THE LAB MAGAZINE - Vol. 2-Winter 2022

MAGAZINE Official Publication of the Gateway Media Arts Lab winter 2022

Artists' Projects Industry Workshops A Peek at What's to Come

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Vol. 02

MAGAZI NE

THE LAB MAGAZINE / WINTER 2022

The Lab is a professional home for creatives from around the DMV and beyond. The magazine was created to tell their stories, and shine a light on our community and collective impact.

For more information, visit GatewayCDC.org.

PUBLISHER GATEWAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PAT THORNTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MICHELLE DARDEN-LEE MANAGING EDITOR AYOKA BLANDFORD EDITOR-AT-LARGE RHETT BUTLER WRITER/COPYEDITOR AYOKA BLANDFORD ART EDITOR MARIA FENTON PROGRAM PARTNERS CITY OF MOUNT RAINIER PRINCE GEORGE'S ARTS & HUMANITIES COUNCIL CREATIVE EDGE COLLABORATIVE

SPONSORED BY:

Gateway Community Development Corporation 4102 Webster Street, North Brentwood, MD 20722 301-864-3860

TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - 5

COVER STORY CONT. - 11

Support for Gateway Artists

Networking with partners.

COVER STORY - 6

COVER STORY CONT. - 12

We had quite a year! Join us as we reflect.

Scenes from the Lab Gallery.

COVER STORY CONT. - 7

MEET THE RESIDENT - 13

Special event at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Rhett Butler is The Lab's newest resident but our partnership goes way back.

COVER STORY CONT. - 8

ARIEL DAVIS AND AAC - 14

Designer Maria Fenton is stepping into a new role.

Ariel Davis is working to change the color of arts administration.

COVER STORY CONT. - 9

GATEWAY IS GLOBAL - 18

Faith-based filmmaking is emerging.

Get a sneak peak at our team members in Sierra Leone!

Details to come in the next issue.

COVER STORY CONT. - 10

Images from the Prince George's County Film Festival.

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During the past year, The Lab Magazine was launched. Through this magazine we were able to chronicle milestones, share activities and spotlight businesses within the Arts District. This act alone has broadened the landscape of opportunities for the artists who are featured, and most importantly, opened new opportunities for artists to collaborate with each other.

From the featured article on Mignotae Kebeda’s premiere of My Brother’s Journey at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to the conversation with Arts Administrators Of Color’s Board Co-chair Ariel Davis, after reading this issue, you will be informed, entertained, enlightened and inspired. Gateway CDC will continue to expand these opportunities. If you like what you see, remember to support Gateway CDC, so we can continue to support Gateway Artists!

In Collaboration, Pat Thornton , Executive Director

message from the executive director

Gateway CDC THE LAB | 05

TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SCENES FROM THE LAB COMMUNITY AS WE REMINISCE.

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Mignotae Kebeda directed My Brother’s Journey in partnership with Life Pieces to Masterpieces, a DC based non-profit. It premiered July 9th at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Joining her on the project was team member Mansa Johnson.

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Fashion designer and first time filmmaker Maria Fenton is in the development stage of Softly Softly, a docufantasy debunking the myth of the strong Black woman. "It's important to me that we draw on the talent from the Lab community to produce this film, says Maria." She is using designers, dancers, crew and more from the Lab community to produce the film.

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Team member Michael Kleos Chin and Patty Rice co-hosted the Faith-Based Filmmakers' Industry Insiders Summit. Panel insiders included Howard Gibson, Executive Producer of "Double Cross"; Tressa Smallwood, Founder of MegaMind Media; Writer, Producer and Director Jimmy Jenkins; Actor Faith Malonte; Kylie Olsen, of HBO's "We Own This City;" and Kellie Shanygne Williams, Producer and Actress in "Family Matters."

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Scenes from

Community Events

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Scenes from the

Lab Gallery

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RHETT BUTLER Rhett Butler has been a fixture in the Mount Rainier community for years as a brand strategist, events host, and dessert artisan. Now Rhett has expanded on his partnership with the Gateway Media Arts Lab with an office space for his company RBACM, LLC. RBACM, LLC is a creative branding company that curates projects in the sports entertainment industry, culinary and lifestyle space. Rooted in sophistication and luxury, RBACM, LLC prides itself on not only creating and managing brands but also helping other businesses along their journey with the R. Butler & Associates consulting + management brand. RBACM, LLC also manages the Jolie Gelato plant-based artisanal luxury iced dessert brand, Fight Services, a combat sports services provider, the PRITTY Left Hook podcast, and

I plan to bring consultation services for creative businesses to the Lab

POLITIC, a Diasporadic leaning media outlet and subsequent lifestyle clothing brand CCCP.

community. I also plan to

A staunch advocate of the Gateway

produce my podcast PRITTY

Arts District and the business

Left Hook in The Lab. The show is distributed by the Up On Game Network / FOX Sports / iHeartMedia.

community of the DMV at large, with an emphasis on Prince George's County, Rhett is happy to help the diverse expansion of business opportunities within Prince George's County and beyond.

