The Fall season is always a busy time in Florida as it marks not only the start of the annual stretch of well loved winter holidays but also the beginning of the height of the arts, culture and tourism season here in the Sunshine State. After two years of precautious, arms length and virtual engagements due to pandemic health concerns, this autumn feels like it was the busiest on record. Coming out of a whirlwind world tour that started in Lee County last October and ended last week in Wynwood, visual and performance works of Tara A. Chadwick made stops in Hong Kong, Sydney, London, Zurich, Laguna Beach, Rome, Palma de Mallorca and the Milk of Dreams Venice Biennale along the way. Installation and performance work was manifested locally at Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Greenspace Miami, downtown Fort Lauderdale, Miramar and Everglades National Park. Collaborations are ongoing and developing. Follow and message me on instagram for invitations & inquiries!
Below are a few key highlights of the year in review:
Upcoming intergenerational enrichment experience exploring winter science & celebrations at Sunset Lakes Community Center next Wednesday, December 21st at 10:30-11:30 am.
Chono Thlee: Sparking a New Era in Seminole Art exhibition curated by Tara Chadwick on view through January 10th at History Fort Lauderdale.
Papalotl (Butterfly) Project Social Innovation Fellow at Cogenerate.
Special thanks to Akeesha Nadjiwon Footman for being the first to add one of the limited edition Matriarch prints to her prestigious Canadian fine art collection. And to each and every one of you who keeps on supporting me through the many ideas, goals and the often intense work that goes into making those dreams become our reality. I am so thankful for YOU. Let's keep on building wider, stronger, smarter, together!
These photos were taken by Mictla Chadwick from the computer camera at the Lake Itasca Biological Field Station. It was an extremely novel tech innovation at the time in 2008 which he identified, implemented and taught us how to use. All other pics by TChadwick.
The prep materials (I still have these files available for anyone who wants to receive a copy of them!):
Mino dibikoong, Ikwaydoog:
Gaygayte wayeeba gi gah dagoshinamin owidi wayji jiwan misabe zeebing... michi zeebing...? Omah gahkawbeekong, oshkibagazeebing ayzhinidawdayg.
Thank you for registering for the Indigenous Womens Water Policy and Leadership Retreat!
Attached in this email, you will find:
A working agenda & What to bring
A series of maps to help you get there and find where we all will meet
A resource list of Water articles and activities that you can find on the internet *attached as footnote
A list of recommended readings
An extra copy of the flyer and registration form
Please go over these materials as soon as you can. If any one is interested in receiving any of the recommended readings to look over ahead of time, let me know and I will email them to you. Otherwise, we will have them available in hard copy and electronic format when we get there (I was hoping to send the whole file but it's 40 MB, too big for most email servers).
It is going to be a wonderful weekend, I am really looking forward to all of us spending time together in focus on what we will do to protect and nurture our common water.
Gigawabamin wayeeba!
Bawshkeeng Wabigun.
c. (612) 600-8272
Background work a few years earlier:
Boozhoo,
Ninduwaymawgunnidoog,
Omaw ni
kwudge itoon duh ozhibeeigay bugee ayzhi anokii duh ganawendawn nibi. Ni
kwudge itoon duh nisidotawn wah ikidoon ni nookomisun meenawah
nimishomisun. Ni migwetchiwayndawn ayzhi midewijig gizawgeein ni mama
akeeng. Mi ewe wah ni wi ikidoo noogoom. Meegwetch bizinduhwee'eg.
Bawshkeeng
Wabigun,
Wabiguneesun
ga onji odawdiseeyawn, Ginew indodaym
Neezho
mide indow.
Giganawendamin
Nibi - We must all take care of the Water
In the
Late Summer of 2005, Nugumoo Maingen (Sharon Day), Wabanew Quay (Dorene Day)
and Bawshkeeng Wabigun (Tara Chadwick) attended a manidoons (insect -
macroinvertebrate) training at the Leech Lake Water Lab. Lab director John Purcell provided a brief
introduction to macroinvertebrate sample analysis as a screening tool in water
quality monitoring and how to adapt this screening method to a multi
generational, community based audience.
A cultural training session was held at St. Paul's Como Lake with the
help of Bedawsegay (Josephine Mandahmin), lead organizer of the Mother Earth
Water Walk.
The
project is designed to build the knowledge capacity of Native American women to
test their own community waters, organize their families and communities to
address any toxic or pollution problems, and become active in holding tribal,
state and federal governments accountable to the environmental health of Native
communities, including ensuring continued access to safe, clean
water.
