Art Hive Magazine /// Issue 30

ART HIVE CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

azine Ass ag o M

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Florid a

ISSUE No 30

BEST OVERALL DESIGN 2019

HUNT SLONEM’S

+

WONDERLAND

INSIDE THE STUDIO OF BROOKYLN’S WILDEST ARTIST

SUPA TYB

INTERVIEW WITH TRACI YOUNG-BYRON

OPPORTUNITIES

IN THE ARTS! GRANTS, JOBS, SUBMISSIONS, & MUCH MORE!

NAFESSA WILLIAMS PHOTO: TYREN REDD // @tyrenredd

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE “BLACK LIGHTNING” STAR ON PLAYING TELEVISION’S FIRST BLACK LESBIAN SUPERHERO

HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR DIGITAL LIFE || THE HIDDEN BENEFITS OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMES ART IN MOTION: THE KINETIC WORK OF RALFONSO || BEST MOTIVATIONAL BEACH READS 10 WAYS TO TACKLE YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING || CREATIVE SUMMER CAMPS DISPLAY UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2019

MY SHELTER PETS ARE MY BEST FRIENDS

OLIVIA MUNN WITH FRANKIE AND CHANCE: ADOPTED 2016 AND 2014.

They’re a little bit of a lot of things, but they’re all pure love.

THESHELTERPETPROJECT.ORG

Just North of Banyan Boulevard on Rosemary Avenue

IN THE HEART AND SOUL OF WEST PALM BEACH

4TH FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

We invite you to discover and explore one of the most exciting redevelopment areas in South Florida, the Historic Northwest – the Heart & Soul of West Palm Beach. Celebrate this neighborhood revival all summer during these special events.

SATURDAY, JULY 6TH

facebook.com/WPBhistoricnorthwest

Learn more at wpb.org/clematis

Just two miles north of Downtown West Palm Beach between Dixie Highway and Broadway

LAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 facebook.com/NorthwoodVillageFanPage

AT THE MOST INSTAGRAM-WORTHY SPOTS IN PALM BEACH “If you’re looking for a more boho side of West Palm Beach, Northwood Village is your destination. And, with many oneof-a-kind boutique shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes, you will find many walls to take the perfect selfie.”

- The Lifestyle Insider

West Palm Beach CRA 401 Clematis Street West Palm Beach, FL 33401

West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency www.wpb.org (561) 822-1550 CRA Board Members

Chair: Mayor Keith A. James; Commissioners: Christina Lambert, President; Cory M. Neering, Joseph A. Peduzzi, Richard A. Ryles, Kelly Shoaf.

wpb.org/CRA CRA@wpb.org 561.822.1550

RECENT WORKS

MACY’S MICKEY MOUSE, ca. 1934, 2018 Original acrylic on canvas with embellishments, glitter, spray paint, 82 x 56 in.

ALSO AVAILABLE: Limited edition hand-embellished giclée prints, glitter, spray paint, Six different colored backgrounds in an edition of 10 each, 36 x 25 in.

brucehelander.com

karene@helanderstudio.com

+1 561 655 0504

CONTENTS 11 HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR DIGITAL LIFE: 10 STEPS TO TAKE BACK YOUR TIME AND YOUR SANITY 12 OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS 14 THE HIDDEN BENEFITS OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMES 17 TACKLING YOUR TERROR: 10 WAYS TO TAKE THE FEAR OUT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING 18 IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 22 SUPA TYB INTERVIEW WITH TRACI YOUNG-BYRON 26 HOW TO MAKE BETTER ART

BY NOT DOING ART 28 BUILDING YOUR BRAND THROUGH LIVE STREAMING 30 NEW WORK MIAMI 32 ART IN MOTION: THE KINETIC WORK OF RALFONSO 34 ON BEING FEARLESS: PRESIDENT & CEO OF ARTREPRENEUR, GRACE CHO 36 MUSICAL MASTER: THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE BROWARD CULTURAL DIVISION 42 ‘BLACK LIGHTNING’ STAR NAFESSA WILLIAMS 50 A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: HUNT SLONEM’S BROOKLYN STUDIO WONDERLAND 56 BEST MOTIVATIONAL BEACH READS TO CHECK OUT THIS SUMMER 58 SOUTH FLORIDA CREATIVE SUMMER CAMPS 68 SEASONED SCIENTIST: MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE PRESIDENT, JOE COX 72 SUMMER MAKEOVER: ICONIC DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH STREET GETS A WHOLE NEW LOOK 74 3 WAYS A SIDE HUSTLE CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR CAREER Top left: Traci Young-Byron, photo courtesy of the artist; Center left: Hunt Slonem, Untitled, 2019, Oil on wood, 32.5 x 27.5 in. Courtesy Hunt Slonem Studio; Bottom left: Joe Cox, photo by Michael Murphy.

Top right: Mural by Elio Mercado, photo by Downtown Photo; Center right: Phillip Dunlap, photo by R.J Hartbeck; Bottom right: Photo by Dylan Mullins

CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

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HELLO | FROM THE EDITORS

CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

ART HIVE TEAM | publisher Art Hive Magazine LLC. founders/executive editors Angela Yungk -angela@arthivemagazine.com Jessie Prugh -jessie@arthivemagazine.com deputy editor Marcela Villa -marcela@arthivemagazine.com executive administrator Andrea De La Cruz -andrea@arthivemagazine.com

Photo by David Runyon

copy editor Karla Plenge creative team Meredith Clements David Runyon Andrea De La Cruz

TOUGH TIMES ARE INEVITABLE IN LIFE AND IN BUSINESS. BUT HOW YOU COMPOSE YOURSELF DURING THOSE TIMES DEFINES YOUR SPIRIT AND WILL DEFINE YOUR FUTURE.- SIR RICHARD BRANSON And the award goes to...We are excited to announce that Art Hive Magazine is the winner of a 2019 Charlie Award presented by the Florida Magazine Association. Art Hive Magazine won in the “Best Overall Category” for Design.

The Florida Magazine Association was founded in 1953 and is the largest state magazine association in the nation. The Florida Magazine Association strives to “promote excellence and the standing of magazines in the Florida publishing industry,” and “to be the forum for networking, education, recognition and advocacy for Florida’s magazine industry.”

We want to thank all of our advertising partners for helping us achieve this distinguished award.

contributing writers Christiana Lilly, Bea Conrad, J.A. Young, Drew Scott, Nila Simon, Helen Wolt, Jennifer Love Gironda, Jonathan Hunt, Angela Yungk, Christiana Wood, Bruce Helander, Andrea De La Cruz, Christie Galeano, Marcela Villa

CONNECT | general inquiries info@arthivemagazine.com advertising sales@arthivemagazine.com sponsorships events@arthivemagazine.com Hello Creatives Podcast Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Play, or iHeartRadio social media fb/ arthivemagazine twitter/ @arthivemagazine instagram/ @arthive_magazine hashtag/ #arthivemagazine

One year of the podcast...This June marks the one year anniversary of the Hello Creatives! podcast. We started the podcast as an outlet to share our own creative journey with staying motivated and facing the ever evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. As we roll into our second year, you can expect even more content focused on developing your business skills and challenging the status quo as a creative. The podcast is an opportunity for us to create episodes that truly inspire and motivate anyone that wants to learn, grow and develop in the creative fields.

submissions arthivemagazine.com/submissions for guidelines submissions@arthivemagazine.com

If you haven’t yet tuned in yet, that’s okay, all podcast episodes can be found on iTunes, iHeart Radio, Google Play, Spotify, SoundCloud and Stitcher. We would love for you to subscribe, rate and download the podcast. Check out some of our favorite episodes below:

brick-and-mortar For sale at Publix Super Markets, Barnes and Noble Bookstores and at arthivemagazine.com

• Why You Don’t Need to Quit Your Day Job • How a Side Hustle Could be Good For Your Career • How to Grow a Thick Skin: Why Constructive Criticism is Necessary Ready for our close up...We had the pleasure of being selected by the insurance provider Hiscox for their new podcast and video series titled Side Hustle to Small Business. You can find the Hiscox podcast wherever you find podcasts. Also make sure to stay tuned to the Art Hive Magazine social media pages as we share the video we were also highlighted in by Hiscox.

CONNECT WITH JESSIE & ANGELA |

Instagram: @jessiexangela, @arthive_magazine | arthivemagazine.com

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DISTRIBUTION |

Complimentary issues can be found year-round at select high traffic locations, and high profile events throughout South Florida. Check our website for up to date lists of events. read online issuu.com/arthivemagazine

© 2012-2019 Art Hive Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or any other method, without permission of the publishers. The articles, advertising, and reviews appearing within this publication reflect the attitudes and opinions of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publishers or editors. All rights to advertisements including artwork, writing, designs, and copyrights are property of respective owners, and no assumption of ownership is made by this publication, publishers, or editors.

CULTURAL PARADISE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK Walk city streets lined with towering, vibrant murals. Wander breathtaking botanical gardens and outdoor museums. From iconic historical sites to world-class museums, your inspiring summer escape is just a short drive away in The Palm Beaches—Where Culture Always Shines.

Your visit begins at WhereCultureAlwaysShines.com FOLLOW US FOR MORE CAN’T-MISS CULTURE @PALMBEACHCULTURE //

MURAL BY TRISTAN EATON

Kailee M.

Everything you say and do creates an impact. becauseofyou.org

CREATIVE | SOLUTIONS

HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR DIGITAL LIFE:

Photo by Nicole Wolf

10 STEPS TO TAKE BACK YOU TIME AND YOUR SANITY

By Bea Conrad Technology was supposed to make life easier and less stressful, but in many cases, it has done just the opposite. If you have ever had a panic attack after forgetting your smartphone or wasted several hours scrolling through your Facebook feed, you are already familiar with the dark side of technology.

So how do you break the addiction and cut the virtual cord? What can you do to reclaim your life and restore your sanity? You do not have to quit Facebook or go back to a flip phone, but a few simple steps can reduce the distraction and let you get more out of life.

Whether you call it digital detox, digital minimalism or common sense, there is value in decluttering your online life. If you are no longer checking your phone 50 times a day, you will have more time for other things, like reading, socializing with real-world friends or taking a stroll around the neighborhood. Here are 10 ways to incorporate digital minimalism into your online life.

1. Clear off the desktop. Having lots of icons on your desktop or smartphone may be convenient, but it is also distracting. Try clearing off the desktop and adding essential apps back one by one. You may be surprised at how easy it is to live without those indispensable apps.

2. Uninstall some programs. There are probably programs you rarely use, so go ahead and remove them. It will leave your smartphone or computer cleaner—and speed up its performance.

3. Set a schedule. Instead of checking your smartphone when you are bored or endlessly scrolling through your social media feed, set a schedule for doing so. You can start with twice an hour, cut it back to once an hour and so on.

4. Choose generic wallpaper. Using a special photo as your wallpaper could encourage you to check your phone more often, so choose a more generic background. You can always print out that family photo and put it on your desk.

5. Switch to full-screen mode. Working in full-screen mode is a great way to block out distractions. If you cannot see those updates, they cannot distract you.

6. Hide your docked items. The taskbar or dock is convenient, but it can also be distracting. Try hiding those docked items so you can focus on the task at hand.

7. Let your close friends and family know you are on a digital diet. Unexpected things happen, and you want to be reachable in an emergency. Let your family members know you are not checking your messages as regularly, and ask them to call with things that require immediate attention.

8. Close down at the end of the day. Instead of leaving all those windows open, close them down at the end of each day. Use bookmarks and favorites to keep track of your work, but take the desktop back to square one.

9. Turn off notifications. Nothing is more distracting than an endless stream of notifications, so turn them off for all but the most essential apps.

10. Give yourself a real world reward. Decluttering your digital life is hard work, so give yourself a treat. Take a walk, chat with a friend, run a bubble bath–just do whatever makes you happy.

Minimalism is big right now. Millions of people are going through their closets and getting rid of anything that does not bring them joy. This sudden need to declutter and downsize is certainly understandable, but cleaning out your junk drawer may not be enough.

If you really want to simplify your life, start with the addictive device in your pocket. Digital minimalism can be just as valuable, if not more so, than the physical kind, and the rewards you gain will make the hard work worthwhile.

Check out our Hello Creatives! podcast for more on this topic. Episode “Declutter Your Digital Life: Take Back Your Time and Sanity.”

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CREATIVE | OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS

OPPORTUNITIES IN

THE ARTS

OUR PICKS OF GRANT PROGRAMS, CALLSTO-ARTISTS AND JOBS TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVES AND NONPROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE ART OR ACTIVITIES ENHANCING THE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

Enrichment | Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute Dates: June 1, 8, 15, 22 The 13th annual Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) for local artists takes place on the first four consecutive Saturdays of June. AEI’s lectures, panels and interactive workshops are led by South Florida’s top-ranking arts practitioners and industry professionals, with the final session on June 22 featuring a Business Plan Clinic and Workshop to guide attendees through the creation of a simple business plan. For more information please visit AEI2019.eventbrite.com.

Grant | Specific Cultural Projects (SCP) Grant Deadline: June 3 Florida Division of Cultural Affairs is accepting applications for Specific Cultural Projects (SCP). This grant is designed to fund a cultural project, program, exhibition, or series taking place within four project types: Arts in Education, Discipline-Based, Underserved Cultural Community Development, and Individual Artist. For more information please visit dos.myflorida.com/cultural.

Call to Artist | Cultural Center Crosswalks Deadline: June 9 The Cultural Center Crosswalks Project will be located at SE 1st Ave. connecting City Hall to the Cultural Arts Center. The artistic scope of work is to develop and install three crosswalk designs. This is a community engagement project and the selected artist(s) will work with residents/volunteers to install the artwork. The artist is responsible for any required permits. The artwork lifespan of the project is predicted to be five years. For more information please visit artist.callforentry. org/festivals.

Call to Artist | Small Press Fair (SPF) Deadline: June 16 Small Press Fair (SPF) South Florida is pleased to announce an open call for submissions for their In Exchange exhibition, which invites artists to submit work with a particular focus on the collaborative nature of fine art printmaking. The exhibition will be open from SeptemberDecember 2019 in The Projects located in FATVillage, Fort Lauderdale, and will accompany the fourth edition of Small Press Fair, SPF’19 on November 9th. For more information please visit spf-ftl.com.

Grant | Innovate Grant – Call for Artists & Photographers Deadline: June 18 Innovate Grant is now accepting submissions for Spring 2019. Innovate Grant distributes (2) $550.00 grants each quarter, to one Visual Artist and one Photographer. In addition to receiving a grant award, winners will be featured and recognized on our website and join a growing community of vibrant and talented artists. For more information please visit innovateartistgrants.org.

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Enrichment | Doing Business as Artists (DBA) Closing Forum Date: June 20 Doing Business as Artists (DBA) exhibition of artwork by graduates of Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) showcases the growth and professionalism of artists as entrepreneurs. The exhibition will close June 20 with a talk on what it means to be an artist and entrepreneur presented by Grace Cho, CEO and Founder of the online platform Artrepreneur, built to empower members of the creative economy with tools and resources to help manage the complexities of business. For more information please visit GraceCho.eventbrite.com.

Call to Artist | Blanco + 1 Juried Exhibition Deadline: June 21 Arts Warehouse invites local artists to submit their artwork to the 2nd annual juried art exhibition. This show will highlight a broad range of attitudes in various art mediums and will be held at the Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach. For more information please visit artsware­ house.org/events/call-for-art-juried-exhibition.

Call to Artist | 6X6 Exhibition Deadline: June 22 The Cornell Art Museum is pleased to host its sixth annual 6x6 Exhibition & Sale featuring donated artwork from around the country.

For More information please visit oldschoolsquare.org/events/6x6exhibition-sale.

