» Cherish Rosas

Voice – articulation, delivery, vocalization – is a powerful instrument. As Speak Your Design’s freshest intern, it is my responsibility to conduct the media platforms on which we communicate and provide clarity and consistency for our clients and audiences.

Personally, I am very excited to be on board with Speak Your Design during an important transition in my life. Completing my fifth and final year of architecture school, I am ready to pursue what I have always had passion for – writing, art, community, and design. This opportunity to work at SYD is truly a blessing and promises to be a great experience.

Charlotte has been my home for the past six years, and I have immersed myself in its communal fabric and growing culture. However, I was raised in the country, complete with tractor-pulls and loose bulls, which provided me with a dynamic perspective of life, culture, and community. I came to architecture school with a curiosity for design, and in the years since, I’ve never once turned down an opportunity to diversify my experiences. In my academic career I have worked on two art installations, Rhizome and Storrstex; experienced cities from NYC and Chicago to Denver and Seattle; traveled to Nova Scotia to be part of Ghost 12′s design-build team; photographed the Ghost 13 Conference; and published photography in AZURE, Canadian Architect, and Metropolis Magazine.

My diverse background led me to Speak Your Design with the same curiosity with which I began my architectural education. I look forward to contributing to the discussion about what it is we do and what you, our community, are passionate about.

Amnon Weinstein places the violins in their cases. Photo by Nancy Pierce.

They’re here. The violins are here. After two years of planning, negotiating, organizing, booking, budgeting, fundraising, marketing, and hoping beyond all hope that this project comes to be….Violins of Hope is happening.

The exhibition is beautiful – Amnon, Assi, and their youngest son Jonathan said so themselves. Tickets to the concerts are selling (haven’t bought yours yet? Tsk, tsk. Go here now). Banners are decorating light poles on Tryon Street. It’s really happening.

I love being in the do-er stage of the project. Seeing the results of months of work come to fruition, then problem-solving on the spot when those inevitable discrepancies pop up in the act of making it real – I absolutely love it. And I’ve loved being a part of this project. It has been my honor to be Violins of Hope Project Director.

This is the part where it gets fun – concerts, lectures, exhibitions, not to mention meeting the artists and participants from across the country and around the world who are coming to Charlotte over the course of the next three weeks to be a part of a project that is helping to shape our region’s cultural landscape.

When I say Speak Your Design specializes in projects with purpose, this is what I’m talking about.

You’ve heard about Violins of Hope:

For the first time in North & South America, 18 violins that tell of the Holocaust – its history, victims, and survivors – will be on display and in performance in Charlotte this April. The restoration of these violins bears witness to the spirit and creativity that transcended the horrific events of this period in history.

We’ve put together concerts, exhibitions, theatre premieres, lectures, and films, etc., and now you’re wondering which events you should actually attend. Well, you’re in luck. I’m the lady who’s directing this project, and while I think every single bit of programming is absolutely remarkable, I can’t help but have my favorites.

So listen up, folks. Here’s what I’ve been telling my nearest-and-dearest not to miss:

#1 EXHIBIT. BESA: A Code of Honor
Levine-Sklut Library, Shalom Park.
Now Open. Reception on March 14 at 7pm.
Free.

This is a perfect example of the engaging, layered content that makes up the Violins of Hope project. The photographic exhibition features portraits of Muslim Albanians who saved their Jewish neighbors during the Holocaust. The photographs capture the power of memory, tolerance, and above all, humanity.

#2 CONCERT. Restoring Hope
Sunday, April 15 at 7:30pm.
Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts.
Tickets: $30/45.

This musical event kicks off our primary week of events and covers nearly everything (and yes, demands bullet points):

• The Violins of Hope, presented and discussed by the man who restored them.
• International musicians, including young prodigies playing alongside master violinist Shlomo Mintz.
• Varied musical program: from traditional classical pieces to klezmer music to popular music of World War II Europe (think: Viennese coffee houses).
• My favorite performing arts venue in Charlotte: the beautiful and intimate Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. Is there a bad seat?

TIP: Buy 2 or more tickets to this event and get 20% off tickets to the Triumph of Hope concert, featuring the Charlotte Symphony, on Saturday night (see #5 below). Click here to take advantage of the discount.

#3 Panel Discussion with the Bielskis
Wednesday, April 18 at 5:30pm.
Levine Museum of the New South.
Free with purchase of museum admission.

If you’ve not heard of the Bielskis, 1) add the March 24th screening of the movie “Defiance” to your list of not-to-miss, free events ; and 2) come meet them at the Levine Museum on April 18.

