Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Controversial political art exhibit opens in arts district


Controversial political art exhibit opens in arts district


West Palm Beach painter Jason Fleurant's painting, “Two Roads to the American Dream,” depicts the Statue of Liberty with a figure dangling from its hands in a commentary on how life differs for black and white Americans whose roads to their goals take differing paths, depending on race. (submitted photo, FPG / March 26, 2013)


The name is provocative: "Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries," the latest exhibit curated by Rolando Chang Barrero's ActivistArtistA Gallery at the Boynton Beach Arts District in the black box gallery space.
The show features work by local artists, including Virginia Erdie, Jason Fleurant, Bjørn Davidson, Eduardo Mendieta, Kris Delgado and Barrero.
The theme of the show, according to Barrero, is to provide a forum for artists to speak out on contemporary social and cultural issues.
"All the work in 'Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries' exposes the public to a larger conversation about art, aesthetics, politics and propaganda," said Barrero, who chooses his subject matter to create dialogue.
Erdie, 55, an art therapist who works with autistic children at the Social Mind Center in Davie and lives in Hollywood, said she sees many prostitutes working in her neighborhood. This has galvanized her to work with local shelters and to address the constellation of symptoms affecting women who turn to prostitution: drug addiction, sexual abuse, homelessness and self-esteem.
Her work, "The Evolution of Oppression," deals with the subjects of prostitution and sex trafficking and reflects the oppression of women. Due to its subject matter, the exhibit was censored in her Pembroke Pines studio space.
But Erdie's intent is educational and she's grateful to Barrero for exhibiting the work she feared wouldn't get seen publicly.
"Rolando is all about activism," she said. "I've seen some hard things in Appalachia where I grew up and right here in my neighborhood. I'm a female activist and if parents could explain the installation to their children, it would open up opportunities for dialogue and learning."
Her painting, "Don't Take the Local Roads," - of a girl sitting in the middle of the road with her legs open – is a metaphor for life, Erdie said. "If you're on a highway going somewhere don't get off to look for something better."
Mendieta, 39, of West Palm Beach and Kris Delgado, 39, of Lake Worth, are street muralists. Mendieta's stencil and brush work canvas, "Consume," is a commentary on American consumer culture.
Mendieta's work has been displayed in Miami and at the Palm Beach International Airport as part of the Palm Beach County Arts in Public Places Program and Delgado created a three-part series of street art for Art Basel.
West Palm Beach painter Jason Fleurant's painting, "Two Roads to the American Dream," provokes and stimulates conversation on race and societal values.
"Every brush stroke reveals and relieves every emotion I had locked up for years. I became my art and my art became me," said Fleurant, 28, who took up painting full time after the 2010earthquake in Haiti inspired him to express his feelings visually.
His depiction of the Statue of Liberty with a figure dangling from its hands is a commentary on how life differs for black and white Americans whose roads to their goals take differing paths, depending on race.
"Art is a weapon I use to speak up and out about issues with no restrictions and to make an impact," said Fleurant, whose parents came from Haiti. "I express the good and bad of life. I'm an artist who is dreaming out loud."
The opening reception is from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the Boynton Beach Arts District, 422 W. Industrial Ave., in Boynton Beach. Visit activistartista.blogspot.com or call Rolando Chang Barrero at 786-521-1199. The show runs through April 19.

Miami Artist Who Faced Censorship In Pembroke Pines Moves Sex Exploitation Statement to Boynton



Politically-Charged Art In Boynton Beach
 
South Florida artist Virginia Erdie strives to be "a little bit of an activist" with her work. It's fitting, then, that her art has ruffled a few feathers along the way. Her next major installation almost didn't see the light of day.

