Call for art: Vivan Los Muertos! Day of the Dead Art Exhibit at La Casa Azul Bookstore

La Casa Azul Bookstore is pleased to announce an open call for submissions for our Fall 2013 art show - Vivan Los Muertos! Day of the Dead Art Exhibit.

"Dia de los Muertos" photo by Natalie Curtiss

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that celebrates and remembers family and friends who have passed on. We are asking artists to submit work inspired by Day of the Dead that interpret the holiday in new and innovative ways.

Vivan Los Muertos! Day of the Dead Art Exhibit show will run for 6 weeks, with 3-4 artists being chosen from entries to be included in the group exhibition.

Work submitted may be of any traditional or non-traditional mediums or genre (painting, drawing, collage, photography, printmaking, sculpture, new media, site specific installation, performance etc.).

SPACE

Exhibition space is roughly: 400 Square feet

Artist may submit anywhere from one to four pieces.

Artists will be notified by late September 2013 if their proposal is accepted. Please note that art from some submission may be rejected while others accepted.  

ELIGIBILITY & TERMS

DEADLINE: Sunday September 15, 2013 at 6:00 pm

• Call for entries is open to established and emerging artists, illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, writers and art and design students. Students and professionals are equally encouraged to enter.

• All artwork submitted must be ready to hang / install.

• Artists are responsible for the delivery and pick-up of final work selected.

• Artists submitting work in new media, interactive, film, or video: you will be required to use your own equipment for the duration of the exhibition.

• Artist is responsible for assigning a retail price, from which La Casa Azul Bookstore claims 30% commission. Works do NOT need to be for sale to be considered

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit all of the following documents by attachment to: gallery.lacasaazul@gmail.com

Subject Line: 2013 ARTIST SUBMISSION / Vivan Los Muertos! Day of the Dead Art Exhibit

• Resume, artist statement (1-2 paragraphs) and bio (1-2 paragraphs) in a single PDF document

• Cover letter describing work/exhibit proposal in a single PDF document includining size and name for each piece 

• 2-8 Images/sketches of projected work (see image specifications below)

• Contact information, including link to website

IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS

• Image format: JPEG, 72dpi – 800K Maximum size.

Note: This equals 600 pixels on the longest side for horizontal images and 450 pixels on the shortest side for vertical images

• Rename each image with your first and last name (example: 01firstname_lastname.jpg)

Artist will be informed if their work has been chosen for an exhibit by September 26, 2013.

About La Casa Azul Bookstore:

La Casa Azul Bookstore is dedicated to providing cultural, and educational programs via literature and art in East Harlem. It is our vision to foster public awareness and appreciation of the arts by being a focal point where people come to find unique gifts and participate in culturally-based workshops that celebrate Latino traditions.

La Casa Azul Bookstore

Visit: www.lacasaazulbookstore.com

Follow: @LaCasaAzulBooks

Call: 212.426.2626

Feliz Cumpleaños Frida!

La Casa Azul Bookstore celebrated Frida Kahlo's birthday on Saturday July 6, 2013.
In her honor, we had a birthday bash that included a dress up contest. 

Check out the photos of our fabulous Fridas!

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

 

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

 

 

 

 

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

Frida Kahlo birthday celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore, photo by E. Rossi

 

La Casa Blanca recognizes La Casa Azul Bookstore owner as "Champion of Change"

Dear bookstore friends and fans,    

I am thrilled to share this news with you, the White House is recognizing me as a Crowdfunding "Champion of Change"! I am forever thankful to the funders of the "40K in 40 days" campaign, who believed in the power of community, in La Casa Azul Bookstore and in me.

