President Donald Trump has put forth his proposed budget, which calls for the elimination of funding for the National Endowment of the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Other cuts include the departments of Education and Agriculture andEnvironmental Protection Agencyprograms, among many others.
Artist Rolando Chang Barrero, who runs the ActivistArtistA Gallery in Boynton Beach and the Box Gallery in West Palm Beach, and his fellow artists are reacting to proposed budget cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts.
For his upcoming KeroWACKED Show at the Boynton Beach Arts District, Barrero said he is organizing "Sound Out Loud," a 10-hour open-mic event for people to express their First Amendment rights "as if they might not have this opportunity again."
Forty people will get their turn at the microphone for 15 minutes each from noon to 10 p.m. April 16 at ActivistArtistA, 422 W. Industrial Ave. Email BoyntonBeachArtDistrict@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
A companion exhibit, "Lest We Forget," remembers the Holocaust and the results of what happens when government separates people by religion and/or nationality, Barrero said.
"The ideas for these shows came about as a direct result of the current political climate and Trump's policies," he said. Continue to full story.
"The exhibition is designed elevate awareness, raise funds, and forge new relationships between the artists, community, and organizations working to save the environment."
by Mary Jo Aagerstoun,President of Eco-Art South Florida
“What’s All the Buzz?” is an exhibition to honor the humble
honey bee, especially our Florida native ones. Bees are necessary to pollinate
crops that feed humans, and to pollinate wild plants and trees so they can
flourish. Studies show that Florida native bees are much more efficient and
industrious pollinators of Florida’s crops than are non native honeybees
shipped in for pollinating. We would like to address this issue proactively through conversations, demonstarations, and ultimately through the incepection of art related projects that may surface as a result of the exhibition.
This is just one approach to making the invisible visible
that artists can do so well. The invisible here are the systems of industrial
agriculture.
Another approach to utilizing art based in science to bring
visibility to the plight of our bees, is the work of Kelly Rogers who recently
completed a multi media installation as part of her MFA qualifications. The
installation includes live bees. bee-ecology.com
Yet another approach is art that utilizes native plants in
outdoor installations that can provide nectar specifically for native Florida
bees. A recent example of a landscape designed by an EcoArtist to attract and
nurture Florida native pollinators is Eco Walk in Boynton Beach at the new LEED
Gold certified apartment complex, Seabourn Cove. http://www.boynton-beach.org/departments/public_art/projects/dixie_ecowalk.php
While this work, by local Palm Beach county EcoArtist Lucy Keshavarz is focused
more closely on butterflies, the plants selected also encourage native bees.
Martin County EcoArtist Jesse Etelson discovered that a fanciful ceramic
vessel designed as a screech owl nesting box actually attracted native Florida
bees instead! His research after this serendipitous occurrence showed that
indeed ceramic containers have been used for millennia dating back to Egyptian
beekeepers as ideal beehives. http://jesseetelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/screechowl.jpg
Organized by Rolando Chang Barrero, curator. "What's All the Buzz About?" will benefit Palm Beach Beekeepers Assoc., a 501(c)3 Non Profit***
Curator, Rolando Chang Barrero has his eyes set on Lake Park. He says,"This is going to be the place to hang out, buy art, and listen to great music this summer!" As a member of the Artists of Palm Beach County, it seems only perfect that the ActivistArtistA Galleries director would chose APBC Gallery and Studios, located at 800 Park Ave., to have his inaugural summer event call "What's All the BUZZ about?".
"What's All the Buzz About?" is a Juried Exhibition of contemporary works, in all media., that will explores the relationship between the artist and the environment. The spotlight of this exhibition will be on the vital role of the bee in the South Florida eco-system.
The exhibition is presented by The Artists of Palm Beach County and ActivistArtistA II in an unexpected union between the conservative APBC and the often radical ActivistArtistA exhibitions.
The exhibition, a benefit for Palm Beach Beekeepers Association, will include a special guest presentation by the PBBA president Al Salopeck.
As customary at all of the ActivistArtistA events live music will play a part in the festivities: Jon Greco Band will be performing.
Photo Credit: Matt Sturgess
Sponsored by PureHoney Magazine, who's editor Steev Rulmann helped jury the exhibition.
Exhibition Statement
by Mary Jo Aagerstoun,President of Eco-Art South Florida
“What’s All the Buzz?” is an exhibition to honor the humble
honey bee, especially our Florida native ones. Bees are necessary to pollinate
crops that feed humans, and to pollinate wild plants and trees so they can
flourish. Studies show that Florida native bees are much more efficient and
industrious pollinators of Florida’s crops than are non native honeybees
shipped in for pollinating. We would like to address this issue proactively through conversations, demonstarations, and ultimately through the incepection of art related projects that may surface as a result of the exhibition.
This is just one approach to making the invisible visible
that artists can do so well. The invisible here are the systems of industrial
agriculture.
Another approach to utilizing art based in science to bring
visibility to the plight of our bees, is the work of Kelly Rogers who recently
completed a multi media installation as part of her MFA qualifications. The
installation includes live bees. bee-ecology.com
Yet another approach is art that utilizes native plants in
outdoor installations that can provide nectar specifically for native Florida
bees. A recent example of a landscape designed by an EcoArtist to attract and
nurture Florida native pollinators is Eco Walk in Boynton Beach at the new LEED
Gold certified apartment complex, Seabourn Cove. http://www.boynton-beach.org/departments/public_art/projects/dixie_ecowalk.php
While this work, by local Palm Beach county EcoArtist Lucy Keshavarz is focused
more closely on butterflies, the plants selected also encourage native bees.
Martin County EcoArtist Jesse Etelson discovered that a fanciful ceramic
vessel designed as a screech owl nesting box actually attracted native Florida
bees instead! His research after this serendipitous occurrence showed that
indeed ceramic containers have been used for millennia dating back to Egyptian
beekeepers as ideal beehives. http://jesseetelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/screechowl.jpg
In the garden-planting-as-art arena, a stellar example that
could be adopted by Palm Beach county artists would be the work by EcoArtist
and sculptor Stacy Levy’s parterre garden of perennials native to the Seattle
area, planted in the shadow of the city’s iconic “Space Needle” which, after
its 6 months growing period was parceled out in pieces to local community
gardens and parks. The plants were inserted into biodegradable straw and coir
waddles, very easy to remove and relocate once the exhibition ended. http://www.stacylevy.com/installations/straw_garden.php
We are seeking especially proposals or existing art works
that could be installed onsite in Palm Beach Couty that can address the bee disappearance
phenomenon with active solutions.
This does not mean we will not include the traditional paintings, drawings, sculpture, video and performance, but we
would like to see our Palm Beach county artists step forward with direct impact
works and proposals for works.
ActivistArtistA Gallery/Studio, Inc. is literally on the move. Proprietor, Rolando Chang Barrero, has found a home for his second exhibition space.
“ACTIVISTARISTA II” will be opening in July 2014 at the Art on Park building in the Town of Lake Park, Florida.After months of scouting for a new location for the new gallery it became obvious that sharing a space with theArtists of Palm BeachCounty was the most fruitful move. Both organizations agreed.
The Grand Opening of“ACTIVISTARTIST II “ is expected to be one this summer’s biggest arts event in Palm Beach County—but of course!
“Park Avenue in Park Lake may still in it’s infancy, but that’s about to change!”
