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Maryland Traditions Gathering and Showcase 2010

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Each year the Maryland Traditions presents a gathering and showcase featuring  recipients of the masters and apprenticeship awards.  The day is a celebration of folk and traditional artists from throughout the state and is a unique opportunity to engage with the artists, community members and colleagues all in one place.  The traditions presented encompass art forms long rooted in Maryland communities from fox hunting, musical instrument and boat building to centuries old traditions  based in diverse cultural communities throughout the state.

As director of Montgomery Traditions I’m very excited as this year’s gathering features four Montgomery County based folk and traditional arts apprenticeship pairs.  These artists from Montgomery County represent a glimpse at the wealth and breadth of folk and traditional arts practiced in our community.  The Montgomery-based artists include Colombian vallenato accordion master Gustavo Nieto and apprentice Edwin Lozano, Hindustani Classical vocalist Samia Ahmad and apprentice Irum Ahmad, Persian sufi percussionist Ali Analouei and apprentice Giti Abrishami with the Sama Ensemble and Guatemalan marimba master Robert Giron and apprentice Beverly Giron of Marimba Linda Xelaju.

There is something for everyone with a passion for folk and traditional arts from material and occupational culture to culinary traditions for the foodies. Come honor and celebrate the recipients of the ALTA (Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts) Awards, presented annually to individuals and organizations who exemplify outstanding stewardship of Maryland’s traditions. The award is given in three categories: People, Place, and Tradition.

The event schedule includes:
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
•    Edwin Remsberg Photo Exhibit- Masters and apprentices;
•    Maryland Masters of Material & Equestrian Arts – Live Demonstrations;
•    Economy & Community – Maryland’s Traditional Small Businesses;
•    Serving Up Traditions – Traditional Cooks Share Their Stories;
•    2010 ALTA (Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts) Awards Ceremony and;
•    Taste of Traditions – “The Meal”
7:30 pm
•    Maryland Masters Showcase

2010 Gathering and Showcase Maryland Masters
Date:      Thursday, June 10, 2010
Time:     Gathering  – 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Showcase – 7:30 pm
Venue:  Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore 21224

Tickets for the evening performance are gratis if you register for the daytime gathering. Otherwise they are $8 ($6 for Creative Alliance members). For tickets go to Creative Alliance, Maryland Traditions or call 410-276-1651 to order.

Maryland Traditions web site

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AHCMC Montgomery Traditions at the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

The AHCMC Montgomery Traditions program presented two of Montgomery County’s outstanding traditional artists at the first ever Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival on April 24th in Silver Spring.  Hindustani classical vocalist Samia Mahbub Ahmad and El Salvadoran singer and composer Lilo Gonzalez performed wonderful musical selections and framed their performances to address a range of issues relating to human rights and “unification in the midst of diversity.”  The afternoon program, presented in McGinty’s Public House to an audience of almost 90, was a picture of diversity including families and individuals from throughout Montgomery County and the District of Columbia.

Samia Mahbub Ahmad’s performance transported the audience into a liminal state with melodious raags and lyrics that addressed spiritual unity.  During her performance Samia presented the background for each song, imparting the source of the poetry, spiritual message, and musical references including the raags (melodic modes) and tala (rhythmic meter) of each piece.  After her performance Samia and her accompanist Jay Parikh and Syud Amer Ahmed fielded a range of audience questions.

(l-r) Jay Parikh - tabla, Samia Mahbub Ahmad - vocalist and harmonium, Syud Amer Ahmed – tanpura

Lilo Gonzalez’ spirited performance had the young folks dancing as he sang and spoke about the need to work for human rights and dignity for all.  It was clear from their response that some of the young folks knew Lilo’s songs from his work in area schools.  Lilo spoke candidly about the immigrant experience and the need to foster better interpersonal and community relationships. Olivia Cadaval, Folklorist and Chair, Cultural Research and Education with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage served as MC and interlocutor for Lilo’s performance. Lilo’s group included his son Lilo Gonzalez, Jr., Ramón Lopez, Ben Hall, José Lopez and Alfredo Mojica.

(l-r) Ben Hall - trombone, Jose Lopez - congas, Lilo Gonzalez - vocals and guitar, Alfredo Mojico - timbales, Ramón Gonzalez - keyboard

The event was a success due in large part to a group of wonderful and talented volunteers and in-kind contributions from the community.  I’ll close this post with a few quotes from emails I received afterwards. “I enjoyed the cultural interaction and the events very much and feel that the Creative Arts Council in Montgomery County plays a big role in promoting multi-culturalism and communal harmony.”  “Diverse in culture, ethnicity and age.  They loved it!  People were still talking and smiling about it afterward.”