Call to Artist | Artists Alley Mosaic Mural Deadline: June 27 The City of Pompano Beach is looking to commission a mosaic artist for the design and installation of a mosaic mural that will be located in Artists Alley on an exterior wall located at 135 NE 1st Ave. The mosaic mural should be abstract in nature. The Public Art Committee plans on installing two murals in 2019 in Artists Alley continuing to beautify the alleyway bringing the total amount of murals in this area to six. For more information please visit artist.callforentry.org/festivals_ unique_info.php?ID=6510.

Call to Artist | Artists Alley Painted Mural Deadline: June 27 The City of Pompano Beach will commission an artist for the design and installation of a mural that will be located in Artists Alley on an exterior wall located on the back of Bailey Contemporary Arts. There is no specific theme for the mural but should fit the location. The Public Art Committee plans on installing two murals in 2019 in Artists Alley, continuing to beautify the alleyway, bringing the total amount of murals in this area to six. For more information please visit artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=6657.

ABOVE: Graffiti wall photo by Dylan Mullins; OPPOSITE PAGE: Mural photo by Jon Tyson; Jump photo by Melody Jacob

Call to Artist | TATTOO: The Renaissance of Body Art Deadline: July 2 TATTOO: The Renaissance of Body Art is an opportunity for artists to showcase their best Tattoo Art and Fine Art at the Lighthouse ArtCenter. Your artwork will be displayed alongside primitive, tribal, Japanese, Americana, black and gray and contemporary art, and will be shown from Tuesday, September 3 to Saturday, November 2, 2019. For more information please visit artist.callforentry.org.

Call to Artist | Florida CraftArt Festival Emerging Artist Deadline: September 3 Artist Deadline: September 10 Artists may apply to display and sell work at the Florida CraftArt Festival, an annual two-day festival during November in St. Petersburg, FL. Also included this year is the Emerging Artist Program for artists of all ages who may have limited selling experience. All fine craft mediums are eligible. For more information please visit floridacraftart.org.

Grant | NEA Art Works Grant Deadline: July 11 The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is accepting applications for the Art Works Grant, which supports artistically excellent projects that celebrate creativity and cultural heritage and enrich humanity.

Matching grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. For more information please visit arts.gov/grants.

Grant | Awesome Foundation Miami Deadline: Monthly Awesome Foundation Miami’s board of trustees are looking to make a positive impact in the community by supporting local ideas and helping artists take their projects to the next level. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis and grants are up to $1,000. Deadlines are the 15th of every month. For more information please visit awesomefoundation.org.

Call to Artist | 29th Annual All Florida Juried Arts Show Deadline: July 31 The Arts Council of Martin County invites artists residing in Florida to participate in its 29th Annual All Florida Juried Arts Show. Selected works will be exhibited at the Court House Cultural Center from Friday, October 18 through Thursday, December 19, 2019. For more information please visit martinarts.org.

Enrichment | Video Skills for Creatives: Streaming from the Studio Date: August 10 Video Skills for Creatives provides free workshops designed to lay the groundwork for Broward artists to harness the power of video media while captivating new and diverse audiences. The second workshop in a two-part series, artists will learn how they can use their studio time to connect with others, share their expertise, build community and find buyers for their work, all while making art. For more information please visit streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com.

Grant | Creative Investment Program (CIP) Grant Workshop Date: August 14 Eligibility Deadline: August 16 The Creative Investment Program (CIP) Grant, which assists Broward County not-for-profit cultural organizations and practicing professional artists is hosting a free workshop to those interested in applying for the grant. The project must be an exhibition, performance, or other arts activity. The August 16 deadline establishes eligibility for the CIP Grant, while the final grant deadline to apply post-eligibility approval is October 1. For more information please visit Broward.org/Arts.

Call to Artist | Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery and Exhibit Hall Deadline: Ongoing The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery and Exhibit Hall is now accepting artwork submissions and exhibition proposals from artists at any stage in their career. All media are acceptable. Applicants must submit the following: 10-20 high resolution .jpg images or .mov files of current artwork with title, date, media, and dimensions, as well as an artist statement or exhibition proposal of 250 words or less, and an updated resume in Word or PDF format. Please submit all materials in one email to thefrank@ppines.com with the subject line GENERAL ART SUBMISSION. Applications are ongoing. For more information please visit thefrankgallery.org.

Grant | Foundation for Contemporary Art Emergency Grants Deadline: Ongoing Dating back to 1993, the Foundation for Contemporary Art’s Emergency Grants program has provided up to $2,000 in annual grant funding to innovative visual and performing artists encountering unanticipated expenses or sudden opportunities to present their work to the public.

Emergency Grants applicants must be unable to seek other sources of funding due to time constraints — or must have incurred unexpected expenses for nearly completed projects with committed exhibition or performance dates. Learn more about the requirements of the Emergency Grants program here. For more information please visit foundationforcontemporaryarts.org.

For more opportunities in the arts please visit broward.org/arts

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THE HIDDEN BENEFITS OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

By J.A. Young

T

hey steal into reading time, cut homework time short, and leave the backyard feeling like a lonely, pristine wilderness. Video games have been a source of contention for many families. Many parents have struggled with how much time to allot for video-game play. They may worry that their kids aren’t spending the amount of time outdoors like they did as children. It’s true that limiting screen time is important and that a well-rounded childhood that includes outdoor fun is ideal, but there actually are some benefits that come from playing video games-and they may be too good to overlook. In fact, there are some persuasive arguments in favor of adults playing them too.

Make Quick Decisions In life, there are times to deliberate about an action as well as times where a split-second decision is needed. A study conducted by scientists at the University of Rochester in New York illustrated how playing action-packed video games trained people to make accurate decisions more quickly.

There is evidence that the gamers who played the action games reacted 25 percent more quickly to study questions than non-players. Similar studies are also associated with compelling evidence that certain video games, particularly action games where new information and variables are continually presented, are promoting quick--and accurate--decision making.

University of Rochester scientists have pointed out that there are certainly many careers where quick-decision making in a fast-paced environment is essential. Fields like the military, emergency medicine, air transportation, and so forth need people who think well--and quickly--on their feet.

Yet, the scientists also suggest that these action video games can improve various general skills “with everyday activities like multitasking, driving, reading small print, keeping track of friends in a crowd, and navigating around town.”

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Photo by Florian Gagnepain

CREATIVE | SOLUTIONS

“

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS STUDIES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT VIDEO GAMES

CAN IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION...

Slow Down the Aging Process in the Brain There have been numerous studies that have demonstrated that video games can improve cognitive function, but one involving elderly players has suggested that video gameplay can even slow the aging process in the brain. As individuals age, they tend to experience a decline in their attention span, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Some also experience a reduction in their ability to reason abstractedly. According to a study published in Gerontechnology, participants aged 50 and older who played digital action games for 10 hours or more experienced an improvement in cognitive function-a benefit that could last for several years.

The study reported that “Digital action games require sensory discrimination, leading to efficient and rapid information processing, they are adaptive, with increasingly difficult levels made available after achieving success at lower levels of performance, and are challenging.” When elderly participants, aged 65 or older, played action video games such as Medal of Honor, as mentioned in the study, they demonstrated an improvement in “perceptual, attentional, and memory abilities.” While action games like Medal of Honor haven’t been designed for this purpose, they are, nevertheless, offering some surprising benefits.

Stress Reduction For some players, video gaming can be stressful; some types of games may actually induce stress. However, there is considerable evidence that suggests gaming actually helps promote stress management skills and allows people to unwind and reduce their stress levels. In a study conducted at the University of Central Florida, researchers found that people who played video games during a work break experienced less workplace stress. The study, published in The Journal Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, showed that the workers who played during a five-minute break experienced a boost in mood and even improved cognitive function compared to study participants who did not play.

Vision Improvement There is surprising evidence that video games can help improve eyesight--and even the American Optometric Association is pointing out the benefits that digital gaming bring to vision. A study has shown that players with the condition known as amblyopia, more commonly known as ‘lazy eye,’ experienced an improvement in the affected eye after playing for a period of time. In a separate study,

people who played for 10 weeks experienced a discernible improvement in their ability to discern nuances in color. As a consequence, the American Optometric Association is reporting that many eye specialists are employing video gameplay as a form of vision therapy.

Diminish Cravings Attempting to stop overeating, smoking, or drinking too much is a struggle for many people. There is evidence that playing video games helps reduce their cravings. A study out of Plymouth University found that participants experienced a 24 percent reduction in their cravings while playing the game Tetris. The scientists determined that a visually stimulating game such as Tetris occupied areas of the brain associated with imagination; instead of imagining a snack or cigarette break, players were preoccupied with the game. It’s unclear how long that benefit could last once players stopped playing, but for individuals trying to cut back on snacking, smoking, or drinking, the benefit of gameplay is clear.

Moderate Gaming Is Key Researchers involved in the studies relied on moderate gameplay in their experiments. None of them suggested that playing video games to excess was required to promote a benefit. There have been a plethora of studies suggesting the disadvantages of playing video games--and those cannot be ignored either. Playing to excess can lead to video game addiction, reduced school performance, and decreased real-life skills. Many psychologists have warned that associating violence with ‘fun,’ as many video games do, can have negative consequences on players. With moderate gameplay, players may enjoy many of the benefits of digital gaming without suffering the negative effects.

A growing body of research from reputable institutions is showing that video games, even those violent shooter games that many parents shun, can offer mental and physical health benefits. Both kids and adults can enjoy these benefits with moderate gameplay. As research in this field is ongoing, new benefit discoveries may be on the horizon--so keep your controllers charged and at the ready.

Sources: Entrepreneur (entrepreneur.com/article/297881); NCBI (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4130645/); Time(time.com/14021/playing-tetris-will-make-you-forget-youre-hungry/ ); University of Rochester (rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3679)

Check out our Hello Creatives! podcast for more on this topic. Episode “The Hidden Benefits of Playing Video Games.”

CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

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CREATIVE | SOLUTIONS

TACKLING YOUR TERROR:

10 WAYS TO TAKE THE FEAR OUT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

By Drew Scott

A famous study once found that public speaking was the number one fear across a wide segment of the population. To put that in perspective, fear of death came in a distant second.

6. Do some pre-speech exercises. Light stretching exercises will help you stay limber and make it easier to relax. If you are feeling stressed, take a brisk walk around the grounds to get ready for your big speech.

So, is speaking in front of a crowd really more terrifying than taking your last breath? If so, what can ordinary people do to tackle that terror?

Whether you are asked to give a presentation in front of a group of colleagues or debate a contentious topic in a large auditorium, the fear and trepidation are very real.

7. Stay hydrated. It is important to drink water before and during your speech, so keep a bottle nearby. You do not want to overdo it—taking a bathroom break in the middle of your presentation would be very bad form.

The good news is there are things you can do to overcome that fear of public speaking. Here are 10 ways to make it happen: 1. Stay organized. Fumbling for your papers in the middle of a presentation will ramp up the terror that much more, so make sure you are organized before you begin.

2. Practice, practice, practice. The more you know the material, the more confident you will feel on the stage. Practice your presentation— both in front of the mirror and with some trusted friends.

3. Record yourself speaking. Video recorders are everywhere these days, so take advantage of that fact. Recording yourself will acclimate you to the sound of your own voice and help ease the fear of public speaking.

4. Use deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing can help you relax, but it takes practice to get it right. Practice your deep breathing exercises until they become second nature.

5. Learn to meditate. Meditation is a powerful tool for self-improvement, and a great way to tackle the terror of public speaking. Like deep breathing, learning to meditate will take some practice, but the sooner you get started, the sooner you can master this important skill.

Photo by Austin Distel

8. Take a class. A class in public speaking can be a godsend for the anxious, especially if this is your first time. The classroom will give you a chance to practice public speaking in a safe environment, and you can rest assured your fellow students share the same anxieties.

9. Choose a subject you feel passionate about. Giving a great speech about something you care nothing about is a recipe for disaster, so choose your topic with care. Look for a cause you feel passionately about —it will ease your anxiety and make the speech that much better.

10. Stay focused. If you want your presentation to go well, keep your focus where it belongs—on the material you are presenting. Focusing on the audience will ramp up the anxiety, so keep your mind on the material.

The fear of public speaking is pervasive, common in virtually every culture and across every possible demographic. If you are feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation or break out in a cold sweat at the thought of giving a speech, you are not alone.

That does not mean, however, that you can simply hideout and hope the speech will go away. If you want to overcome your anxiety and express your confidence, you need to tackle the terror head on.

Check out our Hello Creatives! podcast for more on this topic. Episode “10 Ways to Take the Fear Out of Public Speaking.”

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Untitled mural by Elio Mercado, aka Evoca1

CONSCIOUS | COMMUNITY

IF THESE WALLS

COULD TALK

By Nila Simon

How can paint on four walls influence a community? If the new mural on the edifice of the Harold Reitman Boys & Girls Clubs is any indication, it can uplift, inspire and better it.

Formerly a white, largely unmarked building – save for the signature Boys & Girls Clubs blue – the Reitman Club’s facade is now blanketed with large-scale images of 12 smiling figures who’ve come to represent the more than 500 families a year who seek this Boys & Girls Clubs location. Wrapped around the building’s exterior are the painted images of individuals from all walks of life – a girl holding a basketball, a boy dressed in full cap and gown ensemble, a girl in a business suit holding a book and other inspiring images of health, happiness and aspirations – serving as refreshing reminders of the positive impact that the Boys & Girls Clubs can have on a community and its youngest members.

Conceptualized during the summer of 2018, this public art project came to fruition due the visionary goals of several entities, including leaders at the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council’s Public Art & Design Committee, County Commission, Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD) and Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

“I just felt that an inspiring mural could bring life to this area and communicate what happens inside this building,” says Brian Quail, the president and chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, of the initial thought behind having a mural on the Reitman building, which is one of three Boys & Girls Clubs-operated buildings owned by the County.

Linking both public and private non-profit organizations together, the mural was a unique collaboration between several organizations. Quail began conversations with Alphonso Jefferson, the assistant county administrator at the BMSD, the government entity that serves the more than 15,000 residents of Unincorporated Broward County, a stretch of 11.4 square miles that the Reitman Club sits in.

Having already incorporated several new art installations in BMSD’s jurisdiction, Jefferson didn’t need to be convinced of the power that public art can have. Last summer, the BMSD commissioned artist Ruth Burotte to transform nearly a dozen metal traffic signal cabinets from uninspiring metal structures that were heavily defaced by graffiti to vivid expressions of the surrounding neighborhood. Today, more than half a year after Burotte completed her public arts project, the colorfully painted traffic boxes remain in near-pristine condition and largely untouched by graffiti, Jefferson says.

“I saw how art can really change a community’s mindset,” Jefferson says. “It’s as if Ruth’s artwork on these traffic cabinets have wordlessly inspired the community to be better stewards. This shows how powerful art can be in not only bringing pride to a community, but also inspiring its people to be better.”

To take the next step in creating a mural on the Reitman Club building, Jefferson and Quail connected with the Broward Cultural Division, the County’s local arts agency that has overseen the commissioning of more than 260 public artworks, who held a call to artists to submit a design for the edifice. Eventually, a five-member panel chose the design of South Florida-based artist Elio Mercado, aka Evoca1, to grace the building’s exterior.

Known for his photorealistic murals that have appeared from as far away as Australia to as near as downtown Hollywood, Mercado wanted the Reitman mural “Untitled” to be part of a movement that promoted positive opportunities and experiences.

“The mural encompasses the ideology of the community and the youth who visit the Boys & Girls Clubs,” he says. “I wanted the mural to continue to inspire those visiting or just passing by, inspiring people to be more than they can dream up.”

Photo by Downtown Photo

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“

IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS’ PURPOSE,

THE MURAL HAS ENHANCED BROWARD BOULEVARD’S STREETSCAPES AND AESTHETIC APPEAL.

