John McLeod featuring original video by Will Jackson.
Posted by in Arts
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Stand & Deliver Partner Profile: La Paz Chattanooga Wednesday, July 21, 2010
La Paz Chattanooga is the leading organization connecting the growing Latino community to the people of the greater Chattanooga area. The mission of La Paz is to empower and engage Chattanooga’s Latino population through advocacy, education, and inclusion.
La Paz advocates on behalf of the Latino community by creating awareness and building trusted relationships with partner organizations and individuals working to serve the Latino population. La Paz educates the Latino community to become self-sufficient, engaging members of the Chattanooga community through pre-conception and prenatal care, educational information sessions, small group interaction, client consultation and referral, and language and cultural exchange. La Paz includes our Latino neighbors into the greater Chattanooga community by introducing them to organizations/businesses that might fall beyond their cultural boundaries and/or comfort levels.
In the past several years, the Chattanooga community has seen continuous growth and influence on behalf of the Latino population. For example, the number of Latino children enrolled in Hamilton County public schools has more than tripled since 2000. A recorded 5,116 Latinos paid a visit to the Chattanooga Health Department in 2008. The number of Latinos employed in the Chattanooga metro area nearly doubled between 2000 and 2006, and more than 50% of the current Latino population are 25 years of age or younger.
Due to recent grant funding from several local foundations, La Paz has been able to heavily concentrate their work on the education and empowerment of Latino clients. For example, through the Entre Nosotras program, Laz Paz strives to empower Latinas by way of education and lifestyle classes on topics ranging from self-help issues to practical cooking lessons.
Last month, several women gathered to make crafts and other things with their hands as part of an Entre Nosotras meeting. Each woman was challenged to create a card based on one question: Who Are You? Your answer will be expressed through what you put on this piece of paper.
Marta said, “I am simple and shy to demonstrate all that I am and can be.”
Norma said, “I remember my Guatemala, I carry this image with me.”
Aura said, “I was inspired by the culture and clothing of Guatemala.”
Yolanda said, “I now know I can make something beautiful.”
Simply, yet powerfully stated, these women were reminded of details from their home country and were encouraged to share their story and experiences with others. It was through a creative outlet and fellowship with other women that walls were broken down and La Paz clients were able to open up with both themselves and their peers.
La Paz sold the cards crafted by the Entre Nosotros group to members of the Chattanooga community at La Feria Hispana, the organization’s sixth-annual fundraiser. The money raised through card sales was put back into La Paz programs, thus enabling clients to help themselves.
Through their many programs, one-on-one client management, and outreach, La Paz works to build tolerance, opportunity, and mutual understanding, so as to create an environment in which cultural acceptance can thrive.
For more information about La Paz and/or how to get involved, contact the La Paz office at 423-624-8414 or visit their website at http://www.lapazchattanooga.org.
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A few words on “Sarah’s Story” Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Drew Belz is one of our creative and unpredictable video gurus here at CreateHere. Here he reveals a few behind the scenes details for “Sarah’s Story,” reminding us yet again that the greatest creative work is all about collaboration.
Creating the stop-motion piece for “Sarah’s Story” may have devoured more time than a traditional workspace would allow for routine promotion, but we’re convinced that creative web video is not an option.
“Sarah’s Story” was an excellent example of the creative workflow our team does best. Our copywriter Alison Burke drafted a script to promote Stand and Deliver: Safety. Working with designers Melinda Taylor and Michael Mahaffey, as well as fellow videographer Grant Withington, we visualized the cardboard cutout Chattanooga and took the concept through to final edit.
Active citizens across our city are looking for ways to stem the flow of crime and create safety in our community. Stand and Deliver: Safety is an initiative from CreateHere to connect and empower individuals fighting toward that end. Check out this introduction, and see how Sarah’s story could become your story.
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Stand & Deliver Partner Profile: On Point Thursday, July 15, 2010
As we get ready for Action Lab Blitz this weekend, we want to take a few minutes to introduce you to another important organization that has partnered with us in the Stand & Deliver process. We hope to see you at Action Lab this Friday and Saturday.
On Point is a youth development program that has been serving teenagers in Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia for nearly two decades. With a simple and direct goal—to build healthy teens—On Point is dedicated to the youth of our city. Their program model incorporates the 40 Developmental Assets created by the Search Institute with the goal of building 40 positive assets into the lives of teenagers as building blocks for a healthy future. Students who possess these positive assets are more likely to avoid risky behaviors as adolescents and achieve success as adults, regardless of gender, race, economic situation, or geographic location. Each year, On Point equips nearly 15,000 students with knowledge and strategies to abstain from risky behaviors.
Most importantly, On Point builds relationships with students. Educators and volunteers with On Point become friends, role models, and mentors to the teens in the program. Better yet, teens often move on to become the program’s teachers. Chris Brown (pictured below with other folks from On Point) is one of these students-turned-teachers and a member of On Point’s Teen Board. The following is his personal account of how On Point has encouraged him to be involved in the lives of his peers and, by doing so, shape the future of Chattanooga.
This is the first year that I have been involved with On Point and it has changed me in ways I cannot explain. I was raised in North Chattanooga—not the “nice side” of it, but the rural part. My mother was a single parent trying to raise me the best way she could. As a child, I craved a male figure in my life who could guide my life in the right path. At that point, I had seen my father a total of five times in my life. I never had a father figure to tell me what was right and what was wrong. I was surrounded by so many negative things and would have probably ended up on the streets. Most of my friends did.
My mother kept me in church as I grew older and it was at Sunday school that I met an extraordinary man named Mr. Ed Hines, the head mentor at On Point. He was the best teacher and he would talk to young men just like a father. As time went on I grew too old to be in his Sunday school class, but I didn’t want to leave him. I needed that father-like figure to guide me in the right direction. When Mr. Hines finally figured out that I was way too old to be in his class, I explained to him that he was a powerful figure in my life since my father was not there for me. I would become angry at my father because he didn’t love me. I had my mother, but it still felt like I was missing out on so much in my life. I felt alone.
As time went on, I was introduced to the On Point program by one of my best friends. Right away I learned and listened and told my friends in North Chattanooga that they didn’t have to live this way—they didn’t have to steal and do drugs to survive in this world. Many of my old friends who are now in gangs ask me, “Why are you so good?” When I think about that question, I think about Mr. Hines— that positive male role model. I had something in my life that they didn’t have: a mentor—somebody that I knew had my back through thick and thin.
In the future, I want to be a Politician—not for political glory but to help protect and serve my community, making sure that organizations like On Point are kept alive for teens who struggle with everyday life. Young people today need mentors to guide them down the right path. What else do we have? We need a positive force. On Point is one of those positive forces. If we can change many, we can change more; if we can change more, we can change all.
For more information about On Point, visit liveonpoint.org or call 423-899-9188.
