David Fogel's blog

Tom Block's Cousins public art project (described in detail below) has been installed in the driveway leading from Eastern Avenue into the Kennett Street Garage. The project was funded by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, The Arts and Humanities Council, The Silver Spring Regional Center and Lance Bailey Architects (owner's of the adjacent Arts Building).

"Cousins" public art project is conceived to echo the highest aspects of the American community, combining an elegant, Eastern-inspired visual language with the sayings of wisdom masters from a variety of ethnicities, religions, geographic regions and time periods. Fusing words representing the highest aspirations of humankind (taken from great humanists such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, the Buddha, the Sufis etc.) with specially created paintings, Cousins places art and text panels in public spaces, transforming them into wisdom galleries, available to local citizens everyday. The panels provide quiet, surprising moments to be discovered by people from all cultures while going through the motions of their normal day. This project uses our country's diversity as an asset, by emphasizing not only the different cultures in our community, but also how they positively interrelate.

This public art project co-opts the presentation of advertising, with the panels often appearing first as typical advertisements found splayed across the American public square. "Cousins" subverts this media to present timeless sayings from the world's greatest traditions, "selling" wisdom instead of toothpaste or a newfangled kind of undergarment.

By showing how the most sublime thinkers from all cultures and geographic areas, including Muslims, Jews, Christians, Greek Stoics, Taoists, Buddhists, Hindus and others, express virtually the same message of peace and acceptance, coming though they might be from a very specific cultural point of view, Cousins introduces local communities to another way of seeing, one that reaches beyond the "us" and "them" of the current political climate into the enduring similarities that define a Truth beyond hatred and division.

Twelve works from the project were installed in bus shelters in Tempe, AZ in 2005-2006 and a permanent installation of 15 large prints on metal signage was mounted in Silver Spring, MD in 2007. Proposals to other locales will hopefully bring the project to more communities around the country.

6 tips for creating good places

Below is an a piece from Project for Public Spaces, a great resource for neighborhood building. I thought folks in our neighborhood, would enjoy what they have to say. Do folks have thoughts on what's written below? How are we doing? What do we need? Leave your comments! Also, one way you can help 'shape' our neighborhood is by completing our survey: http://survey.southsilverspring.org/index.php?sid=76849

Through the years PPS has learned a number of key lessons about what sets apart a great neighborhood from a mediocre one, which are distilled into The Great Neighborhood Book. The key is having a number of good places within the neighborhood where people can go to relax, have fun, and see one another. These are the basic principles of what we call Placemaking, which are outlined below:

1. Good places promote sociability
   These are the spots where you run into people you know, where you take friends and family when you want to show them the neighborhood. These places become the heart and soul of the neighborhood because they offer people many different reasons to go there.

Church Street in Burlington, Vermont hums with social activity.
2. Good places have lots of things to do
   The places people love most are the ones where they can pursue a variety of activities. Without opportunities to do something more than sit and look around, the experience you have in that place is "thin" -- there is nothing to keep you there for any length of time.
3. Good places are comfortable and attractive
   They beckon you to come visit. Flowers, comfortable benches with a nice view, and attractive lighting all make you feel this is a place you want to come to often. In contrast, a place that lacks these kind of amenities often feels unwelcoming and a bit threatening. It may actually be unsafe or just feel unsafe, but either way no one wants to be there.
4. Good places are accessible
   These places are clearly identifiable from a distance, easy to enter when you get closer, and it is simple to understand how you use them. A space that is not accessible will be end up empty, forlorn and often dilapidated.
5. Good places capitalize on the Power of 10
   Think of the 10 most important places in your neighborhood. It could be the main shopping street, a park, playground, an interesting shop, a library, post office etc. Zoom in and think about one of these places and try to write down ten fun or useful things you can do there. For example at the post office, you can mail a letter or pick up your mail. At post offices which are truly good places, you can catch up on the community gossip, scan a bulletin board full of local happenings, and sit outside on a bench and open your mail. That makes it easy to chat with neighbors or just peoplewatch. If there is a coffee shop or vending cart nearby, you can even get a drink and sit and enjoy the passing scene. The Power of 10 is the simple but important idea that the more things there are to do in a place, the more beloved and central that place will become in your neighborhood.
6. Good places are inspired by the people who live there
   The big question is, of course, how do you begin to create the good places that every neighborhood craves? What process can you use to build spots where people want to hang out? Long experience has shown us that bottom-up rather than top-down strategies to create or revitalize public spaces work best. This approach is based on the simple idea that the people who live in a neighborhood are the world's experts on that particular place. Any project to improve things should be guided by the community's wisdom, not the dictates of professional disciplines. This is the most important lesson about making great neighborhoods we have learned in 30 years of work.

