A Community Portrait of Durham

Reflections-A Community Portrait of Durham-One Year Later

2011-10-05T09:56:00.002-04:00

See. Listen. Love.

When I walk the streets of Durham, I see people, businesses, and even empty spaces that hold personal meaning to me. The acts of walking, greeting and photographing this place has created a series of memories and experiences that for me have wed me to this place.

My experience is not unique, we all have our perspectives and our own weaving of experiences. And, we all have our own personal reasons for choosing to be here, to create and live here.

I am drawn to these stories of place. And I am not alone. There are those among us that serve to gather and share these stories - art and educational institutions, non-profits, businesses, places of worship and many individuals that are compelled to capture these stories in their work, art and archives.

A Community Portrait of Durham was in part a way for me to be able to engage a community to connect and acknowledge these gifts, these storytellers. Each one of us possesses our own complex and individual expressions of what is our own truth. What strikes me as unique in this community is the general acceptance and interest in celebrating the overall diversity and difference in perspectives.

I don’t know if there will ever be a repeat of A Community Portrait but I do realize that the intent of it - the act of celebrating ourselves and our stories-is something that I am grateful to see taking place all around me. Personally, I am still compelled to create opportunities to share these stories of this place, its building, people and organizations.

I sense that our greatest connections come from being in the presence of one another. The challenge sometimes lies in putting aside our personal agendas enough to listen and perhaps see where we share common ground.

What is next for A Community Portrait of Durham?

2010-11-23T13:46:00.002-05:00

The aerial photograph will tour Durham in 2011 (DAC show runs until Jan 9) and there is talk to create some additional opportunities for folks to come out and tell their stories. These are open and collaborative opportunities for discussion. This project was developed as an idea to create a dialogue using art as mode of expression.

This project was also created to support The Scrap Exchange raise awareness and funds toward a permanent home in Durham Central Park, add programming and create green jobs. The Scrap is a catalyst for reinvention- both in terms of materials and human creativity. 2011 marks their 20^th anniversary! Sign up for their newsletter for updates on activities.

http://www.scrapexchange.org/news.html

Tour and discussion locations will be announced here in early 2011 and also on facebook. In the meanwhile, feel free to share an idea or a story about Durham right here.

And if you are in the photograph, be sure to go by Through This Lens to sign the copy in the window! Roylee is selling prints and half goes to The Scrap Exchange!

http://throughthislens.com/index.html

The Museum of Durham History captures the stories of Durham residents

2010-11-19T12:04:00.000-05:00

We are grateful to The Museum of Durham History for taking the opportunity to record the stories of many of those individuals who showed up to participate in A Community Portrait of Durham. Those stories can be found here:

http://www.museumofdurhamhistory.org/video.html

Sneek peek...

2010-10-12T14:15:00.003-04:00

Here's a portion of the final aerial image!

Come to the opening reception of "People You May Know: Contemporary Portraits" at the Durham Arts Council to see the full portrait!

What: opening reception, "People You May Know: Contemporary Portraits"

When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15

Where: Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St., Durham

We'll have information Friday on how you can get your own copy of the portrait, with a portion of the proceeds going to The Scrap Exchange.

What an event!

2010-10-12T14:07:00.003-04:00

photo by Darius Goins

We just wanted to thank everyone for coming out to the Oct. 3 event! We had more than 300 people in attendance and some very memorable guests, including the Duke Blue Devil and Wool E. Bull.

Check out our Flickr slideshow on the homepage and our Facebook page for photos of that day. There's also a great slideshow by The News & Observer and photographer John Rottet.

We hope you truly enjoyed being a participant in this fun event, met someone you didn't know or just got to show your Durham love. While the community portrait volunteers made a concerted effort to make this event inclusive of all parts of Durham, the final event was not truly as diverse as organizers and participants had hoped. But we would like to continue this conversation.

Organizer Chris Chinchar had a guest column published Monday, Oct. 11, in The Herald-Sun on this topic, and will have another column coming out Wednesday in the Independent Weekly.