At this event, you can view the exhibition Courage & Compassion: Legacy of the Bielski Brothers (as well as the two other related exhibits being shown here) and talk with Assi Weinstein (daughter of a Bielski brother and wife of the violin maker). Assi is one of the most kind, generous, and brilliant individuals I’ve ever met. She’ll talk about her family and their legacy with her cousin Ruth Ehrreich (also a Bielski daughter) and UNC Charlotte Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies John Cox. Jackie Fishman, longtime Charlotte educator (another brilliant woman) and daughter of a Holocaust survivor, will moderate.

#4 FILM. Charlotte Jewish Film Festival Screening: Violins in Wartime
Thursday, March 8 at 7pm.
Temple Israel.
Free – Donations Accepted.

Full disclosure: I haven’t seen this film so I can’t really recommend it outright. However, the annual Charlotte Jewish Film Festival presents some great work, so if it wasn’t on your radar previously, it should be now. Act fast though because it’s happening…now.

Need another incentive? Tomorrow’s Violins of Hope-affiliated film is free of charge (donations accepted).

#5 CONCERT: Triumph of Hope
Saturday, April 21 at 8pm.
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
Tickets: $32-100.

If you’re looking for a full-scale, classical concert, complete with the Violins of Hope and orchestra, this is it. Christopher Warren-Green will lead our international guest artists and the Charlotte Symphony in a concert that includes Beethoven, Barber, and Mahler, as well as several rarely heard Jewish, Russian and Armenian pieces.

Ticket prices come at all levels so you can find a price point that fits your budget. If you opt for the VIP tickets, you’ll get the best seats in the house and the opportunity to mingle with the artists after the show.

There you have it, folks – my personal tour through the event schedule.

Buy your tickets now. I’ll highlight each of these events and the others in more detail as we roll toward April so stay tuned. And please share this list, the violinsofhopecharlotte.com website, and your own recommendations with friends, coworkers, family, everyone! Feel free to ask questions or write your top picks in the comments below.

For information about these events and all the others AND to buy tickets, go to: www.violinsofhopecharlotte.com. You can also buy tickets by calling the box office at 704-372-1000.

Letterpress Fest trophies.

I’m so excited about the prints I collected at last week’s Letterpress Fest, presented by AIGA Charlotte. And though I love the “You’re Just My Typo” print that I made with my own two hands (and fits us to a T – typo mentions AND it uses our brand colors!), I’ve decided my top prize is this print from Kyle Durrie’s moving typeshop, aka Moveable Type.

"This is Not a Taco Truck" by Kyle Durrie

My favorite quotes from the event came from Jim Sherraden of Hatch Show Print: “We as human beings are hardwired for process.” So true, Jim, so true. But even better was his approach to working with clients: “I’m always seeking to put meat on the bones of our clients’ history.” Those wise words speak to a practice founded on (but not bound by) a working knowledge of precedent. Jim’s got some lucky clients indeed.

NCDT's Anna Gerberich & Pete Walker in Last Lost Chance. Photographer Peter Zay.

Last Saturday, the North Carolina Dance Theater’s young professionals group, Opening Night Insiders, presented the 5^th Annual Runway for the Ballet. A nod to New York Fashion Week (which ends today), the event featured spring fashions styled by Neiman Marcus and modeled by the NCDT dancers, whose dynamic, lithe bodies were a welcome site after watching hours of more angular muses on the NYFW catwalks.

Of course, the best part of Runway for the Ballet – besides the fashion and the opportunity to hang out with your favorite dancers – is, well yes, the dancing. I can’t say it enough, our NCDT dancers are amazing. Period. Saturday’s event treated us to three excerpts from the season, showcasing the dancers’ versatility and the company’s range of repertoire.

David Ingram in Bolero. Photographer Peter Zay.

First came Dwight Rhoden’s athletic Alleged Dances, dominated by Sarah Hayes Watson’s precision and verve. The sultry and powerful choreography of Bolero was made all the steamier by David Ingram’s solid, machismo-flecked performance. Last Lost Chance, choreographed by seasoned NCDT dancer Sasha Janes and featuring Anna Gerberich and Pete Walker, spoke to the process of art-making  and the uncertain moments that ensue.

I must mention, as the piece he danced suggests, Mr. Walker is  developing into a true artist. On Saturday, he danced with a new confidence and quality of movement that I hadn’t seen in him previously – a very welcome sight as some of the company’s veteran male leads inevitably move off-stage in coming seasons.

If you missed it, we gave away two tickets to Opera Carolina’s Madama Butterfly today! We’ll be at the performance tomorrow, too, and cannot wait! The show received rave reviews for its opening on Saturday night. I personally can’t wait to see the set, costumes, and video work by Japanese artist Jun Kaneko.

I’ll report back, but in the meantime, congratulations to Ms. Nikki Mueller, the one-woman assembly line behind Not Made in China, who won today’s tickets. If you don’t own one of her buttons, magnets, or bags yet, you better get on it. She’s blowing up, y’all.

