Rise Up Festival Announces 2015 Date and Location

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The Rise Up Festival Committee make it’s official announcement today for 2015! The festival will be held on Friday, August 21, 2015 on Washington Avenue and will be based out of the new Rise office at 1627 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63103.

The festival will have all of the favorite attractions and activities from 2014 while, once again, taking it  to the next level. The Dirty Muggs will headline the event and we will be increasing the categories for the Artists Village. Look for more information and a call to artists soon. For questions and information e-mail [email protected].

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Rise Named Best Worthy Cause of 2014 by RFT

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 This is a copy of the Riverfront Times post naming Rise as “Best Worthy Cause of 2014”:

Though Rise as we know it started in September 2013, it has been around in some capacity since 1997, working to revitalize some of St. Louis’ most struggling areas. Over the years, Rise has consulted in the development of more than 4,000 homes and some 60,000 square feet of commercial space, with direct participation in the development of nearly 2,000 homes and nineteen commercial spaces. From Overland to Lemay on the west side of the Mississippi and from East St. Louis to East Alton on the Illinois side, Rise has spearheaded projects that aim to energize local communities. In 2014, Rise hosted its inaugural Rise Up Festival in Crown Square. The fest was held on land that has been redeveloped by Rise, and it celebrated revitalization and its goal of bring communities together. “We go into areas, sometimes St. Louis’ most distressed areas, and we improve the quality of life where most other organizations won’t go,” says Rise’s communications manager, Larry Perlmutter. “That’s the most important thing to us.”
We consider it an honor to receive this Best of Award and would like to express our gratitude to the Riverfront Times.
To view the RFT’s post click here.

Rise Up Festival Announces Best of Show Artist Mark Swain

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Mark Swain, St. Louis multi-medium artist was voted Best of Show for the 2014 Rise Up Festival – Celebrating Revitalization held in Crown Square on August 21st, 2014. Mark is an active artist in St. Louis who participates in arts shows, street festivals, and special events as a live artist and/or showing artist. We will be sharing Mark’s up and coming events as information is available.

Mark Swain/ Artist Biography
At age eight, Mark Swain would accompany his father to his job as groundskeeper for Forest Park, and sit for hours by the waterfall drawing. Today, he continues to interpret the world around him through various artistic media – music, floral design, jewelry making, painting, drawing, photography and sculpture – turning often to the human form for artistic inspiration. Indeed, the human form has been a life’s passion for Mark, who is a licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, national board certified massage therapist, and holistic health and massage therapy instructor. Excited by photographers such as Skrebneski and Edward Curtis, and artists such as Michelangelo, Bernini, Hieronymus Bosch, Salvador Dali, Botticelli, and Rodin, Mark also knew that the emotion and experience of past generations are inherent in the
seemingly unconscious entwining of cellular being, and readily express themselves through the artist’s hand when the artist has the sensitivity to touch that mystery within. Of Native American descent, Mark walks “the Red Road,” observing Native traditions and sacred ways. His intense love of the natural world, his fluency with mystical experiences, and his awareness that “everything is alive” lend depth, intensity, and anima to his pieces. Mark’s Native ancestry informs his artistic vision and in particular, his brilliant works in leather and on canvas. The spirits of his Native elders breathe their inspiration and regard for the sacred earth into him, and work through him to shape each unique and powerful piece. You can feel their presence as their stories come to life through his craft.

https://www.facebook.com/markswainarts?ref=hl

http://markswainarts.blogspot.com/

[email protected]

*Currently Mark has work at Dogtown Gallery and Frame.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dogtown-Gallery-Frame-Shop/167029263369322

Emerald Ridge Opens to New Residents

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Rise began developing 46 new single-family homes in East Alton, Illinois in March of 2014 in partnership with Southwestern Illinois Development Authority (SWIDA), the Village of East Alton and Madison County. The neighborhood now goes by the name Emerald Ridge.

We are pleased to report that residents have been moving in since August, 2014. We had the opportunity to speak with the first three residents: Doris Fentress, Jean Mize and Mary Nance.

Here are a few quotes from the ladies:

Doris Fentress:  “I never lived in a brand new home.  Moving down here into a brand new home is so much better than a four-plex.”  There used to be a lot of drugs and they are not here anymore. “

Jean Mize: “I feel very safe.   I’ll say the first night I spent the night here I felt better than I have in about three years.”

Mary Nance: “I could hardly get out of my old house with my wheelchair.  Now, I have freedom, I can go anywhere I want.”

The project is a part of the Village of East Alton’s effort to revitalize the community, and is replacing obsolete housing in a community formerly known as the ”Defense Area.”  The Defense Area was built by the Federal government as temporary housing in the early 1940’s to accommodate workers at the nearby Olin ammunition plant that was running 24-hour shifts for the war effort.  After the war, these barracks-style buildings were not dismantled as originally planned.  Over the years they were re-sold multiple times the condition of most of the buildings became more and more deteriorated and social conditions in the community declined.

The long-term dedicated commitment of the Village of East Alton to transform the area is being realized by the Rise development that is surrounding the existing park and Keasler Recreation Complex with new, attractive single-family homes.  This is a new beginning and a different world for the neighborhood.

“We’re committed to revitalizing communities and neighborhoods in the Greater St. Louis area,” said Stephen Acree, president of Rise. “The redevelopment of the Defense Area in East Alton is being built on strong partnerships that will reinforce a resilient and healthy community.”

In November, 2014, 16 new Emerald Ridge homes will be completed and occupied.  We will keep you updated as the community progresses.

New Emerald Ridge residents with John Nuernberger , Rise Asset Manager.