DMVL + MEDIA ARTS LAB

SHARED VISION & SHARED VALUES

"There are many reasons why art organizations and the creative community should partner. " Keiona Clark believes the Gateway Media Arts Lab and the DMV League of Artists (DMVL) have a shared vision of what they are expected to accomplish and shared values on how to operate. They may not have identical strategies, but there is a mutuality and synergy in their thinking.

In 2015, Keiona Clark was a budding artist who dreamed of creating art and establishing a business. But, she didn't know how. After surviving breast cancer, Keiona had begun to consider her life and legacy. Art had been her guiding light during her darkest hours so she would build her life around it. Now on the other side, she continued to paint, seeing inspiration all around her. Keiona took a chance by displaying her work in the art gallery at her workplace and the rest as they say is history…and the future!

After a year of navigating the local art scene alone, she’d met several fellow artists and even found a manager. But she still needed guidance and experience. She hesitantly sent an email asking to volunteer for a popular community project called Art Lives Here. That is how Keiona met Michelle Darden-Lee and her partnership with the Gateway Media Arts Lab began.

In 2018, Keiona established an artist collective, the DMV League of Artists (DMVL). DMVL facilitates opportunities, explores possibilities and builds bridges for creatives. The organization also brings awareness and culture to public facilities as well as the community through curation and public art projects.

The partnership between Keiona and Gateway CDC began when she stepped up and in when needed — at Gateway's annual Open Studios Tour. It paid off. Keiona was asked to curate the event in one week. She successfully showcased 20 artists in four spaces along the Route 1 corridor. Following the Now, the partnership with the Gateway Media Arts Lab allows the DMVL to provide additional resources to its members. It gives DMVL an administrative home base, allows team leaders to provide programming through community events and curation, and the physical space is an

event, Gateway Executive Director, Pat Thornton, extended an invitation to Keiona to participate in the Harlem Fine Arts Show.

Keiona further extended the offer to eight fellow artists. After discovering that she had only one week to make it happen, Keiona again proved successful and raised money for additional space. The group made it in, but needed a name. The DMV League of Artists was born. Keiona found herself in a position to provide for other artists what she herself had once needed. opportunity for artists to exhibit their work. Members can also receive business coaching and mentoring by members of the Lab team.

"The League values the ideas, talents and individuality of our artists, but we also value what everyone brings to the collective, to ensure that the League continues to grow stronger, " says Clark.