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\, Mond ay-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 Cradl es To Call Attention to Plight of African Orphans\nExhibit in DC to coin cide with XIX International AIDS Conference and renewed global focus on eliminating all new HIV infections in children\; Represents work of U S artists using scrap\, found and discarded materials\nWashington\, DC&m dash\;Alongside the XIX International AIDS Conference taking place this month in Washington\, DC\, which will draw thousands of scientists and advocates to the city\, three non-profit organizations are sponsoring an art installation to draw attention to the plight of the estimated 12 million children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS in sub-Saharan A frica.\nThe cradles comprise a wide variety of art forms collected from all corners of the United States\, crafted from hands as diverse as tho se of school children to those living in homeless shelters to museum-ex hibited artists. Brightly colored collages and fabrics\, stained and pa inted wood\, metal scraps and puzzle pieces come together to create stu nning pieces representing the lost potential of our world&rsquo\;s orph aned children.\nThe purpose of The Cradle Project is to raise awareness and inspire action. This particular exhibition is co-sponsored by the W ashington Studio School\, Aid for Africa and Firelight Foundation. Both Firelight Foundation and Aid for Africa support local groups in Africa who provide a &ldquo\;cradle&rdquo\; of vital care for children strugg ling to grow up in the face of hardship. More specifically\, Firelight grantee-partners work to provide community care for children\, making i t possible for them to live with extended family when they have lost on e or both parents as opposed to living in orphanages\, where they are cu t off from the important relationships that help them to grow up strong\ , healthy\, and prepared to lead.\nThe cradles to be exhibited in Washin gton\, DC represent a fraction of the more than 500 submitted to &ldquo\ ;The Cradle Project&rdquo\; first organized by artist and TED Fellow Na omi Natale in 2008. While most are now in private collections\, Firelig ht Foundation President and Founder Kerry Olson is making cradles from her personal collection available for viewing to extend the impact of t his project. In addition\,select artists in DC were invited to create a nd contribute new cradles to the exhibition.\nFounded by artist Naomi N atale after a visit to Kenya&rsquo\;s slums and tribal reserves\, the v ision of the project was to use empty cradles as symbols to reflect the basic needs of children that AIDS threatens. &ldquo\;If we can see eno ugh potential in discarded materials to build structures meant to cradl e a child\, then we believe that every one of us will be challenged to see and help realize the potential of our world&rsquo\;s orphaned child ren\,&rdquo\; says Natale.\nThe initial Cradle Project exhibition was bo rn to promote awareness and raise financial support to help feed\, shel ter and educate these children through the Firelight Foundation\, which gave 100 percent of the proceeds to African organizations directly ser ving children in need.\nThe Cradle Project exhibit hours are July 18 to August 3\, 2012\, \;Monday-Friday 10:00am-4:00pm\, Saturday and Sun day on July 21\, 22\, 27 and 28 from 11:00am-5:00pm. \;\n###\nFirel ight Foundation\nThe mission of Firelight Foundation is to improve the w ellbeing of children made vulnerable by HIV\, AIDS and poverty in sub-S aharan Africa. Firelight supports grassroots organizations that help fa milies and communities meet the needs of their children. For more infor mation\, visit www.firelightfoundation.org. Follow the Firelight Founda tion on its blog Ubuntu\, Twitter\, Facebook and YouTube.\nAid for Afric a\nAid for Africa is an alliance of 85 U.S.-based nonprofits and their African partners who help children\, families\, and communities througho ut sub-Saharan Africa. The alliance addresses the education\, health\, agriculture\, economic\, and conservation challenges facing the region. For more information visit www.aidforafrica.org.\nWashington Studio Sc hool\nWashington Studio School is a community of artists and students d edicated to the practice of visual arts with conscious awareness of bot h historical traditions and contemporary experience. Our exceptional fa culty\, all practicing artists\, teaches high school and adult students the art of observation. Working from life\, students at all levels lear n the skills and visual language necessary to translate their observati on into a personal vision. For more information\, visit www.washingtons tudioschool.com URL:http://bethesda-chevychase.patch.com/events/art-aids-the-cradle-proje ct-exhibit-bca62b8a 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