Guest Artist: Eric Maring
Topic: Keeping it Fresh
How do you keep your art fresh?
GUEST ARTIST: Eric Maring is a music teacher, a performing songwriter, a dance caller, and an early childhood music specialist. He has also spent a large part of his time in India where he learned to play tabla (Indian percussion). He currently teaches in three pre-schools - at Kids Are Us in Anacostia, D.C. for Levine School of Music's outreach program, at the University of Maryland’s Center for Young Children, and at the National Archives pre-school. He also performs in festivals and elementary schools, teaches guitar and piano to young musicians, calls school and community dances, and holds weekly early childhood music classes for children and parents through the College Park Arts Exchange. Most importantly, he’s the proud father of 7-year-old Leo and 2-year old Julian.
Who’s invited: Fine artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, photographers, graphic designers, playwrights, poets, and anyone interested in the creative process.
What to bring: Ideas, questions, stories, business cards for networking, and a brown bag lunch and/or drink, if desired.
Where to show up: Silver Spring Civic Building; Silver Spring, MD 20910. We’ll meet in the Colesville Room, 2nd floor. The Civic Building is the new building across from the Majestic Movie Theater, on Ellsworth between Fenton and Cedar. Most meters on the street are one hour only; To mapquest, I suggest you use the address for the Town Square Garage (Garage 61) 801 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910, which is right across the Street.
What is a salon: An Italian invention of the 16th century, a salon is a gathering of people who are invited by a host to enjoy the exchange of creative energy. The goal of The SSTC Arts Salon is to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas and inspiration among artists of all disciplines, to promote networking, and to alleviate artistic isolation.
How to RSPV and/or receive notices about upcoming salons: Please join the FB page and reply to the event at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/111769958927685/ OR email rsvp to info@maryamato.com.
Each salon will have a different topic and will feature a guest artist who will begin the conversation.
HOST: Mary Amato (Host) is an author, poet, songwriter, musician, and playwright. info@maryamato.com; http://www.maryamato.com/
Monday, January 9, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Silver Spring nonprofit director brings international experience - Gazette
Silver Spring nonprofit director brings international experience
Published: Tuesday, January 3, 2012
by Kristi Tousignant, Staff Writer
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.’s new executive director has helped organize festivals in Estonia and Ireland, international experiences she hopes to draw on for Silver Spring.
Lisa Martin, 44, became the first executive director for Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that coordinates events on Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza, including the popular Blues Festival.
“This was like a dream job for me,” she said. “I love creating memories and experiences in people’s lives through the arts.”
Martin became executive director Nov. 22 and since has started reaching out to the Silver Spring community.
“[Martin’s] a tremendous optimist and, for her, the glass is always half full and she sees the sunny side and she brings out the best in people,” said Alan Bowser, president of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
Since its creation in 2004, Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. has been run by a board, Bowser said. Board members divide the duties of organizing plaza events, communications, and fundraising. While most of the organization’s revenue comes from fundraising, Bowser declined to provide details about the organization’s budget or revenue.
The nonprofit sprang up during the redevelopment of Silver Spring as a way to ensure Veterans Plaza would be a community-focused space, Bowser said.
“Having a full-time executive director will let us act more as a governing board and bring a focus to fundraising activities as well as community outreach,” Bowser said.
The group organizes weekly performances and hosts monthly arts discussions and annual events like the Silver Spring Blues Festival and the Veterans Tribute Concert.
Martin has worked on many festivals, she said, an activity she finds more gratifying than any other job.“These types of events end up standing out in people’s memories,” she said.
She has worked on the International VSA Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., which hosts visual and performing arts by people with disabilities. She has also worked on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.
“We think Lisa has a great sensitivity to the different cultures that make up our Silver Spring community,” Bowser said. “We are excited about the festival experience she brings to Silver Spring Town Center.”
Originally from San Diego, Martin attended San Diego State University, achieving bachelor’s degrees in cultural anthropology and journalism. Bowser declined to say what Martin will be paid.
Afterward, she got a job working at the San Diego Opera in the public relations and marketing department.
A few years later, Martin joined the Peace Corps and travelled to Estonia, where she taught English from 1996 to 1998. During the summer, she helped organize the Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival.
In 1999, Martin moved to the Washington, D.C., region and worked as a researcher for a museum consulting firm.
She went on to get her master’s degree in performing arts management from American University, writing her thesis on an art festival in Ireland, living there in 2000 to research the paper.
A few years ago, Martin started her own business, researching and evaluating events and festivals. With the struggling economy, the business was not doing that well, Martin said. While keeping an eye out for new jobs, she stumbled across the ad for the opening at Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
Martin said she hopes to showcase performers from all around world. One of her main goals is to increase communication between the nonprofit and the surrounding community and businesses.
