Eco-Walk in Boynton Beach Opens This Wednesday

Grand opening of Boynton's Old Dixie Eco-Walk

The grand opening will be on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Entrances are at 3501 S. Federal Highway and 3373 S. Federal Highway.

Copyright © 2013, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Story by Attiyya Anthony

Butterflies will soon be fluttering around what used to be a "yucky strip of grass" along Old Dixie Highway in Boynton Beach.

The Old Dixie Eco-Walk, which will have its grand opening on Wednesday, is a city reforestation project of a once barren quarter-mile strip of land, funded by the city's Art in Public Places program.

"I don't think there's anything like this project," said public art administrator Debby Coles-Dobay. "This area was just grass before, but with public-private partnerships we've done a reforestation of the easement to attract and sustain butterflies."

The city partnered with local artists, scientists, developers and landscape architects to transform the land into a habitat for 12 butterfly species and 61 native plants.

"It's a functioning piece of eco-art," said Dave Bodker of David Bodker Landscape Architecture/Planning. "Instead of something that someone can just look at, you can walk through."

People can enjoy the 50-foot wide linear park and watch butterflies in their natural habitat, while sitting on functional sculptures or while walking through butterfly-etched concrete.

Artist Lucy Keshavarz of Art & Culture Group said she wants people to enjoy the landscape, but hopes they grasp a bigger message.

"This art is working, this art has a job to do," Keshavarz said. "It's eye candy for the humans, but it benefits the birds, butterflies and the bees. We're all connected."

The eco-walk connects Phase I and Phase II of Seabourn Cove — the city's nationally recognized green residential development.

As part of the Art in Public Places program, developers are required to set aside 1 percent of their construction budget to fund public art.

One of Seabourn Cove's development partners, Rick Lococo, said he was happy fund a project that pushes environmental awareness.

"We're turning a blighted area into an educational area," he said. "It's truly a lush project and creates a nice friendly atmosphere."

aanthony@sunsentinel.com or 561-243-6648 or @attiyya_sun

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Mark your calendars!
This month at ActivistArtistA Gallery: Valyn Calhoun: Retrospective

Art Calls: National Listings

Upcoming Deadlines - APPLY TODAY!


5th Annual Visions of the Flint Hills Art Show & Sale - 
DEADLINE: 8/10/2013
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 10/4/2013 - 11/29/2013

VISIONS OF THE FLINT HILLS BENEFIT AND SALE is a juried exhibit featuring art of the Flint Hills. The exhibit will run from October 4, 2013 through November 29, 2013, in the Buttonwood Art Space, 3013 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Partial proceeds from the event benefit a non-profit organization which promotes the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and the Flint Hills of Kansas. Open to artworks influenced by or depicting the Flint Hills geographic area in Kansas. Artists may submit up to four pieces for a $25.00 fee into any combination of four categories: Painting, Photography, 3-D and Other. Juror: Michael Albrechtson. All artwork will be juried on a piece by piece basis. All works will be 50% of sale to artist and 50% to Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, a 501(c)(3) charity.


Plants, Birds & Pollinators: Art Serving Science - 
DEADLINE: 8/11/2013
Jury Fee: $25.00

Denver Botanic Gardens and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) are pleased to announce a premier juried exhibition opportunity for GNSI members only, highlighting the subject matter of plants, birds and pollinators. Original art only (including digitally created work) in two-dimensional and three dimensional formats will be selected for exhibition. Oil or photography not accepted.


2013 Bike Rack Art, Snowmass Village, Colorado - 
DEADLINE: 8/12/2013
Jury Fee: $0.00

In honor of the USA Pro Challenge's stop in Snowmass Village, Colorado artists will have the opportunity to design one of five original bike racks to be located throughout the town. Only one design per application, each artist is allowed to submit up to 4 applications.
Sponsored by the Town of Snowmass Village and the Snowmass Arts Advisory Board, the competition offers commissions of $4,000 per bike rack, up to five artistic designs.
Art Bike rack must accommodate two (2) to four (4) bikes.

Deadline is August 12th, 2013.


