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Programs
Founded in 1970, Sign of the Times Cultural Workshop & Gallery, Inc., is a year-round cultural art center founded to help raise the self-esteem of inner-city, at-risk youth in the Ward 7 & 8 by encouraging them to become artistically active in their communities by participating in the visual, performing, and literary arts and providing exposure to the history of their communities.
Programs: Our year-round workshops are conducted in and after school, at libraries and at the gallery by professional instructors in their perspective fields, with emphases on hands on learning, field trips, visual aides and lecture demonstrations. Since 1970, SOTT has enriched the lives of more than 10,500 children, youth and seniors in the Washington community.
Gallery: Sign of the Times Gallery (formally Mrs. Powell’s) open June 2, 1972 is the first art gallery east of the Acosta River in the Ward 7 community. Our gallery showcase the many talented children, youth and young adults artistic expressions within there our community, though group, one man and woman exhibits. Local, National and Inter National artist who have showed in our gallery are; Sam Gilliam, Lou Stovall, Mike Easton, Perry Martin and Michael Platt. Also our gallery is a showcase for cultural exchange by co-sponsorship of exhibits with the Anacostia Museum (formally Anacostia Neighborhood), National Museum (formally the African Museum) and Fond Del Soul Galley.
On March 29, 2007 Sign of the Times formed a partnership with the McDonalds in Ward 7 and opened another first the “Minnesota Avenue Showcase” a 8’x 4’ enclose display case which is an alternative gallery showcasing that has had eleven exhibits for two weeks from DC and Charter Public Schools and organizations: Davis, Drew, Huston, Kenilworth, Nalle, Randle Highlands, River Terrance Elementary. Garnet-Patterson Middle, H.D, Woodson Senior High, Seed Public Charter and Sign of the Times Youth exhibit. The students, principles and art teachers are invited to the opening and receive “Certificate of Talent” from the Sign of the Times and McDonalds gave complementary Happy Meals to each of the young artist whose artwork was part of the exhibit. This is a year-round program under the supervision of the Sign of the Times to showcase the artwork of our talented students give them total exposure to the greater community east of the Anacostia River. If your school, church, organization or family has artwork that they would like to be considered for the “Minnesota Avenue Showcase” give us a call (202) 399-3400.
Mural Program
The Sign of the Times is well known for its historical mural program that has specific expertise in coordinating mural projects, since 1972 when Jerome Wheeler a summer student apprentice in the program painted the first mural “The Creator’s Gift”. Since then hundreds of youth with the oversight of professional muralist have been designed and painted murals throughout and beyond the Ward 7 community. Some of our most outstanding murals are:
U.S. Urban Housing Development (HUD) mural
Afro-American mural (Benco Shopping Center)
Afro-American mural II (Safeway Store, Ward 7)
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Summer Program
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Our Summer Program is the latest generation of tailored 6 week children and youth workshops include “Draw & Paint my Neighborhood” for kid’s ages 10-12 will learn building block to design using primary & secondary colors, collage building & drawing & painting for fun. “Photography for the Young” ages 13-15 exposing them to both digital and 35mm SLR cameras focusing on basic camera functions, good picture taking skill and documenting changes in their community. All workshops include expose to books of famous local and national professional minority artist in both media. Also a two week exhibition of the youth artwork at the “Minnesota Avenue Showcase Display” at McDonalds located at Dix & Minnesota Ave. NE, who will receive a photo opt and complimentary happy meal from McDonalds and certificates of talent from Sign of the Times. Plus our latest mural "100 Years of Africa-American History" located at 4200 block Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave, NE Ward 7
When: Third week of June through First week of August
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm (Tuesday & Thursday only)
Where: Dorothy Height Library
3935 Benning Road, NE
Washington, DC 20019
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When: Third week of June through First week of August
Time: 12:00noon to 2:00pm (Tuesday & Thursday only)
Where: Capitol View Library
5001 Central Ave SE
Washington, DC 20019
Free to members of Sign of the Times and children with library cards
Please register early on line, limited space, for addition information visit our website www.signofthetimesartcenter.org or call 202-399-3400
