Community Corner

Tired of Museums Being Closed? Here's Art from the Heart

Public opening reception in NW.

From Miriam's Kitchen:

Miriam’s Kitchen and George Washington University’s Gallery 102 today announced the “MK Studio: Dignity | Belonging | Change” art exhibition.  This salon-style exhibition represents the art and poetry produced by D.C. artists who are or have been chronically homeless. The exhibition is produced in conjunction with Travis Beauchene, a graduate student at The George Washington University’s School of Fine Arts, and takes place at Gallery 102, GWU’s student-run art space.

 

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The public opening reception is Tuesday October 8th, from 6:00-8:00 pm and will include art, spoken word, guest speakers and light refreshments. Gallery 102 is located at the Smith Hall of Art, 801 22nd Street NW. The event is free and art supply donations will be accepted. The exhibition runs throughOctober 25. 

MK Studio is an open studio Art Therapy program run at Miriam’s Kitchen, which provides a safe space and art materials for homeless guests to create and “get what’s on the inside out,” under the direction of Senior Art Therapist and Case Manager Lindsey Vance. 

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“Miriam’s Kitchen exists to end chronic homelessness,” said Vance.  “We do that by honoring our guests’ dignity, providing them with a place of belonging and ultimately guiding them towards change. Our art therapy program is proven to help us in accomplishing all three goals. This show features some of the most striking examples of the hidden talents and potential that all homeless individuals possess.”

The exhibition will feature work in a variety of media; including, painting, jewelry, poetry, photography, spoken word and sculpture; representing the full array of media available to those who participate in MK Studio.

“Art therapy offers the homeless individual a rare opportunity to transcend stressful life circumstances and express feelings and ideas through the image. It provides a strengths-based outlet that facilitates change and assists in reclaiming dignity in their lives," said Tally Tripp, LICSW, ATR-BC, Director, George Washington University Art Therapy Center. “Given the overwhelming circumstances that so many of these individuals face every day – poverty, hunger, high rates of trauma, addiction and mental illness – art therapy’s healing potential to help this vulnerable population is enormous.”

According to Vance, the collaboration with George Washington University represents the type of community partnerships that can more effectively bring the issue of homelessness into D.C.’s collective consciousness. Beauchene, president of Gallery 102, echoed the sentiment.

“Homelessness is a community issue and it demands a community solution,” he said. “Gallery 102 is proud to set example to public and private organizations throughout the city that we all have a role in addressing homelessness, and that we can all be a part of the solution.”

About Miriam’s Kitchen

Celebrating 30 years of service, Miriam’s Kitchen is committed to ending chronic homelessness in Washington, D.C. by creating meaningful connections with displaced individuals, connecting them with permanent housing, and ensuring they have the necessary support to remain in housing. Miriam’s Kitchen advocates for permanent supportive housing as a long-term solution, while meeting short-term needs by providing healthy meals and high-quality social services to more than 5,000 homeless individuals each year.  

 

About Gallery 102

 

Gallery 102 is the student-run art space at George Washington University’s Department of Fine Arts and Art History. Its mission is to provide a platform for students and to present work, practice curatorial strategies, and learn how to produce and install exhibitions. All students have the opportunity to participate in the Gallery 102. Students from a range of disciplines and stages of study—graduate and undergraduate, majors and non-majors, Fine Arts and Art History—collaborate with one another and faculty members to present shows throughout the year.


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