Monday, December 29, 2008

Quilts for Obama Exhibition in January at DC Historical Society


The Historical Society of Washington, DC will host the exhibit "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President." This exhibit, organized by Roland Freeman and Carolyn Mazloomi will be on display January 11, 2009 - February 1, 2009.

Artists included in the show (just a partial list) include: Edna Patterson-Petty, Dr. Denise Campbell, Cookie Washington, Peggy Hartwell, Catherine Lamkin, Marlene O’Bryant, Charlene Hughes of Honolulu, Laura Gadson, Trish Williams, Sew Chick Elle, and others.

Check it out if you get a chance.

Double Visions Exhibition Ends This Saturday!



Our exhibition entitled, "Double Visions" will end this Saturday, January 3rd, so if you haven't been by Space 7:10 at Kefa Cafe in Silver Spring, I suggest that you go by before the New Year's Holiday.

Both Sharon and I have a few artwork that is still available for sale. In addition, I have two handmade dolls available.

If you are interested in any of the work, feel free to contact me!

Television Debut on PGAA Cable Show

Well folks, I am now preparing for my first television debut on the Prince George's County Artists Association (PGAA) Cable TV show. This Saturday, January 3rd I will be taping a segment called "Three Dimensional Artists" where I will share several of my dolls and artwork. The show will be aired on cable TV in Prince George's County during the month of January.

The panel of PGAA member artists that will be interviewed include:

Panelists:
Sharon Keyser-Jackson, fiber artist
Cynthia York, quilter
Yours Truly, doll maker

The moderators of the show include PGAA President Zenobia Rickford, George Tuggle and Alita Irby.

I live in the District of Columbia so I will be unable to see the program. However,if you live in Prince George's County, Maryland, check your local listings for the airtime and shoot me an e-mail at sways@sankofastudio.com and let me know what you thought of the show.

Celebrating "Umoja", The First Day of Kwanzaa With Artist Synthia St. James





On Friday, December 26th at the Gaylord Hotel at the National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland, I was treated to a holiday brunch with renowned artist Synthia St. James in honor of Umoja (unity) the first of day of Kwanzaa. The food was marvelous as well as the discussion and history provided by Ms. St. James about her book entitled, "The Gifts of Kwanzaa" and the artwork/illustrations she has done surrounding it.

The book was published in 1994 yet still stands as a colorful and artistic testament to the celebration that we now know as Kwanzaa. The illustrations and artwork true to St. James colorful and bold artistic work. Because of the book and illustrations, the U.S. Postal Service commissioned Synthia to create artwork for the first stamp that celebrates the holiday. Synthia explained that one of the illustrations in the book served as the inspiration for the stamp artwork.

Ms. St. James autographed my complimentary book and we discussed being an artist. She was so gracious warm and inviting to talk to. I thank my twin sister, Sharon of Gemini Visions Art Studio, for treating me to this wonderful event.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Double Visions Reception A Success!






Friday, December 5th at Space 7:10 of Kefa Cafe in Silver Spring, MD, was filled with much pomp and circumstance! The Double Visions Exhibition reception featuring myself and my twin sister Sharon J. Burton of Gemini Visions Studio was highly successful. I debuted the "Sassy Girls" collection along with the mixed media dolls on canvas during the exhibition. Bassey Ikpi, renowned Def Poetry Jam Poet, performed several selections and was super fantastic! The crowd, including members of the Prince George's Artist's Association (PGAA) was enthusiastically warm during a somewhat chilly December evening. Both Sharon and I provided an artist talk which featured our inspirations for the work shown.

All in all it was a wonderful evening and I would personally like to thank ALL of those who showed up and participated.

If you have not had a chance to stop by Space 7:10 at Kefa Cafe to see the exhibition, it is not too late. Our work will be shown there through January 3, 2009. The cafe is located at 963 Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.

East of The River Paper Lists Sankofa Studio as one of Holiday Gift Ideas!