The Reitman Club, named after prominent orthopedic surgeon Harold Reitman who donated the building to the Boys & Girls Club, had 502 members walk through its doors last year. Of those, 99% qualify for free or reduced school lunch, 60% have a household income of $20,000 or less, and 77% come from a single-parent home. As Quail puts it, the Boys & Girls Clubs provides vital services to these at-risk youths. Alumni include Rep. Bobby DuBones, Sen. Chris Smith, and Rep. Shevrin Jones, all of whom have visited local Clubs to inspire youths.

Through its various academic, character-building and healthy lifestyle programming, Quail says 99% of its members progressed to the next grade level last year. Part of that programming includes a year-round fine arts program, providing members weekly lessons and activities in drawing, painting, digital photography and other media.

The results of the arts program speak for themselves, with 27 Broward County club members winning national art awards.

“The mural is a celebration of art and the quality of art programming produced inside this building,” Quail says.

“It has, to me, became a way for us to say that arts are important.”

In addition to serving as a visual representation of the Boys & Girls Clubs purpose, the mural has enhanced Broward Boulevard’s streetscapes and aesthetic appeal. And BMSD has more public art installations in the works, Jefferson says. Freestanding sculptures representing the history, culture and sentiments shared by BMSD residents and stakeholders will line Northwest 27th Avenue along the northwest corner of the green space at the AfricanAmerican Research Library and Cultural Center.

Top: Artist Elio Mercado with Harold Reitman, who donated the building. Bottom: Brian Quail, Boys & Girls Clubs CEO and President.

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“We’ve seen that art can uplift a community,” Jefferson says. “And projects like Elio Mercado’s mural at the Reitman building and the upcoming one on Northwest 27th Avenue can help be a driving force to it.”

Photos by Downtown Photo

Mural unveiling on April 25, 2019; photos by Downtown Photo.

THE MURAL IS A CELEBRATION OF ART AND THE QUALITY OF ART PROGRAMMING PRODUCED INSIDE THIS BUILDING...

- BRIAN QUAIL

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Photo courtesy of Traci Young-Byron

Jonathan Stein, Wake Up Call, photo courtesy of the artist

SUPA TYB INTERVIEW WITH DANCE PHENOMENON TRACI YOUNG-BYRON

Interview by Jennifer Love Gironda Traci Young-Byron is the dance teacher I never had. Let me give you some background: As a child growing up in what is considerably more rural North Carolina, I always wanted to take dance. We didn’t have the money, and my mom didn’t have the time to get me back and forth to dance lessons while working at a factory full time. But in my heart I was always a dancer, and I would dance any chance I could. That was back in the heyday of MTV—watching those videos and dance shows was life. Sleepovers meant time to work on dance routines. I would dance outside for hours under the carport with friends, working feverishly on routines that no one was going to see but us. It wasn’t a total sad story though—I did get a chance to dance a little bit later in high school as a cheerleader, but not having a chance to grow up in that dance world is something I wish was part of my story. Especially when I see the choreography and love for movement that Traci Young-Byron possesses.

I was first made aware of the phenomenon that is ‘Supa BlackGirl’, ‘Supa TYB’ while watching my not-so-secret dance obsession, Bring It on Lifetime. Supa TYB and her Young Contemporary Dance Theatre (YCDT) dancers brought so much flair and sass to the Bring It battle floor that she earned her own eight episode docu-series, Step It Up, where viewers got an even closer look into the demanding training that takes place in her own YCDT dance studio. At that time I just thought she was an amazing dance teacher. I didn’t know that she was a member and co-choreographer of dance group, Fly Khicks—another show that I loved. I had no idea that she had numerous accolades as a college dancer and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I didn’t know that she danced for the Miami Heat for nine years, serving as team captain and assistant choreographer.

And close to my own heart—I didn’t know she was an accomplished public school teacher and a complete fashion super star.

JLG: After a total loss of words, all I can say, quite simply, is—you are truly a force to be reckoned with! What traits do you feel have helped you to have such success?

The traits I believe contributed to my success are integrity, commitment, fortitude, creativity and faith. My mom, high school dance teacher, my sorority, and ability to be unapologetic played a major role in the development of these traits.

JLG: I read that you were born right here in South Florida in Liberty City. There was recently at documentary on Liberty City, Liberty, at the Miami Film Festival.

What impact did growing up in Liberty City have on you as a person? As a dancer?

Growing up in Liberty City made me strong. My community forced me to learn perseverance and appreciate the little things. The culture in Liberty City is like none other. Growing up in Liberty City as a dancer gave me character—that is something special that most who never encountered such a place didn’t have.

Combining the rawness of the hood and my classical training always made me stand out.

JLG: What is your earliest dance memory?

My earliest dance memories include training with legendary Lindy Hop pioneer Mama Lu Parks and traveling to Seville, Spain, and Morocco at the age of 12 for two weeks to dance and travel.

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JLG: I read that you actually co-founded two collegiate dance groups, one at Florida A&M University and one at Florida State. What need did you see in the communities and how did these two groups fill that need?

My experiences as a director and choreographer started early on. While a dance major at The Florida State University, Millicent Johnnie and myself co-founded Phlava Dance Troop—a jazz and hip-hop based company. We felt compelled to expose the department to more than what was offered. In addition, Phlava aided as an outlet for self-expression.

JLG: You competed and co-choreographed for Fly Khicks on season three of MTV ’s America’s Best Dance Crew. What is one your favorite memories from that experience?

One of my favorite memories from season three of MTV ’s America’s Best Dance Crew is when we were in the bottom three and had to dance our way to safety.

JLG: You have been a collegiate dancer, professional dancer for the Miami Heat, and you continue to dance with your students. How do you stay in such physical and mental shape to continue to maintain the dancer’s active lifestyle?

I’m often asked how I do it all. Honestly, I don’t know. Wearing so many hats can be overwhelming at times but I always try to laugh. Laughing is good for the soul. A daily nap doesn’t hurt either, even if it’s just 45 minutes.

JLG: What is your mantra as a teacher/coach/choreographer?

Rule number one: The instructor is always right. Rule number two: When the instructor is wrong, refer to rule number one.

JLG: You do much more than teach dance. What are some of the other life skills that your dancers leave your studio with?

In addition to solid training, my dancers walk away more confident, focused, disciplined and hungry for success.

“

In addition to solid training, my dancers walk away more confident, focused, disciplined and hungry for success.

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JLG: I wanted a chance to highlight some of the work that you and your dancers do in the local community. What are some of your most meaningful activities that you can share with us?

My company is an annual sponsor of the South Broward Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta’s 5k Run. In addition, my company offers financial aid to high school students as well as collegiate scholarships to graduating seniors.

JLG: You truly live for your students and openly celebrate their accomplishments, on and off the dance floor. Can you share a few of your recent ‘proud teacher’ moments with our readers?

My most recent “proud teacher moments” include alumna Yazzmeen Laidler becoming a member of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and alumni Keenan Washington joining the cast of Hamilton.

JLG: What advice can you offer people that love dance but don’t have any training?

My advice to those who love dance but lack training would be to take classes and train. Everything is at your disposal these days so there’s no excuse. With the rise of social media and YouTube, tutorials are everywhere. Attend as many auditions and workshops as you can. Even if the outcome isn’t successful, take something away from each experience.

JLG: What are some of your favorite collaborative moments?

Some of my favorite collaborative moments include collaborations with Ciara, Jamaica Craft, Polo Da Don and Fatima Robinson.

JLG: Do you have any future projects that you would like to mention?

I have a few projects that I’m considering however, I’ll keep them confidential until they manifest. My prayer is also for myself or my dancers to work on a movie.

CONNECT WITH SUPA TYB:

ON THE WEB--ycdtdance.com INSTAGRAM--@supa_blackgirl Photo courtesy of Traci Young-Byron

Photo by Ray Parris

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HOW TO MAKE BETTER ART

BY NOT DOING ART?

By Jonathan Hunt

I

t was a beautiful, bright morning in South Florida; early enough in the day so the sun and humidity had not yet transformed the air into the temperature and consistency of molten lead. The birds were chirping gleefully and the squirrels gamboled in the brambles. My bike was lying on top of me as I sprawled at the bottom of a ditch staring up at the clouds flitting between the gnarled branches above. I was a bit disoriented at first, but adrenaline coupled with the taste of dirt and leaves brought me back to reality fairly quickly. Unfortunately for posterity, my friends had been riding ahead of me on the mountain bike trail so there was no embarrassing video of my headlong tumble off the rickety wooden bridge. After confirming that all my limbs were still attached, I brushed myself off and dragged my bike out of the ditch to rejoin my friends. Just another typical Sunday‌

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There is this “Myth of the Muse” that pervades artist culture (is there such a thing as artist culture? Berets, cappuccino and oblique sardonic musings about the state of society shared over Gruyère and cabernet?

Sounds good. Count me in!). Illustrator Greg Ruth discusses his views on the creative muse at length in an insightful Muddy Colors blog post (see link below). He states that: “While I may acknowledge that the Muse arrives on its own schedule… there are real practical things that bring it down from wherever. The Muse only comes when it knows it can find you… it’s not magical at all: you just need to be available to it via the work.”

In more pedestrian terms: When your car needs a new air filter, lounging on the front stoop expecting the gods of non-warranty replacement parts to drop one into your lap wouldn’t be the most expeditious course of action. You get yourself to the auto parts store, son. Similarly, artistic inspiration favors those who maintain a creative workspace and put pencil in hand and their butt in a chair for the hours it takes to perfect their craft. That being said, sometimes in life or art there is no other recourse but to let go. Walk away. Give up. Quit. I tried to explain this to my publisher, but for some reason she refuses to pay me unless I finish writing this damn column. Ah, the tragic life of an artist…

“

pants on). What you DON’T want to do is make these breaks an excuse to scroll through Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter because, more likely than not, you will still be frozen in a contorted, unnatural posture while focusing on a screen twelve inches from your poor suffering eyeballs.

I love doing art. I stay up reeeally late at night so that after I finish my paid gigs, I can work on personal projects (and sometimes Art Hive articles). Yet despite my intensity and insatiable need to create, there are times where I feel the need to back off. Sometimes this is necessitated by a particular compositional or anatomical issue that I can’t resolve and I need to let my frustration fade before I can think clearly again. Sometimes I need to make dinner or fold laundry or watch Netflix with the family. And honestly, every once in a while, I am just sick of the grind.

And that brings us back to mountain biking (you forgot about that first paragraph, didn’t you?).

At least once a week (usually on Sunday), I make it a point to get my butt out of the studio chair and onto a bike. Not to ride on the street— I don’t have a death wish. And besides, except for the drivers who are actively trying to pulverize you under the tires of their SUVs, the flat, straight roads of South Florida are so boring that my mind is probably going to wander and circle back to dwelling on bills or making art. And the entire point of me getting out of my studio is to NOT think about

REPETITIVE STRESS SYNDROME IS A VERY REAL DEMON THAT HAUNTS PAINTERS, TATTOO ARTISTS, ANIMATORS AND WRITERS.

Photo by William Hook

It can sometimes become necessary to distance yourself emotionally from certain important personal and professional decisions. Cool-headed objectivity may make it easier to come to an informed and rational conclusion untainted by misleading emotional triggers. The same concept holds true when making art: Without realizing it, we can fall in love with the process of making something while being blind to the fact that the end product is suffering. This emotional short-sightedness may lead us to create art that is fun to make but unimaginative at best, and self-indulgent or derivative at worst. This is all well and good if you are doing “personal work”-- e.g. art as a hobby or as a means of therapy, however becoming too emotionally invested in a piece is not advisable if you have clients or patrons to answer to.

Despite stick-to-it-iveness being one of the cardinal rules of success in any endeavor it is also important to know when to step away from your art in a more literal sense. Physical distance is good for several reasons: Sitting or standing in one position for hours at a time can take a toll on your back, circulation, tendons, joints, and muscle tone. Repetitive Stress Syndrome is a very real demon that haunts painters, tattoo artists, animators and writers. Eye strain and headaches are exacerbated by focusing at a fixed distance on the flat plane of a screen or canvas for too long. Remind yourself to stand up, stretch, do downward dog, walk around the room, or head to the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee every once in a while. Gaze longingly out the window or bravely journey out into the world of humans to fetch the mail (don’t forget to put your

that stuff ! So, for years, I have been an avid amateur mountain biker.

I get out into the woods with my family and friends, where instead of worrying about deadlines and emails, I channel my inner 12 year-old and focus on jumping dirt piles, rolling off of boulders, and navigating my bike over drops, bridges and log-overs. And as long as I am not going over my handle bars into ditches there are some amazing health benefits to riding. The other unexpected benefit is that I have befriended a generous and enthusiastic group of people who exist outside of my little art bubble. By the time I get back to my studio on Sunday night, I am sore but happy and ready to start painting!

So, the next time you are finding it difficult to make good art, maybe you should try giving yourself a break— and if you’re in South Florida hit me up and I’ll meet you on the trails!

P.S. I saw a really big snake on the trail the other day (a South Florida Rat Snake, Elaphe obsolete quadrivittata to be exact). It was cool.

1. “The Myth of the Muse” by Greg Ruth muddycolors.com/2018/02/the-myth-of-the-muse 2. Making a Mark: Artists and Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) makingamark.blogspot.com/2016/04/artists-and-repetitive-strain-injury-rsi.html 3.“How I Avoid Burnout Through Work/Life Balance” by Lily Williams lilywilliamsart.com/2019/01/22/how-i-avoid-art-burnout 4. “The Research-Backed Secrets to Getting Inspired” youtube.com/watch?v=FDPJTo-gNUI CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

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CREATIVE | BUILDING YOUR BRAND

“...THE GOAL IS TO HELP ARTISTS DEVELOP SKILLS AS ENTREPRENEURS.” 28

ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM

Photo by Jakob Owens

BUILDING YOUR BRAND THROUGH LIVE STREAMING

By Helen Wolt

EO SKILLS FOR CREATIVES Artists are forging new opportunities to showcase their work through live

streaming. From the studio, streaming puts the artist in front of fans and fosters conversation in real time. That connection is a digital marketing tool that helps creatives standout and grow a loyal fan base.

EE WORKSHOPS

“They can develop more cogent marketing plans and meet the audience where they are,” said James Shermer, grants administrator for the Broward Cultural VIDEO SKILLS FOR orCREATIVES Division. “Today most people are on Facebook Instagram or an online environment. It’s important to have a digital strategy or techniques in this area. That’s VIDEO SKILLS FOR CREATIVES where you’re going to find your next customer.”

FREE WORKSHOPS FREE WORKSHOPS

To acquaint artists with the skills needed to get started, the Cultural Division is putting on a free workshop, Streaming from the Studio, on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center.

Workshop facilitator Erica Mohan, grants management assistant for Broward Cultural Division, said every personality type–introverted or extroverted--can find a streaming style that suits them.

The workshop is sponsored by a PNC Arts Alive! grant and is part of the Cultural Division’s Video Skills for Creatives series. It aligns with the division’s overarching commitment to the arts community, Shermer said.

Brought to you by Broward Cultural Division With support from For the PNC Arts Alive! initiative, the Video Skills for Creatives series is on PNC Bankrelations target, said Kim Reckley, senior vice president, client and community

“It’s important to present these contemporary tools to help artists understand how to work in these new environments,” he said. “We’ve learned from past workshops, you don’t have to invest a lot in a camera or high-tech equipment anymore. Much can be done with a cell phone and a few proper lighting tools.”

to you by director for PNC Bank SoutheastBrought Florida. The grant program seeks organizations that support emerging artists, use technology creatively and expand audiBroward Cultural Division Brought to you by ences. Since 2016, it’s funneled more than $1M into 44 programs in Broward and With support from Broward Cultural Division Palm Beach Counties.