White House Highlights Aurora Anaya-Cerda as a Crowdfunding 

“Champion of Change”

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, June 4th, the White House honors Aurora Anaya-Cerda, owner of La Casa Azul Bookstore, as one of twelve people who are Crowdfunding “Champions of Change.” This Champions event will focus on entrepreneurs who exemplify the promise of crowdfunding to fuel the growth of startups, small businesses, and innovative projects across the Nation.  "Crowdfunding" means raising money in small increments from many individuals, typically using an Internet platform.  Donation-based crowdfunding is already empowering many entrepreneurs, while investment-based crowdfunding platforms will soon be facilitated by the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, which the President signed last year and the SEC will implement.

“The Champions of Change that the White House is honoring today are using crowdfunding to create jobs for our Nation’s veterans, accelerate the deployment of solar energy, revitalize our cities, and expand the frontiers of citizen science,” said Thomas Kalil, Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  
“Crowdfunding is the 21^st century equivalent of barn-raising.  We can use it to help our neighbors and fellow citizens start a business, enrich our culture, and apply grassroots creativity and imagination to challenges big and small.”

 
The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White house to feature groups of Americans – individuals, businesses and organizations – who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. 


To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 2:30 pm ET on June 4th.  
To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a Champion, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

 

Aurora Anaya-Cerda
New York, NY
Aurora Anaya-Cerda is the founder of La Casa Azul Bookstore, East Harlem’s only independent bookstore and the only bookstore in New York that features art and writing by Latino writers. Established in 2012 and funded in-part by a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, La Casa Azul Bookstore has become a cultural hub in the city, providing programs, classes and readings, from local artists to nationally recognized writers and performers.  Ms. Anaya-Cerda is also the founder of the East Harlem Children’s Book Festival—an event that connects authors, publishers, families and the community as a whole.   Ms. Anaya-Cerda has worked as a dynamic and passionate supporter of cultural events in the East Harlem community and has been awarded the Juanita Centeno Leadership Award, the UCLA Women for Change Leadership Award, and the Casa Atabex Ache Women Warrior Award.   Ms. Anaya-Cerda is a scholarship recipient of the New Start Fund, awarded to women entrepreneurs in New York City, and is a member of the Young Hispanic Leaders Program and the National Young Latino Leaders in the Arts Task Force. 


Social media users:
@LaCasaAzulBooks
@WhiteHouseOSTP
#WHChamps

Contact:
La Casa Azul Bookstore
info.lacasaazul@gmail.com
212.426.2626

Happy birthday to us!

We are just days away from our ONE year celebration - you don't want to miss it! 

Among the plans for Saturday's festivities:

• Reveal of our latest, permanent installation - a mural by LadyK Fever

• 10% off all purchases (12pm - 6pm)

• Visits by local authors and artists (12pm - 6pm):

Bonafide Rojas                                   

Brando Skyhorse               

Carmen D'Lucca

Christopher Cajigas                         

Elizabeth Balaguer           

Felipe Galindo

Isabel Lopez                                        

Jake Perez                            

Manuel Melendez

Maria Aponte                                      

Rosebud Ben Oni              

Rosemary Rivera

Sergio Troncoso                                 

Sofia Quintero                    

Vanessa Perez

More authors to be announced! 

• Live performance by the Union City Music Project (1pm)

• Meet the artists of our latest art exhibit (4pm - 6pm)  

Maria Gomez

Haydee Naula

Sonia Paucar

Grace Vega  

William Baez  

Alexander Reynoso

• Free cupcakes! (while supplies last)

Internship opportunities at La Casa Azul Bookstore!

La Casa Azul Bookstore is currently looking for a few good interns who wish to learn the ins and outs of running a business while enriching lives through reading, writing, and the power of books!

All internships are unpaid, but there are a number of great perks, including free books, flexible hours, fun-loving co-workers, and more. Most importantly, you will learn the ins and outs of working at both a bookstore, and a locally-owned, independent business. Plus, it will earn you a number of professional contacts, and looks great on a resume!

The internships last for 12-16 weeks (longer internships available) and interns work 8 - 12 hours/week. Summer internship is June 5 – August 25, 2013. Opportunities are available for high school, undergraduate, graduate students and recent graduates who are considering careers in the arts, education, business, marketing and publishing.  College credit may be arranged.

