Feeding The Creative Spirit: Cafe Huntington

Events

Learn all about the past and upcoming meals where anyone can be a patron of the arts!

Winning Grants

At each meal a different project wins the proceeds. Learn about who has won grants so far.

Proposals

See all of the project proposals we have ever received for consideration to be awarded the dinner grants.

First Presenter – Tonya Beckett

November 29th 2011 Posted at November/December 2011
0 Comments

Project Description:
To go from starving artist to feeding artist. Presently developing a small business where not only do I get to inspire and create, but providing a venue for others to display their creative spirit. Would like to expand the business, creating a venue where artist can display their works, and hopefully profit from their creativity. Our small shop is presently displaying the works of three artist, works including paintings, jewelry, sculpture, mask, and textiles. Our little shop also has an artist working area, where art, technique, creativity, and inspiration can be shared. We hope to expand to include a diversity of art forms and artist.

Project Importance:
How many artist have their pieces, cluttering their closets and the corners of their bedroom. Instead of collecting dust, I would provide a venue, where art could be displayed, viewed, and hopefully find a good home. Not only would this give me the opportunity to expand my creativity, but help others show theirs as well. My vision is not only do artist get to display and hopefully profit, but interact with each other, work together, create, inspire, and what we term level up.

How Money Will Be Used:
Any funds received will go directly into business. First will be the purchase of supplies in the artist area, which will include, paints, jewelry supplies, and other material. Creating a better and more efficient display area, presently we have two hanging walls, tables, and one small display case, would like to improve hanging area and purchase a larger display case. We would also like to expand on our web-site, to not only display present works in the shop, but also let it be an invitation to others to work with us.

3 Month Goal:
First month we would work on creating a better display for local artist, these improvement would include improving hanging, lighting, and display cases. By improving this area, we will be creating a better experience for our customers, but possibly make us more attractive to other local artist.

Second month we will focus on purchasing supplies and expand our media. Our small artist area is always in need of supplies and by expanding our local and web presence, we hope to attract more customers but artist as well. We also would like to expand our web-site to include e-commerce, right now we are using etsy.com to sell online.

Third month we will be making preparations to take it on the road, come spring and summer we plan on vending at festivals and fairs. We will need funds for vending fees, attendance, and supplies. By attending events we hope not only to sell, but also interact with others, experience what others are creating, and get the word out and expand our client base.

Second Presenter – Jason Kiley

October 20th 2011 Posted at October 2011, October 2011 Proposals
0 Comments

Project Description:
Imagery on ceramic forms has been occurring for centuries from sgraffito on Roman wine vessels to ceramic decals that decorate many commercial ceramic items today. Whatever the reason, people have felt the need to decorate the ceramic form with pictures. As a ceramic artist I feel this need as well, and would like to research the methods of putting imagery on clay. I will focus on contemporary ceramic artists and their methods of transferring imagery onto clay along with traditional techniques found in printmaking.

Project Importance:
Acquiring the knowledge and materials necessary to accomplish printing on the ceramic surface is the desired outcome of this proposal. I will not be the only one to benefit from the project. As well as being a graduate student at Marshall, I am also the Ceramic Studio Technician. One of my duties in this position is to advise students on process related issues and to address technical questions. With the ability to research printing on clay, I would be able to directly pass this information on to students through classroom demonstrations. I have discussed the opportunity to demonstrate these new techniques to students with Assistant Professor Frederick Bartolovic. I also teach an Image Transfer on Clay class at the Huntington Museum of Art twice a year and could directly apply these new techniques to those classes. As I am employed at institutions where teaching is a primary focus, I would be in a perfect position to share my research with others.

How Money Will Be Used:
I am requesting funding to further my research and allow me to purchase materials necessary for that research. The biggest challenge for completing this research is the material cost associated with it. Printing onto clay requires specialized materials which are not available in either the ceramics studio or the print studio. Purchasing them myself at this time is cost prohibitive. With additional materials at my disposal I can increase the level and variety of printing techniques I am experimenting with. I will need everything from the frames for screen printing to the mason stains needed to make ceramic inks. Along with materials and tools I would like to purchase the DVD “Screen Printing on Clay with Paul Andrew Wandless”, and the new book “Ceramic Transfer Printing” by Kevin Petrie, both would be excellent resources for my research.