PNC Bank With support from

“Studies show a strong arts community is a significant driver of economic sucPNC Bank and regional cess,” said Cressman Bronson, PNC Bank executive vice president president for Southeast Florida. “Our grants and sponsorships can make a big difference to South Florida arts organizations of all sizes.”

“Some people have a hard time marketing themselves, especially if you have a ION ONE SESSION TWO more introverted personality. But all you have to do is turn on the computer.

When you’re live, people can tune in and ask questions,” Mohan said. “Viewers

can ask about your process,PROMO tools, colors choices; the possibilities are endless. Or if STREAMING FROM THE STUDIO ECT YOUR OWN SESSION ONE SESSION TWO answering interrupts the creative flow, reply to messages afterward.”

SESSION ONE SESSION TWO FROM THE STUDIO DIRECT YOUR OWN PROMO STREAMING nted by Robert Adanto, “Why does anyone want to Filmmaker stream?” Mohan said. “Because you can create fans Presented by Dimitry Chamy, Designer for a lifetime.”

RDAY, MAY 4, DIRECT 12 – 4 PM SATURDAY, AUGUST 10,Chamy, 1 –THE 4Designer PMSTUDIO YOUR STREAMING FROM Presented by RobertOWN Adanto,PROMO Filmmaker Presented

by Dimitry SATURDAY, 4, 12workshop.

– 4 PMAn artist with experience in Dimitry Chamy leads theMAY three-hour

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1 – 4 PM

Presented by Robert Adanto, Filmmaker Presented by Dimitry Chamy, Designer graphic design,GALLERY he is a faculty mentor at Florida International University’s Rat- POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL CENTER FRANK C. ORTIS SATURDAY, MAY 4, 12 – 4 PM SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1 – 4 PM

FRANK C.and ORTIS cliffe Art +THE Design Incubator holds aGALLERY MFA from Yale University. y Center Way, Pembroke Pines 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines

THE FRANK ORTIS At the streaming workshop,C.Chamy willGALLERY cover the technology, techniques and Center Pembroke Pines to develop a 601 Learn to develop a equipment oneCity needs to getWay, started–all with an eye toward the business of art. short film that incubator, the goal is to help artists develop skills as entreprefilm thatAs in the Ratcliffe Learn to develop a introduces yourself neurs, he said.

duces yourself short film that as a visual artist. introduces yourself isual artist.

“Stop thinking about the gallery system,” Chamy said. “Diversify and do not rely

visualthat artist. exclusivelyas on a a system says only galleries sell art. It’s never been more accesAward-winning sible to market yourself asRobert a creative person. The streaming approach doesn’t take filmmaker, d-winning away fromAward-winning your other efforts.

It’s just this added layer.”

Adanto, will lead

aker, Robert filmmaker, Robert artists through the Start small.

As your technical knowhow and on-camera confidence grow, folAdanto, will lead to, will lead basics of lowers willartists come. through the pre-production, filming and visual s through the basics of storytelling in this The casual, non-hurried format on 4-hour streamingworkshop. such as twitch.tv’s creative s of pre-production, filming andsites visual channel is fascinating for viewers, he said. storytelling in this 4-hour workshop. roduction, filming and visual distant but we want to connect and video is one of the most intelling in“We’re thisphysically 4-hour workshop.

RSVP: timate mediums to dodirectyourownpromo.eventbrite.com that,” Chamy said. “It expands the possibility of connecting with other people, and you’re more likely to have success in whatever you do.”

RSVP: directyourownpromo.eventbrite.com

: directyourownpromo.eventbrite.com

POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach CENTER 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach

POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL CENTER

W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach Artists50 will learn how Artists will learn how to use studio time to to use Artists studio time to learn how connectwill with others, connect with others, to use studio time to share expertise, build connect with others, share expertise, build community and find share build buyersexpertise, for their work community and find community and find — all while making art. buyersbuyers for their work for their work — all while making art.

— all while making art.

A 3-hour workshop

lead by Dimitry A 3-hour workshop

Chamy, designer, artist and faculty mentor at A 3-hour workshop lead DimitryArt + Design Incubator.

FIU'sby Ratcliffe lead by Dimitry Chamy, designer, artist and faculty mentor at FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.mentor at Chamy, designer, artist and faculty FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.

RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com

CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com

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Karo by Ralfonso

ART IN MOTION: WHERE MOTHER NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLIDE

THE KINETIC WORK OF RALFONSO

Foreword by Marcela Villa, Interview by Angela Yungk

I

nnovation is a driver of creativity, and Ralf Gschwend, better known as Ralfonso, has shown just how far outside the box innovation can take you. He has taken his art expertise and shared it with the world, literally. He is a global man in every sense of the word, creating masterpieces that interact with the environment, moving and changing with the elements, and presenting them in public spaces around the world.

From Geneva, Switzerland, to West Palm Beach, Florida, to Hong Kong, China, the world has been blessed with the eclectic talents of Ralfonso and his cosmopolitan view of an artist.

He studied in both Switzerland as well as in the U.S., and with a Master’s Degree from the Wharton School of Business, his background in business was concrete. It was with this business savviness that he was able to create the life that most dream of – a life with enough financial freedom to pursue one’s passions. His interests range from science, to design, to business and engineering; all these things combine to create Ralfonso, a man who was able to find the focal point of those passions and bring them into a beautifully aesthetic fruition.

All photos courtesy of the artist

Ralfonso takes many steps to create his pieces, and goes out of his way to bring meaning, technique, and new technology and design into each work. His desire to have cutting edge technology combine with nature and the elements to bring both art and function to society have led him to collaborate with multiple technical universities in Europe; these students have helped to bring sound and light sculptures, as well as shape shifting sculptures to a scientific reality.

Ralfonso incorporates his passions into his life with precision, threading each new interest into his quilt of artistry. Nature is part of his routine; daily walks around his town and others add tinder to his fuel of creativity, inspiring new pieces, form and function. Mimicking nature’s movement and seamlessly intertwining his artwork into its environment are where Ralfonso truly shines, and with some help from advanced technology, materials, and some talented techies, the sky’s the limit for Ralfonso’s kinetic and interactive art. His passion for kinetic art led to his co-founding of the Kinetic Art Organization – KAO. He has figured out how to take the art, the passion, the beauty of nature, and make it into a unique reality that he can share with the world tenfold.

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G-Ring

Angela: What made you decide that kinetic was the art form for you?

Ralfonso: It started fairly early at around eight years old. I started to take things apart—much to the dismay of my mother because there were always parts left over when I put it back together. I had an early interest in mechanics and then some years later, discovered my passion for design. I found kinetic art which is art that has a motion component to it. So from then on, my path kind of was set; I didn’t look at any other art form. I enjoyed learning about kinetic art and mechanics and the environment and forces and still to this day.

Angela: Where do you draw in your inspiration for creating these huge pieces of art and then how do you go through the process of creating it?

Ralfonso: Very often it starts with mother nature; it’s something that I see, a motion in a forest, in a tree, the way a leaf falls. Mother nature is still the best artist. I saw for the first time this amazing tropical plant called a Bird of Paradise and loved it so much that I made a kinetic sculpture that has that shape, but moves gently in the wind. It starts with some modeling, often with styrofoam initially, just to test whether the shapes that I have in mind are actually wind sensitive and work the way I envision. Then it goes to 3D modeling, then from that data where you can see from all sides, much like an architect, we then fabricate a test model, usually 10 feet tall and we test it in high winds and put them on the back of trucks and drive very fast with it. It’s quite fun to have this rattling piece of art on the back and see what happens. When that all goes well and we make our final adjustments, then we produce a large public sculpture.

Angela: You are one of the founding members of the Kinetic Art Organization. Can you tell me a little bit about how it began?

Ralfonso: It’s a fun story—the way KAO started was that an American kinetic artist, a German artist, and I met over the internet and said let’s get together and have a bottle of wine and discuss kinetic art, ball bearings, and such things that kinetic artists like to discuss. So out of that one bottle of wine, it turned out to be several bottles of wine and somehow we decided it’s time we form an organization. We thought there might be 20 to 30 people around the world that love kinetic art, and are passionate about it, but much to our amazement, in the last 20 years, that organization has grown to over 1000 members from over 60 countries. It has become quite a diverse group.

Flamenco

Angela: What continues to inspire you as you make new sculptures?

Ralfonso: I love the new ideas, new concepts. I work with universities, two in Switzerland with the graduate students to discover what artificial intelligence can create in the kinetic art realm. Not only am I exploring what is beyond the rim of my plate, my blind spot let’s say in terms of creativity, but it brings up interesting questions like, when there is a fabulous sculpture designed by artificial intelligence software, in 3D, who is the owner of the copyright? Is it me who started this and approached the universities? Is it the programmer that created the software? Is it the program itself since it created it? I like working with student teams around the world via Skype to come up with new ways of augmented and virtual reality. Sculptures that communicate around the globe with each other, where you can send audio messages as well as motion messages from one sculpture at one university to the another sculpture at the other university. Trying to be more on the bleeding edge than the cutting edge and coming up with things that haven’t been done before.

Angela: It seems like there is an immense amount of growth in kinetic art right now. What are you most excited about?

Ralfonso: There is! I feel like I’ve been given this amazing tool box. In the old days, the materials you could use were limited and difficult to work with.

Nowadays, you have such amazing materials, as well as electronics, as well as mechanics, motors that are tiny, but can move tremendous weight. I have this amazing tool box now that we can enjoy and try things out and collaborate via the internet on projects, whether it’s with students or with one another. It’s a fabulous time to be a kinetic artist.

CONNECT WITH RALFONSO:

• Facebook.com/Ralfonso1KineticSculptures • Instagram.com/ralfonso_kinetic_sculptures All photos courtesy of the artist

Moving on Up

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CONSCIOUS | GRACE CHO

ON BEING FEARLESS FOUNDER & CEO OF ARTREPRENEUR, GRACE CHO WANTS TO DESTROY THE STARVING ARTIST MYTH ONCE AND FOR ALL

By Christina Wood When Grace Cho was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming an artist. Her parents, however, had other ideas. “They said art is a hobby not a profession,” Cho says now, looking back.

For more than 25 years, she lived the life her parents wanted for her, reaching lofty heights in the corporate world and gaining experience in the financial services, media and entertainment as well as private equity industries while working for companies such as GE Capital, NBCUniversal and Nielsen – but her passion for art never dimmed.

Now, as the founder and CEO of Artrepreneur, an online platform designed to provide artists with the kind of tools and resources they need to succeed as entrepreneurs, Cho is busy applying the skills she learned in the business world to help artists live their dreams.

There’s no reason art can’t be a profession as well as a passion. “You should be able to pursue the career that you really want,” she says.

Artists have a number of hurdles to clear if they want to be successful contributors to the creative economy, though. And attitudes like those held by Cho’s parents are just the beginning.

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Making It Work “I have two degrees in art and I never learned how to make any money off of my talent or how to create a business,” says Erin Bassett, a fiber artist in Ft. Lauderdale. “My MFA taught me how to create art, not how to make a living.”

James Shermer, grants administrator for the Broward Cultural Division, believes business classes should be part of the curriculum in art school. “The way we describe it, it’s another color on the palette,” he says. “It’s something you have to learn how to use just as skillfully as the other techniques.”

In 2016, Bassett enrolled in the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute offered by the Cultural Division, a four-weekend course that the Cultural Division and ArtServe oversee that is designed to assist artists develop the business skills they need to successfully manage their careers. Since 2007, when the Cultural Division first offered AEI training, more than 700 artists have completed the program. A new session is scheduled to begin June 1 at ArtServe in Ft. Lauderdale.

“The Artist as an Entrepreneur course was really vital in the things that they talked about,” Bassett says. “It’s really a great foundation.”

Photos submitted

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NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH MARKETING PRINCIPLES OR A PROFIT-LOSS STATEMENT IS JUST ONE REASON WHY ARTISTS CAN BE RELUCTANT TO EMBRACE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ASPECT OF THEIR CAREERS.

And that’s where Cho hopes Artrepreneur can help.

“Our core is really about education,” she says. “It’s geared towards the visual artist to help them build their brand, build their business and connect with the right people in the industry.”

After creating an online profile and portfolio, artists can sell their work, apply for jobs and access a wealth of information through Artrepreneur. There is a Pro version, available on a monthly subscription basis, but Cho says most artists will be able to find everything they need with the basic free membership.

(Modest fees may be associated with certain marketplace situations. One-onone access to experts, including portfolio reviewers, is also available for a fee.)

“The artists themselves are naturally entrepreneurial, they hustle, and they make every dollar count. I’ve never seen a group work more diligently,” she says. “But the system is such that they haven’t had exposure to some of the fundamentals of building a business.”

Not being familiar with marketing principles or a profit-loss statement is just one reason why artists can be reluctant to embrace the entrepreneurial aspect of their careers. In what may be a 21st-century spin on the myth of the starving artist, financial success can carry with it a certain superficial taint. “That is what we have to kill off,” says Cho, who is making it her mission to empower artists and lay the starving artist to rest once and for all. “There’s no shame in making money.”

Getting the Job Done Virginia Fifield is a successful artist known for her super-realistic charcoal drawings of animals. But, in 2008 when she signed up for AEI, she was struggling to make a living. Her work was represented by two galleries, but she was still working a part-time job to make ends meet. “[My career] really wasn’t doing much until I took this class,” she says. “Then all the doors opened.”

Fifield and two of her fellow AEI graduates – LeeAnna Yater and Jacklyn Laflamme – were eager to put the lessons they’d learned to work. They also wanted to express their gratitude to the Broward County Cultural Division for providing the course. The best way to accomplish both goals, they decided, was to organize an exhibition. They called it “Doing Business as Artist Entrepreneurs” – “DBA” for short – and invited their fellow AEI graduates to participate.

“DBA: Texture,” which marks the 11th annual installment of the event, opens on June 10. Bassett, who participated in the 2017 show, serves as curator.

Cho will be the featured speaker at the show’s Closing Forum on June 20.

Her background as an artist combined with her business acumen gives her a

unique perspective on the evolving art markets and what is needed to succeed in them. “Determining what is creative success is a very personal exercise. Everyone’s notion of success can be different, especially for artists and designers,” she says. “The one thing every creative needs to realize about this industry is to know that it is a creative economy and understanding the business of art and design is critical to defining success.”

Cho wants to encourage artists to be fearless. Many of the artists she meets through her work with Artrepreneur lack the confidence needed to excel in the entrepreneurial arena. “If you don’t know about business,” she says, “don’t be afraid. Learn!”

“DBA: Textured” On display at ArtServe from June 12-28 Gallery Reception: Thursday, June 13 from 6-8 pm Closing Forum: Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 pm Featuring “Be Fearless: Artrepreneurs Can Master the Business of Art & Design” with guest speaker: Grace Cho, CEO and founder of Artrepreneur *Seating is limited and RSVPs are strongly advised for this free event: GraceCho.eventbrite.com Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) is designed to assist artists of all disciplines – including visual, media and theater artists as well as musicians and writers – develop their business skills. The program is presented by the Broward County Cultural Division, but you don’t have to be a resident of the county to participate.

To help artists navigate the marketplace more successfully, the AEI curriculum helps artists identify and develop their personal brand, develop strategies for communicating with target markets, raise capital and identify a variety of tools for protecting one’s work legally. It also shows artists how to strengthen their operating infrastructure and expand their business.

The next session will run four consecutive Sundays in June: • June 1, 8 & 15 from 9 am to 6 pm • Business Plan Workshop: June 22 from 9 am to 2 pm All sessions take place at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale.

Cost: $100 includes course book, light refreshments and parking.

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CONSCIOUS CONSCIOUS | PHILLIP DUNLAP

MUSICAL MASTER Phillip Dunlap, who has just joined Broward Cultural Division as its new Director, is also an accomplished jazz musician and former Director of Education and Community Engagement with the non-profit Jazz St. Louis.

