east washington life
Buy a Print to Support DCCK
have access to Wi-Fi or electricity, or where they do, they often lack the skills necessary to connect all three. That’s a national issue, she said. “They’ve given out devices, but there needs to be a follow-up.” She’s worried about the students at her school. So, about a month ago, with her workload shifted after the closure of school buildings, Vineyard was able to focus some of her attention on her other skillset, art. Vineyard has produced by Elizabeth O’Gorek prints depicting 62 different iconic District. She ill-based artist Christine Vineyard is uslies during this difficult time. She’s started her work by capturChristine Vineyard has taught at The Hill Center, ing her work to promote local business selling prints depicting iconic local ing Capitol Hill Books (657 here depicted behind its iconic gate. Courtesy and raise money for the DC Central businesses to benefit the nonprofit. C St. SE), followed by oththe artist Kitchen (DCCK). Vineyard, who pubDC Central Kitchen (DCCK) ers such as the Hill Center lishes on social media as Lidflutters, combats hunger and poverty through job training (921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), where Vineyard somewants to use her work to make a difference for famiand job creation. In response to COVID-19, DCCK times teaches an art class and Labyrinth Puzzles and is serving more than 40,000 emergenGames (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE). She also has decy meals each week at dozens of sites picted businesses in the wider District, such as Krameracross the city, keeping healthy food on books (1517 Connecticut Ave. NW), Call Your Mother the shelves of corner stores, and sup(3301 Georgia Ave. NW) and Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 porting Culinary Job Training students U St. NW), posting them online to her Instagram and whose training and careers have been Twitter accounts. disrupted by this crisis. People started noticing, and she started getting reTheir efforts make a difference to quests from current and former residents to do their the kids she misses, Vineyard said. A favorite businesses. Some businesses reached out to trained artist and educator, Vineyard her directly, and it just snowballed from there, she said usually spends her days teaching at (look out for Trusty’s, coming out in art soon). She has McKinley Middle School (150 T St. a queue of 50 requests right now. “Now this is a thing,” NE). The school is a “homeless stashe said she realized, “I need to do something with it.” tus” school, Vineyard said, meaning Starting Friday, April 24, Vineyard is selling the that many students do not have perprints online in the ‘local’ section of her Etsy store and manent addresses. Many live in shelat her website, www.lidflutters.com. She’ll keep enough ters, the hotels retained by the Departto cover the cost of production (about 40 percent, or ment of Human Services (DHS) along $9.50), with the remainder of profits going straight to New York Avenue, in foster care or DCCK. Prospective buyers who wish to increase their even in cars. purchase price or who want a larger format can contact She said DC Central Kitchen is Vineyard and she will try to accommodate requests. Ingreat because it helps everyone. “I creased profits will be increased donations, she said. If know I’m not necessarily helping my her efforts really take off, Vineyard said, she will also kids directly,” she said of the project, contribute profits to Sasha Bruce Youthwork. “but if my efforts help students and Vineyard has donated her work to each business families who are in need across the Disdepicted to do as they wish with the images and has trict, then I’m happy to do it.” received consent from each for the use of their imagHer students aren’t doing their es in the campaign. You can see and purchase Vinebest learning right now, either, Vineyard’s work at www.lidflutters.com or by following @ yard said. DC Public Schools (DCPS) lidflutters on Instagram and Twitter. Reach her with Capitol Hill Books (657 C St. SE) was the first of the District businesses depicted has provided schools and students questions, orders or requests via email at lidflutters@ by local artist Christine Vineyard as part of a collection being sold to profit the with devices. However, many do not gmail.com u work of DC Central Kitchen during the COVID-19 crisis. Courtesy the artist
Artist Christine Vineyard Sells Portraits of Iconic Businesses to Raise Funds
H
36
E a s t o f t h e R i v er D CN e w s . c o m
