PB • SOCIETY PALM BEACH Special Marketing Section Wednesday, July 17, 2013 Sun Sentinel 8
Editor's note Be your own
A
curator
museum curator is responsible for editing a collection suited for its patrons - whether it is pieces of accessible beauty or works that elicit emotion. And as individuals we, too, are given the option of what to seek in life. In essence, we are our own curators. Through this issue, the Society Scene team shares our view of the current arts scene in Palm Beach County where photographer Kara Starzyk has been busy documenting a variety of artwork, artists and their establishments. Page 10 features Scene & Be Seen coverage from the “Canstruction” event that featured aluminum cans repurposed into works of art. Page 12 shares information about the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches hosting its annual “Broadway Artists Studio” summer program for aspiring performers. With an eye for art and a heart for the community, Herencia Experiential Art Center offers more than just gallery space for underprivileged children. Featured on page 14, owner Veronica Sirotzky, a trained clinical social worker, has implemented “Listening Sessions” where people can freely share their problems. Accumulating the county’s myriad arts events is a bold task that assistant editor Elissa Rosen conquered. She shares current events and exhibitions in the arts calendar on page 19. On page 22, Nadia Sorocka details the recently reopened South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, which offers educational exhibits about local bodies of water and encourages children in a creative learning environment. Numerous arts-related events and public murals are blossoming in downtown Boynton Beach, making up the Boynton Beach Arts District (BBAD). On page 24, reporter Jan Engoren shares the countless
opportunities that make this one of Palm Beach County’s newest and grandest hubs of cultural discovery. This summer, University of Florida student Brittany Bokzam, who’s interning with the team, has assisted Society Scene’s digital production. As a comic fan, she shares the local comic scene on page 30, which details the fan community of this alternative form of art. Inspired to explore my own inner artist, I enrolled in a ceramics course (photographed at right, by Starzyk) with instructor Brett Thomas at AutoNation’s Academy of Art + Design. I registered for a five-week course, which was so much fun, that I extended it to the 10week session. After 10 weeks of working in clay, I still hadn’t had enough so I am currently halfway through my second 10-week session of classes. It’s opened me to a community of both beginning and advanced artists, where we can all get lost in our work. Making mistakes, learning from them and growing each class has taught me a lot about making art and also about life. I’m taking the hand-building course, but most of my classmates work on the pottery wheel. Collectively, we’ve made everything from platters to sculptures to bowls – lots of bowls. Thomas has helped us grow as artists – no matter our skill level, or lack of – in an atmosphere free of judgment surrounded by positive energy. My mundane candle holders have transformed into large, textured platters with the help of him gently challenging us to pursue our own greatness. This issue, like our cover photo, gives you the tools to paint your own art scene. So go ahead, challenge yourself to curate a life of beauty right here in Palm Beach County. Meredith Clements Society Scene Editor