Limits of Work Area

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES

Montgomery County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs will begin construction on the extended

South Silver Spring pedestrian pathway, Link III-A.
On
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Hours of Construction will be from
7a.m. until 4 p.m.... read more...

About 100 people swung by Gateway's Heliport Gallery Friday night to help select the 15 pieces that will hang on the Kennett Street Garage ArtWall. The pieces were created by local artist Tom Block (www.tomblock.com), and are a part of his 'Cousins' series. The series was conceived to echo the highest aspects of the Silver Spring community by combining an elegant, Eastern-inspired visual with sayings from wisdom masters from a variety of ethnicities, religions, geographic regions and time periods.

At the event, community members were issued ballots to choose 13 winners from among the 78 final images created by Tom. Each saying to be included on the Art Wall was represented by 6 different text/image panels, which were exhibited flat, in clear plastic sleeves, on tables around the outside of the gallery. And the winning selections are:

Swing by the Heliport tomorrow night, for a fun event that will shape our neighborhood's visual landscape for years to come.

What: Kennett Street Art Wall Community Involvement Event

When: Friday, July 20, 4-8 pm.

Where: Gateway's Heliport Gallery – 8001 Kennett St. Suite 3, Silver Spring MD 20910; 301-562-1400

What: Community involvement event for Tom Block's "Cousins" public art project for the Kennett St. Art Wall in South Silver Spring.

Background:
On June 21st, Tom Block's "Cousins" public art project was selected as the winner for the Kennett St. Art Wall in South Silver Spring, to be installed along the entrance wall to the Kennett Street Parking lot, off of Eastern Ave. in South Silver Spring.

The "Cousins" public art project was conceived to echo the highest aspects of the Silver Spring community by combining an elegant, Eastern-inspired visual with sayings from wisdom masters from a variety of ethnicities, religions, geographic regions and time periods. Fusing words representing the highest aspirations of humankind (taken from great humanists such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, the Buddha, etc.) with specially created paintings, Cousins will place a series of large, 6' x 4' art and text panels along the Kennett Street Art Wall, transforming that alley space into a huge art gallery. This project uses South Silver Spring's diversity as an asset by emphasizing not only the different cultures in the community, but also how they positively interrelate. Going far beyond simply adding an attractive facet to the local urban culture, "Cousins" represents the highest aspirations of our community's collective soul.

At the event:
For the event, community members will be issued a ballot, to choose 13 winners from among the 78 final images created by Tom. Each saying to be included on the Art Wall will be represented by 6 different text/image panels, which will be exhibited flat, in clear plastic sleeves, on tables around the outside of the gallery. Votes will be tallied immediately at 8 pm.

At the event, there will be one of the final 6' x 4' panels exhibited, to give the community a sense of how the small pieces will be enlarged to cover the Art Wall.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact David Fogel: david@gatewaycdc.com or 301.562.1400.

Come participate and help shape the visual landscape in South Silver Spring!

David Fogel

Greetings all,

I hope you’ll join consider participating in one of our upcoming discussions or workshops. Details below!

If you are interested in participating in any event, please RSVP to: david@gatewaycdc.com or 301.562.1400

Teaching Values

July 19, Thursday, 1- 2:30 pm

In keeping with the education focus of the current exhibit, these summer Jefferson Cafe (R) sessions engage with a current hot topic in education circles: Beyond the teaching of the three R's (or whatever the subject matter of a course might be), can a case be made for teaching values in the classroom? What would it mean to "teach" values? And which values are we talking about? To get us thinking about this topic, we take off from a reading of two contemporary writers who have interesting perspectives on this subject.

Next Week:

Watercolor Classes with Steve Hanks

Basic Techniques
July 23 and July 26, 7:00 - 9:30pm

Mr. Hanks will teach two classes, Basic Watercolor Techniques and Application of Watercolor Techniques in painting. Participants in the first class will get an introduction to watercolor painting and techniques, while the second class will help participants refine and apply said techniques. The instructor, Stephen T. Hanks, has been a professional artist, commercial illustrator, and art teacher for over 30 years, producing both watercolors and drawings for publication, exhibition, and sale. He has exhibited in many different museums, public exhibitions, and galleries nationwide. Much of his work is on display in his private gallery in Silver Spring. He is currently an art teacher at Gonzaga College High School in DC

The cost for each set of classes is $65 and includes all materials.