City of San Jose Public Art: Environmental Artist (FOG Project) - 
DEADLINE: 8/15/2013
Jury Fee: $0.00

The City of San Jose Public Art Program is seeking an experienced artist, or artist-led team, to collaborate with the City’s Environmental Services Department and Department of Transportation to develop a community engagement protocol and pilot for education and awareness around the residential waste water system. Specifically the focus of this project is proper management of Fats, Oils, & Grease (FOG) supporting the health of the City’s waste water system infrastructure.


2013 UNC Elements Juried Ceramic Show & Sale - 
DEADLINE: 8/16/2013
Jury Fee: $30.00

DEADLINE EXTENSION to AUGUST 16. The Mariani Gallery at the University of Northern Colorado is excited to announce its first juried ceramics show highlighting Dinner Place Settings. $500 Best of Show and Purchase Awards will be presented.

Deadline Extended: Santo Foundation: Individual Artists Grants 2013 5th Anniversary - 
DEADLINE: 8/30/2013
Jury Fee: $40.00

The Santo Foundation Individual Artist Awards $16,000
Deadline Extended till 8/30/13



New Events

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art: Precipice Fund - 
OPEN DATE: 8/2/2013
DEADLINE: 10/18/2013
Jury Fee: $0.00

PRECIPICE FUND GRANTS ARE ONLY OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

Administered by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) as part of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts’ Regional Re-granting Program, the Precipice Fund awards grants of $500 to $5,000 to unincorporated visual art collectives, alternative spaces, and collaborative projects in Portland, Oregon. Recognizing the barriers to funding faced by independent arts initiatives, the Precipice Fund seeks to support both new and existing projects emblematic of Portland’s independent, pioneering, on-the-ground art scene. THE LEAD APPLICANT ON A PRECIPICE FUND APPLICATION MUST BE A RESIDENT OF PORTLAND, OREGON.


Municipality of Anchorage: Bill Lowe Fire Station - 
OPEN DATE: 8/5/2013
DEADLINE: 9/16/2013
Jury Fee: $0.00

The art selection jury intends to commission artwork to be permanently installed at one or two locations in and around the new Bill Lowe Fire Station which will be located at the corner of the Old Glenn Highway and West Lake Ridge Drive in Chugiak, Alaska. The total budget for the artwork is $38,000. Artist's can submit two applications for either $38,000 or $19,000.


FUSION 2013 IEA International Juried Exhibition - 
OPEN DATE: 8/5/2013
DEADLINE: 9/30/2013
Jury Fee: $35.00

"Fusion: People, Passion, Place" A Juried Encaustic Exhibition. In conjunction with the 2013 IEA EncaustiCon Conference in Santa Fe, NM. $1,500 in juror awards.


REFINED VIII: Maker's Choice - 
OPEN DATE: 8/5/2013
DEADLINE: 12/9/2013
Jury Fee: $35.00

REFINED is a biennial exhibition of jewelry and metalwork hosted by the School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University. This year’s juror is Cindi Strauss, curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The exhibition is held at the Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main Street, Nacogdoches, Texas. Application deadline: Saturday, December 9, 2013. Submissions must be made on line at https://www.callforentry.org/. Questions? 936-468-1131.


Artists At Play - 
OPEN DATE: 8/6/2013
DEADLINE: 9/4/2013
Jury Fee: $0.00

A partnership of Center Art LLC, Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation is seeking an experienced, local Pacific Northwest artist/design team with energy and imagination to provide design and fabrication services for the Artists At Play (AAP) Project. The Project will help reinvent and enliven the former Fun Forest North site at the heart of the Seattle Center campus. The project site is a space of approximately three acres between the EMP Museum and the Armory, just south of Memorial Stadium. The artist/team may propose on all or a specific portion of the site. The total project design and construction budget is $800,000 including artist and/or designer fees, all materials, fabrication, installation, participation in community outreach taxes and any/all permits. One artist/team will be selected following a two-stage selection process this fall. While we encourage a team approach from the outset, we will also consider proposals from individual artists who, if sho! rtlisted, will form a team prior to interviews. We seek to begin design and community outreach in fall 2013 and complete construction in 2014. The application deadline is 11pm PDT, Wednesday, September 4, 2013.

