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Art for Change

Art for Change has gallery hours established for the next several Saturdays! We’ll be open each Saturday starting this week (Jan 7th) through February 18th! Come check out the show!

Art for Change is pleased to present Dismissed featuring artists, Jamie Kelty, Sally Hogarth, Megan Klim, Tomo Mori, Kate Fauvell, Rosanna Bump, Junior Targét, and student artwork from Promise Academy II in Harlem and Maspeth High School in Queens.  

Education, that which should be a right is often times a privilege. In this show, we asked artists to consider the disparities that exist in our education system through the lenses of class, school districts, and race. School budgets based on property taxes in some areas are one example of the stratification of schools based on class. Furthermore, the achievement gap between minority students and their white counter parts increased in recent years due to the reliance on standardized testing and the ever uncertain budgetary constraints. Indeed there is a need for educational reform to a system that was developed to reflect white middle class values, instead of the culture where the school is embedded. In fact the development of East Harlem as a community embodies these varying disparities within its educational system.

Media contact Harry Jean-Pierre, AfC Co-executive director, hjpierre@gmail.com, 917.224.7300

www.artforchange.org

Start Off The New Year Doing Something Good

Hello Friends & Family,

I’ve been a volunteer for Art for Change, a social justice and arts nonprofit in East Harlem ( www.artforchange.org )  for over a year now, and I am on a mission to raise just $200!  ANY amount you are able to donate would be greatly appreciated.  As you all know, funding for the arts is slim and you can rest assured anything you give goes directly to sustain Art for Change and its programs as it is run entirely by volunteers like myself.  

CLICK TO DONATE

url: http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_donateReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=13-4120508

This year I helped lead a series of community art workshops in collaboration with the Living Wage NYC campaign (www.livingwagenyc.org).  We looked at examples of protest art and every creation was an original expression of the cause, poverty and the working poor, and a call to action to support a living wage.  [check outworkshop promo video url: http://vimeo.com/31585957 ]  We made banners which were hung at a huge Living Wage NYC rally, where all stakeholders, including many supportive City Council Members were present.  At a recent meeting East Harlem’s Community Board 11, one of the banner artists spoke as we held up her banner, on the hardship of minimum wage earners trying to raise a family.  (Banner image attached)  Part of the struggle for support is keeping the human impact a part of the policy debate, and that is something art can do.  It was amazing to see people’s reactions and to see how the dialogue changed.  CB11 is now one of five community boards in Manhattan to endorse the Fair Wages for New Yorkers bill.  This past Sunday, The New York Times endorsed the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/opinion/a-living-wage-long-overdue.html?_r=2&ref=opinion 

Art for Change has a unique horizontal structure and an effective leadership model, inspiring volunteers like myself to give time and resources because it gives me the opportunity to make a difference and to meet and collaborate with artists and activists who inspire me.  Other programs on the docket are monthly Children’s Arts Workshops, quarterly exhibitions, and fiscal sponsorships for local artists.  Check out our website for more information: www.artforchange.org.  Feel free to follow up with me on any questions or if you want to be on our events newsletter!!  And if you can, please donate— any amount!  It’s tax deductible!! 

Have a great New Year!

Love, Junez

CLICK TO DONATE

url: http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_donateReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=13-4120508

disMISSED Opening Reception, Friday, November 18 @ 7:00-11:00PM

DISMISSED 
Opening Reception 
Art for Change Gallery

Art for Change (AfC) is a non-profit organization that creates innovative art and media programs that inspire people to take an active role in social justice. AfC programs are made possible in part with public funds from the ManhattanCommunity Arts Fund and Fund for Creative Communities, administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council supported by NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NY State Cultural Affairs. AfC programs are also made possible with support from the AfC Board of Directors, and dedicated group of volunteers.

Art for Change is located at 1699 Lexington Ave., Lower Level, (between 106th & 107th St.)

MILLENNIAL YELL!