You may be wondering, how did she win those tickets? Here’s how: by correctly answering “La Scala” for our architecture meets opera question, “In what theater did Madama Butterfly originally premiere in 1904?” La Scala is one of the most beautifully done renovation projects of the new millennium. That renovation was done by none other than Mario Botta who also designed Charlotte’s own Bechtler Museum. I simply couldn’t resist the lovely, connected web.

Photos from Opera Carolina’s press page.

Title:  Communications/Digital Media Intern

Job Description: We’re looking for an intern with working knowledge and understanding of the digital media landscape, including various social media websites. The person for this job will demonstrate precise communication and administrative skills. We’re also looking for critical thinking skills, solid social skills, the ability to take initiative, and a desire to learn (aka enthusiasm). As our intern, you’ll gain hands-on communications experience while learning about the operations of a small business.

Responsibilities Include:
• Outline and develop content for social media platforms related to company activity.
• Research and report market trends.
• Provide information by answering questions and requests.
• Write and edit as required by administrative tasks or company activity.
• Resolve administrative problems by assisting in the preparation of reports, analyzing data, and identifying solutions.
• Contribute as a team player and take on related administrative tasks as required to support the company’s activities.

Skills/Qualifications: Written and Verbal Communication Skills, Organization, Ability to Analyze Information, Professionalism, Problem Solving Skills, Research Skills, Eye for Detail.

Software/Application Experience Required: Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress. Preferred but not required: Hootsuite, LinkedIn.

Hours: 5-10/week
Pay: Hourly Negotiable

Send cover letter, resumé, and writing sample (optional) to: info(at)speakyourdesign(dot)com
(Note: we’re looking for style, personality, and social skills in your writing so drop the forced formalisms and be real with us.)

Map of Appalachian Cities (From thehillville.com)

I hail from Appalachia, an identifier that has always made me proud. So this week’s launch of The Hillville, a new zine about urban life in Appalachia, has me about to bust my buttons.

No one thinks about Appalachian urbanity, but the fact is, as my dear friend and Hillville co-founder Niki King writes, roughly 60% of the region’s residents live in urban or suburban areas. Vibrant cities with identities all their own can be found throughout the region  – Greenville, S.C., and Asheville, N.C., being two personal favorites. Furthermore, there are many people who identify with the region, including myself, who now live in urban areas across the Southeast and America, and we’ve brought Appalachian traditions and culture with us. (Which is to say, if you think the rise of the banjo is due to hipsters, you better check yo’self.)

Rarely does Appalachia or its people fit outsiders’ expectations –  Lange and Evans portrait of the region has persisted in most minds’ eyes to this day. And while The Hillville is set to demystify Appalachia for a lot of folks, I can’t help but think it will also reinforce and project the mystery, imagination, and beauty of the place that I, even living hundreds of miles away, still call home.

TEDx Charlotte: Dream Makers and Risk Takers

Ideas Worth Spreading. So goes the TED tagline. This past Saturday, even though the gorgeous weather was calling my name, I sat in Dana Auditorium at Queens University with 650 other people listening to ideas that, well yes, were worth spreading. Welcome to year 2 of TEDx Charlotte.

The event featured remarkable people presenting their even more remarkable innovations and efforts: Hackerspace Charlotte represented along with NASA, Samaritan’s Feet, and drumSTRONG. But my favorite speakers of the day had to be Dolph Ramseur of the independent Ramseur Records label and David Johnson of Silent Images. Ramseur’s belief that there’s “power in the small” and Johnson’s ability to find strength and joy in seemingly hopeless circumstances: I get that.

TED stands for Technology, Education, and Design. Started in 1984, the conference has featured some of the greatest thinkers, innovators, and personalities of our time. The “x” in TEDx stands for the independently organized TED events in communities across the country and around the world.

Our Set of Print Materials by Atheneum Creative

Here we are, officially beginning our third year in business! When year three came in view, I realized that all those promises to myself that I’d dedicate the necessary time to redesigning our print and web identity myself were bunk. Furthermore, since I’m surrounded by such incredible design talent, why not do the right thing and hire real designers to do the job properly?

Enter Atheneum Creative, the new branding firm created by longtime design collaborators Melissa Broderick and Amy Boyter. They specialize in event branding and stationery, but their experience and clientele run the gamut from corporate branding to non-profit publications.

Melissa and Amy are brand experts, and working with them was an absolute dream. From beginning ideas to quality control on the printed products, I am beyond thrilled with my business’s new look. Check out  atheneumcreative.com for more samples of their beautiful event work.

From Amy and Melissa: Everyone has a story. Perhaps you’re recently engaged, welcoming an addition to the family, or celebrating the start of a new business.  Atheneum will bring your story to life through a unique branded experience.