« Manifest Hope: DC Gallery » @ the Presidential Inauguration

[ENGLISH] (December 29, 2009  Los Angeles, CA) MANIFEST HOPE:DC and its partners MoveOn PAC, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Obey Giant launches a contest today, calling for entries of visual artwork from artists across the country in an online contest. The online contest calls for works that use positive messaging to convey the urgency and importance of encouraging a national dialogue about three themes – Heath Care Reform, the Green Economy and Workers’ Rights.

Building upon the success of MANIFEST HOPE at the Democratic National Convention, MANIFEST HOPE:DC will, once again, gather under one roof the nation’s most talented visual artists and musicians to celebrate the unparalleled grassroots campaign that helped carry President-Elect Barack Obama to victory. Art played an unprecedented role in this election. MANIFEST HOPE:DC celebrates that role, inviting artists to contribute to this remarkable moment in history by creating a forum for both artists and activists to use their powerful voices in maintaining the momentum that will bring about true change in the United States.

MANIFEST HOPE:DC and its partners are offering the public an opportunity to submit art in an online contest, with three chances to win.  The contest is comprosed of three parts.  Artists can make one submission per category, totaling a maximum of three submissions:

    Manifest Opportunity – Stimulating The Green Economy

    Manifest Change – Health Care Reform

    Manifest Unity – Protecting Workers’ Rights

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges including famed artist, Shepard Fairey; Director, Spike Lee; Washington DC based musician, Eric Hilton of the Thievery Corporation; Curator of Contemporary Art at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Anne Ellegood; SEIU 775NW Healthcare President, David Rolf; Creative & Cultural Director of MoveOn.org, Laura Dawn; and Co-Founder and President of Green For All, Van Jones. Fifteen finalists will be selected to show in the MANIFEST HOPE:DC Gallery alongside well-known artists such as Shepard Fairey, David Choe, Ron English, Ray Noland, Maya Hayuk, Sol Sender and Mike Murphy.

MANIFEST HOPE:DC co-creator Shepard Fairey is known world wide as one of the most prolific urban artists and as designer of the highly visible Obama HOPE posters, stickers and shirts that have been embraced by Obama supporters as the symbol of the grassroots movement. Fairey’s prolific image sparked a maelstrom of grassroots art that has been hung in not only in high-art galleries but volunteer and campaign offices as well.

Creating an inviting and inspiring destination for both those in town to celebrate the inauguration and for residents of Washington DC and the area, MANIFEST HOPE:DC (3333 M Street NW, Washington DC 20007) will be open to the public from Friday, January 16th, 2009 through Monday, January 19th, 2009 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.  Visitors will be invited to take in spectacular art, participate in interesting onsite activities and most importantly encouraged to continue to engage in the grassroots movement that carried Barack Obama to the White House.

In addition to the public art gallery, MANIFEST HOPE:DC will host a private, invite-only opening event on Friday, January 16th, 2009 and a closing celebration & inauguration party on the evening of Monday, January 19th, 2009. 

MANIFEST HOPE:DC is produced by Evolutionary Media Group and brings together a diverse coalition of organizations working to achieve shared goals. 

MANIFEST HOPE:DC Gallery
3333 M Street NW
Washington DC 20007
www.manifesthope.com