The December 2008 East of the River paper cites Sankofa Studio on list of holiday gift giving ideas. Khadijah Ali-Coleman writer for the paper lists Sankofa Studio as Number 7 in the paper's annual shopping guide. Check it out here!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Today is World AIDS Awareness Day-African American's Need More Awareness



The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September released new data confirming what AIDS watchdogs have been saying for years: Black gay and bisexual men and Black women are being devastated by HIV/AIDS. That ugly reality is now indisputable. But what’s just as clear is that resources currently dedicated to changing that reality are woefully inadequate and not targeted at the heart of the problem.

A mobilization to end AIDS in Black communities has exploded in recent years. People from every corner of our community are getting involved—gay and straight, male and female, churches and civil rights groups, business people and celebrities, college students and community organizers. It is now crucial that policymakers at both the federal and local level finally join the fight.

I am writing today to bring awareness to World AIDS awareness day which is today, December 1, 2008. Personally, I have had a half brother transition because of this disease. My community which is East of the River in Washington, DC has the highest incidences of AIDS cases in the entire city as well as the country as a whole. I am personally disgusted and outraged that a largely African American community in a city and region known African Americans to be one of wealthiest in the country is also the worst when it comes to the AIDS epidemic. However, there has to be a willingness to challenge our leadership in Wards 7 & 8 as well as the Mayor of our fair city to really bring awareness, resources and education to our community to end this.

I just discovered The Black AIDS Institute which is a national "think tank" focused on addressing HIV/AIDS among African Americans and those of African descent through policy, advocacy, communications, training, and model program development.

They just created a capacity building program for African American communities to help educate and combat AIDS.

Here is what their website states:

"Aimed at strengthening Black organizational and individual capacity to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their communities, the African American HIV University (AAHU) is the comprehensive training and capacity building fellowship program developed by the Black AIDS Institute. AAHU is composed of two colleges: the AAHU Community Mobilization College, and the AAHU Science and Treatment College. Each college has a distinct curriculum, cohort of fellows, and application process.


AAHU Community Mobilization College
The Black AIDS Institute's AAHU Community Mobilization College (AAHU CMC) utilizes a Community Mobilization Model to enhance the capacity of Black communities to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Through building the knowledge and networks of community leaders around the country and providing a skills-building internship practicum focused on community mobilization, individuals become capable of engaging traditional Black institutions and other stakeholders in local level community activities that will increase access to and utilization of HIV prevention services in their communities. AAHU CMC runs for approximately 11 months.

Engages participants in four comprehensive community mobilization trainings that allow them to learn and review concepts in manageable modules, building upon an ever-increasing knowledge base. These trainings are focused on the four key components of the AAHU Community Mobilization Model:
Track 1: Assessment
Track 2: Planning
Track 3: Implementation and Monitoring & Evaluation
Track 4: Community Mobilization Symposium

Three community mobilization internships immerse participants in an environment where they continuously practice and apply the new skills-based knowledge and expertise gained through the comprehensive trainings. Each internship is approximately 90 days and takes place between training tracks.

AAHU CMC is currently in session.

AAHU Science & Treatment College
AAHU Science and Treatment College (AAHU STC) ensures participants learn complex HIV, leadership and community mobilization information incrementally. There is a concentrated and repetitive tackling of the underlying social, economic and cultural factors that prevent Black people from fully accessing and using HIV services.
AAHU STC takes place over 24 months.

AAHU STC takes a unique and effective method for addressing these complex issues. The program integrates increased and comprehensive HIV knowledge with a variety of community mobilization and leadership development techniques. This enhanced knowledge and skill addresses the barriers that prevent many in the Black community from utilizing HIV services. Two major components of the program are:

Engaging participants in five comprehensive adult-centered trainings that allow them to learn and review in manageable modules, building upon an ever-increasing knowledge base; and

Immersing participants in an environment where they continuously practice and apply new skills based on their knowledge through case simulations, four internships and technical assistance in replicating our model."

I am not sure how this capacity building program is doing or if it is currently being utilized in Washington, DC, but something has to be done.

I am challenging myself as well as other artists to create something in the color red and sell it. Take all proceeds to fund some sort of AIDS awareness campaign or non profit organization dedicated to fighting AIDS in our community. Let me know if you do.

You can start with supporting the following:

African-American Aids Policy and Training Institute dba, Black AIDS Institute
1833 W 8th St
Ste 200
Los Angeles,CA 90057
http://www.blackaids.org