ADC and the Gautier Family Announce Recipient of First Annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award
BK ADAMS • I AM ART. Fascinating People. Image courtesy of the artist.
ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) and the Gautier Family are pleased to announce BK ADAMS•I AM ART as the winner of the first annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award. ADC will host an awards ceremony on September 7th at Honfleur Gallery to formally present Adams with his prize.
Adams was selected based on his artistic excellence as well as for the significant impact he has made on the cultural landscape of Washington, DC. He was chosen by a panel by of individuals active in the Washington, DC arts community. The panel included: Jack Rasmussen (Director and Curator, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center), Mary Beth Brown (Public Art Coordinator for DCCAH), Pamela Jafari (Membership Manager, Cultural Tourism DC), Sharon Gautier (art collector and family representative) and Fred Joiner (poet and artist).
Mrs. Gautier stated: “When you say the name that BK Adams gave himself, you experience the genius of the artist. ‘I am Art’ pushed the panel to consider the truth of the statement: ‘Am I Art’. The internal smile that must result from that question is entree into the world of art as experienced and expressed by this Washington DC art dynamo. The Gautier Family feels privileged and grateful to name BK ‘I am Art’ Adams the first recipient of the East of the River Distinguished Artist Award.”
Adams is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice includes painting, sculpting, and writing. He has been described as an artist who lives his art. Adams provided the following statement upon learning he was chosen for the award:
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“Hard work does one thing PAYOFF …
If u wanna B a lawyer
Shoot for a judge
If u wanna B a teacher
Shoot for a principal
If wanna B SOMEBODY
Shoot for YOURSELF
as i grow…”
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Moving forward, ADC’s plan is to select and honor one EotR artist with the $5,000 award each year. Artists who currently live East of the Anacostia River neighborhoods in all disciplines—including dance, film, literature, music, theater, photography and visual arts—whose careers have made a substantial impact on the arts in Washington, DC will be eligible for nomination or application each year. The award is designed to celebrate the achievements and contributions of East of the River artists who, individually and collectively, have enriched the arts in Washington, DC. In recognizing them, the award will help document the East of the River cultural history and continue the long tradition of EOR artists. This award is the newest way ADC and the Gautier Family is working to create a home for the creative economy, artists, arts and cultural organizations to fulfill its mission of revitalization and sustainable economic development in historic Anacostia.
BK ADAMS • I AM ART. Sitting on Knowledge. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Please join ADC, the Gautier family, our esteemed panel and BK ADAMS•I AM ART on September 7th from 7-9 p.m. at Honfleur Gallery. The event will also serve as a closing reception for the current exhibit at Honfleur Gallery, The Sixth Annual East of the River Exhibit.
About ARCH Development Corporation
ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) is creating a home for the creative economy, artists, arts and cultural organizations to fulfill its mission of revitalization and sustainable economic development. ADC is a twenty one year old 501[c] [3] not-forprofit community based organization that believes arts and creative economic practices can be employed as part of a comprehensive, synergistic approach to community revitalization in the Anacostia community of Washington, DC.
Visit ADC online at www.archdevelopment.org
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