2013 "Western Trapping on The Llano"
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $15.00 (Western Trapping on the Llano)
Event Dates: 10/18/13 - 1/4/14
Entry Deadline: 8/1/13

2013 "Western Trappings on The Llano". October 18, 2013 - January 4, 2014. A 77-day juried exhibit & sale of the finest in original Western Art & Custom Trappings/Gear. This exhibit, inside the Llano County Historical Museum, promotes Western Culture and Heritage through the Exhibition and Sale of the finest in Western Art and original custom Trappings and Gear. It is a celebration of the Artists who have captured the grandeur of the American West in the creation of their art. All Art displayed during this 77-day exhibit will be for sale to the public for the duration of this exhibit. The “grand opening” for this event is on the same weekend as the 9th annual Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-Off and 24th annual Llano Heritage Days Festival. A Live Auction of Western Art, contributed by participating artists, will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, October 19, 2013 at Chuck Wagon Central. Guidelines and Application Details. ONLINE APPLICATIONS are Preferred at the CaFE website, ! www.callforentry.org or at Llano County Historical Museum www.llanomuseum.org/ however Paper Applications will also be Accepted. Digital jpeg Images are preferred but Professional Quality Photographs will be accepted. APPLICATIONS & IMAGES MUST BE RECEIVED. Not Later Than - August 1, 2013. 2013 “Western Trappings on The Llano”. October 18, 2013 thru January 4, 2014.


Meeker Sheep Dog Classic Art Contest 2013
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $35.00 (Meeker Sheep Dog Classic Art Contest 2013)
Event Dates: 9/4/13 - 9/8/13
Entry Deadline: 8/1/13

Meeker Sheep Dog Classic International Art Contest 2013 seeks to exhibit and auction the best sheep dog art and invites submissions that are original artwork of a reproducible medium that reflect Sheep Dog trials. This is the 26th year of the International art contest. and the 2013 First Place artwork will be the only artwork used for the 2014 Meeker Classic poster, t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and other official souvenir items. Sculptures, photographs, and digital art are not eligible. Check out last year's entries and winners at http://www.facebook.com/SheepdogArt.


35th Annual Betty Bowen Award
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $10.00 (35th Annual Betty Bowen Award)
Entry Deadline: 8/1/13

THE SEATTLE ART MUSEUM is now accepting entries for the 35TH ANNUAL BETTY BOWEN AWARD. This annual award honors a Northwest artist for their original, exceptional and compelling work. It was established to honor Betty Bowen (1918-1977) who was an enthusiastic supporter of Northwest contemporary art. This is a juried award and the winner receives an unrestricted prize of $15,000 to further his/her career. A selection of works by the winner will be shown at the Seattle Art Museum.


WCA-CO Mixed Media Show
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $25.00 (Women's Caucus for Art of Colorado)
Event Dates: 9/12/13 - 9/29/13
Entry Deadline: 8/1/13

WCA-CO is hosting a Mixed Media show. Mixed Media is visual art that combines various distinct art media like found objects, painting, graphite, altered book, assemblage, collage or decollage. The show will be juried by Patricia Calhoun, Editor-in-Chief of Westword, a Denver weekly. Accepted artists' work will be exhibited at the Annex @ Core Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Drive, Denver Colorado 80204. Submissions may be no larger than 30"x24" for 2D work or no larger than 12"x12"x5' and 25 lbs for 3D work. Submit up to 3 works for $25.00. 


Portland2014 Biennial of Contemporary Art
VIEW MORE INFO

Entry Deadline: 8/1/13

PORTLAND2014 BIENNIAL is a major survey of Oregon visual artists who are defining and advancing our state’s contemporary arts landscape. The exhibition, staged citywide in Portland, will take place March-May 2014 and will be supported by artist and curator talks, symposia and a catalog. All Oregon artists are invited to apply. 


Dia de los Muertos
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $40.00 (Peoria Art Guild: Dia de los Muertos)
Entry Deadline: 8/5/13

Dia de los Muertos, is a first year event. Genre’s accepted range from sculpture, mixed media, metal, oil, acrylic, watercolor, digital, photography, glass, woodcraft, found object and film – contemporary to traditional, abstract interpretations to literal. Preference will be given to works that capture beauty, vibrancy, and celebration in memory of those who have passed on. Dia de los Muertos is a juried exhibit with a fully quipped sales desk and dedicated gallery sales team. The gallery accepts MC/ Visa. 


UNC Elements - 2013, Juried Ceramic Show & Sale
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $30.00 (UNC Elements - 2013, Juried Ceramic Show & Sale)
Entry Deadline: 8/5/13

Dinner Place Settings will be showcased in the University of Northern Colorado's juried ceramic exhibition.