Meanwhile, please join us for the big portrait REVEAL at a reception for the Durham Arts Council exhibit, "People You May Know: Contemporary Portraits," from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at 120 Morris St. This event is part of Third Friday festivities throughout downtown. Copies of the final portrait will be available beginning Oct. 15. Please visit the Durham Arts Council event or Through This Lens gallery for more information! A portion of the sale of each print will go to The Scrap Exchange.

Just 24 hours! This just in...

2010-10-02T13:59:00.001-04:00

A Durham gnome!

There are just 24 hours left until A Community Portrait of Durham in Durham Central Park and the news keeps rolling in!

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:

— We are having participants mostly fill in the blue section of the flag and using other materials/fabric to fill in the red and yellow parts of the flag. BUT, we invite members of the community to wear yellow and red, i.e. NCCU school colors, to fill in the smaller parts of the flag, too! So, if you have bright red, maroon or yellow tees to wear, you're more than welcomed to sport your school colors.

— Participants are welcomed to bring musical instruments for impromptu performances and jamming beginning at 3:15 p.m. in the part. You'll have free reign to picnic and play until about 4 p.m., when the Warehouse Blues Series concert begins.

— We've just confirmed some very special guests that will likely thrill both the kids and the grown-ups who attend. We encourage you to bring your cameras, too, to capture some of what's going on, and in case you want to get some memories of these Durham icons.

— There's still time to make art that represents Durham! One icon of Durham is the randomly placed garden gnomes that have been popping up all over the Bull City, and documented on this website.

Thanks to some creative volunteers, the gnome will be represented in the portrait (see photo)!! This Scrap Exchange-borne gnome was created by Hannah Peele, Sarah Bingham and Jessica Moore and has been named Klaus "The Blue Phoenix" Klemenson by the Durham Gnome bloggers, who will appear at the event Sunday to hold him up!

Official Day of Event Schedule!

2010-09-29T18:34:00.002-04:00

Noon - CPOD festivities begin! DJ Piddipat sets the mood for picnicking and artmaking with the Scrap Exchange. Kids can join Jenny Justice of Durham Community Theatre for
"Let's Make A Story."

12:30 Welcome

1PM Strike a pose for the Community Portrait of Durham

1:15-2pm Music by Slim Pickns

1:30-3pm Stop by a Video Booth and tell us about your Durham

2-2:30pm Storyteller Jenny Justice

2:30-3:15pm Music by Gilbert Neal

Bring an instrument or a Frisbee, relax on the lawn and stick around for the
Warehouse Blues Series -
Kelley and the Cowboys and Big Ron Hunter will be playing from 5-7pm.

Don't forget - this is a pack it in/pack it out event!
Ask a volunteer for more information.

TRASH FREE EVENT

2010-09-28T22:47:00.001-04:00

We're taking over the park this Sunday, 10-3-2010!
This is a project about Durham. Who we are. What we stand for.
The strength of our community. Each piece of art created for the portrait is unique.
It is made of leftovers, scraps, carefully composed and assembled by one or more members of our community. On Sunday we will bring these pieces of art together to form a larger piece of art. A piece of art that, from an airplane, may appear to be a large flag of Durham laid on the ground but that, when seen from a helicopter through a binoculars, becomes a large group of humans holding art in the colors of the flag and in the configuration of the flag. A puzzle in which the pieces are human.

SO, what to know- show up with your piece of blue.
There will be music, there will be storytelling, there will be DIY opportunities.
There will be video booths waiting to record your story of Durham. Bring a picnic and pack smart because, as a celebration of Re-Use and in an effort to reduce waste, you will be asked to pack out everything that you pack in.

See you there!!
and ps- yes, I did staple my finger while making some blue art tonight

Now en español!

2010-09-28T21:56:00.002-04:00

haga clic en descargar, imprimir, compartir

Score! New sponsors, plus "Waste Land" director Lucy Walker likes us!

2010-09-24T00:46:00.000-04:00

It has been a huge week for A Community Portrait of Durham! Not only are we about a week away from the big day, we had some new sponsors add their support this week!

