T-shirt Art Harvest Festival 2005

T-shirt Art Harvest Fest 2005

September 20th, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Drew
773/561-7676 (day)
Use e-mail for evening at umcac@art-teez.org

Diversity dominates the 16th annual "T-shirt Art Harvest Festival," the weekend of September 16-18th. Events swirl around an exhibit of hundreds of artists' works on T-shirts produced by the Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center (UM-CAC). T-shirts from UM-CAC's 17 years producing the "Art of the T-shirt" exhibits, t-shirts from UM-CAC's free Screen Print Workshop for Artists, and t-shirts from ART-ACT, UM-CAC's global art contest will show.

ART-ACT IV, an international art contest with a pro-diversity theme is in progress. A growing line of t-shirt art gleaned from ART-ACT will show. ART-ACT is building a mountain of visual evidence in support of diversity on UM-CAC's website, art-teez.org.

Friday evening view t-shirt art, enjoy pot luck and try your luck winning t-shirt art door prizes.

Saturday, 9/18, from 11am- 3pm see Native American film and videos that break racial stereotypes and promote awareness of Native American issues presented by the Native American Film and Video Festival, admission $5. From 3-8pm viewing of the exhibit is free.

Sunday, from 12-5 pm videos from this season's cable TV show, Printing T-shirt Art, featuring artists from the Screen Print Workshop for Artists will play. Admission is free. All t-shirt art from the Screen Print Workshop will be available on sale. The T-shirt Art Harvest Festival is at the American Indian Center at 1630 W. Wilson Avenue (one block west of Ashland at 4600 North). Call 773/561-7676 for more details.

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First Nations Film and Video Festival

For the third straight year First Nations Film and Video Festival (FNFVF) will be teaming up with the Uptown Multi-Cultural Arts Center for the 2004 Harvest Festival. FNFVF will be presenting a 3 ½ hour program on Saturday, September 18th from 11am - 3pm @ American Indian Center, 1630 West Wilson Avenue. The purpose of FNFVF is to advocate for and celebrate the works of Native American film and video that break racial stereotypes and promote awareness of Native American issues. Admission $5. For more information call Dave Spencer 773.275.5871 or email spencer@aic-chicago.org.

Program 11am - 3pm:
Gwishalaayt: The Spirit Wraps Around You Director: Barb Cranmer, Producer: Barb Cranmer & Cari Green, 1997, 47 Min. Gwishalaayt means the spirit that wraps around you in the Tsimshian language. Gwishalaayt is the power displayed for the first time in this remarkable film on the life of six extraordinary people who dedicate themselves to the tradition of Chilkat and Northern geometric weaving.

American Cowboys
Director/Producer - Cedric Wildbill (Umatilla), 2002, 27 Min American Cowboys tells the stories of George Fletcher and Jackson Sundown, the first African American and the first Native American to compete in the World Title at the Pendleton Round-Up. This documentary reveals the glory of being the best, the frustration of being ignored, and the rewards for not giving up on a dream.

Take a Picture with a Real Indian
Dir. James Luna (Luiseño/Mexican) and David J. Merritt, 2001, 12 Min Take a Picture is a performance speaking to the commodification of American Indian cultures by institutions, media and commercial enterprises. It takes a common, playful but demeaning act of taking a photo memento of the "exotic" which many times includes cultures of other than the norm, Indians have been subjected to this act since contact with Western culture.

On and Off the Res with Charlie Hill
Director/Producer - Sandra Osawa (Makah), 2000, 58 Min On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill, is an inspiring story of how one Native American single-handedly confronts Indian stereotypes through the use of humor. Charlie Hill is one of America's premier standup comedians, and he personifies one of the few contemporary American Indian icons.

Singing our Stories
Director: Annie Frazier Henry, Producer: Annie Frazier Henry Michael Chechik and George Johnson, 1998, 49 Min. Singing our Stories is a tribute to the power of song in Native cultures-and to the women keeping these important musical traditions alive. Among the first ladies of Aboriginal song are Walela (Rita Coolidge, Priscilla Coolidge and Laura Satterfield), Monk-Sanders family singers, Ulali, women singers and drummers of old Agency,'Namgis Traditional singers, and Zuni Olla Maidens.

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Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center (UM-CAC). E-mail umcac@art-teez.org Ph.773/561-7676