City of Santa Clarita: Valencia Library Art Project
VIEW MORE INFO

Entry Deadline: 8/9/13

The City of Santa Clarita is seeking an artist (or team of artists) to create a permanent, outdoor art piece for the Valencia Library. The art work will be situated prominently on Valencia Blvd., adjacent to a driveway leading into the facility. Motorists travelling East or West on Valencia Boulevard will be able to view this art work from their vehicle. BUDGET: A budget of $14,000.00 must cover all associated costs of the project, including but not limited to, design, fabrication, materials, labor, transportation, insurance, consulting fees (such as structural engineering or testing), installation, permit fees, per diem, and taxes for both pieces. It is the responsibility of the artist to purchase all the art materials necessary to complete the project. 

NEW EVENTS

2013 - Small Works - Big Talent
VIEW MORE INFO

Fee: $35.00 (2013 - Small Works - Big Talent)
Entry Deadline: 8/17/13

SMALL WORK – BIG TALENT “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” - Vincent Van Gogh Las Laguna Gallery is looking for small works with big impact. There is no intended theme for the work, it just needs to fit the criteria of being “small art”. All mediums and subjects accepted. No works over 16 inches on either side, including frame, if framed. All local, national and international artists, professional and amateur and multiple art mediums will be considered in this call for art. From photography to fabric, mixed media, all paintings and drawings including, oil, acrylic, ink, graphite, pastels, etc. 


2013 APP Hawaii: Commemorative Sculpture - Request for Qualifications
VIEW MORE INFO

Entry Deadline: 8/26/13

Purpose/Goals: In accordance with Hawaii Revised Statute 103-8.5 and Act 281, SLH 2013, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Art in Public Places Program is requesting qualifications from individual artists for artwork to be commissioned for commemorative sculptures to honor the memory of the late United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye and the late United States Representative Patsy T. Mink. Through this RFQ we intend to establish a qualified pool of professional artists for consideration.

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Homoerotisim, Fetishism, Fashion, and Frolic: Theme of Boynton Beach's ActivistArtistA

Valyn Calhoun: Retrospective

with Rita Baum

8-22-13 thru 9-27-13

Exhibition Essay by Jacques de Beaufort

Homoerotisim, fetishism, fashion, and nightlife frolic 

are only a few themes that, photographer, Valyn Calhoun incorporates into 

his elegant and highly stylized imagery.

 

Curator, Rolando Chang Barrero, of ActivistArtistA Gallery has cherry picked quite possiblly the most controversial artist in South Florida for his next exhibition.

ActivistArtistA Gallery

422 West Industrial Ave., 

Boynton Beach, Florida 33427

786-521-1199

Included among the images chosen for the Valyn Calhoun: Retrospective are a series of erotic selfportraits, as well as, selected portraits with the photographer as muse by Rita Baum will be on display.

Expected to be this summers most attended exhibition, 2 opening dates have been organized. The exhibition will open on August 22 and run through September 27, 2013

Opening day coincides with 

The Boynton Beach art District Art Walk

Thursday, August 22, 2013
RSVP On Facebook

VIP Grand Reception will be held on

Saturday, August 24, 2013

For invitation to the VIP reception please RSVP.

ActivistArtistA@Gmail.com

This Month's Hottest VIP Party! AUG 24 | 7 PM Valyn Calhoun: Retrospective VIP Grand Opening For your invitation RSVP: ActivistArtistA@Gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/events/368696043256573/

The Rickie Report by Rickie Leiter on Art Walk and Seeing Red Mural

BBAD Combines Art Walk, Masters Thesis and Benefit for Rare Species Foundation!

Posted on July 25th, 2013 • Category: ActivistArtistaGallery, Art, Art in Public Spaces,Associations, Guilds, Leagues, Boynton Beach Arts District, Galleries, Helpful Hints, Local News and Events

Wildlife scientist and graduate student at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Diane Arrieta begins a mural this weekend at the Boynton Beach Art District.  This mural project is in conjunction with Diane’s scientific research   for her master’s thesis.  The Rickie Report is pleased that Diane is also selling her artwork to benefit the Rare Species Foundation. Kudos to Rolando for bringing diversity of art, community-based creators and non-profits!