Urban Durham Realty became a Curator of the project ($250+), Bull Durham Custom Trailers became a Supporter ($50+) and the Duke University Interfraternity Council came to our Tuesday night meeting and offered hundreds—YES, hundreds!—of volunteers from 15 fraternities for the Oct. 3 event. The Independent Weekly also ran a free 1/8 page ad for the project.

We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support of the community and can't wait to bring it all together!

We also announced two art-making events for this week. The first is Friday night from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Drowse and Browse, 2605 N. Roxboro St., and the second begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday outside The Scrap Exchange, 548 Foster St.

Finally, we got some pretty exciting feedback from Lucy Walker, the director of the documentary "Waste Land", which inspired this project. And yes, we took a screen grab! Check it out.

Eight days and counting!!!

NEW: Photos from Third Friday @The Scrap Exchange

2010-09-19T22:36:00.002-04:00

Photo by Darius Goins

Artists were coming up with some pretty creative ideas at Friday's open studio at The Scrap Exchange, featuring environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck.

This young man's Blue Devil in seersucker shorts was pretty fun!

Check out more photos from the event on our Facebook page.

There, you'll also find another album called "Supporters, Collaborators, Sponsors" where we are celebrating the generous souls who are helping this project come to fruition. Please check out these supporting artists and businesses!

HUGE turnout tonight at The Scrap Exchange!

2010-09-17T22:14:00.000-04:00

The free Third Friday open studio tonight at The Scrap Exchange with Bryant Holsenbeck was a success!

More than 50 people turned up to view the new "Meditations" exhibit created by Candace Thomas and friends and participate in the open studio guided by Holsenbeck, a renowned environmental artist.

Participants ranged from toddlers to grown ups, and there were tons of creative projects underway. At quick glance, we noted art of all shapes and sizes, including blue cars, blue birds and a brilliant Blue Devil in seersucker shorts, a tie and wearing a Washington Duke Inn badge.

We promise to post photos soon!

Don't miss out on the fun! Come to our next open studio on Tues., Sept. 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Materials and guidance will be provided FREE, but donations of additional blue materials are welcomed.

Find us on Facebook: A Community Portrait of Durham, or on Twitter @DurhamPortrait.

Now In: Print Your Own Postcards

2010-09-16T13:50:00.003-04:00

click on image, download, print, cut, share

Our latest Sponsor and 1st at the Curator Level

2010-09-16T11:09:00.000-04:00

Center Studio Architecture has joined the project as a curator!
HUGE THANKS to Center Studio Architecture for making such a generous contribution to the project.

Don't have time to make? Donate. Have time but can't make the event? Make and donate.

2010-09-16T10:21:00.003-04:00

Have only so much time and want to work on this project in the comfort of your own home? Make, donate and attend! The possibilities are limitless.

Even if your body isn't able to be in the portrait, your artwork can be!

Just want to make sure everyone is aware that you may also make blue art at home whenever you have a chance, and either donate or give materials the cause.

The scrap exchange is also accepting donations of blue stuff (paint, paper, fabric, bottle caps) for this project. Just let them know when you drop off that it's for A Community Portrait of Durham. So if you don't have the time to actually make, but you do have things you think could be used by others to make, then please drop them off at The Scrap during their normal business hours!

FREE workshop Fri. w/ environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck

2010-09-14T11:06:00.002-04:00

Renowned environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck will hold an open studio from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 at The Scrap Exchange, 548 Foster St..

Holsenbeck is known for her work with recycled and up-cycled materials. Holsenbeck is known for her work with recycled and upcycled materials, such as the large mandalas she designs with students and other groups made from hundreds of tiny bottle caps and other discarded items (see photo). On Friday, Holsenbeck will work with visitors on artwork for A Community Portrait of Durham, a creative re-use project.
The workshop is FREE and available to all ages. Supplies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring any BLUE items to contribute (blue bottlecaps, paint, fabric, tinsel, faux flowers, etc.)
Participants will create blue pieces of artwork on cardboard. They will be asked to bring their artwork to Durham Central Park at noon on Oct. 3 to become part of an aerial portrait, in which participants will be arranged to form the Durham flag.

