Pregame with Pyramid this Saturday

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center is hosting the ultimate summer experience, including Beer Pong, music, food, prizes and screen printing. 

“Pregame with Pyramid” will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3 in the art center’s Georgia Avenue parking lot.

The Beer Pong competition will select four tournament winners to compete in the Beer Pong Final Four during D.C.’s Beer Week in August.  Also at “Pregame with Pyramid” are all-you-can-eat-and-drink options, a silent auction and printmaking event T-shirts for the first 50 attendees.

“It's an exciting fundraiser because it will draw in a younger crowd to the art center,” Chelsey Anderson said.

“Perhaps in their victories and defeats, they will stumble upon something else that Pyramid has to offer them.”

 Tickets are $5 before 7 p.m. and can be purchased at the door.  Proceeds from the tournament benefit Pyramid’s arts and arts education programs for people of all ages.

The Pyramid staff hopes to continue this event yearly. All are welcome to attend; however, beer is only available to those of legal drinking age.

“We hope to introduce young people to Pyramid Atlantic but also to just celebrate our community and our organization,” Anderson said.

Youth Empowerment Skills Program fights against teen homelessness

Students participating in the Youth Empowerment Skills Program are focusing their artistic talents this summer on social injustices: teen homelessness.  They have been educating themselves on the different ways that these teens lose their homes.
In the media, teen homelessness is portrayed in different ways; YES has been exploring the different stereotypes portrayed by the media, along with digging deeper.  What we've found is that there are different dimensions to homelessness, in general.  In many cases, a homeless person is in their unfortunate situation for reasons that they have no power over.
YES has been studying how this misrepresentation has come about, and taking it into their own hands.  YES visited Shepherds Table, has been designing and chalking murals, designing and screen printing T-shirts, making pins and hats, and more.
The YES program is learning how to use the power of art to make changes and educate others through creative expression.

Pyramid Atlantic participates in D.C. Folklife Festival

Members of the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center community participated in the Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity section of the 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

This year, the Will to Adorn program focused on the various ways African Americans express their individuality through different art forms such as dress, music, hair, dance, poetry, athletics, and more.

Pyramid Atlantic had volunteers and staff participating in various crafts and activities.

Rejuvenation Lunch for handicapped women: empowering

Pyramid Atlantic members recently volunteered at a Rejuvenation Luncheon intended to empower and refresh handicapped women in the community and remind them that they are still very much strong and able women. 

Janice Jackson was the guest speaker.  Jackson received the 2012 national Citizens’ Award from President Obama, himself.  She spoke on how it is important to not "take off that red lipstick" as a handicapped woman, meaning not to forget that even while the "handicapped" label may be attached, they are still very much women and very much able to do great things.