Gala season is in full swing but the Blue Hope Bash hosted by the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation added some creative twists to make their gala stand out. Cris4Life works to improve the patient-treatment experience of individuals with colon cancer, while also raising funds to research a cure – a dual approach that has them working for improvement in both the present and the future.

The evening featured a heartfelt keynote from Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren, who recently lost his mother to colon cancer. ABC7 health reporter Jennifer Donelan was the evening’s mistress of ceremonies. But to make the gala standout from so many that occur in Washington D.C. at the silent auction, guests could bid on art created by colon cancer survivors at an ArtJamz session. A great creative twist that helped add to the evening’s successful fundraising efforts that reached $100,000.

See the photos from the Chris4Life private ArtJamz session HERE.

Have an event that you would like to have ArtJamz at, or, are you looking for a new and creative way to fundraise? Give us a call at 202-709-8078 or email info@artjamzdc.com

This summer, join the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design for the return of ArtJamz on August 24–26 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Corcoran’s Gallery 31. Inspired by the Corcoran’s summer exhibition Chris Martin Painting Big (June 18–October 23, 2011), Artjamz: Painting Big Sessions will prompt participants to think big on their 22 x 28 inch canvases like Martin does on his larger-than-life canvases, creating their own take-home masterpieces in the historic Gallery.

REGISTER HERE

“This will be our third set of ArtJamz sessions at Gallery 31. We are excited to be back in the place where we started it all, said ArtJamz Chief Creative Enabler, Michael M. Clements. “And the Corcoran is such the perfect place to let anyone who wants to paint, come and get their hands dirty.”
ArtJamz participants will enjoy Heineken, wine, vitaminwater, hors d’oeuvres, and music in Gallery 31, the Corcoran’s free exhibition space, along with access to paint brushes, acrylic paints, and a blank canvas. Tickets cost $55 for Corcoran Members and $65 for members of the public. For more information on ArtJamz: Painting Big Sessions and to register, please visit http://getinvolved.corcoran.org/artjamzaugust2011.

ABOUT CHRIS MARTIN: PAINTING BIG
Painting Big presents the work of abstract painter Chris Martin in the form of a three-part exhibition. One portion brings together large-scale paintings from the past nine years; another is a dense assemblage of small paintings in the Rotunda on view through August 28; the third presents a new body of work: a site-specific installation of monumental paintings in the Corcoran’s central atrium. Three paintings, each 26 feet high, will be suspended from the second floor to the ground, creating a vibrant “room” of color and pattern in the public space. Martin’s paintings are tactile and stitched-together, incorporating found objects and collage into their abstract geometries and rhythmic patterns. His works relate to the physical world as much as to his own internal landscape of memories and experiences, which draw from music, literature, and the human relationship to the natural world. Originally from Washington, D.C., this will mark Chris Martin’s first exhibition in D.C. and his first one-artist museum exhibition. For more information on Chris Martin: Painting Big, please visit www.corcoran.org/now.

In perhaps the most significant partnership since launching a year ago in June 2010, ArtJamz participants will get a chance to paint while listening to live jazz in the Kogod Courtyard of the American Art Museum during three of the museum’s ongoing Thursday night “Take 5! Concerts.”

The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard designed by world-renowned architects at Foster + Partners in London

In each of the three sessions, ArtJamz participants will get a chance to paint from 5PM to 8PM while taking in the live sounds of funk jazz bands. The June 16th session features live music from D.C.-based jazz band “Urban Funk;” the July 21st session features live jazz from “Funk Ark;” and The Kelly Bell Band headlines the August 18th session.

It’s free to come to the Kogod Courtyard and listen to live jazz; however, for $40 participants can receive a 22x 28-sized canvas they get to keep, an easel, acrylic paints, brushes, art materials, the support of ArtJamz hosts and a chance to make art in one of America’s most iconic museums. Participants also receive 20% off drinks and food at the Courtyard Café during the session.