The photo will be displayed in the upcoming Durham Arts Council exhibit, "People You May Know: Contemporary Portraits."

Can't attend the workshop? You can still be in the portrait!

click, print and share

2010-09-03T14:28:00.001-04:00

Click HERE to Download a Printable PDF

Check it out!

2010-09-02T08:02:00.000-04:00

Durham artist V. Cullum Rogers has illustrated our vision! Look for it on fliers being distributed this week. I will post a down loadable poster as soon as it becomes available so that you too may print and post in your neighborhood, workplace, favorite frozen treat place, hair salon, all over your car ........

Illustrator, Cullum Rogers, on board

2010-09-01T08:32:00.004-04:00

We are proud to announce that yet another talented local artist has generously offered to help A Community Portrait of Durham complete its project. Cullum Rogers, who has worked as an illustrator for The Herald-Sun and the Independent Weekly, has created an attention-grabbing flier that we'll start distributing this week.
The flier gives more details on how the community may participate in this project, both in advance and on Oct. 3rd, the day of the event.

Look for the flier here on our blog later this week! A Community Portrait of Durham is also now on Twitter @DurhamPortrait, and on Facebook at A Community Portrait of Durham.

The Photographer

2010-08-31T09:34:00.000-04:00

Jeremy Lange, photographer, will document our creation from his post high above us in the basket of a scissor lift. All are encouraged to be a part of the creation on October 3rd from noon to 4pm in Durham Central Park.

Sunday Fun

2010-08-31T09:17:00.002-04:00

Sunday we had our core group come out to work on creating pieces and adding materials to the cause. We also did a mock up of the flag and tossed around ideas for including objects as well as cardboard art and portraits (which by the way we decided should be closer to 18" X 36" in size). Beach rafts, canoe, baby pool, Cameron crazies, gnomes...and an I-85 sign was being constructed from a blue sequined top! I love the fun and funky ideas that were being tossed around! Last night I added these to the list of cut outs/overlays:musical instruments, locopop, lucky strike tower (in blue of course), sister cities signs, the train, logos for Durham Central Park and other orgs, Durham Bull, Film camera (representing film festivals), dancer (ADF), ...what do you think?

We are also encouraging folks to dress in blue and bring blue blankets, towels, etc. in case we need some last minute fill!

Sunday Play Date

2010-08-27T17:01:00.000-04:00

Come to the park this Sunday (8/29) to help launch the art idea for the project. 2 pm.
All are welcome.

Cliff Bellamy of the Herald Sun is going to be there to photograph and cover the event.

We will need cardboard, art supplies and all things BLUE. Consider donating old clothes, curtains, magazines, etc. We are planning to cover the cardboard pieces in blue.

The Scrap is open if participants want to accessorize their pieces.

Hope you will come to play!

A great night of brainstorming

2010-08-11T21:07:00.001-04:00

Ideas were flying last night; genuine sparks in the air! The intention of last nights' meeting was to generate ideas for the piece to be created on October 3rd by members of the Durham community. I'd say that was accomplished. While the fine details are yet to come, the big picture has finally revealed itself thanks to a lot of hard work by a small group of Durhamites.

Details will soon be posted as will a list of ways to be involved. If you know you'd like to be involved somehow then join the listserv and tell us how you'd like to help. All ages and abilities welcome.

Request for Proposals- the nitty gritty

2010-07-29T00:59:00.004-04:00

Presentations should be 5-10 minutes in length. They will be shown in groups of 2-3, followed by constructive feedback from the attendees. Work should be visual and inclusive of the group brainstorming ideas on “What is Durham?” from the initial meeting on the 20th of July (see “Durham is…”). The piece should be able to be executed outdoors and mostly within the time frame of a Saturday 9-5. All members of the community will be invited to join in the making of the piece. It is likely that Friday night could be used for set up, Sat. night for celebration, Sunday for deconstruction (family day…make art from art, with music and food trucks?). Documentation is desired throughout, although the photo(s) of the actual piece for the show at the DAC should likely occur around 6 pm on Saturday.Tentative dates for the weekend event are Oct 1-3, or Sept 24-26.