Art Everywhere Forever

It's always a happy blur recalling the fast passing time we affectionately call "the holidays," Thanksgiving, Art Basel, Hannukah,  Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, Three Kings, and finally Martin Luther King Day. 

This year, more memorable than most as we continue to navigate a rapidly changing social and physical environment. What is the work we all choose to contribute to our global wellbeing at this time? Healing, in all forms is so imporant. And truth. 

This year, for the first time since before the pandemic, I made it to three of South Florida's iconic #MiamiArtWeek fairs and at each I was surprised with the messages of remembrance and determination. At Art Basel, the piece I went looking for by Julie Buffalohead was even more brilliantly impactful than I had imagined with its bright blue background and creative cast of characters illustrating the ongoing creation of the universe. 

At Spectrum I was overjoyed to present my own debut alongside an incredible body of work on canvas created in a collaboration with rescued chimpanzees and the 1990s  teenage sensation B-52s.

At Art Miami my favorite piece was the life sized printing screens installed like giant dominoes in a sculpture garden. 

I also visited the Night Garden at Fairchild Tropical Garden for the first time, bringing a new understanding of nature immersion with lights cascading across dappled screens of trees, shrubs and flowers. 

Today, two new opportunities to engage with  Indigenous art and artists opens up. In Hollywood this week, the Tibetan Sacred Arts Tour makes a visit to Seminole Okalee Village across from Seminole Classic Casino to build a sand mandala for world peace while also sharing art and teachings from their monastic tradition. Sacred Arts Tour

Today in Winter Park, "Yaat Ya Oke: Welcome Travellers," a new exhibition featuring 27 Seminole artists opens at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. On through April 14, the exhibition includes contemporary works in acrylic, watercolor, digital art, glass beads, mixed media, natural fibers, found cardboard, photography and sculpture. Details, hours and directions

Next up: Water for Peace Day... 

Stay tuned!

Tara

International Archaeology Day 2023

This #InternationalDayOfArchaeology, we pause - once again - to remember and honour all the bright lights who have now ascended to help illuminate the night time sky. Some are currently seated at the community ofrenda, while others remain anonymously close to our hearts.

We rest, and grieve, and reflect and heal on the road to regaining our resolve and strength. 

📷 Nedahness Greene for #PapalotlProject

Thank you to all who are treading this path toward connection, community, and collaboration. 

The road is not always easy, however there is always time for friendships to be made. 

Bawshkeengwabigwun 🪻

World Tourism Day - Contributions to the Greater Good

Today marks the end of a two day United Nations celebration marking the 43rd anniversary of #WorldTourismDay. 

As I reflected on the theme for this year "tourism & green investments" I realized that I have now been actively contributing to the tourism sector for 5 decades. 

Here is visual selection of a few of these projects and partnerships:

Tara Chadwick celebrates #WorldTourismDay with a visual reflection on her five decades of contributions to the tourism, art, culture and heritage industry sector.

1980s

Beginning in 1983, Tara participated in the earliest iterations of the Miami/Broward Carnival. Later she began her career in museology as a spring break student trainee at the Royal Ontario Museum. During high school, Tara's out of school time volunteer position as IMP on capital campaign committee earned her a share in the Saint Catharines Historical Museum.

1990s

During the 1990s Tara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in socio-cultural Anthropology, attended archaeological field school and served as museologist for the Government of Belize in the creation of its first ever archaeological site museums and visitor centers. She also worked with the Government of Ontario and Chippewas of Rama First Nation to start a youth radio station a few months before the advent of the internet. 

2000s

During the 2000s Tara co-founded a community based environmental justice initiative that included partnerships with a local theatre company. 

2010s

In the 2010s Tara was active in the final stages of development of the travelling exhibition #MayaHiddenWorldsRevealed and continued her environmental work.

2020s

The 2020s necessitated a pivot and much reflection on the half century of work accomplished. This resulted in a widening of the field and narrowing of the focus to inspire the world to take meaningful action on behalf of our environment, each other, and all beings.

My work started at home with myself and family, expanded to my neighborhood and community, and has now traveled all the way around the world and back again. 

I am thankful to each and every person who continues to hold open just a crack in the armour around all our hearts, to pause and really listen for the possibilities that will lead us to a prosperous, healthy and sustainable future, and especially for those who say yes. 

Tara

🌎❤️🦋🌱🎉

Tara-Chadwick.square.site 

Tara Chadwick presenting new work in Zurich

Broward County, FL artist Tara Chadwick presents new work at Swiss Art Expo in Zurich, Switzerland this week. 

Expanding on recent success touring the  #GoldenHour and #Matriarch series across Europe and the US propelling a growing global consciousness of the connections between family, community, government and environment, Chadwick's newest work, #GoldenCascade, reflects the importance of biodiversity and climate to human health and wellness. 

Swiss Art Expo takes place at Zurich Hauptbahnof Platz during the fall folk festival September 6 - 10 and welcomes over 400,000 local, regional and international visitors. 

Info, enquiries and more art at Tara Chadwick.

Seeding the Papalotl (Butterfly) Project

Papalotl (Butterfly) Project is an interdisciplinary, multigenerational,  intercultural endeavor to increase wellness by taking action locally on sustainable development goals being addressed globally. 

This project and methodology has grown out of a lifetime of immersive, community based learning and leadership and consists of many volunteers, collaborators and cogenerators.

A short documentation of reflections from a decade ago after serving as teacher and mentor in the Twin Cities Region provide some of the project background:

Tara A. Chadwick On Generating Future Leaders

Papalotl (Butterfly) Project is available for public and private workshops, presentations, residencies and keynotes. Details and info at book Tara Chadwick. 

