About Passageways Artists Studios:

Passageways came together in 1991 when a group of local artists found a large open space for rent in conveniently located Riverdale Park, Maryland. The artists rolled up their collective sleeves and constructed ten airy studios – learning to make drywall partitions, and other construction tasks. Four of the early members are still active in Passageways.

Passageways functions as a cooperative, providing: a congenial working environment for creative artists; an opportunity to interact, collaborate, and learn from colleagues; and an opportunity to show work with other members of the group. The various members work in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, photography, stained-glass, sculpture, tapestry, quilting and fiber arts – wherever the muse directs.

We host an open-studio event twice a year – in the spring and in the fall. We heartily invite you to come to the open-studio to see the latest work of our artists, and chat with them about art, while enjoying light refreshments.

Visit the website at http://passagewaysstudio.com/ for more information.

This week’s featured Passageways Artist is Marla McLean. Enjoy!

About Passageways Artists Studios:

Passageways came together in 1991 when a group of local artists found a large open space for rent in conveniently located Riverdale Park, Maryland. The artists rolled up their collective sleeves and constructed ten airy studios – learning to make drywall partitions, and other construction tasks. Four of the early members are still active in Passageways.

Passageways functions as a cooperative, providing: a congenial working environment for creative artists; an opportunity to interact, collaborate, and learn from colleagues; and an opportunity to show work with other members of the group. The various members work in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, photography, stained-glass, sculpture, tapestry, quilting and fiber arts – wherever the muse directs.

We host an open-studio event twice a year – in the spring and in the fall. We heartily invite you to come to the open-studio to see the latest work of our artists, and chat with them about art, while enjoying light refreshments.

Visit the website at http://passagewaysstudio.com/ for more information.

This week’s featured Passageways Artist is Dick Youniss. Enjoy!

Yours Truly, helping to prepare one of murals for sealing.

A few weeks ago, I volunteered to assist in the final preparation of one of two indoor murals that are located at  one of the Unity Health Care Clinic  in Washington, DC.   This is Kreative Ways and Solutions, LLC  signature project for Unity Health Care Clinic Children’s Reading Room redesign.  This usually features a mural design for selected clinic’s children’s reading corners.  The project is located at the Unity Health Clinic at the old DC General Hospital.

Lead intern designers Bretagne Blair and Shea Capri Bartley created two murals- “Dive Into Reading” for the Dental Clinic an “Wild About Books” for the Doctor’s Office.  A furniture plan and selection was also included.  Project Sponsors include:  Pepco, Benjamin Moore, Percision Wall Tech, Sensational Color and Kreative Ways and Solutions, LLC.  This design project was a pro bono project for the Unity Health Care Foundation in Washington, DC.

About Unity Health Care

Unity Health Care, Inc. (Unity) was founded in  1985 as Health Care for the Homeless Project (HCHP) providing primary health  care services to homeless individuals and families that resided in local emergency shelters or on the streets of the District of Columbia.  In 1996, the organization expanded when it  became the Federal government’s emergency grantee for the Community Health  Center  Programs, which expanded the patient base to  include the underserved, uninsured and working poor residents of the city.  Unity’s mission is to offer a continuum of  medical care and human services to homeless and medically underserved people in  the District of Columbia.

Unity has a network of 29 health centers and a  mobile medical outreach vehicle, which are strategically located within all  eight wards of DC. In addition, they offer a full-range of primary health  care services that reach every facet of our community to include, but not  limited to the homeless, working poor, under/uninsured, infants, school-age  children, the elderly, persons living with HIV/AIDS and/or Hepatitis, as well  as those who are incarcerated and recently released from jail and prisons.

Their scope of primary health care services  include: internal, pediatrics, family practice and obstetric/gynecological  medicine.  We also offer dental care,  social services, mental health, family planning, treatment adherence, substance  abuse counseling and numerous specialized services  (i.e., podiatry, cardiology, pulmonology,  gastroenterology, psychiatry, ENT, Ophthalmology, etc.).

About Kreative Ways and Solutions, LLC

Kreative Ways & Solutions, LLC is a Washington, DC area interior decor service for high end residential and commercial applications. KWS  has a strong commitment to serving  clients with quality design services and interior environment coaching to create healing spaces through eco-friendly materials, color and arrangement.  They create customized living and working spaces that overcome decorating challenges and evokes a feeling of well-being.

Kreative Ways and Solutions, LLC provides interior design services that help to create healing spaces through color and arrangement. Using color therapy, Feng Shui and coaching techniques, Sherry Burton Ways, is the Design Principal of Kreative Ways & Solutions, LLC.

For more information, visit www.kreativeways.com

Check out the video below regarding the progress of the murals.

Source: http://craftymariasstampingworld.blogspot.com

So another year has ended and a new one is about to begin.   I have experienced so much joy, blessings, lessons, launches, releases and embraces in this year of “transitions” (even though I declared this to be the year of “mindfulness”).

To me, 2011 was a big fat blur, of a lot of movement, travel, pushing boundaries and looking fear in the face (and not blinking).  There was loss and gains, wins and losses, disconnections, connections and re-connections.  To quote Takeyah Young of Core Connection,” I  created and dissolved some great bonds and  I have a plethora of lessons to go along with the amazing experiences.”

Releases/Transitions:

• My father passed in March and
• I ended my one year contract curating at the Center for Green Urbanism in July on a good note
•  and dissolved Authentic Contemporary Art, my 6 year old company, in September.

Launches:

• I launched my parent company SJB Creative Ventures, LLC in May and
• laid plans and launched my new company which I will officially announce early next year.
• I helped launch the opening of the landmark exhibition 30 Americans through my involvement on the Community Advisory Committee for the exhibition at The Corcoran Gallery of Art.
• I finally pushed back my “fears” and added poetry to my personal creative mix.
• Began more commercial art endeavors via Kreative Ways and Solutions providing artwork in model homes.

I continued to show my own artwork, in national venues beyond Washington, DC as well as in a little cafe…and sold a lot of  work! I have made new friends, tripled my professional networks,  reconnected with my sorority , and continued my own education in art business.

In all, it hasn’t been a bad year…and as I look to 2012, I will continue to focus on my goals, personally and professionally.  No resolutions or declarations…but letting my thoughts and desires unfold organically and not necessarily right off in January.

I wish all my family, friends, followers of my work , colleagues, sorors, much love and success in 2012.  Your love and support has been greatly appreciated.  As always, I will leave you with a musical expression that sums up my thoughts and desires at this time.  Let’s keep dreaming….and doing all we can to make them come true….

Love You Madly,

sjb