1. DISPLAY UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2019
OPPORTUNITIES
INTHEARTS!
GRANTS, JOBS,
SUBMISSIONS,
& MUCH MORE!
NAFESSA WILLIAMS
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
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE “BLACK LIGHTNING” STAR
ON PLAYING TELEVISION’S FIRST BLACK LESBIAN SUPERHEROPHOTO: TYREN REDD // @tyrenredd
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE
ISSUE No
30
ART HIVE
+
HUNTSLONEM’S
WONDERLAND
INSIDE THE STUDIO
OF BROOKYLN’S
WILDEST ARTIST
SUPA TYB
INTERVIEW WITH
TRACI YOUNG-BYRON
Florida
M
agazine Asso
ciation
BEST
OVERALL
DESIGN
2019
2. MY SHELTER PETS ARE
MY BEST FRIENDS
THESHELTERPETPROJECT.ORG
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.
3.
4. SATURDAY, JULY 6TH
4TH FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH
IN THE HEART AND SOUL
OF WEST PALM BEACH
Learn more at wpb.org/clematis
facebook.com/WPBhistoricnorthwest
Just North of Banyan Boulevard on Rosemary Avenue
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.
5. Just two miles north of Downtown West Palm Beach
between Dixie Highway and Broadway
“If you’re looking for a more boho side of West Palm Beach,
Northwood Village is your destination. And, with many one-
of-a-kind boutique shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes,
you will find many walls to take the perfect selfie.”
- The Lifestyle Insider
AT THE MOST INSTAGRAM-WORTHY SPOTS IN PALM BEACH
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
LAST FRIDAY OF
EACH MONTH
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.
West Palm Beach CRA
401 Clematis Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
wpb.org/CRA
CRA@wpb.org
561.822.1550
facebook.com/NorthwoodVillageFanPage
6. brucehelander.com karene@helanderstudio.com +1 561 655 0504
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.
7. 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: HuntSlonem,Untitled,2019,Oilonwood,
32.5x27.5in.CourtesyHuntSlonemStudio;Bottomleft:JoeCox,photobyMichaelMurphy.
Topright:MuralbyElioMercado,photobyDowntownPhoto;Centerright:PhillipDunlap,photobyR.JHartbeck;
Bottomright:PhotobyDylanMullins
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 7
9. 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.
CULTURAL PARADISE
IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
FOLLOW US FOR MORE CAN’T-MISS CULTURE @PALMBEACHCULTURE //
Your visit begins at WhereCultureAlwaysShines.com
MURAL BY TRISTAN EATON
10. Everything you say and do
creates an impact.
becauseofyou.org
Kailee M.Kailee M.
11. PhotobyNicoleWolf CREATIVE | SOLUTIONS
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 es-
sential 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 back-
ground.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 physi-
cal 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.”
By Bea Conrad
HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR DIGITAL LIFE:
10 STEPS TO TAKE BACK YOU TIME AND YOUR SANITY
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 11
12. CREATIVE | OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS
Enrichment | Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute
Dates: June 1, 8, 15, 22
The 13th annual Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) for local art-
ists 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 fi-
nal 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 Spe-
cific Cultural Projects (SCP). This grant is designed to fund a cultural
project, program, exhibition, or series taking place within four proj-
ect 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 com-
munity 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 predict-
ed 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 art-
ists to submit work with a particular focus on the collaborative nature
of fine art printmaking. The exhibition will be open from September-
December 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. Inno-
vate 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 informa-
tion please visit innovateartistgrants.org.
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 Artre-
preneur, 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 Ware-
house 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 Ex-
hibition & Sale featuring donated artwork from around the country.
For More information please visit oldschoolsquare.org/events/6x6-
exhibition-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 beau-
tify 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 mu-
rals 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
OPPORTUNITIES IN
THE ARTS
OUR PICKS OF GRANT PROGRAMS, CALLS-
TO-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.
12 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
13. For more opportunities in the arts
please visit broward.org/arts
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 ArtCen-
ter. 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.
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.
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 profes-
sional artists is hosting a free workshop to those interested in apply-
ing 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 | Florida CraftArt Festival
Emerging Artist Deadline: September 3
Artist Deadline: September 10
Artists may apply to display and sell work at the Florida CraftArt Festi-
val, 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 | 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 awesome-
foundation.org.
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 art-
work 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 up-
dated 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 Emer-
gency Grants program here. For more information please visit founda-
tionforcontemporaryarts.org.
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 13
14. 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.”