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ARIEL DAVIS

AND WHAT'S NEW FOR

ARTS ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR

In 2016, Ariel Davis and former Howard classmate Quanice Floyd founded Arts Administrators of Color (AAC), a 501c3, to i n c r e a s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f P e o p le o f t h e G l o b a l M a j o r i t y a s l e a d e r s a n d a d m in is t r a t o r s i n t h e a r t s . T h e g r a s s r o o t s e f f o r t , w h ic h s t a r t e d a s a F a c e b o o k G r o u p , e v o lv e d f r o m h o s t i n g s m a l l g a t h e r i n g s ( s u c h a s d in n e r s a n d n e t w o r k i n g e v e n t s ) t o n a t i o n a l c o n v e n in g s , a n d a c t i v i t i e s t h a t s u p p o r t a r t is t s a n d a r t s

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l e a d e r s o f t h e g l o b a l m a j o r i t y . A r ie l s e r v e s a s t h e A A C b o a r d c o - c h a i r a n d is a m e m b e r o f t h e A r t s C o m m i s s i o n o f M t . R a in ie r . T h e L A B s a t down with Davis to learn more.

What is an Arts Administrator?

W o w , g r e a t q u e s t i o n . . . t h a t a n s w e r is e v o lv in g .

K a r l a , o u r e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r , s p e a k s t o t h is point so often, but I agree - so many arts administrators from the global majority are not o n l y w o r k i n g w i t h i n e x i s t i n g in s t it u t io n s , b u t t h e y t o g g l e b e t w e e n t h e i r a r t is t ic p r a c t ic e a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I p e r s o n a l l y t h in k t h a t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s c a n e v e n i n c lu d e o n lin e c o n t e n t c r e a t o r s b e c a u s e t h a t r e q u ir e s a n im m e n s e le v e l

After receiving a $1 million grant from philanthropist

o f c r e a t i v i t y - w e a r e s e e i n g g r a p h ic a r t is t s ,

Mackenzie

d a n c e r s , m u s i c i a n s , a n d s o m a n y o t h e r a r t is t s

Scott, AAC

u s i n g d i g i t a l m e d i a t o g r o w . I lo o k f o r w a r d t o seeing how the term evolves, and how we

hired it's first

define ourselves.

Executive Director, Karla Estela Rivera (above). Over 320 people applied.

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Tell us about the recent annual convening.

O n N o v e m b e r 5 , A A C h a d t h e ir first, in-person convening in three years. Held at the Eaton in DC, this year’s programming was s c a l e d d o w n t o p r o v i d e a r t is t s more time to network, engage and meet. We understand that many conversations and deals happen when people are having a c o n v e r s a t i o n o r h a v i n g a d r in k a t the bar.

W e w e r e e x c i t e d t o h a v e K e n d a ll Isadore as the keynote speaker!

S h e i s a v i o l i n i s t , e d u c a t o r , s in g e r , songwriter and pianist and onethird of The String Queens.

A n o t h e r h i g h l i g h t w a s a F i r e s id e C h a t w i t h f o u n d e r Q u a n i c e F lo y d and the new executive director, Karla Estela Rivera for a d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t r e p r e s e n t a t io n in the arts and the future of AAC. T h e C o n v e n i n g i s l i k e o u r f a m ily reunion. Everyone is a distant c o u s i n w h o w e h a v e n ’ t s e e n in years and we catch up; it isn’t like an ordinary convening.

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What is your philosophy on

What do you want artists

partnership?

to know about AAC?

Partnership is crucial for AAC. We

I f t h e r e i s s o m e o n e a t a p o in t

a r e a v o l u n t e e r b a s e d o r g a n iz a t io n

in their career who wants to

and we’ve bartered in the past and

go “behind the curtain” to

w e ' v e g r o w n d u e t o t h e g e n e r o s it y

shake things up or wants a

o f p e o p l e ' s t i m e a n d t a l e n t s a s w e ll

seat at the table, I want them

a s t h e c o m m u n i t y . C o l l a b o r a t io n s

to see AAC as a resource and

are key. Speaking of

a community.

collaborations, the Cousin’s R e g i m e i s a g r o u p o f l i k e - m in d e d organizations that have forged a partnership with AAC. We ae l o o k i n g t o w a r d G a t e w a y b e c o m in g a cousin.

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Learn more at aacnetwork.org

Glimpses of the Gateway in

Sierra Leone The DMV League of Artists supported Gateway partner, Empress J Entertainment, sending a team to the AfriCaribbean Music Festival.

Stay tuned for full coverage in the next issue.

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