| Home | Events | Restore-A-Home Campaign | Past Events | In the News | About Us |
| Contribute | Supporters | Overview of NOWAC | Related Events | NOLA Statistics | Contact Us |
|
|
SPONSORED BY
NEW ORLEANS WOMEN ARTIST COLLECTIVE
| Angelamia Bachemin |
New Orleans Women Artists Collective (NOWAC) is about reclaiming and nurturing what once was a culturally diverse community created by the people for the people. This grassroots approach to rebuilding the community after Katrina is vital for the stability and the integrity of our mission.
NOWAC's principle objective is to restore New Orleans' history and culture of the arts prior to Hurricane Katrina. It is our belief that in order to restore New Orleans' history and cultural contributions to our overall society we can begin by assisting artists in their determination to return home and to their communities. There are over 300 million people in America today; dream of what can be done if only a small percentage of us give $1.00 to save New Orleans without the red tape.
You ask how NOWAC has assisted to date New Orleans women artists in their journey home: In December 2006, NOWAC completed its first installation of a fully donated, custom designed kitchen in the home of former professor at Berklee College of Music, Ms. Angelamia Bachemin, and Music Director for JHO (Jazz Hip Hop Orchestra). Ms. Bachemin returned to New Orleans' Seventh Ward one year prior to Katrina in order to advance her music career as well as return to the community in which her ancestors rest. Members of the New England Architectural Woodworking Institute, Yarr Builders and The Boston Restore all contributed a tremendous amount of resources (i.e., materials, labor, and delivery/freight expenses) in helping us reach our ongoing goal of assisting women artists in their journey home by restoring one home at a time.
In a January 2007 trip to New Orleans, NOWAC members coordinated the repair of the plumbing in the home of Sister Andaiye of the musical group "Zion Trinity" (http://www.myspace.com/ziontrinity). Zion Trinity is a group of songwriters who sing in the genres of Roots (Churchical) Reggae, Jazz, Funk, Spirituals, and African Ritual Chants from the African Diaspora.
Additionally, with the help and collaboration of organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Building Restores throughout the country, we are working to house artists both through home ownership as well as in rental assistance programs throughout their city.
You ask how you can to contribute to this worthy cause, knowing where the resources are going: NOWAC has officially kicked-off its "$1.00 Restore-A-Home" campaign, which is designed to continue raising awareness that much work and resources are needed in restoring and preserving homes throughout the city.
Ongoing efforts include assisting artists including Asali DeVan, poet and teacher (http://www.pozazz.com) in their search for a new home, and Irma Thomas (http://www.irmathomas.com) in her efforts to restore her home.
In a trip planned for April 2007, NOWAC has scheduled for assistance in these restoration efforts artists including Charmaine Neville (http://www.charmainenevilleband.com) and Dorise Blackmon of "Mother Tongue" (http://www.myspace.com/mothertongues), both for roofing repair/replacement.
For this next trip, in addition to financial support, NOWAC is also looking for donations of materials and services for electrical work, carpentry and woodworking work, as well as the help of community members wanting to get involved.
Please support the people of New Orleans today! Give $1.00 for every member in your household, and join the ranks of those who value community, art and culture.
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.nowac.org or contact Tye Waller via email at tyewaller@nowac.org, or at cell# 617-710-9072.
 |
 |