By J.A. Young
PhotobyFlorianGagnepain
CREATIVE | SOLUTIONS
THE HIDDEN BENEFITS
OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMES
14 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
15. 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 process-
ing, they are adaptive, with increasingly difficult levels made available
after achieving success at lower levels of performance, and are chal-
lenging.”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, research-
ers 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 point-
ing 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 improve-
ment 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 individu-
als 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 asso-
ciating 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 show-
ing 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/ ); Univer-
sity 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.”
“
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS STUDIES THAT
HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT VIDEO GAMES
CAN IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION...
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 15
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17. Photo by Austin Distel
CREATIVE | SOLUTIONS
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.
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 col-
leagues or debate a contentious topic in a large auditorium, the fear and
trepidation are very real.
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 pre-
sentation 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-improve-
ment, 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.
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.
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.
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.”
By Drew Scott
TACKLING YOUR TERROR:
10 WAYS TO TAKE THE FEAR OUT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 17
19. 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 execu-
tive 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 “Un-
titled” 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.”
IF THESE WALLS
COULD TALK
Photo by Downtown Photo
CONSCIOUS | COMMUNITY
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 19
20. Top: Artist Elio Mercado with Harold Reitman, who donated the building. Bottom: Brian Quail, Boys & Girls Clubs CEO and President.
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 pro-
gram, 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 Bro-
ward Boulevard’s streetscapes and aesthetic appeal. And
BMSD has more public art installations in the works, Jef-
ferson says. Freestanding sculptures representing the his-
tory, culture and sentiments shared by BMSD residents
and stakeholders will line Northwest 27th Avenue along
the northwest corner of the green space at the African-
American Research Library and Cultural Center.
“We’ve seen that art can uplift a community,” Jefferson
says. “And projects like Elio Mercado’s mural at the Reit-
man building and the upcoming one on Northwest 27th
Avenue can help be a driving force to it.”
“
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.
Photos by Downtown Photo
20 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
21. 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
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 21
22. Jonathan Stein, Wake Up Call, photo courtesy of the artist
Photo courtesy of Traci Young-Byron
22 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
23. 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.
SUPA TYBINTERVIEW WITH DANCE PHENOMENON TRACI YOUNG-BYRON
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 23
24. “
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 communi-
ties and how did these two groups fill that need?
My experiences as a director and choreographer started early on. While a dance ma-
jor 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 experi-
ence?
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 in-
structor 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, disci-
plined and hungry for success.
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’ mo-
ments with our readers?
My most recent “proud teacher moments”include alumna Yazzmeen Laidler becom-
ing 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, Ja-
maica 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
Inadditiontosolidtraining,
mydancerswalkaway
moreconfident,focused,
disciplinedand
hungryforsuccess.
24 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
25. Photo by Ray Parris
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 25
26. 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…
26 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
27. “
PhotobyWilliamHook
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, loung-
ing 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, artis-
tic 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…
It can sometimes become necessary to distance yourself emotionally
from certain important personal and professional decisions.Cool-head-
ed objectivity may make it easier to come to an informed and rational
conclusion untainted by misleading emotional triggers. The same con-
cept 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 art-
ists, 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
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. Some-
times 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
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 befriend-
ed 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
REPETITIVE STRESS SYNDROME IS A VERY REAL DEMON THAT
HAUNTS PAINTERS, TATTOO ARTISTS, ANIMATORS AND WRITERS.
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 27
28. CREATIVE | BUILDING YOUR BRAND
“...THE GOAL IS TO HELP ARTISTS
DEVELOP SKILLS AS ENTREPRENEURS.”
Photo by Jakob Owens28 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
29. BUILDING YOUR BRAND
THROUGH LIVE STREAMING
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.
“They can develop more cogent marketing plans and meet the audience where
they are,” said James Shermer, grants administrator for the Broward Cultural
Division. “Today most people are on Facebook or Instagram or an online envi-
ronment.It’s important to have a digital strategy or techniques in this area.That’s
where you’re going to find your next customer.”
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.
“Some people have a hard time marketing themselves, especially if you have a
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,tools,colors choices; the possibilities are endless.Or if
answering interrupts the creative flow, reply to messages afterward.”
“Why does anyone want to stream?” Mohan said. “Because you can create fans
for a lifetime.”
Dimitry Chamy leads the three-hour workshop. An artist with experience in
graphic design, he is a faculty mentor at Florida International University’s Rat-
cliffe Art + Design Incubator and holds a MFA from Yale University.
At the streaming workshop, Chamy will cover the technology, techniques and
equipment one needs to get started–all with an eye toward the business of art.
As in the Ratcliffe incubator, the goal is to help artists develop skills as entrepre-
neurs, he said.