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Workshop with Brenda Smoak

Tuesday, July 24^th: 6:30 – 9:30 pm – First Session
Tuesday, August 14^th: 6:30 – 9:30 pm – Second Session

Artist Trading Cards are small unique works of art that measure 2-1/2" by 3-1/2". People make ATCs and then trade with one another instead of selling them. The premise behind trading cards is that you create your card in an environment of creating for art’s sake -- making something for the pure joy of it -- not for monetary gain. In this workshop you will learn how to create several types of ATCs by exploring how to transfer images from magazines and other print media, how to use different types of resists, see unique backgrounds, learn how to embed images and incorporate photos, drawings, fabric, etc. into your ATC. You do not have to be an artist to do this nor do you have to have lots of free time. If you are interested in altered books and objects, collage, and paint techniques then come join us! Session I is learning techniques and Session II is a trading session!

Cost: $25 and $25 Materials fee = $50. Fees for teenagers and students at Montgomery College (with valid school ID) are reduced to $10 + $25 materials fee = $35.

Greetings all,

I hope you’ll join Gateway tonight for the opening of 3 Roads Traveled, featuring print making artists Nancy McNamara, Marie Defeche and Maureen Feely-Kohl.

Time: Friday, July 13^th 6-8pm

Place: Gateway’s Heliport Gallery: 8001 Kennett St Suite 3, Silver Spring MD 20910

Gateway’s Heliport Gallery is proud to announce the opening of 3 Roads Traveled. The exhibit features the work of Montgomery College print making faculty Nancy McNamara and Maureen Feely-Kohl and student Marie Defeche. Nancy McNamara’s colagraph prints utilize winter green transfers and silicon intaglio. Nancy‘s work is a part of the Smithsonian collection and she recently won the juror’s choice award at the Mid-Atlantic Print Show. The particular series exhibited at The Heliport is a reaction to the current state and status of the female in our society. Maureen, has been affiliated with the College’s Art Department for over twenty years. After creating an abstract base of layered inks Maureen applies images utilizing the Silicon Intaglio method in her monoprints. Her textured work springs from her background as a potter, while the seasons are reflected in her color palette. Marie Defeche, born and raised in Belgium, receives most of her artistic inspiration in her garden. It is therefore appropriate that her ink of choice for her monoprints is Akua-Kolor, a non-toxic water based ink. Aptly timed with the opening of Montgomery College’s Cafritz Arts Center, this show reflects some of the talent the College has to offer as well as an opportunity for the community to realize what’s ahead.

As with all shows at the Heliport, we have a series of wonderful events related to this exhibit's theme 'art and education'. Please read about the opportunities below and RSVP to participate.

Teaching Values

July 19, Thursday, 1- 2:30 pm
and Aug. 16, Thursday, 6:30 - 8 pm

In keeping with the education focus of the current exhibit, these summer Jefferson Cafe (R) sessions engage with a current hot topic in education circles: Beyond the teaching of the three R's (or whatever the subject matter of a course might be), can a case be made for teaching values in the classroom? What would it mean to "teach" values? And which values are we talking about? To get us thinking about this topic, we take off from a reading of two contemporary writers who have interesting perspectives on this subject.

Watercolor Classes with Steve Hanks

Basic Techniques: July 23 and July 26, 7:00 - 9:30pm

Application/Advanced: August 6 and 8, 7:00 – 9:30pm

Mr. Hanks will teach two classes, Basic Watercolor Techniques and Application of Watercolor Techniques in painting. Participants in the first class will get an introduction to watercolor painting and techniques, while the second class will help participants refine and apply said techniques. The instructor, Stephen T. Hanks, has been a professional artist, commercial illustrator, and art teacher for over 30 years, producing both watercolors and drawings for publication, exhibition, and sale. He has exhibited in many different museums, public exhibitions, and galleries nationwide. Much of his work is on display in his private gallery in Silver Spring. He is currently an art teacher at Gonzaga College High School in DC.

The cost for each set of classes is $65 and includes all materials.

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Workshop with Brenda Smoak

Tuesday, July 24, 6:30 – 9:30pm – First Session;
Tuesday, August 14, 6:30 – 9:30pm – Second Session

Artist Trading Cards are small unique works of art that measure 2-1/2" by 3-1/2". People make ATCs and then trade with one another instead of selling them. The premise behind trading cards is that you create your card in an environment of creating for art's sake--making something for the pure joy of it--not for monetary gain. In this workshop you will learn how to create several types of ATCs by exploring how to transfer images from magazines and other print media, how to use different types of resists, see unique backgrounds, learn how to embed images and incorporate photos, drawings, fabric, etc. into your ATC. You do not have to be an artist to do this nor do you have to have lots of free time. If you are interested in altered books and objects, collage, and paint techniques then come join us! Session I is learning techniques and Session II is a trading session!

