Beyond Gallery, Into
Community Building
Surprising
to some, Alwun House goes beyond the typical gallery, with its unique
commitment to infuse art into building community. As the birthplace of
downtown’s burgeoning arts community, we were founded on the belief that art has
the power to transform, strengthen, and beautify our community. At Alwun House,
art is a concrete medium, building a foundation for that transformation – one
block at a time.
While many in the art scene see us for the exhibitions, performances and special
events we produce, others know us for our ongoing contributions to neighborhood
and community at large.
"One of the things that make Alwun House
so valuable is the diversity of its programming.
It is also what makes the place so
difficult to define." E.J. Montini, Arizona Republic
Alwun House, was a founding resource for Garfield
Organization in1989, and friend of founder Lupe “Barrio Nana” Sisneros. In 2003
Alwun House received the City of Phoenix CDBG Lupe Sisneros Memorial Award, “for
guiding and overseeing revitalization strategies in Garfield Neighborhood.”
"A Pioneer in the rebirth of cultural and artistic
activity in Central Phoenix,
Alwun House is an important
component of downtown revitalization." Terry Goddard, 1993
"Alwun House has become a unique neighborhood
oasis, with a welcoming intimacy in which multicultural art exhibits,
youth activities, and block-watch
meetings can converge." Beverly Harvey, Phoenix Downtown, 1989
Alwun House
Community Building
Garfield Neighborhood’s culturally diverse neighborhood, benefits from Alwun
House developing collaborative projects that strengthen and unify neighborhood
participation. In addition the Alwun House facility is often used by the broader
community for social gatherings and planning sessions.
Meet
& Greet
A
unique social bonding exercise in Alwun’s informal garden setting. The
friendly trust-building “Meet and Greet” series brings together community
and police; Central City Precinct Commanders and beat officers, Garfield
Organization members and residents. For several years now, this activity
successfully brakes down perception barriers, encouraging light interaction
– over food, games, and resident talent entertaining. These events increase
attendance and enthusiasm at our monthly Garfield Community & Law
Enforcement meetings, and engage the art of social dialogue connecting
residents and police.
First
Time Homebuyer Workshop
In partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix, Roosevelt Row
and City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department NIA team, we bring
together mortgage bankers, non-profit, housing counselors and realtors to
facilitate qualification, assistance and personal contacts. One outcome is
the increasing numbers of low-mod first time home ownership by artists and
creative entrepreneurs.
Salon
des Enfants
Annual youth art show in partnership with Phoenix Elementary School District
#1. Exhibit founder, John Avidesian (art teacher), states "the goal
is to give students the experience and excitement of a real gallery setting,
surrounded by parents, teachers, neighbors and civic leaders. For many it
will be a first time seeing their art on display in a gallery. For others it
will be the first time they've seen an art exhibit.” This show of vibrant,
hopeful and promising group of downtown youth, usually features 300 pieces
made by students in the 5th through 8th grades, in addition bands, choir,
Folklorico dance, all representing 16 Schools, and 18 teachers. Artworks
sell for $20, with100% going to the student artist.
Neighborhood
Newsletter Production
Alwun House staff facilitates Garfield Organization neighborhood newsletter
production and distribution, as an ongoing project. Examples are posted on
neighborhood website:
www.garfieldorganization.org
The Art Of
Transforming Community
Alwun
House was an integral partner with Garfield Organization
developing Arizona’s premiere Department of Justice,
“Weed & Seed” grant, with a comprehensive strategy to “weed out”
crime and “seed in” positive elements into our community. In that capacity we
helped spur several artistic projects in Garfield: one such project created
Neighborhood
Bulletin Boards.
After a “Call For Artists,” Michael Levine was selected and 12
large sculptural bulletin boards were erected for GO meeting notices, and
residents to post information communicating with each other. Another project
advocated for “green” planting of 1,100
desert appropriate trees lining the streets of Garfield, in 1993. Director
Kim Moody was recognized by the Arizona Tree Council in 1996 for his
“contribution to Urban and Community
Forestry.” Most recently we advocated for, and recieved a MAG neighborhood art
grant administered by the City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture.
Community review panel selected the renowned metal sculptor Joe Tyler,
who created “Garfield Rising” a landmark Phoenix Bird Sculpture (biggest
Phoenix in town). Now, the nearby elementary school
kids
draw Phoenix birds; it’s become a sense of pride and identity for Garfield
Neighborhood.
Garfield Organization website: www.garfieldorganization.org
Alwun
House Leadership Background:
Kim
Moody
Founding director of Alwun House non-profit (1971), actively participated in the
creation of Garfield Organization, a neighborhood
alliance, a nonprofit neighborhood association since 1989. He has served
as president of the board several times.
Arizona State University - Garfield Organization Liaison:
Currently developing community-driven, strategic plan for ongoing
collaborative efforts engaging University Interdisciplinary Departments and
community resources.
Garfield Organizations Arts and Culture Liaison:
Mr. Moody was a founding commissioner on the original Phoenix Arts Commission
(early ‘80’s), and continues by serving on the Mayor’s Artist Issues Task Force
which is responsible for drafting Downtown Arts and Small Business Overlay. This
permits artists and creative entrepreneurs to live/work and adaptive reuse
structures within its boundaries, among other benefits.
Dana
Johnson
Alwun House Foundation Board President, serves on the Executive Board of
Directors for Garfield Organization, where as Chair of
GO Revitalization and Economic Development Committee since 1991, his
leadership works to preserve the neighborhood contextual integrity, in
collaboration with multiple City of Phoenix departments and private developers.
Active Board Member of Neighborhood Housing Services of
Phoenix, currently serving on two committees.
Central City Village Planning Committee; reviewing
planning & zoning development issues in the downtown Central City Village of
Phoenix.