Marga Fripp: Bringing Immigrant Artwork to the Region

The indomitable Marga is at it again.
 
This Sunday, March 29, Marga Fripp's Empowered Women International and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton presents We the People project, a memorable exhibition and performance event from 2-5 pm at Gallery W-16 of the Workhouse Arts Center.
 
Workhouse is located at 9601 Ox Road in Lorton. The artists’ reception starts at 2 pm and the performing program will begin at 3 pm. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Fripp, EWI's founder

We the People project honors the Women’s History Month and the SWAN Day, Support Women Artists Now, and that highlights a unique vision of America today through the eyes of immigrant and American-born artists. Participating artists in We the People project were invited to interpret the theme, hope and opportunity as seen through their eyes, and express their thoughts, ideals and vision of a country that embraces the arts and celebrates innovation, diversity and creativity.

Over 110 paintings, photography, sculptures, and fiber art are featured in the exhibition and available for sale, and poetry, readings, dance, harp music and film are presented as part of the performing program. About 35 local visual, performing and media artists have been selected to participate in the exhibition. Participating artists include adults and young artists, students of the West Potomac High School, a partner school of the EWI.
 
In a time of financial crisis, Fripp said that organizations like EWI transform challenges into opportunities, and spur economic growth and jobs creation by tapping into the extraordinary talent and entrepreneurial spirit of the artists’ community. EWI teaches artist marketing and business skills and presents exhibitions and performances that provide enhanced exposure and visibility for artists and creates other opportunities for them to sell or commission works of art.

“The economic potential of our talented artists, primarily immigrant women artists, is yet to be realized," said Marga Fripp, EWI's founder and president. "In a time when the economy is facing such crisis and jobs become scarce, entrepreneurs rise by pursuing their own talents and dreams. We are here to guide these talented artist entrepreneurs to find their voice and niche in the current economy.”

Most artists in this exhibition and performance are women; members of the Empowered Women International, an Alexandria-based organization that creates entrepreneurial opportunities in the arts for talented and skilled immigrant and emerging women artists.
 
The youngest artists in the program are Helois Solveig Leosk, age 12, and Katleen Silvia Leosk, age 10. Both girls are Estonian-born, play the harp and create beautiful hand-painted silk artworks. A documentary film on Global Warming by Sam Nelson and an original dance piece with Heba Sikander, Britney Hall, Jessica Jackson-Banks, and Sarah Harden, all students of the West Potomac Academy High School in Alexandria, will also be presented during the program.

The exhibition runs Feb. 18 to April 3 at Gallery W-16 of the Workhouse Arts Center. It is co-curated by Marga Fripp, President of EWI, Sharon Mason, Interim Executive Director of the Lorton Arts Foundation, and Marti Kirkpatrick, Exhibition Coordinator at the Workhouse Arts Center.

Visual Artists in the project include Adelina Perez, Chela Sanabria, Edith Graciela Sanabria, Elsa Gebreyesus, Evelyn Brooks, Fatana Baktash Arifi, Gita Bhatia, Irina Avilova, Isabel Castaneda, Jenny McKenzie, Jung Eun Kim, Kathlyn Avila-Reyes, Kata Witorsh, Klara Sever, Mekbib Gebertsadik, Meseret G. Desta, Naomie T. Belayneh, Rabia Naeem Pervez, Rusty Lynn, Sam Nelson, Shanta Monroe, Sharmila Karamchandani, Sheldon Reiffenstein, Stephanie Bianco, Sush Mazumdar, and Valentina Dimilo.

Performing Artists are 7 Sopranos, Britney Hall, Heba Sikander, Helois Solveig Leosk, Jessica Jackson-Banks, Kate Campbell Stevenson, Katleen Silvia Leosk, Keasha Lee, Mahoganee of the Diva Militia, Neelam Patel and Sarah Harden.

EWI is an award winning non-profit organization that promotes the art of immigrant, refugee and culturally diverse women and communities, and creates sustainable livelihoods through the arts. Recently Empowered Women was chosen by the Catalogue for Philanthropy as one of the best small charities in the DC Metro Area.
 
For more information visit www.ewint.org or contact Marga Fripp at cfripp@aol.com.