3 Month Goal:
Receiving the grant money would allow me to expand on my research exponentially. With additional materials at my disposal I can increase the level and variety of printing techniques I am experimenting with. I will be able to research each of the techniques more thoroughly because I would have a larger stock of materials to work with.
At this point my research is in it very beginning stages. My goals over the upcoming months include a multiple color print on the ceramic form, integrating print/image transfer to larger ceramic sculpture and functional ware, and to have demonstrated some of the techniques to ceramic classes at Marshall University as well as the Huntington Museum of Art. Below is my projected timeline of accomplished work for this project. Receiving the grant money would make accomplishing the timeline and my goals much more achievable.

Projected Timeline of Accomplished Work

October
1. Research silk screen methods on clay.
2. Research Zerox/Gum Arabic Printing.
3. Acquire basic materials needed.
4. Collect imagery to print on ceramic forms.
5. Mix and modify inks for printing on clay.
6. Have small tests pieces of stencil and zerox/gum Arabic transfers bisqued.
November
1. Have larger tests pieces of stencil and zerox/gum Arabic transfers
2. Have small tests pieces of EZ Screen bisqued.
3. Test different print methods with use of plaster molds.
4. Find imagery for linoleum blocks and screen printing.
5. Start testing bisque work with different glazes.
December
1. Stretch screens for screen printing on clay.
2. Have printing screens burnt with Diazo Emulsion.
3. Have linoleum print blocks cut.
4. Evaluate what has and has not worked with printing on clay so for.
5. Gather images and ideas over Holiday Break. Be prepared to start work again when spring semester starts.
January
1. Be ready to test different methods on three dimensional work.
2. Test linoleum print block with Zerox/Gum Arabic inks and underglazes.
3. Test print techniques on functional ceramic ware (cups, bowls, and plates).
4. Have built image library for print on clay (more screens/EZscreens,Diazo Screens, and imagery for Zerox/gum Arabic imagery)
February
1. Give demo on Printing on the Ceramic Form to Intro to Hand Building Class.
2. Have printing methods integrated with first large scale three dimensional piece.
3. Have a multiple color print on clay completed.
March
1. Continue expanding research until thesis exhibition.

First Presenter – Sarah Hovemeyer

October 9th 2011 Posted at October 2011, October 2011 Proposals
0 Comments

Project Description:
I make jewelry from freshwater shells and wood. I have gathered all the shells from rivers and lakes around the Huntington tri-state area. Using a bench-grinder to smooth the shells down to Mother-of-Pearl and shape them into earrings and medallions for necklaces. Since I do not have a drill small enough, I use a box-cutter to whittle a hole into the shell to hang the earring. My wooden earring are made by burning floral designs, that I have created, into pieces of wood that I have cut myself. I have been making jewelry for five years. I am currently selling them out of my home and with love to pursue a full-time business.

Project Importance:
It is West Virginia art, made with West Virginia material, by a West Virginian girl. I was born and raised in West Virginia and I have grown up hiking and exploring our beautiful state. As a child, my sisters and I spent countless hours exploring Beech Fork Lake, The New River, and many other places, and that is when I first started collecting shells. My sister and I found that with sand-paper and a lot of elbow grease we could uncover beautiful Mother-of-Pearl. Now I am a single mother trying to find a way to support my nine-month old daughter. This is a project that would not only support my daughter and I, but would reflect the beauty of West Virginia’s natural resources.

How Money Will Be Used:
First of all I would use the money to buy supplies, such as a drill to make jewelry production faster and more efficient. When I have enough jewelry to sell, I would use the money to rent booths at arts and craft fairs and other artsy venues.

3 Month Goal:
If I receive the money I will be able to produce more earrings than ever. The money will allow me to invest in tools and supplies that I need to get this project going.Over the next three months I will be able to pursue venues that will allow me to show and sell my jewelry.

October 24, 2011 – Downtown Library

October 9th 2011 Posted at October 2011
0 Comments

The October CAFE Dinner will be held on the 24th on the third floor of the Downtown Huntington Library. The event starts at 6:00pm. Admission, as always, is $10 and all proceeds will fund the grant that is awarded to the October winner. Tickets can be purchased via PayPal using the form on this website (below) or you can by at the door using cash or checks. Our credit card machine won’t be there this month sorry.

If you would like to compete for this months grant please apply as only the first five applicants are accepted. Just click on the big “Submit Your Project” box to the right.