Community Dialog & Closing Party: Saturday, October 22^nd, 2011 7:00PM to 11:00PM. Art for Change 1699 Lexington Avenue, Lower Level(Between 106^th & 107^th Street )

Community Dialog followed by live performances and DJ

Inspired by the Middle East uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia and the DREAM Act movement in the U.S. , Millennial Yell! explores the distinct characteristics of new waves of socio-political movements sweeping across the globe sparked by youth of the millennial generation.   Ironically, the end of the show coincides with the one-month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street protests, indicating the importance of this exhibition and foreshadowing the role of the Millennials, our twenty-something years old generation, in leading social and political change in the future.        

• How are the youth of the millennial generation redefining activism and revolution?  How preference for individual action among today’s young people would change the traditional institutions of the socio-political systems in the U.S.
•  Are these movements engaging all social classes? Or, are these sporadic fads of the technological savvy educated middle class?     
• Race, religion and class played vital roles in shaping the revolutions of past generations. Would these concepts fuel the fights of the Millennials or are there going to emerge new ideals?

The dialog seeks to further discuss these and other questions and to celebrate current youth-led movements such the current OWS with live performances and music.  

Joins us for a fun inspiring night of art and social justice!!!!!

it was a GLORIOUS day on Wall Street

“The one thing that terrifies the elite is a great awakening. Well that day is here, and we must stand together and seize it. The worldwide movement of rebellion and resistance has been building [ in Egypt, in Tunisia, in Spain, in Greece,and England]… and it has finally come to New York, and more specifically to Wall Street.” 

“The banks are global. They have globalized their sweatshops and their cutbacks. Well today, WE ARE GLOBALIZING THE REBELLION!”

- ARUN GUPTA (words)

-QUISQEUYANO (photos)

Art for Change: Call for Artists!

ART FOR CHANGE CALL FOR ARTISTS!

Dismissed

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, October 20^th, 2011 

Art for Change (AfC) is seeking proposals for artworks for its upcoming exhibition, Dismissed., at the AfC gallery Friday, November 18th, 2011 – Saturday, February 18^th, 2012. Art for Change is a non-profit (501c3) organization that provides a forum for creating innovative art and media programs that inspire people to take an active role in social justice. By merging art and community, AfC provides a space to explore social issues and celebrate the richness of cultural diversity.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Education, that which should be a right is often times a privilege. In this show, we ask artists to consider the disparities that exist in our education system through the lenses of class, school districts, and race. School budgets based on property taxes in some areas are one example of the stratification of schools based on class. Furthermore, the achievement gap between minority students and their white counter parts increased in recent years due to the reliance on standardized testing and the ever uncertain budgetary constraints. Indeed there is a need for educational reform to a system that was developed to reflect white middle class values, instead of the culture where the school is embedded. In fact the development of East Harlem as a community embodies these varying disparities within its educational system. We seek to include work that explores these and other issues related to education and the community of East Harlem. Additionally, we aim to include work that is inspired by the dedication that quality educators have shown to their students and to the school community.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Interested artists may submit proposals for artworks consistent with the social justice platform of AfC, which address topics suggested, but not limited to, the description above. Artworks may include painting, drawing, photography, video, sculpture, performance art, interactive art, design, architecture, and site-specific installation. Proposals must be 1-2 paragraphs in length, including a detailed description of the proposed or existing artwork and its relevance to the exhibition theme.

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR PROPOSAL:

·                     Artist’s Full Name(s) and/or Alias

·                     Brief Artist’s Bio

·                     Statement of Intent (1-2 paragraphs) Please include dimensions of piece.  

·                     2-5 images of past work examples and/or proposed artwork (no larger than 300 dpi)

Proposals will not be returned.

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR PROPOSAL, WORK SAMPLES, & STATEMENT OF INTENT TO:  afcexhibitions@gmail.com.  Please put “ART FOR CHANGE: Dismissed” in the subject heading. Please feel free to email with any questions.

Proposals must be received by Friday, October 20^th,  2011 to be eligible for consideration. Artists will be notified by Monday, October 24^th, 2011 if their proposal is accepted, and participating artists will be required to deliver their artworks to the gallery by Sunday, November 13^th, 2011. We are looking forward to reviewing your proposals!