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Curtis Bowman

Dayton Artists United First Group Show Kicks off Friday

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A group show of work by the members of Artists United Dayton opens Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Orphanage Gallery, 73 N. Dutoit St. Dayton, OH. The group show at the Orphanage Gallery is offered by Bill Cunningham and curated by Bill Cunningham and Samantha Mang. The show features work by more than 40 visual artists, and because Artists United is a network for artists in all media, the show also includes writers, a fashion artist, musicians and a magician.  The opening is Friday March 6, and the show will be open on March 7 for Saturday after, and March 15 for third Sunday. 

Curtis Bowman

My name is Curtis Bowman. I am a member of Artists United Dayton and I’d like to share with you how  Artists United Dayton came about. Artists United is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, CA. It was founded by my friend Holly Million. Holly is a filmmaker. When she started making films, she discovered that there are things she needed, location contracts, employment contracts and forms for use of copyright. She thought these things would be easy to find. She was shocked to discover that there was no central clearing house of filmmaker forms—not even on the internet.

In 2016, Holly Million started talking to artists. She talked about sharing opportunities. She talked about sharing resources. Many artists were taken aback, many artists were excited. Many artists couldn’t believe there could be a network of artists willing to share information and opportunities.  But Holly kept talking. She talked about artists as the catalyst of the creative economy. She talked about shaking off the scarcity mindset that keeps each individual artist thinking they have to hoard what they have because there is never enough to go around. She talked about the power of the arts to heal, to strengthen, to unify.

Artists United was founded on December 6, 2016.

When Holly told me about Artists United, I told her “come to Dayton. We have a great artists’ community here. I have been a grantwriter in Dayton for more than 2 decades. I have worked with a lot of artists. We’ve got the goods!” Last year,  she came. In July 2019, Holly Million traveled to Dayton for a week . She toured artist’s studios. She premiered her latest film *A Permanent Mark.* She spoke to Dayton’s film community at a Film Connections Meeting. She attended an Artist’s United Networking event hosted by Jes McMillan in The Mosaic Institute Studios at Tend and Flourish, a collaborative retail and studio space on Brown St. At that event, attendees video-conferenced to an Artists United member in New Orleans.  Every where she went, Holly talked about artists, the power of the arts and the creative economy.

Artists United’s Dayton chapter was on its way. The artists have  been having monthly gatherings, an open meeting for artists to meet and talk to each other, at Wholly Grounds Coffeehouse, which is owned by an artist, Amy Williams.  Amy puts up local art, and kindly offers Artists United space to meet. At the January meeting, the group was tossing around the idea of having a show. Bill Cunningham stood up and said, “I have space available.” Artists began to sign up on the spot. A show was born.  It sounds simple, and it was. But behind the scenes, there is Bill Cunningham and Samantha Mang, who have put a ton of work into organizing the show.

I founded the Artists United Dayton chapter with Jes McMillan, who is chapter captain. But Artists United Dayton has become its own thing: artist driven and artist run. The goal of Holly Million’s  Artists United was to build a worldwide network of artists.  She’s done it. Artists United has 35,000 members worldwide.  My goal for Artists United Dayton has been to connect our thriving network of artists to each other and the world.   It’s about artists—all artists. filmmakers, writers, visual artists, dancers, musicians, magicians—it starts with the artists. When artists lift each other up, when we share resources and opportunities, we enrich ourselves and our community. There is no fee to be a member of Artists United, its not a club, or a school. It’s what you make it. And the Dayton Artist Community can make it great. We’ve got the goods.   

 

Last July, Dayton pulled out all the stops to showcase its artistic talent. On March 6, at the Orphanage Gallery, we’re doing it again. The Artists United group show will remain up until after third Sunday, March 15.

Join Artists United by email to dayonartistsunited@gmail.com

Look for us on Facebook, Artists United Dayton Ohio,  at https://www.facebook.com/groups/351991622115865/

Join in the next gathering at Wholly Grounds Coffeehouse, 825 Wayne Avenue, Dayton, Ohio on March 11, from 6pm to 8pm.