“We are so thrilled about this partnership. It’s amazing to think that in just one year, we’ve gone from an experimental participatory art concept to hosting ArtJamz sessions within the walls of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. We can’t wait to see what kind of inspiration this beautiful courtyard and live jazz will give the artjammers,” says ArtJamz founder and Genki Media CEO Michael M. Clements.

The Picnic Theatre cast of "An Evening with Anton Chekhov".

In a recent feature by write Stephanie Merry, the Washington Post delved into the evolving “creative entertainment” scene in Washington D.C., noting how so many of the city’s arts institutions are developing innovative nightlife events in order to attract a younger and hipper crowd. Both of Genki Media LLC’s productions The Picnic Theatre Company and ArtJamz were mentioned in the article. But it was the The Picnic Theatre Company that received the accolade of being named in the article as Washington’s “Next Big Thing,” saying “Dinner theater may be passe, but drink theater is the next big thing.” Read the full article HERE.

FIVE NIGHTS ONLY REGISTER HERE!
May 26 and 27 6:30PM to 10:00PM
June 2, 3, and 4 6:30PM to 10:00PM

Lamont Bishop Gallery
1314 9th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Welcome to Shaw – one of the most creative corridors in D.C. Join us as we add to the colorful history of a century-old building that now houses one of Shaw’s hottest new galleries. $60 includes paints, brushes, all you can drink beer & wine, hors d’œuvres, great music, and a canvas you get to keep. Oh, and did we mention, a chance to meet and bond with fellow creators?

We’ve already held a number of sessions at this cozy spot, and the reception from our ArtJammers has been great. We all especially like the bar in the back ….

Founded in 2011, Lamont Bishop Gallery aims to shape the next era of the arts by uniting the nation’s emerging contemporary artists with budding collectors. LBG provides the the vibrant DC community with myriad opportunities to forge the future of the arts through art creation, exhibition and collection.

Groups of five get 15% off! Email discount@artjamzdc.com for discount code.

So, we’re just putting it out there now – we want our ArtJammers to “reach further” (for their cool Heineken beers), “think deeper” (while munching on tasty nibbles from ROTI Mediterranean Grill) and “thoroughly understand” that you can paint whatever you want at ArtJamz!

Did we mention how cool this space is? Well, we are going to do that now. This space is soooo cool. It literally used to be a car showroom back in the 4os and 50s when the 14th Street corridor was known as “Auto Row.” Now, the Fathom Creative Gallery lies just above one of DC’s smartest and chicest advertising and marketing firms. Need your brand get noticed? Call Fathom Creative. Need to just spend a night painting, eating, drinking and meeting some lovely new people? Sign up for our Fathom Creative Sessions on April 28th and April 29th!

TWO NIGHTS ONLY
April 28th and 29th, 2011
7:00PM to 10:30PM

Fathom Creative Gallery
1333 14th Street Northwest
Washington D.C., DC 20005

REGISTER HERE

Sure they can dress, but can they paint? Area top fashionistas are coming together on April 21st at Bloomingdale’s to face off in an ArtJamz challenge that will raise money for domestic violence non-profit, Becky’s Fund. Who is Washington’s Top Artista? We’re about to find out!

What is an Artista? It’s simple – someone who can create a painting that will match one of Spring’s hottest looks just as well as a well-chosen LV handbag or new pair of Jimmy Choos. Fashionistas Jennifer Barger (Washington Post), Holly Thomas (Washington Post), Kate Michael (K Street Kate), Elaine Mensah (FashionBS), Rachel Cothran (Project Beltway), Janice Susan Wallace (The Bridal Wishlist), Kelly Collis (The City Shop Girl) and Pamela Sorensen (Pamela’s Punch) will each be provided a mannequin styled by the Bloomingdale’s team in a fresh Spring look. They will then be given all the creative tools from an ArtJamz session (an easel, canvas, paints and brushes) and have two hours to create a painting that will perfectly complement their given look. Whoever creates the best creative accessory painting will be declared “Washington’s Top Artista.”
“ArtJamz is all about getting people to create and express themselves. And Bloomingdale’s in all about great style. We’re excited to apply this concept in such a stylish and playful way to benefit a great cause,” says ArtJamz founder and Genki Media CEO Michael M. Clements.