There are no products in this group.

First Presenter – Jess Graham

September 16th 2011 Posted at September 2011, September 2011 Proposals
1 Comment

My name is Jess Graham, and outside of my fill-time job as Exec. Director of Dress for Success River Cities, I am a singer-songwriter.

My partner Daniel and I had a home recording studio until a few weeks ago, when our Mac crashed, permanently, rendering all of his music files inaccessible – not only his archive of past work, but also the singles that were currently underway, and 4 tracks for my next album, for which we had a visiting percussionist, bassist, guitarist, pianist – so all that work is unreachable.

You can hear some solo songs at www.sonicbids.com/JessGraham if you’d like a sample. The songs are transformed, though, when others play along – that was what I wanted to achieve with the next record.

Since moving to Huntington, Daniel has made his studio available, at no charge, to local musicians – from Portsmouth to Huntington to Kenova – who had no other way of accessing / affording recording time. He has produced at least 3 debut albums that I know of (he has been here longer than I, so that isn’t the half of it, I’m sure.)

We now must pursue (expensive) data retrieval to retrieve the music files, and then there is the new software to buy to be able to record again – our Mac is apparently too old to be repaired. We really don’t have the financial means to deal with a creative crisis event like this.

I’ve known about Cafe Huntington for a while, but there wasn’t really any project of mine that I thought I could present. Dan and I generally get by on student loans and my salary – what I’m usually short of instead is time to devote to songwriting, which makes the prospect of backtracking and re-recording especially discouraging.

Third Presenter – Shannon Rawlinson

September 14th 2011 Posted at September 2011, September 2011 Proposals
0 Comments

Project Description:
I am starting a First Lego League Team to compete in the 2012 season. This team will be made up of 3-6 10 year olds that want to learn about robotics through the use of Lego. I have attended a Lego Art Camp and learned how to work with the robotic Lego and want to learn more.

Project Importance:
It’s very important to have fun learning. Who would have thought that playing with Lego would lead to learning Engineering and Math skills. I will attempt to form an all girls team to compete in this years First Lego League Challenge. Engineering and Math are critical to a successful future and that’s where future jobs will be for kids my age. This will also help us learn to work as a team and develop problem solving skills. Our coach can teach us but can not help us so we truly will be learning to program and build functioning robots and have them perform set tasks on our own.

How Money Will Be Used:
The money I win will go to purchase the NXT Robotic Lego which costs $260.00. My mom already has building Lego for my team to use. If I win more than $260.00 we will put the other money towards the First Lego League team registration which is $225.00 as well as $100 to purchase the Challenge Set. The NXT Computer Robot can be used each year.

3 Month Goal:
This will assist me in purchasing the Robot and forming our team.

Second Presenter – The Liberty High School World Percussion Ensemble

September 14th 2011 Posted at General, September 2011, September 2011 Proposals
0 Comments

Project Description:
The Liberty High School World Percussion Ensemble was established in 2007 by Jeremy Rodriguez, music teacher and a founding member of Experience Art International and the West Virginia World Music Educational Cooperative. The group performs a large repertoire of music on percussion instruments that originate in Africa, Central America, and Asia. The ensemble’s primary purpose is to educate its audience about world music through its interactive shows. These interactive performances are facilitated primarily by the students, offering them an opportunity to improve their leadership skills and build their self-confidence. The Liberty High School World Percussion Ensemble has performed throughout the state of West Virginia including the Clay Center, Culturefest, and The West Virginia Tea Festival. The group has given world music clinics for Head Start programs, public school music programs of all ages, and Energy Express.

Project Importance:
Because we have very limited parental involvement, often times we are forced to leave musicians and artists behind because the gear takes up so much space. More often than not we do not have the ability to carry both gear and students, making it impossible for us to offer the students the opportunities they have worked so hard practicing for. Having an equipment trailer would mean more opportunities for more students; many of which have never been out of southern West Virginia.

How Money Will Be Used:
If we are granted these funds we would be able to purchase an equipment trailer to haul gear. Our drums are very large and take up a good deal of space. We are excited about the prospect of being able to bring our project to other counties and share our resources and knowledge; we are a teaching group. Right now our equipment alone requires two large, enclosed vehicles, and because of this our travel options are severely limited.