“Stop thinking about the gallery system,”Chamy said.“Diversify and do not rely
exclusively on a system that says only galleries sell art.It’s never been more acces-
sible to market yourself as a creative person.The streaming approach doesn’t take
away from your other efforts. It’s just this added layer.”
Start small. As your technical knowhow and on-camera confidence grow, fol-
lowers will come.
The casual, non-hurried format on streaming sites such as twitch.tv’s creative
channel is fascinating for viewers, he said.
“We’re physically distant but we want to connect and video is one of the most in-
timate mediums to do that,”Chamy said.“It expands the possibility of connect-
ing with other people,and you’re more likely to have success in whatever you do.”
The workshop is sponsored by a PNC Arts Alive! grant and is part of the Cul-
tural Division’s Video Skills for Creatives series.It aligns with the division’s over-
arching commitment to the arts community, Shermer said.
“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.”
For the PNC Arts Alive! initiative, the Video Skills for Creatives series is on
target, said Kim Reckley, senior vice president, client and community relations
director for PNC Bank Southeast Florida. The grant program seeks organiza-
tions that support emerging artists, use technology creatively and expand audi-
ences.Since 2016,it’s funneled more than $1M into 44 programs in Broward and
Palm Beach Counties.
“Studies show a strong arts community is a significant driver of economic suc-
cess,” said Cressman Bronson, PNC Bank executive vice president and regional
president for Southeast Florida. “Our grants and sponsorships can make a big
difference to South Florida arts organizations of all sizes.”
By Helen Wolt
VIDEO SKILLS FOR CREATIVES
SESSION ONE
DIRECT YOUR OWN PROMO
Presented by Robert Adanto, Filmmaker
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 12 – 4 PM
THE FRANK C. ORTIS GALLERY
601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines
Learn to develop a
short film that
introduces yourself
as a visual artist.
Award-winning
filmmaker, Robert
Adanto, will lead
artists through the
basics of
pre-production, filming and visual
storytelling in this 4-hour workshop.
SESSION TWO
STREAMING FROM THE STUDIO
Presented by Dimitry Chamy, Designer
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1 – 4 PM
POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL CENTER
50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
Artists will learn how
to use studio time to
connect with others,
share expertise, build
community and find
buyers for their work
— all while making art.
A 3-hour workshop
lead by Dimitry
Chamy, designer, artist and faculty mentor at
FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.
RSVP: directyourownpromo.eventbrite.com RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com
Brought to you by
Broward Cultural Division
With support from
PNC Bank
FREE WORKSHOPS
VIDEO SKILLS FOR CREATIVES
SESSION ONE
DIRECT YOUR OWN PROMO
Presented by Robert Adanto, Filmmaker
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 12 – 4 PM
THE FRANK C. ORTIS GALLERY
601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines
Learn to develop a
short film that
introduces yourself
as a visual artist.
Award-winning
filmmaker, Robert
Adanto, will lead
artists through the
basics of
pre-production, filming and visual
storytelling in this 4-hour workshop.
SESSION TWO
STREAMING FROM THE STUDIO
Presented by Dimitry Chamy, Designer
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1 – 4 PM
POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL CENTER
50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
Artists will learn how
to use studio time to
connect with others,
share expertise, build
community and find
buyers for their work
— all while making art.
A 3-hour workshop
lead by Dimitry
Chamy, designer, artist and faculty mentor at
FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.
RSVP: directyourownpromo.eventbrite.com RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com
Brought to you by
Broward Cultural Division
With support from
PNC Bank
FREE WORKSHOPS
VIDEO SKILLS FOR CREATIVES
SESSION ONE
DIRECT YOUR OWN PROMO
Presented by Robert Adanto, Filmmaker
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 12 – 4 PM
THE FRANK C. ORTIS GALLERY
601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines
Learn to develop a
short film that
introduces yourself
as a visual artist.
Award-winning
filmmaker, Robert
Adanto, will lead
artists through the
basics of
pre-production, filming and visual
storytelling in this 4-hour workshop.
SESSION TWO
STREAMING FROM THE STUDIO
Presented by Dimitry Chamy, Designer
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1 – 4 PM
POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL CENTER
50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
Artists will learn how
to use studio time to
connect with others,
share expertise, build
community and find
buyers for their work
— all while making art.
A 3-hour workshop
lead by Dimitry
Chamy, designer, artist and faculty mentor at
FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.