Curious to know what instrument South Florida’s newest leader in the arts plays?

We caught up with Dunlap here to learn more.

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Photo by Devin Rodino

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Photo by R.J Hartbeck

Art Hive: What instruments do you play?

Phillip Dunlap: I started taking piano lessons in the third grade, which means I’ve been playing piano for about 27 years at this point. I was classically trained through high school and then pursued jazz into college. I graduated in 2007 with my Masters of Music in jazz performance, a Bachelor of Music in jazz performance, and a Bachelor of Music in music theory and composition.

AH: What sparked your passion for the arts?

PD: My parents encouraged my participation in the arts through music lessons, choir at school, community theater programs, etc. They allowed and made space for me to be involved. I was never into any sort of organized sports, and I was not a great student, but music gave me an outlet of self-expression (whether I realized it at the time is a different story) and a place to be around kids that were also into the arts.

AH: What drew you to Broward County Cultural Division? Aside from trading the Midwestern weather for palm trees and sand.

PD: I am very interested in how municipal governments invest public money in the arts and culture sector. We know that the Arts and Culture economy is a major driver of economic activity and I wanted to be part of those conversations.

AH: We see you worked on a lot of statewide programs and initiatives; how did you decide that was something you wanted to pursue?

PD: I spent many years on the executive board of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, which is Missouri’s statewide arts advocacy organization. The last year of which, I was president of the organization and worked with our lobbyist on coordinating the state-wide arts advocacy agenda (this was a volunteer position). I gained a lot of experience working with state legislators and lobbyists to drive arts policy. Maybe I’m nosy, but I got involved because I recognized that important conversations were happening on the state level and I wanted to be in those conversations. And, a lot of doors open when you volunteer for things that no one else wants to do. The conversations and decisions I was able to drive had a direct impact on the organization I was working for ( Jazz St. Louis), which increased my value and impact to the organization.

AH: What’s your favorite part of your work; what has kept you in the arts for more than 10 years (and counting)?

PD: I like being part of something bigger than me, something bigger than the organization I work for, and something bigger than all of us. When I retire, I want to be able too look back on a legacy that made the world a better place and know that I contributed in some way.

AH: You’ve been involved with advocacy efforts in your previous roles; why is this important to you and is there anything you’re looking forward to advocating?

PD: Advocacy is something we all do, but at the same time is foreign and frightening to a lot of people. Advocacy is simply letting those in power (the decision makers in whatever arena you are in) know why something is important to you.

In this case, it is the arts. If we are not constantly talking to legislators, county administrators, commissioners, etc., about why the arts are important, why should they support it? Right now, I am excited about advocating for as much support for the arts in Broward County as I can. A rising tide raises all boats and if all work together, we can achieve great things.

Photo by R.J Hartbeck

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I LIKE BEING PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ME, SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THE ORGANIZATION I WORK FOR, AND SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ALL OF US.

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AH: What’s the biggest hurdle you’re most proud of overcoming in your career?

PD: One of the biggest hurdles was the career jump from the programming side of non-profit arts, to my current position at the Broward Cultural Division. People like to place you in a box with a label, and if you are in programming, it is difficult to get some folks to think of you outside of that role. This is one of the reasons I started adding so many other aspects to my job in the last four years at Jazz St. Louis. I knew that if I wanted other opportunities, I needed to demonstrate and build capacity in other areas of non profit arts administration.

But it wasn’t easy when applying for jobs in places where you don’t have contacts.

AH: What is your favorite example of success in community engagement?

PD: Community Engagement is difficult work and I was just getting started in Community Engagement work before I left Jazz St. Louis. Sure, I did a lot of program development and implementation, but that is not necessarily the same thing. Programs and initiatives that result from true community engagement work are as much about process as they are the product. A lot of people confuse terms like equity and equality and there are important distinctions. A lot of damage can be done if the work is not approached through an equity lens. It is easy to see the “solution” before even stopping to ask those you serve whether your solution actually fits their need. One step further means that you need to involve the group of people you are ultimately trying to serve in the creation of the initiative.

AH: Do you see any specific trends in the arts that you’re excited to tap into?

PD: Funding for the arts in Florida is trending up, and I am excited to tap into that. But on a broader level, I want the Cultural Division to start thinking in terms “next practices” as opposed to “trends” and “best practices”. If we focus on the latter two, we will always be behind. I am not intimating that we are behind, but I want us to continue to be leaders in public art and grant making and to be on the leading edge, we need to be OK taking risks in order to define our “next practices” that can then become “best practices” for our field.

AH: Is there one aspect of your new position that you are most looking forward to?

PD: I am excited to learn about a new area and to move the needle forward with public funding for the arts.

AH: What’s the thing you’ll miss most about St. Louis?

PD: I’ll miss my friends and family, of course. St. Louis has amazing architecture that I will miss, and for its size St. Louis also has a fantastic food scene with multiple James Beard award-winning chefs. I look forward to exploring the food scene here.

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PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT RESULT FROM TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK ARE AS MUCH ABOUT PROCESS AS THEY ARE THE PRODUCT.

Photo by R.J Hartbeck

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HERE COMES THE

THUNDER BLACK LIGHTNING STAR

Nafessa Williams Foreword by Marcela Villa, Interview by Angela Yungk

P

hiladelphia native Nafessa Williams is a young actress who is already making a mark on the television and film industry. Her latest role, Anissa from Black Lightning, which airs on The CW, is a unique one. Black Lightning, based off the DC Comics superhero, is approaching the premiere of its third season and we have grown to love the strong and fierce black lesbian daughter of Black Lightening, Anissa, later known as Thunder.

Nafessa has taken some leaps of faith of her own to make magic happen in her real life. She was on the pursuit of a legal career and working in the homicide department of the District Attorney’s office when she decided it was not the path for her. She dove head in and began paving her way into her acting career, appearing in the film, Streets, alongside another Philadelphia native and renowned rapper, Meek Mill, which was released in 2012. Fast forward to 2018, and she is representing beautifully for the LGBT community with strength and poise as Anissa. Aside from being the first lesbian superhero to be portrayed on television, Anissa’s character in the show is empowering to those who watch, and even more so for Nafessa who portrays her. Anissa fights for social justice in the show, using her powers to bring change and peace, and being an empowering representation of women as a whole, women of color, and particularly those part of the LGBT community. We can all look up to a strong woman superhero on television, but it’s even better when she is able to bring diversity and allow for the inclusion of those we don’t usually see on screen.

Anissa is a big role for Nafessa, and an even bigger role for society, motivating and inspiring for all who watch. Nafessa has taken steps towards some of her real life passions to fight for social justice in her every day life, visiting the homeless of Los Angeles in Skid Row and praying with them as well as giving out clothes to them.

Nafessa spoke with Art Hive Magazine about her pursuit to her creative dream and what led her there, as well as all things Anissa, what this role means to her, and how it has influenced her life and the television industry.

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Photo by Tyren Redd

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Photo by Tyren Redd

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You are best known for playing Anissa on the ground-breaking series Black Lightning—what attracted you to this role? Can you give us any teasers for season three?

The fact that Anissa was to be the first lesbian superhero on television, as well as the issues the series was touching on, truly attracted me to this amazing role. Sadly, I have no details on season three yet! I promise I really don’t! I don’t know anything just yet so I’m very excited!

Playing a character with so much depth must be a challenge and a lot of fun! What do you enjoy most about this character?

Her strength, her fearlessness and her passion for wanting to fight for her people and for social justice. There are a lot of things I can say. She is very empowering—especially for this generation and specifically for lesbian women.

What do you hope people get out of watching the show? Do you feel like the world is ready or needs a gay female superhero?

I hope that people discover the real superhero within themselves from watching the show. That they get inspired to become the superheroes of their community.

I honestly think this generation is not only ready but wants diversity and inclusion. I think a lesbian superhero is very necessary because we now have a large group of women seeing themselves on television for the first time.

You started out pursuing a career path in law, even working at a homicide department at the District Attorney’s office. When was it that you realized that law was not the career for you and that acting was what you wanted to do with your life?

I realized it wasn’t the career for me when I would cry in the morning when it was time to go to work. I hated how restricted it was. It was a tough transition coming out of college. I decided to follow my dreams but knew how difficult it would be to start a new career.

You took a huge leap of faith moving into acting. How did that transition go for you?

Well, it was very challenging and discouraging at times, but clearly it was all worth it. I would do it all over again the same the way.

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NAFESSA HAS TAKEN SOME LEAPS OF FAITH OF HER OWN TO MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN IN HER REAL LIFE.

Can you tell us about your charity work with The Beatrice Foundation and why you find it important to give back?

I find it important to give back because I feel that the future of happiness and prosperity is met by serving other people.

We volunteer and go to Skid Row (5sq. miles) in Downtown LA to pray with and give clothes out to the homeless.

Are there any books/movies/creative obsessions that you use for inspiration that you would like to share with our readers?

I meditate and just try to do some sort of morning routine every day. The Chopra Center is a meditation center that offers free workshops about every 3-4 months that I really felt comfortable in and has great packages. Eternal Sunshine on Soundcloud is also a great source for me, it helps me be aware and ready for the day. I love reading. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is what I’m currently reading but A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle is one of my favorites.

Do you have any advice for a creative who is trying to make it in film industry? Is there anything you wish you would have known earlier in your career that you know now?

First, really pursue the craft and surround yourself with people who are great with the craft. Just do it 24/7. Be authentic, be who you are and do not change for Hollywood.

Just truly be yourself and fall in love with that person…that will serve you well in your career and path.

What can fans expect for the rest of 2019? Are you working on any new projects or causes?

Yes! We can expect season three this fall and upcoming film Black and Blue starring Naomi Harris later this year.

CONNECT WITH NAFESSA WILLIAMS Instagram and Twitter: @nafessawilliams With special thanks to...

Photo: Tyren Redd // @tyrenredd Styling: Tim Guy & Tim B //@iamtimguy @styledbytimb Makeup: Jourdan L // @jobellaluv Hair: Natasha // @natashabrowngirlbraids

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WE CAN ALL LOOK UP TO A STRONG WOMAN SUPERHERO ON TELEVISION, BUT IT’S EVEN BETTER WHEN SHE IS ABLE TO BRING DIVERSITY AND ALLOW FOR THE INCLUSION OF THOSE WE DON’T USUALLY SEE ON SCREEN.

MY SHELTER PETS ARE MY BIGGEST FANS

LOGAN RYAN WITH LEO AND JULIUS: ADOPTED 2014 AND 2018.

They’re a little bit of a lot of things, but they’re all pure love.

THESHELTERPETPROJECT.ORG

PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE: THE HEART OF PALM BEACH COUNTY CULTURE

T

hrough innovative academic programs and unique cultural offerings, Palm Beach State College has inspired emerging artists and captivated audiences for decades, earning it a secure spotlight on Palm Beach County’s robust cultural stage.

Students come to Palm Beach State College to develop their talents in everything from music, theater and the fine arts to film, graphic and web design, architecture, interior design, photography and ceramics.

Students prepare for careers in the arts either by taking courses as part of their Associate in Arts transfer degree or by enrolling in Associate in Science or College Credit Certificate programs. Offerings are always expanding, and now include digital animation and the recording arts.

The College also runs summer programs in the arts for children ages 8 to 17.

The flow of talent through PBSC has enriched the county and the world beyond, whether it’s graphic design students who go on to professional careers in advertising and corporate communications or film, music and theater students who become directors, singers, musicians and actors.

“The arts and humanities teach people to think critically and deal with the world using a creative approach, and our programs support that tradition,” said Vernon Grant, PBSC’s associate dean for Humanities.

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all of our programs, and our galleries and theaters showcase this talent to the community.”

Palm Beach State’s three theaters bring world-class cultural and entertainment events and visiting artists to all corners of the county.

The Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, a 467-seat theater on PBSC’s Belle Glade campus, has made the world of the arts affordable and accessible. Opening in 1983, it is still the only cultural, artistic and family entertainment center available on a continuing basis to residents and visitors in the Glades area of Western Palm Beach County and the communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee.

The Duncan Theatre has been a fixture on the Lake Worth campus since 1986, when it opened in honor of beloved literature and drama professor Watson B. Duncan III. The 698-seat theater is known regionally and nationally for its diverse offerings in modern dance, ballet, new music, jazz and theater. For five consecutive years, Florida Weekly News has chosen the Duncan Theatre as the “Best Place For a Song and a Dance.”

Eissey Campus Theatre opened in 1994 on the beautifully wooded Palm Beach Gardens campus. This 750-seat theater serves as northern Palm Beach County’s center for education and the arts and presents a season of international artists as well as regular performances by local professional companies.

Photo Submitted

If you’ve never been to one of Palm Beach State’s theaters, here’s what you’ve missed so far this year…

Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center

Motown Magic Missoula Children’s Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland Love is a Rose: Celebrating the Music of Linda Ronstadt Billy McGuigan’s Rock Twist Illusions & Beyond Forever Young The Gospel According to the MACG

“Aside from its educational offerings and theater performances, the College supports art galleries on the Lake Worth and Palm Beach Gardens campuses.”

“Palm Beach State College theaters have been serving the greater Palm Beach County community for a combined 97 years, offering first-class performing arts experiences for all. No matter where you live or work or are visiting, we have you covered. East or west, our theaters are there to satisfy your entertainment needs,” said Mark Alexander, executive director of theaters.

Aside from its educational offerings and theater performances, the College supports art galleries on the Lake Worth and Palm Beach Gardens campuses. The galleries seek to develop a lifetime appreciation and understanding of the visual arts in students and families.

Each features numerous exhibitions a year by professional artists, art faculty and students.

Duncan Theatre

Paul Taylor Dance Company Hubbard Street Dance Chicago The Bronx Wanderers Maxwell Quartet Stayin’ Alive Josh Young sings Andrew Lloyd Webber Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure (Family Fun Series)

“I am so proud to lead an institution that I believe is the heart of Palm Beach County,” said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D. “I believe that we are the heart of the county because of our size, our dedication to transforming our students’ lives, and in how we respond to our community and our community’s workforce needs.”

Founded in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college, Palm Beach State now boasts the largest enrollment of any higher education institution in Palm Beach County and fourth largest in the state. Its five campuses provide access countywide, and its more than 49,000 students have the choice of earning associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and career certificates, spanning more than 130 programs of study.

For more information, please visit www.palmbeachstate.edu or call (561) 868-3450 to learn more about arts and culture at PBSC and how you can support the cultural heartbeat of Palm Beach County.

Eissey Campus Theatre

Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches Goldner Arts in the Gardens for Young People Ballet Florida Palm Beach Opera Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival Indian River Pops Orchestra CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE

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A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: LANDING WITH A RARE BIRD’S EYE VIEW FROM HUNT SLONEM’S BROOKLYN STUDIO WONDERLAND

By Bruce Helander It’s one thing to contemplate an artist’s work on the walls of a gallery or in a good museum, or perhaps read a great article in a leading art magazine, but the perspective one receives is obviously limited and never totally complete until you have the opportunity to converse directly with the artist while in their studio. This dilemma is even more complicated, as most artists are private people, and as they gain fame their time to host studio appointments becomes severely limited. Unless you are a good friend, a family relative, an art critic or curator, or a well-known active collector with unlimited financial resources, your chances of meeting with an eminent artist on his home turf are unlikely. The next best thing may be the occasion to view an informative documentary or interview, where you get the essence of the artist and the “creative nest” with which the artist has surrounded himself.

I am grateful that I have had extraordinary opportunities over the past several decades to observe exceptional artists where they work, which came my way as a dealer in contemporary art on West Broadway in Manhattan and Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, and later as a curator for numerous museum shows and as a critic and editor-in-chief of The Art Economist. These experiences were particularly valuable and memorable as they led to connecting with some of the most famous artists living in America, including Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist, which offered me insightful perspectives and professional work habits.