Cost: $25 and $25 Materials fee = $50. Fees for teenagers and students at Montgomery College (with valid school ID) are reduced to $10 + $25 materials fee = $35.

Beginner Mosaic Art Class with Christina Schwalm

Wednesday, August 15, 10:00 - 12:00pm and Thursday, August 16, 10:00 - 11:00am
or
Tuesday, August 21, 7:00 - 9:00pm and Thursday, August 23, 7:00 - 8:00pm

Have you ever broken a piece of good china? Recycle your heartache into a dynamic piece of art! Create a 6”x 6” tiled mirror while learning basic mosaic art design using glass tiles. Techniques discussed include selecting a base, application techniques and grouting techniques. Follow a pattern provided by the instructor or create your own pattern with the colored tiles provided. (By the way, if you would rather make a 4’ x 6’ picture frame or a trivet instead of the mirror, please let Christina know.)

Cost: $60 and $45 materials fee, for a total of $105 for 2 class sessions.

I hope to see you Friday night!

David Fogel
Project Manager
Gateway Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation
8001 Kennett St Ste 3, Silver Spring, MD 20910

301.562.1400

Gallery Hours: Tue - Fri, 4-7pm

South Silver Spring Merchant’s Association

July 10, 2007

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I want to take just a moment to tell you where we as a group stand on the expansion of parking meter times as proposed by Montgomery County. As you may or may not be aware the County Council approved a measure that would require that parking meters and paid county parking lots and garages be in effect from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. not the current 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. times. These new times would also include Saturdays as well which are now currently free and be in effect county wide. We at the SSSMA feel this is an unwise and unwarranted impediment to commerce. We feel that especially for the now resurgent and redeveloping area of South Silver Spring it is a serious hindrance to the great strides we have made thus far in revitalizing our neighborhood. Beyond our own backyards these same road blocks to progress would adversely affect the areas of Wheaton, Kensington, Montgomery Hills, East Silver Spring and Woodside. As consumers of the products and services provided by the many and diverse vendors around the county we should be seeking ways to promote the comfort and ease of the experience. We ask that you join us in supporting the parking regulations as they stand now. Please join us in testifying at the public hearing before the County Council on July 26, 2007. To register your group, association, business or individual self to testify contact Delphine Harris at the County Council offices at:

(240) 777-7931

Please feel free to contact me directly at southsilverspringma@verizon.net or (301) 980-5570

For more information or to discuss this matter further. Also if you do register to testify please E-mail me so we can coordinate our efforts.

Thank You,
John R. Landis
President
South Silver Spring Merchant’s Association

Dear Neighbors: As a part of Gateway's July 21st S.E.E. Gateway Georgia Avenue Day, Gateway is sponsoring a Scrabble Tournament at the Shepherd Park Library. The tournament, co-sponsored by the Shepherd Park Library Scrabble Club, is open to all ages and includes competitive play under tournament rules, as well as more recreational play.

The S.E.E. Gateway event will bring together the business community, upper Georgia neighbors, and all interested persons for an afternoon of shopping, learning, and fun on the Gateway corridor! In addition to the Scrabble Tournament, neighbors can participate in a community mural project under the leadership of local artist Tom Block, get lifted by the sounds of the D.C. Youth Orchestra, sit in on Quilting and Jewelry making demonstrations, sample a wide variety of fine wines and non alcoholic beverages, and take advantage of merchant discounts on dozens of items. The D.C. Office of Planning will also host a workshop at the Shepherd Park library on Retail Strategies for the Upper Georgia corridor. And of course, it would not be summer without the traditional moonbounce, face painting, and balloons!

All events take place on Saturday, July 21st between the 7300-7800 blocks of Georgia Avenue, and the 7800 block of Eastern Avenue. The day kicks-off with a continental breakfast reception at 10:00 am at the Shepherd Park Library (7420 Georgia Avenue). So whether you are interested in Scrabble, Art, Music, Discounts, or learning the strategies for getting more Retail on upper Georgia Avenue, there is Something Enjoyable for Everyone (S.E.E.) along the emerging Gateway Georgia corridor! Please attend, and S.E.E. for yourself!

Please reply mail to gatewaycdc@aol.com to get an application for the Scrabble Tournament. For additional information about S.E.E. Gateway Georgia Avenue, please contact gatewaycdc@aol.com, jchristi@mris.com, or scsprather@aol.com.