Credit EVol i ART
'Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries' will feature work by EVol i ART, plus many others.
The installation, "The Evolution of Oppression," was initially scheduled to open April 1 in Pembroke Pine's Studio 18. Erdie kept space in the city-sponsored facility until one socially charged piece in the project proved too provocative for the studio's family-friendly message.
Gallery officials asked her to omit the piece, which uses a baby doll to make a statement about sex trafficking and human exploitation. Rather than censor her work, Erdie relocated to McCormick Place in Miami. The installation, meanwhile, will appear as part of ActivistArtistA's Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries opening this week in Boynton Beach. 
Erdie says she is "very happy" with her relocation and said there are "no ill feelings" between her and the folks at Studio 18. She is relieved to be in an atmosphere where she can feel free to make an "educational statement" even when it may be tough for some audiences to stomach. 
"The Evolution of Oppression" fits right in at Baby Whores, a group show that addresses a variety of social, political, and cultural issues. The show features sometimes-confrontational works by The Kwak, Barbie, eVol i Art, Bjorn Davidson, Cary Polkovitz, and ActivistArtistA studio owner Rolando Chang Barrero, among others. 
Erdie, who grew up in a small town in West Virginia, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute. She moved to the Midwest to pursue a Masters degree in art/art therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Harsh winters drove her to South Florida in the mid '90s and she's spent much of her career here.
In addition to being a professional artist, Erdie continues to work as an art therapist. Her students have included everyone from autistic children to the mentally ill and incarcerated adults. Her empathy for society's overlooked demographics shines through in her more socially-conscious works. 
"A lot of my work has been about social issues," Erdie said. This has included satirical paintings and other pieces that confront "commercialism, greed, sexual abuse, and oppression." As her career progresses her work has become more minimalist. And while her messaging in recent years has become less "blatant" and "disguised so you can't see what's going on," the pieces featured in Baby Whores confront the issues head on.
"I want to make a point about sex trafficking," Erdie said.
Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries -- featuring "The Evolution of Oppression" -- will open Thursday with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. at ActivistArtista gallery located at 422 West Industrial Ave. in Boynton Beach. The show continues through April 19. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Art Studios Available: Boynton Beach Art District


 The Boynton Beach Art District
422 West Industrial Ave.
Boynton Beach FL 33426
786-521-1199


Join the Boynton Beach Art District!
Studios now available!
Be a part of the fastest growing creative community in
Palm Beach County.
Art Walks, Open Mic NIght, and Festivals!
Contact 786-521-1199 Today







Monday, March 25, 2013

BOCA Magazine on Baby Whores Exhibit...

"Political Circus" by  eVol i art at ActivistArtistA Gallery
BOCA Magazine: The Week Ahead

"...resoundingly clear and provocatively accurate..."



Opening night of “Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries” at

ActivistArtistA Gallery 

422 W. Industrial Ave., Boynton Beach; 7 to 10 p.m.; free; 786/521-1199 or www.activistartista.com

The implication in the above painting is resoundingly clear and provocatively accurate: The Democrats and Republicans are both mere puppets of the pigs on Wall Street. Thomas Nast couldn’t have said it, or sketched it, any better, and it’s just one of many works, from more than seven artists, that will explore political, cultural and social issues, past and present, at this group show in the heart of the
 Boynton Beach Arts District. 

The controversial title “Baby Whores” comes from an installation called “The Evolution of Oppression” by local artist Virginia Erdie, which was censored and banned from her previous studio. Get ready for a 
thought-provoking evening. The exhibition runs through April 19.

Story by: John Thomason


BOCA Magazine on Baby Whores Exhibit

OPENING RECEPTION

Thursday 7 PM

March 28, 2013

"Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries"

ActivistArtistA Gallery

422 West Industrial Ave
Boynton Beach, Florida
786-521-1199

Artists Speaking Out on social and culture issues; past and present! 

Group Exhibition of works by:


eVol i Art

Eduardo Mendieta
Robyn Vegas
The KWACK Barbie®
Cary Polkovitz
Virginia Erdie
Bjørn Davidson

Jason JaFleu Fleurant
Rolando Chang Barrero
and others.



Friday, March 22, 2013

Art & Culture Magazine Highlights Boynton Beach Art District!

Cover of "Art & Culture" Winter 2013


Cultural Council of Palm Beach: 
Call for Nominations for prestigious 2014 Muse Awards Due November 15th, 2013.

Please consider ActivistArtistA Gallery/ Rolando Chang Barrero for: 
Outstanding Collaboration withThe City of Boynton Beach in the developement of the Boynton Beach Art District and contributuitions to the arts in Palm Beach County.

Outstanding Festival for KeroWACKED ART and MUSIC Festival 2013and The Boynton Beach Art District Art Walk (awarded Best Art Walk 2013), both of which were recognized by the press and the public, as new refreshing and vibrant.
.
http://activistartista.blogspot.com/2013/10/cultural-council-of-palm-beach-call-for.html

Very Special Thanks to the following: 
Publishers of Art & Culture Magazine
Alegra Nagler
J.E.