Photographs courtesy of oak-street-studio.com.

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Census 2010 begins in March. We all need to be counted!

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

By now, you might have received your Census 2010 form in the mail. (Don’t worry if you haven’t received yours — it’s on the way!)  Forms were mailed for March delivery to households throughout the country. When you receive the form, just take a moment to complete the form and return it.  A complete and accurate count of the population is important as the Census 2010 data will be used in allocating Federal resources, including seats in the House of Representatives. With economic resources and representation at the Federal level at stake, it’s easy to understand why this is important. Since the Census 2000, Montgomery County’s population has grown and is more diverse, so it is crucial that County residents respond to the Census 2010 to assure a complete and accurate count.

So don’t procrastinate when you receive your Census 2010 form in mail — fill it out and return it by mail.  The Census 2010 form contains only 10 questions and can completed in about 10 minutes. How simple is that?

April 1, 2010 is National Census 2010 Day. Use this date as a deadline for sending your completed census form back in by mail.

Here are a few FAQs about the Census 2010:

Why is the Census 2010 important to Montgomery County?

  • Because Census 2010 data will be used to parcel out $400 billion annually in Federal funds – including funds for education, health care, and other social services.
  • Because Census 2010 data will be used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives and shape Congressional Districts.
  • According to the Brookings Institution the national average for federal funds allocated on the basis of the census is now $1,415 per-person.  So every person counted will “bring in”  $14,150 over the next decade.
  • Census 2010 data will be used to guide State and local apportionments of budget resources.
  • An under count of County’s population will have a detrimental effect on the schools and crucial social services infrastructure.

Who needs to be counted in Census 2010?

  • Everyone who is a resident of the United States Montgomery County.
  • You need to be counted even if you are currently homeless.
  • Your immigration status is not a factor, if you reside in Montgomery County and the United States you need to be counted.

What you can do and what is involved in responding to Census 2010?

  • Talk to your neighbors, co-workers, and friends and tell them to complete the Census 2010 form and return the completed forms by mail.
  • If you know people who are reluctant to respond, encourage them to complete and return the form.  Invite them to look at some of the information online at the links below.
  • From late April through July census workers will make in person visits to addresses that have not responded.  The census workers will have official ID tags.

Who has access to the Census 2010 data?

  • Your private information is never published, your privacy is protected by law.
  • Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all your information and violating this law is a crime with severe penalties.
  • By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s personal information with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

Where should you be counted?

  • Most people should be counted in the residence in which they live most of the time.
  • People living in group homes, shelters, emergency and transitional shelters for homeless should be counted at those locations
  • Military personnel should be counted: on base in the barracks in the United States, if off base at the residence where they live most of the time. If stationed or deployed overseas the count will use the military’s records for home address.
  • College students should be counted at home if living with parents while attending college.  If living on campus or in off-campus housing students should be counted at their respective residences.
  • Foreign citizens living in the United States should be counted at their residence in the U.S.  Foreign citizens visiting for vacation or business trips are not counted.

The following are web site links for the official Census 2010 web site and online information:

Census 2010 information in select Languages

* There are additional language translations on the Census 2010 web site.

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Marketing Your Creativity Workshops

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

During February the AHCMC produced two of three scheduled marketing workshops for individual artist and craft entrepreneurs. The workshop “Marketing Your Creativity” was presented by Marga Fripp at the Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity in Wheaton and the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Marga’s presentation focuses on 7 strategies to effective and successful marketing for artists and crafts people. Artists and crafts people from painters and sculptors, to jewelers and potters have attended and found the workshop stimulating, informative, and on the mark for strategies.  At each session attendees had the opportunity to pose questions related to their specific situation, share ideas and network.

Marga Fripp at BlackRock Center

The “Marketing Your Creativity” workshops have garnered high praise from the attendees.  Attendees’ comments attest to Marga’s expertise and the quality and value of the workshop.  These are just a few comments: “a wealth of information,” “stimulating ideas, an emphasis on relationship building,” and workshop attendees were impressed by Marga’s   “breadth of info,”  “depth of knowledge of the presenter,” “very organized, good concrete info and examples,” and “I liked the warm atmosphere and ability to ask questions in a relaxed way.” Marga will present the Marketing Your Creativity workshop again on Tuesday, March 23, from 6:30- 8:30 PM at Glen Echo Park.  You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn how to market the products of your creativity.

For more information visit our professional development web page at:
http://www.creativemoco.com/marketing_for_artistsandcrafts_entrepreneurs

You can register at:
http://marketingworkshopartscraftsentrepreneursge21710.eventbrite.com/

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