When I first met Hunt Slonem over thirty years ago, he lived and worked in a modest walk-up studio on Houston street in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. As I approached his studio door with a knock and a shout, I unintentionally initiated what seemed to be a buzzing primitive call to the wild with a harmonic chorus of exotic birds squawking to announce an impending guest. Inside, near the entrance, a veritable jungle of giant cages housed dozens of exotic birds, a long-time passion and preoccupation for Hunt, whose inhabitants all seem to squawk in harmonic unison as you pass by. I soon discovered that the artist lived and worked with the subjects of his paintings, fair-weather feathered friends that were the models for his expansive artistic investigations into winged creatures of the earth. Hunt has moved his studio several times in the last few decades, but still holds on to his original digs on Houston Street, where he routinely returns each night after a challenging day in his studio.

Slonem’s current studio is a bona fide museum of curiosities, supported by a massive 30,000 sq. ft. space filled to the brim with marvelous paintings accented by thousands of delightful objects from the turn of the century and positioned next to vintage furniture, often reupholstered with one of the artist’s designed favorite fabric repeat prints or perhaps a dazzling pattern of flying butterflies in an aerodynamic formation custom printed on wallpaper.

This amazing studio is simply packed to the ceiling with a visual unending energy that is simply unforgettable. A quote from renowned collector Beth DeWoody published in the artist’s latest book is insightful and accurate: “Hunt Slonem is the kind of artist whose life becomes his art. Walking into his studio is like entering a magical world of a Victorian-era mansion in the middle of a rainforest.” As you wander down a long, wide corridor that must be nearly the length of a football field, you might stop to examine a fine table overflowing with 18th century formal top hats and their original cases (think Abraham Lincoln!), and when the light shines past a stately view of the Statue of Liberty, ricochets off the adjacent East River and hits a factory shelf chock-full of wondrous vividly-hued glass containers, it adds a constant colorful sparkle to the floors, which are covered with classic rugs that sometimes feature a Slonem original design. It’s easy to get lost here, if not physically then certainly emotionally sidetracked by yet another surprising presentation of handsome, unusual items, all hand-collected by the maestro. There is a large table displaying new hardcover books all about Hunt Slonem and his adventuresome quest of acquiring properties that he then decorates to the nines. Another section is filled with his new series of laser-cut, painted sculptures of birds, bunnies and monkeys.

Opposite page: Hunt Slonem, Untitled, 2015, Ed. 1/10, Acrylic on aluminum, 19 x 6 x 6.5 in. Courtesy Hunt Slonem Studio.

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Interior corridor, Hunt Slonem Studio, Brooklyn, New York. The studio originally was a turn-of-the-century factory building connected to the whaling industry, which later was used for manufacturing furniture.

Photograph by Ariana Fatima Muessel.

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Portrait of Hunt Slonem in his studio, on his bunny couch in front of his Bunny Wall, Brooklyn, New York. Photograph by Brandon Schulman.

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You can judge a lot about an artist when you consider their studios. There always is a “visual aroma” of a professional studio environment that often is an unforgettable encounter. Each studio has its own level of momentum.

Sometimes tranquil, but most often a bit frantic with deliveries and shipping crisscrossing, assistants running in all directions, and deadlines and professional commitments met without a moment to spare. Even a quick visit with a notable artist offers convincing evidence of success. One tip-off is the size of a working space and the number of paintings that are wrapped and clearly meant to be shipped to exciting destinations around the world. Hunt has multiple openings every single month for years into the future, not only in the United States, but in museums and galleries around the world, which amplifies the ongoing drive in his personal nest. The other evidence of a remarkable character are the objects scattered around the studio, which have a built-in intriguing aesthetic that may manifest into collections of collections later on that are enjoyable and stimulating to the artist. Dale Chihuly is the only other artist that I know who preferred from the get-go to surround himself with hundreds of things that he loves, such as Bakelite radios, vintage plastic cameras, chalkware, and dozens of other categories that are documented in my latest book “Chihuly: An Artist Collects” (Harry Abrams, Inc.). English artist Peter Blake loves to surround himself with vintage advertisements and English knickknacks, which were an incentive for his historic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club album cover. Damien Hirst is a noted collector and the richest artist in Great Britain and loves to collect artworks and objects that often end up in his artworks. Hunt fits the mold of a highly respected and successful artist who somehow finds time to continue building his collections, which often appear in his studio as inspiration or at one of the half-dozen properties that he owns in the United States, from plantations in Louisiana to the former governor’s mansion in upstate New York to a jaw-dropping 150,000 sq. ft. former Armory in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Armory is jam-packed with amazing furnishings after 500 truckloads arrived from the Brooklyn studio, and is the focus of his latest blockbuster book, “Gatekeeper: World of Folly” (Assouline Press).

Hunt Slonem is on a roll. He has achieved overwhelming critical acclaim, his work is in hundreds of museum collections, including the Metropolitan and Whitney, and he continues to receive invitations to exhibit and lecture around the planet. What’s so remarkable to me is the level of perpetual vitality and genuine enthusiasm he displays in all his activities and the idiosyncratic signature that is evident in all of his work, no matter what the topic. While you might not get the opportunity to meet this natural treasure in person, you certainly can stay in touch by joining his newsletter or checking out one of the many exhibitions scheduled for this summer.

• June 1: Kiev Picture Gallery, Kiev Ukraine • June 1: Gallery Red, Mallorca, Spain • June 29: Jessica Hagen Fine Art, Newport, RI • July 4: Odessa Museum of Eastern and Western Art • July 18: Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY • August 1: Gallery Red, Ibiza, Spain • August 9: Quidley & Co, Nantucket, MA For more information about the artist: www.huntslonem.com —Bruce Helander is an artist who writes on art. He is a member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, a former White House Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts and a former Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at his alma mater, the Rhode Island School of Design. He first wrote on the artist in 2008 in his award-winning book, “Learning to See” and later in “Hunt Slonem – Bunnies” (Glitterati Press).

Opposite page: Hunt Slonem, Untitled, 2019, Oil on wood, 32.5 x 27.5 in. Courtesy Hunt Slonem Studio.

Top: Table of top hats and their cases, Hunt Slonem collection, Hunt Slonem Studio, Brooklyn, New York. Photograph by Bruce Helander.

Bottom: Hunt Slonem, Untitled, 2018, Oil and acrylic with diamond dust on canvas, 72 x 84 in. Courtesy Hunt Slonem Studio.

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SPECIAL | SUMMER BEACH READS 2019 How To Be A Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest—Sarah Corbett’s eyeopening manifesto is the answer that many introverted and burnt-out activists have been looking for. This is more than just an insider’s account of the pitfalls of modern activism, it’s a tool kit that lays out a respectful and collaborative way of making a difference through the art of crafting. Are you ready to make a change in a creative way that actually gets results? Well look no further my friends, it’s all inside How To Be A Craftivist: The Art Of Gentle Protest.

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity—Julia Cameron’s work is a staple for anyone looking to delve into their creativity in a deeply meaningful and even spiritual way. This 25th Anniversary Edition passes the test of time with hundreds of activities meant to help you get introspective and help you find your own inner spring of creative inspiration, as well as how to find the support you need from fellow artists along the way. The Artist’s Way meets you where you’re at and guides you to where you want to be- what else could you ask for?

I Choose Me: The Art of Being a Phenomenally Successful Woman at Home and at Work—Cynthia James demystifies the journey to becoming like the women we most admire in this profound narration about finding success, joy, and meaning in every arena we occupy. Whether you’re working on becoming the next Oprah Winfrey or Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or you just want to feel more empowered and content where you are in life, there’s something in this book for you.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business—What do award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civilrights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. all have in common? They discovered the key to success in any endeavor lies in our patterns and habits! In this captivating narrative Charles Duhigg dives into the deep end of what makes a person or business go from bust to boom; from no future to bright horizons.

She Means Business: Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur— Entrepreneur, Law School graduate, blogger, YouTube sensation, Ted Talk speaker, Founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association—Carrie Green has been through all the ups and downs of pursuing your dreams while trying to keep your head above water. If anyone can understand what it’s like to create a business from the ground up all on your own, it’s this amazing woman. But it’s more than just encouragement she’s offering; Carrie Green provides you with her own tried-and-tested tools and sage advice on becoming the extraordinary entrepreneur you always knew you could be.

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In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs­ —Founder of Design*Sponge Grace Bonney has done a marvelous job with compiling this diverse and fervid anthology of so many tenacious and ambitious women.

The women in these interviews unapologetically went after what they wanted and came out the other side at the top of their fields. Inspiring, surprising and powerful—these words can only do so much justice to the beautiful stories Bonney has carefully collected that teach us how to harness our creativity, even while overcoming adversity.

Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World­ —Tim Ferriss is a New York Times Best Selling Author and in his most recent book, he gives insight into the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, artists and athletes. Tribe of Mentors will be sure to give you the summer boost you need.

Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad—Definitely a must read when you are a creative entrepreneur. If you haven’t read one of Austin Kleon’s books yet, you’re in for a treat.

They are easy reads that are both inspiring and uplifting.

So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love—With the book title taken from comedian Steve Martin, who once gave advice for aspiring artists which was to “be so good they can’t ignore you,” Author Cal Newport goes against the grain claiming that passion is not the driving factor in success. If you are frustrated in your current situation or in need of “career enlightenment” this might just be the book for you.

Who Moved My Cheese?—A seemingly simple concept, mice stuck in a maze and what are they willing to do to get out of it. Who Moved My Cheese gives the reader insight on how to manage stress and making the most out of life.

-Words by Andrea De La Cruz

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CREATIVE SUMMER CAMPS 2019

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PALM BEACH COUNTY Armory Art Center | Summer Art Experience West Palm Beach; June 3­—August 9 561.832.1776 or armoryart.org/youthartcamps Grades 1-5 • BonJour Summer: June 3 - June 7 • Warhol’s World: June 10 - June 14 • Art & Activism: June 17 - June 21 • Buggin’ Out: June 24 - June 28 • Free to be Me: July 1 - July 3 • The Odyssey: July 8 - July 12 • Matisse Magic: July 15 - July 19 • Summer STEAM: July 22 - July 26 • Bam!: July 29 - August 2 • Day of the Dead: August 5 - August 9 Grades 6-12 • Ceramics: Wheel Throwing & Printmaking: Image Transfer Techniques: June 3 - June 7 • Portraiture & Digital Media: Animation with Adobe Animate©: June 3 - June 7 • Fashion Design: Upcycle & Illustration: June 10 - June 14 • Ceramics: Tile Making & Digital Media: Video Art with Adobe Photoshop©: June 10 - June 14 • Graffiti & the Art of Cartooning: June 17 - June 21 • Digital Media: Drone Photography and Editing & Painting: June 17 - June 21 • Ceramics: Handbuilding & Collage: June 24 - June 28 • Hard Sculpture & Photography: June 24 - June 28 • Theater Arts: Costume Design & Special Effects Make Up: July 1 - July 3 • Wheel Throwing & Mixed Media Drawing: July 1 - July 3 • Photography & Printmaking: Screen Printing: July 8 - July 12 • Ceramics: Surface Treatments & Painting: July 8 - July 12 • Jewelry & Fashion Design: Accessories: July 15 - July 19 • Digital Media: 3D Animation with Blender© & Papermaking: July 15 - July 19 • Graffiti & Illustration: July 22 - July 26 • Ceramics: Handbuilding & Fashion Design: Pattern Making: July 22 - July 26 • Ceramics: Wheelthrowing & Metalsmithing: July 29 - August 2 • Digital Media: After Effects© Videos & Installation Art: July 29 - August 2 • Fashion Design: Sewing & Soft Sculpture: August 5 - August 9 • Digital Media: Comic Book Animation & Book Arts: August 5 - August 9

Arts Dance Generation | CuBallet Summer Intensive Lake Worth; July 22­—August 11 (ages 8+) 561.577.5355 or artsdancegeneration.org Boca Raton Museum of Art | Youth Summer Art Camp Boca Raton; June 3­—August 9 (ages 5-12) 561.577.5355 or artsdancegeneration.org • Crazy Color Explosion: June 3 - June 7 • Fabulous Famous Artists: June 10 - June 14 • Wild At Art: Exploring The Natural World: June 17 - June 21 • Creative Passport: Art Around The World: June 24 - June 28 • ‘Art’rageous Drawing And Painting From Life: July 1 - July 5 • Comic Character Creator: Heroes & Villians: July 8 - July 12 • 3-D Sculpture Sensations: July 15 - July 19 • Comic Craze: Creative Storytelling: July 22 - July 26 • Artist’s Studio: Drawing Skills & Techniques: July 29 - August 2 • Going Green: Upcycling With Mixed Media: August 5 - August 9

From top to bottom: Photo credit Adam Setton and Charlotte Foreman; Photo credit Caroline Collette; Photo credit Art and Culture Center Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

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Center for Creative Education | C4 Media Arts & Technology West Palm Beach; June 3­—August 2 (ages 13-18) 561.805.9927 or cceflorida.org • • • • •

Making A Documentary: Mondays Character Animation: Tuesdays Web Design / HTML / Coding: Wednesdays Photoshop & Photography: Thursdays Music Production / Beat Making: Fridays

City of Boynton Beach | Art Camp Boynton Beach; June 10­—August 2 (ages 11-15) 561.742.6650 or wemakelifefun.com City of West Palm Beach | Dance & Cheer Camp West Palm Beach; June 3­—June 7 (ages 6-13) 561.804.4900 or wpb.org/parks Cultural Council of Palm Beach County | Early Learners Lake Worth; June 18­—July 24 561.471.2901 or palmbeachculture.com • AIMBY l Early Learners: Babies and Tots Yoga: June 18 - July 23 (ages 18mo-4) • AIMBY l Early Learners: Little Artist, Creative Reuse: June 19 - July 24 (ages 2-6)

Dance Arts Conservatory Center for the Performing Arts | Dance Camp Wellington; June 3—August 9 (ages 4-10) 561.296.1880 or danceartsconservatory.com • • • • •

Mermaids and Pirates: June 10 - June 14 Enchanted Fairy Garden: June 17 - June 21 My Little Pony: June 24 - June 28 Princes and Princesses: July 29 - August 2 Frozen Friends: August 5 - August 9

Florida School for Dance Education | Dance Camp Palm Beach Gardens & West Palm Beach; June 3—July 19 561.627.9708 or floridaschoolfordanceeducation.com • Little Ballerina’s Camp: June 3 - July 19 (ages 3-7) • Summer Intensive: June 3 - July 19 (ages 7-18)

Gumbo Limbo | Environmental Camp Boca Raton; June 10 - August 8 561.544.8605 or gumbolimbo.org • Session 1: June 10-14 (grades 1-2) • Session 2: June 17-21 (grades 3-4) • Session 3: June 24-28 (grades 5-6) • Session 4: July 1-3, 5 (grades 7-9) • Session 5: July 8-11 (grades 7-9) • Session 6: July 15-19 (grades 1-2) • Session 7: July 22-26 (grades 3-4)

G-Star School of the Arts | Summer Programs Palm Springs; June 10 - August 8 (grades 9-12) 561.967.2023 or gstarschool.org

From top to bottom: Photo credit Coral Springs Museum of Art; Photo credit Inside Out Theatre

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• X-Scream Camp: Contact for details • Film Camp: Contact for details • Theatre Camp: Contact for details

Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

Kids Need More Art | Summer Art Series Jupiter; June 3—August 9 (ages 5-12) 561.746.4576 or kidsneedmoreart.com Jupiter: • “Clean” Week: June 3rd – June 7th • “Green” Week: June 10th – June 14th • “Wind” Week: June 17th – June 21st • “Rain” Week: June 24th – June 28th • “Sticks” Week: July 1st – July 5th • “Stones” Week: July 8th – July 12th • “Plants” Week: July 15th – July 19th • “Animals” Week: July 22nd – July 26th • “People” Week: July 29th – August 2nd • “Places” Week: August 5th – August 9th Pine Jog: • “Sticks & Stones” Week: July 8th – July 12th • “Plants & Animals” Week: July 15th – July 19th • “People & Places” Week: July 22nd – July 26th Kravis Center for the Performing Arts | Summer Programs West Palm Beach; June 3—July 27 561.832.7469 or kravis.org/artscamp • Arts Camp: June 3 - June 21 (ages 9-11) • The Broadway Artists Intensive Junior: June 24 - June 28 (ages 9-13) • The Broadway Artists Intensive: July 8 - July 27 (ages 14-21)

Maltz Jupiter Theatre | Summer Programs Jupiter; June 3—July 27 561.575.2672 or jupitertheatre.org • Dance Intensive Level One: June 3 - June 6 (grades 6-12) • Dr. Seuss! Camp: June 3 - June 7 (grades K-2) • Mary Poppins! Camp: June 3 - June 7 (grades 3-5) • Senior Conservatory-In the Heights: June 10 - June 28 (grades 6-12) • Three-Day Disney! Camp: July 1 - July 3 (grades K-2) • Three-Day Make ‘Em Laugh Camp: July 1 - July 3 (grades 3-5) • Dance Company: July 1 - July 3 (grades 6-12) • Dance Intensive Level Two: July 8 - July 19 (grades 6-12) • Junior Conservatory-You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown: July 8- July 26 (grades 3-5) • Dance Intensive Level Three: July 22 - August 2 (grades 6-12) • One Week Under the Sea! Camp: July 29 - August 2 (grades K-2) • One Week Little Mermaid! Camp: July 29 - August 2 (grades 3-5)

Palm Beach County Band Camps | Summer Programs West Palm Beach; June 10—June 27 561.586.0336 or pbbandcamp.org • Jazz Camp: June 10 - June 14 (grades 8-12) • Band/Percussion Camp: June 17 - June 27 (grades 7-12) • Music Leadership Camp: June 17 - June 19 (grades 9-12)

Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society | Zoo Camp West Palm Beach; June 3—August 9 561.547.9453 or palmbeachzoo.org • • • •

Go Wild: June 3 - August 9 (ages 5-10) Junior Zookeepers Camp: June 17 - August 2 (ages 11-14) Conservation Camp: June 17 - August 2 (ages 11-14) Environmental Career Academy: June 3 - July 5 (ages 11-14)

Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

From top to bottom: Photo credit Inside Out Theatre; Photo credit Coral Springs Museum of Art, Photo credit Inside Out Theatre

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Palm Beach State College | Summer Youth Arts Program Lake Worth; June 3—August 9 561.868.3250 or palmbeachstate.edu/SYAP Fine Arts Workshops (ages 8-14) • Contour Line & Gesture Drawing: June 3 - June 6 • Ceramics: June 10 - June 13 • Manga & Anime: June 17 - June 20 • Cartooning & Storyboarding: June 24 - June 27 • Still Life & Figure Drawing: July 1 - July 3 • Printmaking: July 8 - July 11 • Painting with Watercolors & Acrylics: July 15 - July 18 • Landscape & Abstract Painting: July 22 - July 25 Film Production Workshops (ages 10-16) • Filmmaking 1: June 3 - June 6 • Filmmaking 2: June 10 - June 13 • Filmmaking 3: June 17 - June 20 • Filmmaking 4: June 24 - June 27 • Broadcasting 1: July 1 - July 3 • Broadcasting 2: July 8 - July 11 • Making A Documentary 1: July 15 - July 18 • Making A Documentary 2: July 22 - July 25 Theatre Workshops (ages 8-14) • Basics of Acting, Voice, Movement: June 3 - June 6 • Character Development: June 10 - June 13 • Scene Work: June 17 - June 20 • A Brush With Shakespeare: June 24 - June 27 • Character Relationships: July 1 - July 3 • Advanced Acting, Voice & Movement: July 8 - July 11 • Advanced Theatre: July 15 - July 18 • Advanced Theatre: July 22 - July 25 Photography Workshops (ages 10-16) • Getting Started: June 3 - June 6 • Composition: June 10 - June 13 • Developing and Organizing Images, Part 1: June 17 - June 20 • Understanding Camera Controls: June 24 - June 27 • Developing and Organizing Images, Part 2: July 1 - July 3 • Video, Part 1: July 8 - July 11 • Video, Part 2: July 15 - July 18 • Printing: July 22 - July 25 Digital Design Workshops (ages 12-16) • Photoshop: June 3 - June 6 • Photoshop: June 10 - June 13 • Illustrator: June 17 - June 20 • Illustrator: June 24 - June 27 Web & Graphic Design Workshops (ages 12-16) • Graphic Design: July 1 - July 3 • Graphic Design: July 8 - July 11 • Web Design: July 15 - July 18 • Web Design: July 22 - July 25 Recording Arts Workshops (ages 12-16) • Record Production 1: June 3 - June 6 • Record Production 2: June 10 - June 13 • Sound for Film 1: June 17 - June 20 • Sound for Film 2: June 24 - June 27 3D Printing Workshops (ages 12-16) • Intro to 3D Printing: June 17 - June 20 • Intro to 3D Printing: June 24 - June 27 3D Digital Animation Workshops (ages 12-16) • Intro to 3D Animation: July 8 - July 11 • Intro to 3D Animation: July 15 - July 18

From top to bottom: Photo credit Art and Culture Center; Photo credit Caroline Collette

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Drumline Workshops (ages 9-17) • Beginner & Advanced Drumline : June 10 - June 13 • Percussion Festival and Development: June 17 - June 20 • Beginner & Advanced Drumline : June 24 - June 27 • Percussion Festival and Development: July 1 - July 3 • Beginner & Advanced Drumline : July 15 - July 18 • Percussion Festival and Development: July 22 - July 27 Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

BROWARD COUNTY Art and Culture Center/Hollywood | Summer Programs Hollywood; June 10 – August 10 954.921.3274 or artandculturecenter.org • Littlest Actors and Littlest Artists: June 10 – July 19 (ages 4-6) • Young Actors and Young Artists: June 10 – August 2 (ages 6-12) • Broadway Actors: June 10 – August 10 (ages 8-18)

Broadway Kids Studio | Summer Programs Davie; June 10 – August 9 954.693.7500 or broadwaykidsstudio.com • Annie KIDS: June 10 – July 5 (ages 5-11) • Mamma Mia: June 10 – July 6 (ages 11-18) • Madagascar Jr.: July 8 – August 2 (ages 5-11) • In the Heights: July 8 – August 3 (ages 11-18) • One Week Workshop: August 5 – August 9 (ages 5-13)

Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Summer Programs Fort Lauderdale; June 10 – August 9 954.414.6904 or browardcenter.org • Acting Up: June 10 – July 5 (ages 7-9) • Broadway Bound: June 10 – July 5 (ages 10-13) • Company Group: July 8 – August 2 (ages 13-18) • Summer Song & Dance Intensive: August 5 – August 9 (grades 4-12)

Coral Springs Museum of Art | Summer Programs Coral Springs; June 14 – August 15 954.340.5000 or coralspringsmuseum.org • Street Art: July 8 – July 19 (ages 8-15) • Teen Ceramics: June 10 – June 21 (ages 12-15) • Ceramic Hand Building: June 24 – August 2 (ages 8-15) • Mural Art: July 22 – August 2 (ages 12-15) • Comic Book Design: June 17 – July 26 (ages 8-15) • Open Art Studio: August 12 – August 15 (ages 8-15)

FAT Village Center for the Arts | Summer Programs Fort Lauderdale; June 10 – August 9 954.716.7611 or fatvillagecenterforthearts.com • Drawing and Painting with Isabelle Stratton: June 10 – August 9 (grades 1-4) • Drawing and Painting with Nick Tellis: June 10 – August 9 (grades 5-8) • Drawing and Painting with Daina Stabluniece: June 10 – August 9 (grades 9-12)

Fletcher Art and Culture Center | Summer Programs Pembroke Pines; June 10 – August 9 (ages 6-11) 954.986.5027 or ppines.com/309 • Fantasy Explosion: June 10 – June 21 • Stars and Stripes: June 24 – July 5 • Marine/Underwater Life: July 8 – July 19 • Abstract Extravaganza: July 22 – August 2 • Monster Mash: August 5 – August 9

From top to bottom: Photo credit Art and Culture Center; Photo credit Adam Setton and Charlotte Foreman; Photo credit Inside Out Theatre Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

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Florida Children’s Theatre | Summer Programs Fort Lauderdale; June 10 – August 9 954.763.6882 or flct.org Grades PreK-1 • Animal Adventures: June 10 – June 15 • Budding Broadway: June 17 – June 21 • Passport to Perform: June 24 – June 28 • Disney Dreams: July 8 – July 12 • Circus Spectacular: July 15 – July 19 • Under the Sea: July 22 – July 26 • Marvelous Magic: August 5 – August 9 Grades 2-10 • James and the Giant Peach, Jr.: June 10 – July 3 • Mary Poppins, Jr.: July 8 – August 2 • Camp Encore: August 5 – August 9

Florida Super Stars | Summer Dance Jam Camp Pembroke Pines; June 10 – July 19 (ages 4-14) 954.438.2075 or floridasuperstars.com Historic Ali Cultural Arts | Arts and Literacy Summer Camp Pompano Beach; June 10 – August 2 (ages 6-14) 954.786.7876 or 954.fyi/ashantisummercamp Inside Out Theatre Company | Theatre Camp Weston; June 10 – August 4 954.385.3060 or insideouttheatre.org • Summer Intensive “Matilda”: June 10 – June 30 (ages 9-18) • Summer Intensive 2 “Thoroughly Modern Millie”: July 15 – August 4 (ages 13+) • “Fun-servatory” Performing Arts: July 8 – July 12 (ages 9-14)

Miramar Cultural Center | Little Broadway Summer Camp Miramar; June 17 – August 2 (ages 6-14) 954.602.4500 or miramarculturalcenter.org Museum of Discovery and Science | Summer Programs Fort Lauderdale; June 1 – August 13 (ages 6-12) 954.713.0930 or mods.org/programs • Superpower Dogs: June 5 – June 7 • Hall of Heroes: June 10 – 14 • Zombie Survival Training: June 17 – June 21 • Game On!: June 24 – June 28 • FIZZ, BANG, BOOM!: July 1 – July 5 • Food-ology: July 8 – July 12 • To the Moon and Back: July 15 – July 19 • Full Steam Ahead: July 22 – July 26 • Expedition Florida: July 29 – August 2 • Hogwarts Summer School: August 5 – August 9 • Keeping it Cool: August 12 – August 13

NSU University School | Musical Theatre Camp Fort Lauderdale; June 17 – July 12 (grades 3-9) 954.262.4528 and 954.fyi/MusicalTheaterCamp

From top to bottom: Photo credit Caroline Collette; Photo credit Art and Culture Center

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Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

Pembroke Pines River of Grass ArtsPark | Drama Camp Pembroke Pines; June 10 – July 5 & July 8 – August 2 (ages 8-11 & 12-14) 954.986.5027 or ppines.com/284 Pine Crest School | Summer Programs Fort Lauderdale; June 10 – July 12 954.492.4137 and pinecrest.edu/summer • Band Camp: June 10 – June 28 (grades 4-12) • Dance Camp: June 10 – June 21 (grades 6-12) • Digital Media Camp: June 10 – July 5 (grades 4-8) • Digital Media and Filmmaking Camp: June 10 – June 21 (grades 5-8) • Fine Arts Camp: June 10 – June 28 (grades K-8) • Musical Production Camp: July 1 – July 12 (grades 2-8) • Music Lessons: June 10 – June 28 (grades K-12)

School of Rock | Summer Camp Coral Springs, West Broward, Pompano Beach; June 10 – August 9 (ages 7-17) 866.695.5515 or schoolofrock.com • The Music of the Beatles: June 10 – June 14 • Green Day Camp: June 24 – June 28 • Songwriting Camp: July 8 – July 12 • Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Camp: July 22 – July 26 • Classic Rock Rewind Camp: August 5 – August 9

St. Thomas Aquinas – Bienes Center for the Arts | Summer Programs Fort Lauderdale; June 10 – June 26 (grades 5-7) 954.513.2272 or stars.aquinas-sta.org/summer • Summer Theater Academy: June 10 – June 14 & June 17 – June 21 • Kitchen Raiders: June 10 – June 26 • Techsplosion: June 10 – June 26 • FashioniSTA: June 10 – June 26

Yello! | Passport to the World Fort Lauderdale; June 10 – August 2 (ages 5+) 954.880.3005 or yellofl.com

• Scotland and Spain: June 10 – June 21 • Japan and America: June 24 – July 5 • France and Brazil: July 8 – July 19 • Greece and Italy: July 22 – August 2

Young At Art Museum | Art Camp Davie; June 3 – August 13 954.424.0085 or YAA.org • Art Exploration Camp: June 3 – August 13 (ages 3-4 and 5-12) • Digital Arts Camp: June 10 – August 9 (ages 8 – 14) • Ceramics & Sculpture Camp: June 10 – 21 & June 24 – July 5 (ages 10 – 14) • Drawing Camp: July 8 – 12 (ages 8-14) • Painting Camp: July 15 – 19 (ages 8-14) • Cosplay Fashion Camp: July 22 – August 2 (ages 10-14) • Video Game Design Camp: July 8 – August 9 (ages 9 – 14)

From top to bottom: Photo credit Art and Culture Center; Photo credit Gregory Reed, Photo credit Gregory Reed Art Hive Magazine is not responsible for any changes, omissions, or cancellations of summer programs on this list. Please check individual sites for details.

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CONSCIOUS | NEW WORK MIAMI

NEW WORK MIAMI

The Knight Foundation’s inaugural initiative will fund groundbreaking works of music, theater and dance.

By Christie Galeano

As the theater lights dim, there’s an ephemeral moment where everyone - from the audience to the performers - takes a deep breath in and prepares to enter an enchanting world. The curtain rises, and even if it’s just for a few hours, we’re all experiencing a story together. That’s the power of the performing arts.

To celebrate and spotlight Miami artists who create and bring those theatrical stories to life, The Knight Foundation, which has invested $165 million into the arts and culture of Miami since 2005, launched Knight New Work Miami late last year.

With a $500,000 commitment, the foundation has funded five original works of performance art that capture the city’s culture, exuberance and originality.

The five artists will tell their own whimsical stories of Miami. As the audience, we will have the opportunity to see this magical city from their point of view when the performances debut during the 2020-2021 Knight Foundation season of the arts.

“The Knight Foundation is genre agnostic,” said Victoria Rogers, the foundation’s vice president of arts. “But for this initiative we wanted to focus on the performing arts and the artists who are clever, thoughtful and brilliant and are making the city what it is today. The performing arts give people the opportunity to encounter art in different ways.”

One of those artists is playwright William Hector, who is bringing one of Miami’s greatest fears to life in G7: 2070. Depicting a world where global warming and sea level rising have taken the city underwater, Hector addresses real, serious issues of flooding, immigration, refugee displacement and political upheaval in an immersive fantasyland. The audience will become part of the delegation that will decide the world’s fate by interacting with the world’s seven leading powers, which include Uruguay, China, U.S.A, Russia, Ethiopia, The European Papal Federation and Disney. Yes, the mouse has created an empire where the Magic Kingdom rules supreme over several American states along with countries throughout the world.

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Photos Submitted

The Knight Foundation is the glue that holds the art scene in Miami together.

It took a chance on me,” said the youngest grant recipient.

The national foundation, which funds programs where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers, focuses on art because of its ability to connect the community.

“Art is essential to the creation of a vibrant city. It puts a frame around life,” said Rogers.