While the fashionistas unleash their inner artists, painting from 6:30PM to 8:30PM, shoppers will be able to shop and peruse Bloomingdale’s wide collection of designer brands. 10% of all purchases will be donated to non-profit, Becky’s Fund.

ARTJAMZ “Washington’s Top Artista Challenge”
When: April 21, 2011
Time: 6:30PM to 8:30PM
Where: Bloomingdale’s
5300 Western Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Hosts: Genki Media LLC, Bloomingdale’s and Becky’s Fund
Cost: Free and open to the public
Registration:  http://washingtonstopartista.eventbrite.com

Artist Maggie O'Neill (left)

Our Lincoln Sessions on the 10th, 11th and 12th of February gave ArtJammers a sneak peek at the highly anticipated Lincoln Restaurant, which is to open in March. The restaurant features pop art from local artist Maggie O’Neill. Maggie was actually painting alongside our ArtJammers at our sessions. February 10th was an invited-only affair that brought in a who’s who of creative District influencers. We opened up our other two nights to our awesome following at creative artjamming customers. (And did we mention that Feb 12th was Abe Lincoln’s birthday?) We can’t think of a better way to have celebrate honest Abe than with an ArtJamz at the city’s newest and most creative restaurant concept. Lincoln is owned and operated by Hudson Restaurant owner Alan Popovsky.

CHECK OUT ANCHYI WEI’s PHOTOS HERE!

It was fitting that DC-based band US Royalty played acoustic sets since this invite-only session was held in the amazing Gibson Guitar Showroom. If you’re not familiar with the showroom, it houses a jawdropping collection of Gibson guitars. Luckily, none of the guitars had extra paint designs on them by the end of the night. Guests rehydrated with the night’s main sponsor vitaminwater zero’s zero calorie and naturally-sweetened with vitamins and nutrients drink. For more liquid inspiration, they were treated to cool Stella Artois and Blond Leffe. Catering was provided by Cafe Asia, who set us up with sushi, chicken teriyaki skewers, spring rolls, and more. It was great to see so many.

The evening’s “guest artisans” included, Mary Amons, Kate Michael, Pamela Sorensen, Tommy McFly, Holly Thomas, Svetlana Legetic, Paul Wharton, Nicole Aguirre, Erika Gutierrez, Keri Ann Meslar, Nicole Siobal, Tara Lewis, Nicholas Cambata, Tim Conlon, and Adam DeBoer.

(Lincoln (2010). Maggie O’Neill. Actylic on Canvas. 60″ x 48″)

Our Lincoln Sessions on the 10th, 11th and 12th will give ArtJammers a sneak peek at the highly anticipated opening of Lincoln Restaurant, which features pop art from local artist Maggie O’Neill. Maggie will actually be painting alongside our ArtJammers at all three of our sessions. February 10th is an invited-only affair aimed to bring in a who’s who of creative District influencers. And did we mention that Feb 12th is Abe Lincoln’s birthday? We can’t think of a better way to celebrate honest Abe than with an ArtJamz at the city’s newest and most creative restaurant concept. Lincoln is owned and operated by Hudson Restaurant owner Alan Popovsky.

After our Lincoln artistic love fest we are headed to one of the city’s most historic and creatively oriented neighborhoods – Dupont Circle. Our beautiful location is located in an historic structure right on the circle overlooking one of Washington’s most iconic fountains. Dupont might have some of the city’s best art galleries in it, but we are sure it’s never experienced this amount of creative participation since Pierre Charles L’Enfant set this land aside.

You can register for both sessions here.