Seeing RED

by Diane Arrieta

ActivistArtistA’s Bay Gates Project

Reception: July 25, 2013

7  - 10 PM

ActivistArtistA Gallery

BIRDS ARE NICE

Exhibition of work by Diane Arrietta to benefit RareSpecies.Org

Wildlife scientist and graduate student at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Diane Arrieta begins a mural this weekend at the Boynton Beach Art District.  This mural project is in conjunction with Diane Arrieta’s science research, as a partial requirement for her master’s thesis, MSc Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystems Health from the University of Edinburgh School of Medicine and Veterinarian Medicine, College of Biomedical Sciences.

Seeing Red is based on the IUCN’s red list of endangered species.

Biodiversity may be defined as the variety, of plants, animals and other living things in a particular area or region. Biodiversity is the foundation of all ecosystems (managed or unmanaged). The services it provides determine the quality of human and animal well-being. Loss of biodiversity affects climate regulation, promotes the spread of disease, keeps our water clean, aids in carbon storage and affects many other aspects of daily life. Everything in an ecosystem (plants, animals, habitat, water, soil, and people) is dependent on the other. Human activities and land use changes are threatening all of the components necessary for healthy living.

Seeing Red focuses on one aspect of biodiversity loss (endangered species). Scientists now estimate that we are losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than we did in previous times.

The Center for Biological diversity states that 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk due to human activity. Those driving habitat loss, global warming and the introduction of exotic species are causing the greatest degradation.

To find out more about what biodiversity is and how you can be affected by the loss of it, please visit these websites to learn more.

• IUCN Red List  IUCNredlist.org

• Biological Diveristy.Org

• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment     unep.org

The project’s aim is to raise biodiversity awareness by directing participants to explore and learn important scientific concepts regarding biodiversity and conservation.  By seeking out new information, the project intends to offer scientific models to a general audience and encourage participation towards a positive change for a healthy planet.

 

                                                                                            Seeing RED:

Street art as a tool for biodiversity awareness

 #seeingredmural tweet your friends…take the survey. Help art and science both!! #birdsarenice

@DianeArrieta

For more information: BIRDS ARE NICE  or ActivistArtistA Bay Gates Project   Boynton Beach Art District   404-422 West Industrial Ave   Boynton Beach, Florida 33426   786-521-1199

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact The Rickie Report at:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

The Rickie Report

P.O.Box 33423

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420

Rickie@therickiereport.com

561-537-0291

New Times On ActivistArtistA Exhibition: Birds are Nice by Diane Arrieta. This Thursday, July 25th, 2013

 ActivistArtistA Gallery

422 West Industrial Ave.

Boynton Beach, FL 33426

786-521-1199

Contact:

Rolando Chang Barrero, Dir.

Thursday, July 25h, 2013 | 7-10 p.m.

Endangered Art by Tana Velen

BIRDS ARE NICE (BAN)

Birds Are Nice (BAN) is a visual artist debuting an exhibition of current and past works here in South Florida. BAN was founded by Diane Arrieta, who is also the artist, and her cause is biodiversity awareness. She uses everything from sculpture, video, illustration, and installation to help raise awareness "by directing participants to explore and learn important scientific concepts regarding biodiversity and conservation," according to her website. Don't let all the science talk fool you; this is still art, and it's known for having an urban and modern feel to it. BAN's exhibition, including a mural titled Seeing Red, is based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of endangered species. The reception for this will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at 404-422 W. Industrial Ave. in the Boynton Beach Arts District. There will be an auction, food truck, and live entertainment. Best of all, it's free. Call 786-521-1199, or visit activistartista.blogspot.com or birdsarenice.blogspot.com.

— By Tana Velen

Also,

Thursday, July 25th, 2013 

 Boyton Beach Art District

404-422 West Industrial Ave.

Boynton Beach, Florida 33426

BBAD on Thursdays: ART WALK

featuring...

ActivistArtistA's Bay Gates Project:

"Seeing Red"by Diane Arrieta

Shinbone Alley Live in Concert

8-10 PM

The Philosifires

8:45-9:15 PM

Bill Hartman and

Conumdrum Stages

6-10 PM

We hope to see you this Thursday!

Palm Beach Society Scene: Boynton Beach Art District (BBAD) pushes boundaries....