3 Month Goal:
Liberty World Percussion Ensemble has been invited to perform all over the state and indeed all over the world. We enjoyed performing in the spring of this year at Jeslyn Performing Arts Center in Huntington, and most recently we performed with a limited group at Culturefest 2011. We have also recently been asked to perform in Seoul, Korea. While an equipment trailer won’t help us get to Korea it will help us share our love for world percussion music throughout the state of West Virginia.

September 19th, 2011 – Downtown Library

September 13th 2011 Posted at September 2011
0 Comments

The September 2011 dinner will be on Monday, September 19th from 6-8pm at the Downtown Cabell County Library in the third floor meeting room. Tickets, as always, are $10 and can be purchased in advance via this website or at the door with either cash, check, or credit card. Non cash/check tickets cost an additional $0.61 to cover the processing fes.

If you would like to attempt to win the grant please apply as only the first five applicants get a shot at the monthly prize.

There are no products in this group.

Forth Presenter – Shannon Rawlinson

August 29th 2011 Posted at August 2011, August 2011 Proposals
0 Comments

3 Month Goal:
This will assist me in purchasing the Robot and forming our team.

Third Presenter – AD Lewis Pool

August 24th 2011 Posted at August 2011, August 2011 Proposals
0 Comments

Project Description:
Repair of AD Lewis Center’s Pool – hiring of professional grant writer to apply for large scale grants

Project Importance:
In 2010, the A.D. Lewis Center’s pool gave hundreds of at-risk children a place to go and have fun safely. However, the pool itself was on its last legs. By spring 2011, large chunks of concrete were falling off the sides, deep cracks were growing along the walkways and integral parts of the water circulation system had hit end-of-life. For the safety of the children, the pool was closed. The AD Lewis Center continued to offer food and a air conditioned gymnasium for play, but the number served dropped dramatically. The occasional bus to Dreamland was arranged, but eventually had to be canceled due to rowdiness. Suffice to say, these children and youth who needed a place to go and be with their friends, a place to play outdoors all day, were left without the stabilizing force of their local pool, and seemed upset that keeping their pool, one that had been there since the 60′s, was no longer a priority to others.

The Director of the AD Lewis Center, Bob Martin, has worked diligently to keep the AD Lewis Center open, but it has been a struggle, sometimes fighting just to keep the lights on. When the pool became too far gone to keep open, he got an estimate for full repair, and could not believe the amount: over $300,000. The scale of grants and funding needed to reopen the pool seemed insurmountable, but Bob knew there had to be a way, because the kids deserve a pool and the opportunity to learn to swim.

Bob explained to me that for inner city children, learning to swim can mean the difference between life and death, as the number who die from drownings are significantly larger for this population, since learning to swim is so rare an opportunity. When they finally get to go to a large pool or to the beach, they don’t know how dangerous it can be, and some are lost to the waters. Bob wants to see the AD Lewis Center pool repaired with Life Guards teaching kids how to swim. Bob wants us to give back to our children and youth a safe place to play and have fun during the summer.

A couple weeks ago, the AD Lewis Center held a Fundraiser Carnival at the football field, with pizza donated by Papa John’s. It was a great turnout. People from all over the community came to buy tickets and enjoy the fun. But, after all was said and done, the AD Lewis Center still didn’t make any money on it. The prospect of fundraising locally to raise over $300,000 is simply not possible. Large-scale grants are needed to get the job done right.

How Money Will Be Used:
Cafe Huntington funds would be an integral part of our plan to hire a professional grant writer to both research and apply for large-scale grants, so that the AD Lewis Center pool has a real chance at being repaired, to give this 50+ year old neighborhood landmark back to the community and children of Fairfield. The last estimate put the repair bill at over $300,000.

3 Month Goal:
Over the next three months, the AD Lewis Center plans to use Cafe Huntington funds as matching dollars when applying for other small grants, such as the Create Huntington Mini-grant. Once about $1,000 has been collected, we plan on hiring a professional grant writer and researcher, so that the AD Lewis Center has a much better chance at finding the kind of large-scale grants needed to fund the pool repair project, and then to have a much improved chance at winning those grants. The Fairfield children deserve a pool, and we want to really make it happen for them. Because we believe in them, we are not afraid to ask for help or to hire professionals to get the job done right. Our kids deserve the best from all of us, and we hope to do just that.

Cafe Huntington