International Organization Seeks to Unite Artists

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Curtis Bowman

I meet Curtis Bowman several months ago and she shared with me that she was part of an international arts organization that is working to connect artist across the world. As she was explained their tag line, “Artists who work alone create art. Artists who work together create change” I was intrigued.  This week Curtis and organizational founder and President Holly Million have been working to make those artist connections.  I asked Curtis to share some more info with me about Artists United:

 

What exactly is Artists United?

Artists United (AU) is an artist led nonprofit organization, headquartered in Oakland, CA, working throughout the United States and in 25 countries worldwide to empower individual artists to create excellent art and to unite all artists to create social change.  Artists United seeks to cross all disciplines, demographic lines, national borders and ages to build social cohesion by amplifying the collective voice and power of the worldwide artistic community.

What can local artists expect to gain from affiliation?

Artists United believes in the power of the network. Dayton has an impressive local network that made the events that are happening this week possible. Artist United will connect Dayton artists to Artists United members around the world. We’ll get to see some network interactions at events this week.

Sat, July 20 3-7pm  Artists United Networking Event at Tend and Flourish

The Dayton Artists United event kicks off the 16 City Confluence Tour. The event will showcase Dayton artists, connect artists to artists in other Artists United cities and offer an opportunity to meet Artists United Executive Director Holly Million. Event features live music, gallery displays, and the 2019 Artists United Call for artists in all media reveal.

Sun, July 21st 11am-4pm  Artists United at Third on Third

Artists United will joins other artists and artisans at the Third on Third Market. Stop by to talk to visiting film maker Holly Million, join Artists United, buy a t-shirt.

Mon, July 22nd 6-7:45pm Artists United Writers Forum at Downtown Dayton Metro Library

Audience Participatory discussion moderated by Furaha Henry-Jones.

Featured Writers: Valerie J. Lewis Coleman, C.L.Pauwels, Joyce Barnes, Fred Marion, M. Ruth Myers, Janet E. Irvin, Trudy Krisher, Meredith Doench, Albino Carrillo, and Tim Waggoner, and via video-conference from Tobago, Adele James.

This event, hosted by Artists United, brings Dayton writers and writers in other Artists United chapters together to discuss all aspects of the writers art, publishing, and promotion. Writers of all skill levels and genres are invited to participate.

These connections aren’t just event specific. The ability to tap the Artists United network is open to anyone who signs up as a member.  The AU online platform connects people to share information, to collaborate, and to foster the creative spark. Artists United is here because Dayton’s creative community is vibrant and active.  When Artists United hosts events in 15 other cities, Dayton artists will video in, to exchange information.  Artists United believes that connecting their 35,000 members to the Dayton Artists community will be of immeasurable benefit to us and to them. I think Artists United has already been a huge gain to us. Planning the July events has strengthened our community. 

What’s the goal of the July events?

To be truthful, my primary goal was to show off to the Executive Director of Artists United. When Holly started talking about Artists United 2 years ago, I started promoting Dayton as a place she needed to visit. When she agreed to come, I started looking for ways to show her how great we are. Now, the events have become something bigger, and they are all about the creative community here. I am thrilled that Holly gets to see some of what Dayton has to offer, but I am most thrilled that Dayton is already benefitting from the power of the network.  My goal now is to sign up 1000 people to be members of Artists United in the week that Holly is here. The largest number of event driven member recruitment so far is 897. I want us to top that!

What else do you want to tell us?

One of the things I love about Artists United is that it unites people. It’s right there in the name, “united.” My experience planning these events with the creative community in Dayton has been incredibly positive. I reached out to our local artists and arts organizations. Lisa Hanson and Karen Maner at Culture Works, Jes McMillan of the Mosaic Institute, Lisa Grigsby of Film Dayton, and artist Megan Fiely responded right away. They introduced me to people, who introduced me to people.  So many people have come onboard to donate space, their time, their expertise, a meal—and everyone so gracious, so excited to engage in dialogue about being an artist, film maker, writer, dancer, musician… across any barrier you name. I have so much gratitude and respect for the arts community in Dayton: Thank-you, all of you.