Deadline to submit internship applications for Summer 2013 is Friday May 24, 2013 at 6pm.

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Desired qualities/skills:

Dynamic, self-motivated, outgoing, highly organized individual with good research skills, including exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and capacity for working with diverse populations. Ease with technology is a must, including knowledge of MS Excel, Word, and social media (Facebook and Twitter).

Bilingual (English & Spanish proficiency).

Must bring your own laptop or tablet to work

ALL applicants must submit:

1.      Creative cover letter

2.      Resume (with 2 references)

3.      Answer to question: Why are you interested in an internship at La Casa Azul Bookstore (1 page max, separate from cover letter)

4.      Schedule information (days/hours available from Monday – Sunday between the hours of 10am – 8pm) (shifts are: 10am - 2pm, 2pm - 6pm, 4pm - 8pm)

FOUR intern positions available for Summer 2013 (please read full descriptions below)

1. Marketing & Communications intern (2 positions)

2. Operations intern (1 position)

3. Events intern (1 position)

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERN (NEED 2)

Assist in Marketing/Public Relations for store events.

Requirement: must demonstrate proficiency in social media platforms.

Tasks may include but are not limited to: assisting with the promotion of various events, and a variety of in-house communications, processing and archiving media coverage; developing relationships with local and national journalists; and offering creative input in developing pitches. 
Additional support with marketing initiatives as needed.
Must be available for 4 hour shift between 10am - 4pm

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Subject line: MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERN (Summer2013)

OPERATIONS INTERN (NEED 1) 

The Operations intern will have the unique opportunity to have direct contact with the general public, learn the ins and outs of working at both a bookstore, and a locally-owned, independent business.

Tasks include: Providing excellent customer service including greeting shoppers, locating sections or titles, recommending books, and helping with transactions. Assisting with daily store processes and procedures including sorting books and merchandise, stocking shelves, and creating displays. Helping to plan and execute events such as storytime, book clubs, author sessions in the store, sales, and other projects as assigned.

Must be available for 4 hour shift between 12pm- 8pm

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Subject line: OPERATIONS INTERN (Summer2013)

EVENTS INTERN (NEED 1)

Assist before, during, and after in-store and off-site events. Tasks will include:

●      arrange seating and bookshelves

●      set up book/item displays

●      arrange for any necessary audio-visual equipment setup prior to the event

●      conduct online research for events

●      write reviews/shelf talkers for in-store displays

Must be available between 2pm - 8pm

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Subject line: EVENTS INTERN (Summer2013)

No incomplete applications will be considered.

Please do not contact the store with further questions or to inquire about selection.

Thank you!

La Casa Azul Bookstore

www.lacasaazulbookstore.com

Be a book giver!!

World Book Night is approaching and we're looking for book givers to join our team!

    

What's World Book Night, you ask?

World Book Night is a celebration of books and reading held on April 23rd, when 25,000 passionate volunteers across the country give a total of half a million books within their communities to those who don't regularly read.   

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don't regularly do so. But it also about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways - through sharing stories. 

   


Be a book giver!

This year La Casa Azul Bookstore has 20 copies of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros to give away.  

That's where you come in.  

We're looking for 20 givers to take these copies of The House on Mango Street into the world. Each giver will receive one sponsored copy of the book to pass along to a potential reader.

If you want to be a giver:

1) Make sure you can attend our World Book Night celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore on Sunday, April 21 from 1pm to 3pm.  

You'll receive your book, meet the staff and fellow givers!

2) Send an e-mail to lucha.libros@gmail.com with the subject line 'I want to be a book giver' and answers to the questions below:

- Name:

- E-mail:

- Phone Number:

- Tell us a bit about yourself and The House on Mango Street. (When did you read it? Why do you want to share it?)

- Who would you give the book to?  

3) Give the book away on World Book Night!  

Tuesday April 23, 2013