Great article! 
There are so many amazing photos too!




This Week at...
Boynton Beach Art District

BOCA MAGAZINE ON BABY WHORES EXHIBIT

ActivistArtistA Gallery
Opening Reception
March 28, 2013
7 PM

Curator: Rolando Chang Barrero

"Baby Whores and Other Political Commentaries"


422 West Industrial Ave
Boynton Beach, Florida
786-521-1199

Artists Speaking Out on social and culture issues; past and present! 

Group Exhibition of works by:

eVol i Art
Robyn Vegas
The KWACK Barbie®
Cary Polkovitz
Virginia Erdie
Bjørn Davidson


Cultural Council of Palm Beach: 
Call for Nominations for prestigious 2014 Muse Awards Due November 15th, 2013.

Please consider ActivistArtistA Gallery/ Rolando Chang Barrero for: 
Outstanding Collaboration withThe City of Boynton Beach in the developement of the Boynton Beach Art District and contributuitions to the arts in Palm Beach County.

Outstanding Festival for KeroWACKED ART and MUSIC Festival 2013and The Boynton Beach Art District Art Walk (awarded Best Art Walk 2013), both of which were recognized by the press and the public, as new refreshing and vibrant.
.
http://activistartista.blogspot.com/2013/10/cultural-council-of-palm-beach-call-for.html


Stay in touch with us....





Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Grace Kimmel at ActivistArtistA's Open Mic Thursday, March 21 from 7-10 PM



March 21, 2013
 7-10 PM

Sign in for Open Mic: 7 PM

422 W. Industrial Ave.
Boytnon Beach, Florida 33426


For More information visit ActivistArtistA.com

Monday, March 18, 2013

Ben Crandell Calls Rolando Chang Barrero "Agitator!"

By Rolando Chang Barrero


ROFLMAO!!"....the fertile mind of Boynton Beach artist and agitator Rolando Chang Barrero."
1:27 p.m. ESTFebruary 14, 2013


 JACKED UP! More literary cross-pollination is afoot at the second annual KeroWACKED Multimedia Festival, a Beat Generation-themed event from the fertile mind of Boynton Beach artist and agitator Rolando Chang Barrero. The festival runs from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday at the ActivistArtistA gallery (422 W. Industrial Ave.) in the Boynton Beach Art District. Local bands performing include Mylo Ranger, the Von, Future Prezidents, Making Faces, Koffin Varnish, Suga Wack, Awake the Lion, Spencer Allan Patrick, Yeshiva and Nmbr11. Live graffiti muralists, exhibitions and door prizes are part of the day, and the popular PS561 food truck will keep you otherwise satisfied. Sponsors to thank include Jerry’s Artarama in West Palm Beach, Utrecht Art Supplies in Fort Lauderdale and Critical Recording Studio in Miami. Tickets: $10, free before noon. Info: ActivistArtistA.blogspot.com. 



For More information visit ActivistArtistA.com

Friday, March 15, 2013

Robyn Vegas at ActivistArtistA Gallery



March 28-April 19, 2013

at

The Boynton Beach Art District
422 West Industrial Ave.
Boynton Beach, Florida 33426
786-521-1199

Biography:


I was born in Louisiana, about an hour south of New Orleans.  Being raised in a close-knit Cajun family, I grew up surrounded by a large extended family filled with artists.  I have been drawing and painting all my life and was also involved in drama, ballet and dance. My first memorable influence was my grandfather who showed me how to proportion the human body when I was seven.

I graduated from Nicholls State University with a degree in Art Education and was an art teacher for seven years.  Now I am the Cultural Arts Coordinator for the City of Pembroke Pines, a job that allows me to promote all aspects of the arts into my community.  

My drawings and paintings are a reflection of the exquisite beauty of life. Creating art allows me to escape to another world filled with serenity and calmness.  If you look at my work and see splendor, feel peace or are transformed into another place, then I have achieved my goal. 

Artists Speaking Out on social and culture issues; past and present! 




Group Exhibition of works by:

Sarah Younger
Miriam Blazova
Robyn Vegas



For More information visit ActivistArtistA.com