RSVP: directyourownpromo.eventbrite.com RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com
Brought to you by
Broward Cultural Division
With support from
PNC Bank
FREE WORKSHOPS
EO SKILLS FOR CREATIVES
ION ONE
ECT YOUR OWN PROMO
nted by Robert Adanto, Filmmaker
RDAY, MAY 4, 12 – 4 PM
FRANK C. ORTIS GALLERY
y Center Way, Pembroke Pines
to develop a
film that
duces yourself
isual artist.
d-winning
aker, Robert
to, will lead
s through the
s of
roduction, filming and visual
telling in this 4-hour workshop.
SESSION TWO
STREAMING FROM THE STUDIO
Presented by Dimitry Chamy, Designer
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1 – 4 PM
POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL CENTER
50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
Artists will learn how
to use studio time to
connect with others,
share expertise, build
community and find
buyers for their work
— all while making art.
A 3-hour workshop
lead by Dimitry
Chamy, designer, artist and faculty mentor at
FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.
: directyourownpromo.eventbrite.com RSVP: streamfromthestudio.eventbrite.com
Brought to you by
Broward Cultural Division
With support from
PNC Bank
EE WORKSHOPS
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 29
31. ART IN MOTION:WHERE MOTHER NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLIDE
THE KINETIC WORK OF RALFONSO
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 Mas-
ter’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.
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, thread-
ing 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 na-
ture’s movement and seamlessly intertwining his artwork into its en-
vironment 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.
Foreword by Marcela Villa, Interview by Angela Yungk
All photos courtesy of the artist CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 31
33. 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 mechan-
ics 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 learn-
ing 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 Organiza-
tion. 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.
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 intel-
ligence 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 col-
laborate 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
Flamenco
Moving on Up
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 33
34. Photos submitted
When Grace Cho was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming an artist. Her par-
ents, 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 ser-
vices, media and entertainment as well as private equity industries while work-
ing 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 contribu-
tors to the creative economy, though. And attitudes like those held by Cho’s
parents are just the beginning.
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, be-
lieves 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.”
By Christina Wood
CONSCIOUS | GRACE CHO
ON BEING FEARLESSFOUNDER & CEO OF ARTREPRENEUR, GRACE CHO
WANTS TO DESTROY THE STARVING ARTIST MYTH ONCE AND FOR ALL
34 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
35. “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 art-
ists will be able to find everything they need with the basic free membership.
(Modest fees may be associated with certain marketplace situations. One-on-
one 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 starv-
ing 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 strug-
gling 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. Ev-
eryone’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 curricu-
lum 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.
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 35
36. CONSCIOUS
Photo by Devin Rodino
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.
CONSCIOUS | PHILLIP DUNLAP
36 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
39. “
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 perfor-
mance, 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 posi-
tion). 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 advocat-
ing?
PD:Advocacy is something we all do, but at the same time is foreign and fright-
ening 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, coun-
ty 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.
I LIKE BEING PART OF
SOMETHING BIGGER THAN
ME, SOMETHING BIGGER
THAN THE ORGANIZATION I
WORK FOR, AND SOMETHING
BIGGER THAN ALL OF US.
Photo by R.J Hartbeck
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 39
40. “
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. Peo-
ple 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 com-
munity 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 ex-
ploring the food scene here.
PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES THAT
RESULT FROM
TRUE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WORK
ARE AS MUCH ABOUT
PROCESS AS THEY ARE
THE PRODUCT.
40 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
41. Photo by R.J Hartbeck
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 41
42. Philadelphia 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 re-
leased 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.
HERE COMES THE
THUNDER
BLACK LIGHTNING STAR
Nafessa Williams
Foreword by Marcela Villa, Interview by Angela Yungk
42 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
45. “
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 ho-
micide 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 transi-
tion 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.
NAFESSA HAS
TAKEN SOME
LEAPS OF FAITH
OF HER OWN TO
MAKE MAGIC
HAPPEN IN HER
REAL LIFE.
46. “
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 Down-
town 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 Sun-
shine 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 au-
thentic, 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 work-
ing 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
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.
46 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
47. MY SHELTER PETS ARE
MY BIGGEST FANS
THESHELTERPETPROJECT.ORG
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.
48. Photo Submitted
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 se-
cure 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 pro-
fessional 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.
“There is a great mixture of creativity and skilled applications imparted in
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 enter-
tainment 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 region-
ally 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.
PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE:
THE HEART OF PALM BEACH COUNTY CULTURE
48 ARTHIVEMAGAZINE.COM
49. 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
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)
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
“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 apprecia-
tion and understanding of the visual arts in students and families.
Each features numerous exhibitions a year by professional artists, art
faculty and students.
“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 educa-
tion 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.
“Aside from its educational offerings
and theater performances, the College
supports art galleries on the Lake Worth
and Palm Beach Gardens campuses.”
CREATIVE + CONSCIOUS CULTURE 49