The Heliotrope Foundation, a new non-profit organization founded by prolific artist, Caledonia Curry – also known as SWOON – has exclusively released a new series of prints, ceramics and scale models from her Braddock Tiles project. Over 70 contemporary artists, including Shepard Fairey, Dustin Yellin and many others are participating in the launch of the groundbreaking project. Musician Swizz Beats is on the Foundation’s board and supporting the benefit event happening Wednesday October 14 in New York’s Doyle House.

Founded in 2015, The Heliotrope Foundation is dedicated to helping communities respond and heal after disasters and other societal issues. In addition to a recent initiative to help heal Haiti,  Braddock Tiles is a 15,000 square foot formerly-abandoned church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania.

The basement workshop will hire and train local young adults to hand make 20,000 beautifully colored roofing tiles through the creation of a new arts center. In addition to rebuilding the roof, the project will also provide new jobs in Pennsylvania to help regenerate the local economy and community.

The exclusive event features five new prints by SWOON, Ron English, Lilkool, Tara McPherson, Momo, and Braddock resident, Jim Kidd. Joining Shepard Fairey and Dustin Yellin are dynamic artists including: Molly Crabapple, Retna, Ricky Powell, and others, who all additionally donated images of their own work which have been printed digitally in unsigned editions of 250.

All prints are $50 and will be available to purchase at Doyle while supplies last. The exhibition will also debut the first line of ceramic tiles designed by SWOON and produced by Braddock Tiles’ artisans in North Braddock.

The Braddock Tiles project began in 2009, when SWOON acquired an abandoned 15,000 square foot church building in the rust belt town of North Braddock, located eight miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over the past few years, SWOON has worked with local residents to stabilize and protect the building. Home of Andrew Carnegie’s first steel mill, North Braddock is a strong manufacturing town. Through the campaign and benefit, which will help to build a professional ceramics workshop in the church basement, Braddock Tiles will create new jobs in a town that has suffered from a legacy of deindustrialization.

All sales benefit The Heliotrope Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the Braddock Tiles project.

To attend the event, RSVP at (251-455-4924)

Braddock Tiles Print Release & Kickstarter

Wednesday, October 14, 2015 – 6:30 pm
Doyle New York
175 East 87th Street
New York, NY 10128

For more information:

HeliotropeFoundation.org

BraddockTiles.org

SwoonInPrint.com

Social:

facebook.com/HeliotropeFND

instagram.com/theheliotropefoundation