Winner: Lileana Blain-Cruz

Rogers agrees. “The Knight Foundation has always been a risk taker, and William is a calculated risk. We want to give artists an opportunity to make a statement about our city and about issues that are really important in an inventive way.”

But it’s not just enough to celebrate art. The Knight Foundation recently conducted the Evolving Arts Ecosystems: A Study of Miami to see how Miami’s art scene has progressed over the last decade. While it showed that the arts have been a key factor in the city’s growth and as the arts have flourished, they have allowed the city to keep its emerging artists and attract artists from other cities, it also highlighted some shortcomings and possible solutions. For example, it found that nearly 50% of the organizations had less than 2.5 months of unrestricted cash readily available.

“It’s like having a savings account in our own lives,” Rogers explains. “It gives us an adaptive capability in a downturn. An organization has to have a good base – to be financially viable and stable so that it can then start to innovate and connect with its audience.”

An example of a celebrated artist returning to Miami is Lileana Blain-Cruz, the New Work recipient to receive the most grant money for her proposed project.

The Obie award-winning director and New York City resident will adapt Miami novelist Edwidge Danticat’s newest book Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work into a play in partnership with Miami New Drama.

Growing up in Miami with a Haitian mother, this opportunity to bring the Haitian immigrant experience to the stage is a dream come true for BlainCruz. In her first experience with adapting a book into the theater, she’s ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with Danticat, one of her heroes.

“The Knight Foundation has allowed for this conversation and cross pollination to happen,” Blain-Cruz said. “It’s a privilege to return to Miami to make this new piece.”

The New Work initiative application process will alternate years with the Knight Arts Challenge (KAC). This year, from June 24-July 24, the KAC will accept applications from artists (emerging and established), nonprofits and for-profit business that have an idea for a brilliant arts project that’s authentic to Miami.

Since 2008 the foundation has received 12,000 applications and has funded 384. For that competitive reason, Rogers urges applicants to write in a compelling way that reflects their idea. And if English isn’t your first language, write it in your native tongue. The foundation will gladly translate it.

For those applying, whether for New Work or KAC, Hector also suggests letting your personality shine brightly in the description of your project’s vision while Blain-Cruz’s advice is to find your truth and to create a project that’s urgent and real to you.

For more information, please visit • knightfoundation.org/challenges/knight-new-work-miami • knightfoundation.org/challenges/knight-arts-challenge

Winner: William Hector

The goal of the New Work initiative is to position Miami as not only a city where art is consumed but where it’s born and created. The works of art are a reflection of the rich diversity of the city.

2018 KNIGHT NEW WORK WINNERS Danzas del Silencio – $50,000 Artist: Alvaro Bermudez, guitarist and composer Presenter: Seraphic Fire, in partnership with New World Center A choral and guitar collaboration between Grammy-nominated ensemble Seraphic Fire and guitarist Alvaro Bermudez that will blend Colombian dance rhythms with Bach’s orchestral structure.

DECO “Danzon of Eclectic Cultural Origin” – $80,000 Artist: Kevin Jenkins, choreographer Presenter: Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami A nontraditional ballet inspired by Miami’s unique identity and the city’s Latin energy, blending the flavors of salsa, tango, flamenco and contemporary ballet technique.

F/Punk Junkies – $115,000 Artist: Teo Castellanos, actor, writer and director Presenter: Miami Light Project A dance theater experience that will disrupt traditional ways of both creating and experiencing art, incorporating Afropunk aesthetics, improvisation and both live and recorded music.

G7: 2070: An Immersive Theatrical Summit – $75,000 Artist: William Hector, playwright An immersive theatrical summit set in a flooded Miami 50 years from now that invites participants to join the delegations of countries old and new as they take part in negotiations to determine the fate of the world.

The Edwidge Danticat Project: Create Dangerously – $150,000 Artist: Lileana Blain-Cruz, theater director, in partnership with Miami New Drama A theatrical dramatization of novelist and Little Haiti resident Edwidge Danticat’s “Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work” that amplifies the Haitian-immigrant perspective. The production will bring Danticat’s stories onto the stage, with music, projections and movement.

Promotion of the Knight New Work Miami 2020-21 Season – $30,000 Support for promotion and marketing of these exciting works when they premiere.

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Volkan Alkanoglu’s Cloudscape at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport President of the Museum of Discovery and Science, Joe Cox. Photo by Michael Murphy

SEASONED SCIENTIST INTERVIEW WITH MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE PRESIDENT, JOE COX

By Christiana Lilly When you talk to Joe Cox about his upbringing, he’ll tell you he was “absolutely the science geek kid.”

“I was running around in the garden bringing in odd creatures that I found and looking after them,” he remembers. “As a kid, I was very fortunate and spent lots of time in museums in London, going to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, and fell in love with that.”

However, he never thought it could amount to a career. Thankfully for the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale, he found a way to make it work, and he’s spent his life working at science institutions in Florida and Massachusetts.

Cox joined MODS as its president in February 2018, replacing Kim Cavendish when she retired after 30 years at the museum’s helm. The London-born scientist moved to South Florida with his partner after serving as president of the EcoTarium Museum of Science & Nature in Massachusetts for six years. Prior to that, he was executive director at the Golisano Children’s Museum in Naples and a naturalist and center director at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center in Naples.

And he’s no stranger to MODS—when in Naples, he was a member of the museum and would bring children from the nature center to Fort Lauderdale on summer camp field trips.

“It really is in a lot of ways like coming home,” he said of returning to Florida. “It’s exciting seeing just how Fort Lauderdale has grown and flourished over the last few years.”

All photos submitted

And in his first year, he hasn’t stopped moving. In March, Cox was sponsored by American Express to attend New Strategies, a four-day advanced training program at Georgetown University. There, he and other nonprofit executives took a deep dive into programming, social change, business, marketing, and more.

“It was a great focused and energizing program that just got you thinking about how to grow and strengthen your institution across the board,” he said. “I met some great people from everything from food banks to early childhood centers to botanical gardens to the African American Chamber of Commerce.”

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“

LOOKING FORWARD, THE MUSEUM HAS TWO EXHIBITS IN THE WORKS THAT WILL MARRY SCIENCE AND ART.

His biggest focus while at MODS has been accessibility and making sure all parts of the community are able to enjoy and learn from the museum’s exhibits. Last summer, the museum became a Blue Star Museum, welcoming active military members and their families for free. The program will return this summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Secondly, the museum implemented an LGBTQ inclusivity initiative, thanks to the Community Foundation of Broward. The funding helped with staff training and a review of policies and procedures to make the museum more welcoming to the LGBTQ community. On June 22, MODS will be participating in its first Pride Day. But the program he’s most proud of is Museums for All, which offers $2 tickets for up to four family members to those with EBT cards. The program was funded by the The Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation, and it made MODS the first museum in the county to do it. Since it was implemented on Jan. 1, 5,000 people have been able to visit the museum.

“It’s just so important because we have so many great programs, exhibits,” he said. “It’s been wonderfully successful. I had the same program in place at my last institution, and it was one of those programs where you would get thank you notes all the time.”

Looking forward, the museum has two exhibits in the works that will marry science and art.

This summer, the Hall of Heroes will bring to life comic book heroes and life-size models of their gear to showcase the impact of comic book art, as well as explore the physics and strengths each super hero has. In October, the museum is opening Make A Space, which blends an art studio, design lab, and open space where kids and adults can build, adapt objects, invent and create.

“It is absolutely not a surprise to anyone who’s in this world that the integration of art into a STEM curriculum stimulates innovation and creativity,” Cox said. “All you have to think of is if it works for Leonardo Da Vinci, it’s going to work for a fifth grade field trip...that line between a scientist and artist is so fine.”

All photos submitted

So for science geek kids young and old, Cox and the Museum of Discovery and Science await your arrival.

Opposite Page: Gravity Clock; Top: Child with Plasma Globe; Bottom: Detail of Hall of Heros exhibit; Photos courtesy of the Museum of Discovery and Science

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CULTURE | WPB SUMMER MAKEOVER

ICONIC STREET IN DOWNTOWN WPB GETTING A SUMMER MAKEOVER Summer Fun Planned During Construction with iCONE-ic Theme

W

hile more construction is coming to downtown West Palm Beach this summer, city leaders are getting creative to improve the city’s downtown and help residents, visitors and businesses get through the rebuilding process.

The Clematis Streetscape project is moving into Phase II this summer to bring much-needed infrastructure and beautification improvements to the 100 and 200 blocks of the City’s most iconic street. Last year, the City completed the first phase of the project on the 300 block of Clematis Street and the difference is immediately evident as you stroll down this popular block. You’ll see a curbless street design aimed at creating an enjoyable pedestrian experience, with wider sidewalks, more shade trees, and narrowed traffic lanes (which also reduces traffic speed). These same improvements will soon extend down the street toward the waterfront for a more cohesive and comprehensive design on Clematis Street.

“We’re excited to break ground on Phase II of the Clematis Streetscape project,” said Mayor Keith A. James. “When complete, this project—with wider sidewalks, more shade trees, and more room for bicyclists-- will make one of our City’s most visited and most popular streets even more attractive to visitors and economic development, which is in line with my vision of creating a community of opportunity for all in our city. This project is a first step toward ushering in a renaissance, of sorts, along Clematis Street, which means only great things for our downtown.”

So how long will this take? To ease construction pains, the City and WPB CRA planned the construction during the slower summer months, 72

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just like Phase I, so as not to affect traffic during our busy winter season.

Construction is scheduled to run from mid-May to December, finishing just in time for the holidays. Improvements to the 200 block begin in May, and some parts of the 100 block will remain open until as late as August. Both blocks will be finished by October 31, completing Phase II of this redevelopment project.

Why did Clematis Street need a makeover? Throughout their history, cities have to continually improve and enhance infrastructure, and sometimes even reimagine it completely, in order to keep up with current needs and to keep thriving. Think of the city as a living entity that needs to adapt to its current population, capacity, trends and more. The streetscape project was designed with quality of life at the forefront and to ensure that West Palm Beach’s downtown core evolves with the needs of residents, merchants, and visitors.

The Clematis Streetscape project is one of several joint projects between the City of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency that are currently reimagining our City. The WPB CRA works with the City to help revitalize, renovate and reinvigorate targeted areas in the community. Other projects currently underway include the rehabilitation of the famed Sunset Lounge in the Historic Northwest District, new developments in the Currie Park Corridor, and the development of the anchor site in Northwood Village, as well as additional projects downtown.

Opposite Page: Completed Phase 1 of 300 block of Clematis Street. Top to bottom, left to right: Night shot of 300 block of Clematis Street; City leaders at ground breaking ceremony; Living cones enjoying downtown West Palm Beach; Phase 2 rendering of Clematis Streetscape project. All photos submitted.

“THE STREETSCAPE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED WITH QUALITY OF LIFE AT THE FOREFRONT AND TO ENSURE THAT WEST PALM BEACH’S DOWNTOWN CORE EVOLVES WITH THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS, MERCHANTS, AND VISITORS.” So far, Phase I in the 300 block seems to be resonating well with people visiting downtown. In a poll taken earlier this year, more than 80 percent of respondents thought the new redesign of the 300 block improved Clematis Street either “extremely well” or “very well.” To ensure community needs were met, the project designers, Dover, Kohl & Partners, incorporated public feedback about what people would like to see on the 100 and 200 blocks before presenting final designs to the City Commission.

“With the launch of Phase II of Clematis Streetscape, we are taking our learnings from Phase I to make noticeable improvements to ease the construction phase,” said Allison Justice, Deputy Director, West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. “We want to ensure merchants have the best experience during the ‘pardon our dust’ period, so in addition to logistical improvements, such as improved wayfinding, we are also launching a branding and advertising campaign to promote the 100 and 200 blocks this summer. With the help of the events team, and the awareness campaign, we are sure to see a busy and fun summer downtown.”

Why should I come downtown during construction? As part of Phase II goals, the City aims to ease construction disruption for valued merchants and businesses on the 100 and 200 blocks. Project management improvements include evening valet service for merchants on the affected blocks and improved signage to help with wayfinding for the public and

to promote the businesses on the 100 and 200 blocks. So you can still visit all of your favorite restaurants and shops for their summer deals like Pistache, Lynora’s, Rocco’s Tacos, Duffy’s Sports Grill, Pioneer Linens and Palm Beach Dramaworks, and not have to worry about parking.

Plus, there’s always tons of cool activities downtown during the summer months…and this year the construction won’t stop the fun! Instead they will embrace the downtown disruption and create an “iCONE-ic” construction theme for their fifth annual Summer in Paradise. The City’s events department plans to keep locals and tourists entertained through a variety of activations, including many same-day pop-up experiences and surprises. Each activation plays on the word “cone”, and activities include: Cone-y Island, a summer-long maze created out of construction materials; Cone Checkers with cones as the checker pieces; Kid’s Cone Zone, an opportunity for kids to touch and explore City of West Palm Beach trucks and construction vehicles; SnowCONE Saturdays, a free weekly giveaway for anyone visiting downtown, and much more. The Summer in Paradise fun runs from Thursday, June 6 through Thursday, August 1.

Redevelopment always comes with growing pains, but the end result makes you forget about the pains and provides an enriched experience that made it all worthwhile. While Clematis Street will be occasionally iCONE-ic when dotted with construction or traffic cones this summer, city leaders want everyone to remember that the Clematis Street corridor will always remain iconic…but with a new and improved design.

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RALFONSO 3 WAYS A SIDE HUSTLE CAN BE

GOOD FOR YOUR CAREER

If you need extra cash, the benefits of a side hustle are all too obvious.

When money is tight, trading a few hours of your spare time for additional income makes perfect sense. But what if you do not need the extra money—should you forget about a side hustle and spend your nights on the couch?

The most obvious value of a side hustle is to earn extra money, but the advantages go far beyond the mere financial. Even if you are flush with cash, there are many reasons to explore a side hustle. In fact, that side job could even be good for your career. Here are some ways a side hustle can benefit your main career while fattening your wallet. #1 You Can Learn New Skills The ability to learn new skills is an obvious benefit of a side hustle.

And while not all side hustles present this opportunity, many do. If you are willing to look around, you can find a side hustle that will teach you something new and put extra cash in your wallet.

The new skills you learn while pursuing your side hustle could help you advance in your full-time career, so you can snag those promotions and move up the corporate ladder. Far from harming your career, a well-chosen side hustle could actually enhance it. #2 You Will Expand Your Network You never know who you will meet while pursuing your side hustle, but every new contact is another potential addition to your business and social network. By expanding your network, you could greatly benefit your career, especially if you are considering a job change.

Simply talking to the people you meet while pursuing your side hustle could benefit your career and help you move ahead in your industry.

You never know—the well-dressed gentleman stepping into your Uber could be the CEO of a company you would love to work for. The house where you are painting a mural might belong to the hiring manager at the best-paying firm in town.

Environmentally interactive, kinetic, light and sound sculptures by the internationally acclaimed, award-winning Swiss designer.

For more on commissions or public works, please visit

RALFONSO.COM

To contact us directly, please email

ralfonso@ralfonso.com

#3 Greater Confidence You never know what you are capable of doing until you do it, and a side hustle can increase your confidence level and enhance your work ethic. This benefit can be particularly pronounced if you are young and just getting started with your career, but there are distinct advantages no matter what your age.

The increased confidence you feel as a result of your side hustle will shine through when you are working at your main job. Pretty soon, your boss will take notice, and that could bode well for your future career prospects.

You might think a side hustle is only worth the effort for those who need the money, but there are reasons to explore this option even if you do not need the extra cash. If you are worried that taking on a side hustle could harm your career, you can lay those concerns to rest.

—Bea Conrad Check out our Hello Creatives! podcast for more on this topic. Episode “How a Side Hustle Could Be Good For Your Career.”

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