“Even just locally, we have such a diverse array of people in the community,” Martin said. “We are kind of building everything from the ground up.”
ktousignant@gazette.net
© 2012 Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net
Published: Tuesday, January 3, 2012
by Kristi Tousignant, Staff Writer
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.’s new executive director has helped organize festivals in Estonia and Ireland, international experiences she hopes to draw on for Silver Spring.
Lisa Martin, 44, became the first executive director for Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that coordinates events on Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza, including the popular Blues Festival.
“This was like a dream job for me,” she said. “I love creating memories and experiences in people’s lives through the arts.”
Martin became executive director Nov. 22 and since has started reaching out to the Silver Spring community.
“[Martin’s] a tremendous optimist and, for her, the glass is always half full and she sees the sunny side and she brings out the best in people,” said Alan Bowser, president of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
Since its creation in 2004, Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. has been run by a board, Bowser said. Board members divide the duties of organizing plaza events, communications, and fundraising. While most of the organization’s revenue comes from fundraising, Bowser declined to provide details about the organization’s budget or revenue.
The nonprofit sprang up during the redevelopment of Silver Spring as a way to ensure Veterans Plaza would be a community-focused space, Bowser said.
“Having a full-time executive director will let us act more as a governing board and bring a focus to fundraising activities as well as community outreach,” Bowser said.
The group organizes weekly performances and hosts monthly arts discussions and annual events like the Silver Spring Blues Festival and the Veterans Tribute Concert.
Martin has worked on many festivals, she said, an activity she finds more gratifying than any other job.“These types of events end up standing out in people’s memories,” she said.
She has worked on the International VSA Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., which hosts visual and performing arts by people with disabilities. She has also worked on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.
“We think Lisa has a great sensitivity to the different cultures that make up our Silver Spring community,” Bowser said. “We are excited about the festival experience she brings to Silver Spring Town Center.”
Originally from San Diego, Martin attended San Diego State University, achieving bachelor’s degrees in cultural anthropology and journalism. Bowser declined to say what Martin will be paid.
Afterward, she got a job working at the San Diego Opera in the public relations and marketing department.
A few years later, Martin joined the Peace Corps and travelled to Estonia, where she taught English from 1996 to 1998. During the summer, she helped organize the Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival.
In 1999, Martin moved to the Washington, D.C., region and worked as a researcher for a museum consulting firm.
She went on to get her master’s degree in performing arts management from American University, writing her thesis on an art festival in Ireland, living there in 2000 to research the paper.
A few years ago, Martin started her own business, researching and evaluating events and festivals. With the struggling economy, the business was not doing that well, Martin said. While keeping an eye out for new jobs, she stumbled across the ad for the opening at Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
Martin said she hopes to showcase performers from all around world. One of her main goals is to increase communication between the nonprofit and the surrounding community and businesses.
“Even just locally, we have such a diverse array of people in the community,” Martin said. “We are kind of building everything from the ground up.”
ktousignant@gazette.net
© 2012 Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Give the Gift That Warms the Heart, Stirs the Creative Spirit & Brings Our Community Closer Together
Happy Holidays from Silver Spring Town Center Inc.
Dear Friend of SSTCi:
This holiday season, we hope you will give the gift that warms the heart, stirs the creative spirit, and brings our community together.
You may have enjoyed one of the over 70 diverse arts and cultural events the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. presented this past year, including the Silver Spring Blues Festival, Plaza Performances and the "Tribute To America's Veterans" Concert. We were pleased to showcase many community groups like the Greater U Street Jazz Collective, Strings4Joy, Contradiction Dance, and the Titanes Salseros, the champion salsa dance ensemble from Albert Einstein High School. It is our goal in 2012 to continue engaging members of our community in making the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza our "community living room" and community performance space. While we have presented hundreds of visual and performing artists from our community and beyond, we aim to do even more as we continue to grow.
Your tax-deductible contribution today directly helps to support our mission to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place that enriches the lives of residents throughout the Greater Silver Spring area. In fact, 100% of your donation goes directly towards showcasing local and international talent from a variety of creative disciplines, while at the same time building community and celebrating our diversity in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring!
Please click here to visit our fundraising page on Razoo, and make a small donation of $10 or more to ensure a successful 2012.
DONATE NOW!
Please help us reach our $10,000 goal by the end of the year so that we may continue to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place-a "community living room"-- that enriches the lives of residents throughout the Greater Silver Spring area. Click here to donate online
DONATE BY CHECK
Alternatively you may mail your contribution to Silver Spring Town Center, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 with checks payable to "SSTCi."
We thank you in advance for supporting SSTCi and our vision of a creative and vibrant community for all.
Warmest Regards,
LISA MARTIN
Executive Director
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com
www.silverspringtowncenter.com
Dear Friend of SSTCi:
This holiday season, we hope you will give the gift that warms the heart, stirs the creative spirit, and brings our community together.