Boynton Arts District (BBAD) pushes boundaries beyond the canvas

Sun Sentinel : Palm Beach Society Scene

Is it by luck or design that the acronym for the Boynton Beach Arts District is B-BAD? Rolando Chang Barrero, 51, a figurative abstract artist and one of the driving forces behind the arts district, may be the baddest of them all.

A dynamic personality and a graduate of the Chicago Art Institute, in 2011 Barrero rented an old warehouse in the industrial district off I-95 and has slowly and steadily transformed the neighborhood.

"If you build it, they will come," Barrero quips. "They are coming, and I have slowly built it."

Built in a formerly blighted area, with rows of rundown warehouses, garages and littered by-ways, Barrero founded ActivistArtistA gallery and initiated the Bay Gates projects, an ever-changing outdoor exhibition of murals and paintings by local and national artists, who paint brightly-colored graffiti-style murals on the gates of each studio.

"My intention is to provide the city and Palm Beach County a destination where locals and visitors can mingle, learn about developments in the arts, and enjoy participating in projects designed to enrich our lives," Barrero said.

Artists in the most recent Bay Gates project include Bulk, Ripe, Flicker, Venom, Veins, Serafima Sokolov, Paul Caprio, Eduardo Mendieta, Winkstyes, Nino Liguori and Craig McInnis.

Lake Worth artist Tony Hernandez and Lantana-based Dianett Doyle are two of the most recent artists to join the community. Doyle, who has expertise in painting faux finish interiors, is branching out to abstract paintings. And Hernandez, whose medium is oil on canvas, was born in Cuba and influenced by the style of late Cuban artists René Partocarrero and Amelia Peláez del Casal.

"Painting in an environment with other artists encourages you to do better," said Hernandez.

"I've been painting most of my life but never had the confidence to display my work," he said. "Rolando has been wonderful in helping me get started at BBAD, and it was the most amazing thing to see 300 people at the 'Art Walk' checking out my paintings."

On any given day, in addition to art and working studios, visitors can find open-mic nights, music and art festivals, a biannual "KeroWACKED" event, an outdoor art garage sale and barbecue, wine tastings, belly dancers, hoop dancing, fire spinners and exhibitions such as "Printed Matters," an exhibition of images and short stories by West Palm Beach artist Cary Polkovitz and "A Stroke of Genius" with Spike TV's inkmaster Lea Vendetta."Our events emerge organically and come from the artists themselves," Barrero said.The latest venture is a biodiversity project bringing a green ethos. With the help of urban gardeners Bill Milner and his wife Jayne King and other volunteers, Barrero is creating an educational juice bar and cultivating plants such as mangoes, star fruit, avocado, collard greens, tomatoes and okra.

Artist and wildlife scientist Diane Arrieta will complete a mural as part of her master's thesis in biodiversity and endangered species at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, studying the use of street art as a tool for biodiversity awareness. (see more info below)

"Street art is one avenue to reach a younger generation and inform them of scientific concepts regarding biodiversity and conservation," Arrieta said. "I offer a scientific model to my audience and encourage them to participate in making positive changes for a healthy planet."

While the district may still be a diamond in the rough, Barrero's personal goals for the arts district are to leave a legacy and create an international art foundation focused on emerging artists.

"The urban art revitalization project keeps the district fresh and gives people new reasons to visit," said Debby Coles-Dobay, public art administrator for the city. 

She went on to say, "BBAD has positively activated a formerly unsafe and unkempt industrial area of Boynton Beach. It is the first and only industrial arts district in Palm Beach County. The artists and their engaging activities have attracted not only the public to the district, but businesses as well."

Boynton Beach Arts District is at 422 W. Industrial Ave. For more information, visithttp://www.activistartista.blogspot.com, http://www.facebook.com/boyntonbeach.artdistrict or call Barrero at 786-521-1199.

Copyright © 2013, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Upcoming Events:

ActivistArtistA Bay Gates Presents: Seeing RED July 25 

during the BBAD Art Walk.

ActivistArtistA Gallery Opening Reception: 

July 25, 2013 | 7 PM

Birds are Nice Exhibit and Fundraiser for RareSpecies.org

BBAD On Thursday Programs:

Open Mic Night every 3rd Thursday

Art Walk every 4th Thursday