Thursday, October 1, 2009

Artists for Health Care Reform




Art. Activism. A nation in crisis.

MOCA DC Gallery, 1054 31st St NW
Opening Reception: October 2 : 6 -9 pm

Third Friday Reception: October 16 : 6-8pm

Halloween Broken Health Care Costume Party: October 31


On Oct. 2, MOCA DC once more seizes a social issue by the throat and lets community artists do their worst. In October's exhibition, health care reform goes up against the wall, as local and nationally-renowned artists splash their frustrations, heartaches, and struggles into every medium available.

Nationally renowned artists include Micheline Klagsbrun, whose art and collaboration with photographer Alberto Pieczanski (above) inspired billboards currently in use by Heath Care for America's Education Fund in many major US cities, as well as Nora Ligorano/Marshall Reese, longtime arts activists based in NYC. (To see some media response to the billboard, check here. To see Ligorano/Reese's Bottom Line images click here.)

Also participating: noted artists Matt Wuerker and Regina Holliday.

Matt Wuerker has worked as a cartoonist for over 25 years, currently as in-house illustrator for newspaper/website Politico. His deft visual storytelling brings humor and razor-sharp accuracy to often muddled, opaque political and social debates. His recent animated cartoon for health care reform, OPERATION, can be viewed here.

Holliday recently achieved media prominence with her hand-painted mural chronicling her husband's failing battle with kidney cancer, compounded by the uphill struggle against a medical insurance bureaucracy where helping the dying patient seemed to be the lowest priority. To read Regina's story in her own words, click here.

The opening reception will feature live music, wine, and real-time art creation as patrons are encouraged to draw or write their stories digitally, to be uploaded directly to the gallery's website. For those passionate about art and activism but unable to attend, MOCA will also feature a live streaming feed throughout the evening, available at http://www.mocadc.org and mocadc.blogspot.com. MOCA is proud to partner with CrossCurrents Foundation, a DC-based philanthropic organization emphasizing social and economic justice, in this important exhibition.

MOCA DC is the premier gallery in Washington, DC to promote the works of under-served artists and art genres. It also headquarters the Figure Model's Guild, creating a network of figurative artists and professional models within the greater DC area. The gallery is located at 1054 31st Street NW, in Canal Square, in the heart of Georgetown. For more information, please contact Dave Quammen at 202.342.6230 or mocadc01@comcast.net, or visit our websites, http://www.MOCADC.org and http://www.figuremodelsguild.org/

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