BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:The Cradle Project Exhibit July 18 to August 3\, 2012\, Mon day-Friday *** 10:00am-4:00pm Saturday &\; Sunday (July 21\, 22\, 27 and 28) *** 11:00am-5:00pm\nWashington Studio School 2129 S Street NW\, Washington\, DC\nArt &\; AIDS: Installation of Handmade\, Empty Crad les To Call Attention to Plight of African Orphans\nExhibit in DC to coi ncide with XIX International AIDS Conference and renewed global focus on eliminating all new HIV infections in children\; Represents work of US artists using scrap\, found and discarded materials\nWashington\, DC&md ash\;Alongside the XIX International AIDS Conference taking place this m onth in Washington\, DC\, which will draw thousands of scientists and ad vocates to the city\, three non-profit organizations are sponsoring an a rt installation to draw attention to the plight of the estimated 12 mill ion children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. \nThe cradles comprise a wide variety of art forms collected from all co rners of the United States\, crafted from hands as diverse as those of s chool children to those living in homeless shelters to museum-exhibited artists. Brightly colored collages and fabrics\, stained and painted woo d\, metal scraps and puzzle pieces come together to create stunning piec es representing the lost potential of our world&rsquo\;s orphaned childr en.\nThe purpose of The Cradle Project is to raise awareness and inspire action. This particular exhibition is co-sponsored by the Washington St udio School\, Aid for Africa and Firelight Foundation. Both Firelight Fo undation and Aid for Africa support local groups in Africa who provide a &ldquo\;cradle&rdquo\; of vital care for children struggling to grow up in the face of hardship. More specifically\, Firelight grantee-partners work to provide community care for children\, making it possible for th em to live with extended family when they have lost one or both parents as opposed to living in orphanages\, where they are cut off from the imp ortant relationships that help them to grow up strong\, healthy\, and pr epared to lead.\nThe cradles to be exhibited in Washington\, DC represen t a fraction of the more than 500 submitted to &ldquo\;The Cradle Projec t&rdquo\; first organized by artist and TED Fellow Naomi Natale in 2008. While most are now in private collections\, Firelight Foundation Presid ent and Founder Kerry Olson is making cradles from her personal collecti on available for viewing to extend the impact of this project. In additi on\,select artists in DC were invited to create and contribute new cradl es to the exhibition.\nFounded by artist Naomi Natale after a visit to K enya&rsquo\;s slums and tribal reserves\, the vision of the project was to use empty cradles as symbols to reflect the basic needs of children t hat AIDS threatens. &ldquo\;If we can see enough potential in discarded materials to build structures meant to cradle a child\, then we believe that every one of us will be challenged to see and help realize the pote ntial of our world&rsquo\;s orphaned children\,&rdquo\; says Natale.\nTh e initial Cradle Project exhibition was born to promote awareness and ra ise financial support to help feed\, shelter and educate these children through the Firelight Foundation\, which gave 100 percent of the proceed s to African organizations directly serving children in need.\nThe Cradl e Project exhibit hours are July 18 to August 3\, 2012\, \;Monday-Fr iday 10:00am-4:00pm\, Saturday and Sunday on July 21\, 22\, 27 and 28 fr om 11:00am-5:00pm. \;\n###\nFirelight Foundation\nThe mission of Fir elight Foundation is to improve the wellbeing of children made vulnerabl e by HIV\, AIDS and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Firelight supports gr assroots organizations that help families and communities meet the needs of their children. For more information\, visit www.firelightfoundation .org. Follow the Firelight Foundation on its blog Ubuntu\, Twitter\, Fac ebook and YouTube.\nAid for Africa\nAid for Africa is an alliance of 85 U.S.-based nonprofits and their African partners who help children\, fam ilies\, and communities throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The alliance addr esses the education\, health\, agriculture\, economic\, and conservation challenges facing the region. For more information visit www.aidforafri ca.org.\nWashington Studio School\nWashington Studio School is a communi ty of artists and students dedicated to the practice of visual arts with conscious awareness of both historical traditions and contemporary expe rience. Our exceptional faculty\, all practicing artists\, teaches high school and adult students the art of observation. Working from life\, st udents at all levels learn the skills and visual language necessary to t ranslate their observation into a personal vision. For more information\ , visit www.washingtonstudioschool.com URL:http://georgetown.patch.com/events/art-aids-the-cradle-project-exhibi t SUMMARY:Art &\; AIDS: The Cradle Project Exhibit LOCATION:2129 S St NW\, Washington\, DC 20008: 2129 S St NW\, Washington\ , DC END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR