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Buy artwork this season from local artists
(from top: Choke’s adorned items,
Sherry Burton-Way’s unique dolls,
and Camille Pasley-Mobley’s
photography services)
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Visual Art
This past year was an arts renaissance in DC. The DC arts community enjoyed an uprising in events that promoted the visual arts, specifically. The photography festival Fotoweek DC just ended with an increase in its attendance that almost tripled the numbers last year. Groups like the Black Artists of DC also debuted recently their exhibit “Black” at the DC Arts Center, with record numbers in attendance. Art is the rage now, and what better gift for someone than an art piece selected just for them?
Choke was featured in East of the River this past summer for her incredible art renderings that range from mural work to photography. Her work was recently shown at the Potter’s House in Adams Morgan in an exhibit titled “Celebration of Freedom.” This season, Choke is selling her wares in the annual holiday bazaar held by local philanthropist Juanita Britton, as well as in Britton’s Anacostia Gallery and Boutique located in Southeast. In addition to her artwork, Choke is also a savvy adorner, transforming plain notebooks and pens into treasured mini pieces of art. You can contact Anacostia Gallery and Boutique at 202-610-4188 for purchase information.
Doll-maker extraordinaire Sherry Burton-Ways, a member of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, has been making moves this year to bring her artistry to the forefront. Visual art is not only paintings, it includes that which you see, and everyone seems to love looking at the work of Burton-Ways. Her work has appeared in exhibits at the Vivrant Art Gallery in Philadelphia and in doll shows at the National Harbor. She has sold her work to local celebrities and recently opened a doll studio which attracted much press attention. You can visit her website at www.sankofastudio.com to order one of her original works of art for the little girl or doll lover in your life.
Gift Certificates for Services
Camille Pasley-Mobley is one of DC’s best known photographers. One of the faces behind Anacostia Fine Art, Pasley-Mobley is also a studio photographer, offering portrait services for individuals and corporate functions. Pasley-Mobley’s work is featured in her book “Mama Love,” and her work has appeared in the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum. You can contact her at photos@pasleyplace.com for more information on gift certificate options.
Deidre Gantt writes for the East of the River newspaper, is affiliated with the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative and is an artist in her own right. A renaissance woman, Gantt is owner of Phenom Community Media where she offers writing and graphic design services. If you have a performer in your life who may be interested in working with a professional to craft press releases or start a website, then a gift certificate to Phenom Community Media may be the best choice you can make!
Life coaching is a new industry in which folks are finding real value. Life coach Angela Shaw offers gift certificates for individuals who would love to start their new year off right. Shaw is based in Southeast and enjoys helping those who need support in planning their next move, whether it is creative, professional or relationship-based. One client says about Shaw, “She is wise, frank and gentle all rolled into one. She makes the life journey fun to anticipate.” Visit her website, www.lovepraywrite.blogspot.com and contact her at angel_destiny1@hotmail.com.
Clothes and Accessories
Mimi’s Boutique Mix is a fun place to get today’s hottest fashion. This online spot is run by MiMi, a DC native who came up with the idea for the online boutique after a recent trip to South Africa. An avid traveler, Mimi created Boutique Mix to be, “your one stop fashion locale – an international excursion with no visa or passport required. I bring everything right to your computer.” Visit her at www.boutiquemix.com.
Books
“Diamonds in the Raw” (Dog Ear Publishing, 2009) offers exclusive interviews with DC's known and unknowns in the DC hip-hop game and explosively addresses issues of payola, haters in the game and DC's slickest music secret. In the book, you get a heads-up on who some of the original players in the game are and connect the dots with suggestions as to why hip-hop has still endured a steady and slow gathering of hard-hitters in a city best known for the go-go music that remains known nationally as only a delicacy offered by DC. Written by DC native Sidney “SuperSid” Thomas, the book is a great gift for that hip-hop lover in your household. You can purchase the book at Busboys and Poets, Borders Books and online at Amazon.com.
“Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul” (Outskirts Press, 2009) is an anthology collection that is sure to inspire, revive and enthrall readers on the very idea of how to free one's soul. Containing personal essays, poetry, short stories and visual art, this compilation stretches boundaries as one contemplates the very idea of freedom while presenting, and often challenging, the concept of the soul. This book anthology was the featured book of the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, an annual festival held in Marvin Gaye Park. One reader wrote on Amazon.com about the book, “I was touched by the heartwarming and candid preface … and some of my favorite pieces were Farah Lawal's ‘Just to Impress You’ which was about self acceptance; Randy L. Gross' ‘The Server’ which was about being selfless; and Venus Jones' powerful poem ‘Chasing Freedom’ which I interpreted to be a yearning for the ‘motherland.’” “Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul” is available for purchase on Amazon.com and BarnesNoble.com. |
