Upstream Arts Teaching Artists and Participants
April 9, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Julie Guidry, Executive Director
(612) 331-4584 | [email protected]
The Art of We, Upstream Arts’ Annual Meeting and Fundraiser,
Features Artists with Disabilities at Bloomington Center for the Art
Minneapolis, Minnesota – Upstream Arts invites the public to join The Art of We, the organization’s annual meeting and fundraiser on Monday, May 11, 2015 from 6-9pm (program at 7pm) at Bloomington Center for the Arts in Bloomington, Minnesota. The event will include a photography exhibit and multidisciplinary performance featuring artists with disabilities; a short program, auction, and Fund-a-Need raising support for Upstream Arts; live music by David K; plus food, drinks, dessert, and more. The Art of We is free, family-friendly, and accessible for people of all abilities. RSVPs are appreciated and can be made at www.upstreamarts.org.
Central to The Art of We is a photography exhibition featuring portraits by artists with disabilities from Opportunity Partners, created in collaboration with Upstream Arts Teaching Artists and Guest Artist Jeff Cords; and a multidisciplinary performance, combining theater, dance, music, poetry, and live painting, performed by the same artists. The exhibition and performance serve as culminating showcases of work created in a 12-week Upstream Arts residency at Opportunity Partners, during which participants explored the fundamentals of multiple art forms in tandem with creative self-expression and social interaction. The exhibition will be on view all evening in the lobby of Bloomington Center for the Arts, and the performance will be presented at 7pm in the Schneider Theater (run time approximately 20 minutes).
Following the performance, Upstream Arts Executive Director Julie Guidry will share a preview of Upstream Arts’ 10 Year Anniversary (launching July 1). The program also will include a live auction with items including a Wilderness Inquiry trip to the Apostle Islands, a gourmet Italian dinner for six, and original artwork created in the evening’s performance; plus a brief Fund-a-Need led by auctioneer Glen Fladeboe. All contributions made by new donors to Upstream Arts will be matched by the Pohlad Family Foundation (up to $500 per gift and $5,000 total), thanks to a Pohlad Challenge Grant. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made at the event, online, by mail, or by phone. Please visit www.upstreamarts.org for details.
Following the program, acclaimed local musician David K will perform classic rock, blues, and country while dessert is served by “Wally O. Wonka” of the Leprechaun Dreamcycle, a unique Twin Cities vendor offering ice cream and entertainment. Additional food and an open bar will be available throughout the evening by donation. The event will conclude at 9pm.
Upstream Arts was founded in 2006 to enhance the lives of adults and youth with disabilities by fostering creative communication and social independence through the power of arts education. Its programs integrateindividuals ages birth to 75+ with cognitive, developmental, emotional, behavioral, and physical disabilities in high-quality multidisciplinary arts activities taught by professional artists and deliberately designed to nurture vital social and communication skills. This spring, Upstream Arts was selected to receive a $100,000 award as part of the Bush Foundation’s Community Creativity Cohort, a one-time program designed to both recognize and learn from exemplary organizations that meaningfully engage people in the arts and integrate the arts into public life. Starting July 2015, Upstream Arts will celebrate its 10th Anniversary working at the intersection of the arts, disability, and learning. www.upstreamarts.org
Opportunity Partners supports choices for people with disabilities through innovative services and strategic collaborations, assisting those we serve to live, learn, and work – adding value to their lives and communities. www.opportunities.org
Bloomington Center for the Arts is a focal point for the performing and visual arts for thousands of people in Bloomington and surrounding communities. www.bloomingtonmn.gov
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CALENDAR LISTING
The Art of We: Upstream Arts’ 2nd Annual Meeting and Fundraiser
Monday, May 15, 2015
6:00-9:00pm (Program at 7:00pm)
Bloomington Center for the Arts
1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431-3027
FREE, but RSVPs appreciated – please visit www.upstreamarts.org
Upstream Arts invites the public to join The Art of We, the organization’s second annual meeting and fundraiser. The event will include a photography exhibit and multidisciplinary performance featuring artists with disabilities from Opportunity Partners; a short program, auction, and Fund-a-Need raising support for Upstream Arts; live music by David K; plus food, drinks, dessert, and more. The Art of We is free of charge, family-friendly, and accessible for people of all abilities. To RSVP and learn more, visit www.upstreamarts.org.