You may have enjoyed one of the over 70 diverse arts and cultural events the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. presented this past year, including the Silver Spring Blues Festival, Plaza Performances and the "Tribute To America's Veterans" Concert. We were pleased to showcase many community groups like the Greater U Street Jazz Collective, Strings4Joy, Contradiction Dance, and the Titanes Salseros, the champion salsa dance ensemble from Albert Einstein High School. It is our goal in 2012 to continue engaging members of our community in making the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza our "community living room" and community performance space. While we have presented hundreds of visual and performing artists from our community and beyond, we aim to do even more as we continue to grow.
Your tax-deductible contribution today directly helps to support our mission to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place that enriches the lives of residents throughout the Greater Silver Spring area. In fact, 100% of your donation goes directly towards showcasing local and international talent from a variety of creative disciplines, while at the same time building community and celebrating our diversity in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring!
Please click here to visit our fundraising page on Razoo, and make a small donation of $10 or more to ensure a successful 2012.
DONATE NOW!
Please help us reach our $10,000 goal by the end of the year so that we may continue to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place-a "community living room"-- that enriches the lives of residents throughout the Greater Silver Spring area. Click here to donate online
DONATE BY CHECK
Alternatively you may mail your contribution to Silver Spring Town Center, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 with checks payable to "SSTCi."
We thank you in advance for supporting SSTCi and our vision of a creative and vibrant community for all.
Warmest Regards,
LISA MARTIN
Executive Director
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com
www.silverspringtowncenter.com
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Here's Comes the Sun - Silver Spring Town Center Video Clip of the Day!
Dimensionz of Bluz has been playing together for a year and live up to their name. Each of the members brings his own style of blues to synthesize a unique sound. Mike Baytop has a long history in the Washington area as a Piedmont or country blues musician. Tim Nolte comes from the Midwest and brings a Chicago / rock style of blues. Willie Leebel has long been a student of the delta style of blues. And Marcus Childs-Moore has a strong background in jazz providing an additional element to the group. Plan to hear some blues standards performed in an inimitable way. Here, Tim Nolte plays "Here Comes The Sun."
Poet Laura Shovan presents at the December Silver Spring Arts Salon, Thursday, December 15 at noon. Free
Topic: The Mask
Join poet Laura Shovan in a conversation about how artist of all disciplines use personae in their work. How can taking on “the mask” of a character or voice help us express deeper truths in our art?
Who’s invited: Fine artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, photographers, graphic designers, playwrights, poets, and anyone interested in the creative process.
What to bring: Ideas, questions, stories, business cards for networking, and a brown bag lunch and/or drink, if desired.
Where to show up: Silver Spring Civic Center Building; One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (We’ll meet in the Colesville Room, 2nd floor. The Civic Building is the new building across from the Majestic Movie Theater, near Ellsworth and Fenton.)
Guest Artist: Laura Shovan is editor of the art and literary journal Little Patuxent Review. Her chapbook, Mountain, Log, Salt and Stone, won the inaugural Harriss Poetry Prize in 2010. She is the editor of Life in Me Like Grass on Fire: Love Poems (MWA Books), featuring 50 Maryland poets. Laura is currently co-editing Voices Fly: An Anthology of Exercises and Poems from the MSAC Artist-in-Residence Program for the Maryland State Arts Council, to be published in 2012.
http://www.facebook.com/events/302833086413712/
This program is a production of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Rights of Butterflies
On Monday, December 5, Ghandi Brigade presented the new documentary film "The Rights of Butterflies" which tells the story of an undocumented college student named Katya in Montgomery County and her struggle to fund and continue her college education due to her legal status.
In the documentary, we learn about Katya’s personal sacrifices in coming to the United States, her transition into the Silver Spring Area, where she constructs a sense of home, and her perseverance to achieve her goals and dreams for a better life. The title of the film ponders a world where people could have the same rights as butterflies moving freely across borders with no need for legal status or documentation of any kind.
Over 200 attendees gathered in the Great Hall of the Civic Building for a public screening and post-film discussion. The subject of the film Katya was present along with filmmaker Laura Goya, who is a student of Montgomery College,
This event was co-sponsored by the Gilchrist Center and the Silver Spring Regional Center.
To learn more about the film and event, please call Gandhi Brigade at 301.588.1399 or visit their website at www.gandhibrigade.org/content/rights-butterflies
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Strings for Joy! perform on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza - Video Clip of the Day
The performers are Alexandre Paintsil, Jepthalyne Senas, Kevin Gopala-Rao, Stephanie Birmingham, Aniza Moore, Breanna Roth, Evonne Baasch, violins and Dr. Ekatrina DiPinto, cello.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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