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. Papalotl (Butterfly) Project is an active partner with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 

Matriarch migration

For Immediate Release:

August 11, 2023, 

Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

Finally, after launching as a billboard during #ArtMiami/ Art Basel week followed by a year of prestigious gallery showings in London and Venice, the iconic original canvas print version of "Matriarch" has returned to South Florida. 

"Matriarch" framed photo paper print was first shown at Alliance for the Arts in Naples and now resides in the permanent collection of Akeesha Footman in Ontario, Canada. The canvas print was part of Anima Mundi, and now appears in the exhibition catalogue.

"Matriarch" was also exhibited in Palma de Mallorca, Spain last November, then returned as a large scale digital installation at Art Box Expo in Wynwood during Art Basel Miami.

Tara Chadwick is exhibiting two new  "Matriarch-inspired" works at the upcoming Swiss Art Expo in Zurich, including "Matriarch's Grandchild Speaks" which premiered this spring in Basel & NYC. The artists' reception in Zurich takes place at the main train station exhibit hall on September 9th. (Event tickets still available if anyone can or will be in Zurich that weekend!)

View recent works or email for enquiries at tara-chadwick.square.site. 

Digital works by Tara Chadwick featured in Wynwood this month during Miami Art Week

For immediate release:

After a strong year of global showings including LA, Rome, Venice, Zurich and London, artist and curator Tara Chadwick welcomes the return of "Matriarch" to its original digital format at the Artbox Expo Miami later this month. 

While navigating the social changes predicated by the COVID pandemic, Ms. Chadwick adapted her lifelong art and urban farming practice to focus on symbolic messaging, inspiring global audiences to take notice of and act on our need to repair our relationships with the earth and each other. Matriarch manifests our ability to take the time we need to observe, understand, grieve, heal, emerge, awaken and take flight toward our life purpose. In doing so we are better able to forgive, accept, make amends or reconcile discord and wounds of the past and present, and move into the future with strength, experience and dignity.

Matriarch along with "Chrysalis" and "Emergence" will be on view at 219 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127, USA from November 28 through December 10th. The Art party/ reception is scheduled for 3-7 pm on Saturday, December 3rd. Tickets are required for entry and can be booked at: 

Book Art Party Tickets Here

Each print is available for custom order in a limited edition of 25. 

Contact: 

wabigun@yahoo.com or 786-671-8272

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Venice Experimental Performance Reportage

May 6, 3022

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Amid the flurry of opening day at the long awaited Biennale de Venezia, Tara Chadwick, an Indigenous Belizean/ Canadian based in Broward County, Florida presented a short film honoring her lifelong artistic practice in dance and nature immersion. 

Still image from "Earth • Ecology • Everglades" courtesy Adrienne Chadwick

"Earth • Ecology • Everglades" grew out of a project to provide residents and visitors with a taste of the rhythms, sights, smells and sounds found in the intersection of humans and the natural environment. Funded in part by a grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Broward Cultural Division, Proyecto Papalotl has engaged communities across and beyond South Florida in interactive presentations since 2014. During the beginning of the COVID pandemic, alternate ways of connecting with community were explored including utilization of different forms of artistic expression: livestreaming, digital recording, audio, film and still  images. The short film is accompanied by a National Geograhic certified intergenerational lesson plan with the same title. More about last month's Venice Experimental Performing Arts Festival can be found at https://www.itsliquid.com/review-experimental-venice-2022.html 

[Image of Earth • Ecology • Everglades on view at Palazzo Bembo courtesy of Its Liquid Group]

Currently Tara Chadwick has two additional works on view in Venice, both of which expand on the theme of exploring the unfurling of our identity, purpose and responsibility as humans living in an Earth  ecosystem that we are rapidly changing. #Matriarch will open at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello on Thursday, May 12 as part of "Anima Mundi CONSCIOUSNESS" and is also on view as a digital lightbox work at Spazio Tana / Tanarte, just across the canal from the Biennial's Arsenale through May 31. Limited edition prints available.

#Matriarch made her debut in Fort Myers last October, then hung as a public art billboard over 27th Avenue during Art Miami Week/ Art Basel from November through January.

Broward County residents and visitors can join Tara Chadwick for an interactive workshop in collaboration with the Miramar Community Garden on Saturday May 14th at 10 am. 

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Funding for this project is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. Background mural courtesy of Valery Amor, Tara Chadwick, Mictla Chadwick, Ihiyo Chadwick, Talyn Skye Bell and Dr. Debbie Danard Wilson. Limited mobility, vision and hearing assistance available, please email wabigun@yahoo.com with detailed request one week prior to event date.

#MayDay in #Venezia

Proyecto Papalotl Presents:

Matriarch 

by

Tara A. Chadwick

Artist Statement

As we attempt to balance our attention equally on past, present and future, an inner voice of reason and nature coaxes us to glide with the rhythms of the universe; to practice kindness to ourselves and by extension, each other’s selves; to take note of things we do to enact change within and without.

The emergence of a new self from a chrysalis of unfathomable transformation models a path to an ideal not yet imagined. A destination where infinity exists in cycles powered by love, for that is the true role of a matriarch: hold fast to the past and future and ensure the present generation is guided and grounded in traditions of empathy.

In this moment we are all children of the matriarch, responsible and beholden to ensure her wellbeing and in doing so, also our own. Journeying together on the winds of time to remember and repair what we’ve forgotten; preparing a path to wellbeing, accountability and justice.

Proyecto Papalotl uses the art of dance to heighten public awareness of the role all humans play in our ecosystem by infusing South Florida with opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to engage in high quality, transformative experiences in traditional Mesoamerican danza. This project is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes).

Special thanks to Reina Christian and Family for these images of the work on view at Tanarte / Spazio Tana!