Collaborations
have been formed with environmental and health organizations and projects such
as the Minnesota Native American Council on Tobacco, the Chalchiutlicue
Environmental Project, the Women’s Environmental Institute and the Indigenous
Environmental Network. These developing
collaborations have provided considerable leverage to help raise awareness of
the urgent need to take action in protection of and community ownership of
water and water policy (as well as broader environmental causes and impacts) in
a variety of distinct and interrelated cultural communities in Minnesota and
internationally.
Although
organizing our own community and assessing community readiness to take on new
(ancestral) levels of commitment and communal responsibility has proven a greater
challenge than originally anticipated, the challenge has also revealed new
possibilities for creatively overcoming barriers to community
participation. The most important lesson
learned is that it is imperative to begin our organizing efforts with the people
whom we collectively already know; and to build on this constituency through
intentionally forming new relationships with people who have the potential
to develop into leaders of the movement to empower Native American women to
reclaim their ancestral responsibility as those who will ensure that clean
water will be available and accessible for their children and grandchildren
seven generations into the future.
As the rainy season cloaks us in the cavern of rhythmic cycles of downpours and sunshowers... we wait cautiously to see what the east winds bring our way and do our best to prepare ourselves for the disciplined routines that must come with the close of the summer break and the opening of the new school year.
As usual the summer flew by in the blink of an eye, filled with memories of joy and sorrow, fear and bravery, optimism and despair... it was like a microcosm of many lives lived in fullness, watching the sun rise and fall across lands familiar and yet unrecognizable.
We listened to each other and to the sounds of the earth conversing with us through her various chorus of voices, of which we are but a fleeting melody. Remembering our past, we set a course of goals for our future, together. As individuals seeking the pursuit of our greatest possible development while simultaneously working to find a way to ensure that all beings are afforded equitable access to this opportunity. Life is not easy but it is in the struggle for balance that we find equilibrium.
Here are a few highlights of summer activities:
Mesoamerican Danza performance and workshop at Broward Schools Equity Conference
Education panel with Seminole Art from the Frontlines Artists at Florida Alliance of Art Educators
Mesoamerican Danza performance workshop at Miramar Cultural Center photography by Adrienne Chadwick and Reina Christian.
Pat Bellanger Memorial at Rural Coalition Retreat in Onigum, Minnesota
Reconnecting with family (Reina and Evy, EBB and WM, Julia, Louis, Amy and Katy, prairie, wetlands, woodlands, sage, sweetgrass and that word for bergamot that I can't remember)
In the weeks and months to come, our lives will become overflowing with tasks and obligations, timelines and due dates, homework and classwork and assignments of all kinds... but for now, we are thankful for a few moments of calm, still reflection on the life we've lived and the path we are trodding... we will do our best to keep moving toward that goal of healing while being healed, of figuring it out while helping others figure it out, of learning while doing... we are because we are.
These are some of the things that come to mind during this time of year when we celebrate the Summer Solstice in this region of our planet. This year we took a moment to reflect on the strong rays of sunlight that were literally shining through the clouds surrounding us this longest day of the year. As human beings, we all have those things which distract us, just as we all have gifts that are immeasurably important to the human family. A condition in which each of us has the opportunity to fully develop and share those gifts with all of humanity is, for me, the ideal goal of a healthy economy. I also published an article that describes some of the current work that I've been helping Fort Lauderdale Historical Society engage in which can be found in this month's edition of InterpNews (p. 84-88, there is a great article on concretions immediately preceeding mine too!).
This month I also had the opportunity to share some of these thoughts briefly with a gathering of a few of Broward County's brilliant people. I'm looking forward to contributing more to widening our base of passionate, accountable and inspired community builders.
Strolling along what seemed like an endless sidewalk down Dade Avenue on this 200th anniversary of the start of the Seminole Wars... I happened to spark up a conversation with one of my co-walkers. Till that moment, I truly had no idea so many of the fair goers were out-of-towners travelling to South Florida just specifically to take in #art. Art Basel 2017 is officially a wrap having shown approximately $3.5 billion work of art, and seeing over 82,000 participants [see press release and end of show report] .
...reminds me of #CometotheWell
(photo: T. Chadwick)
According to artsy.net, the Pace Gallery had a successful run, placing one work worth $12 million. The show’s new layout was so much easier to
follow and navigate, with beautiful hanging garden center lounge areas. I did miss
the delicious, stadium priced lunch offerings, although the BC taco truck
outside did a wonderful job of filling the afternoon void with delicious shrimp
tacos and “avocado salsa.”
Pace Gallery (photo: T. Chadwick)
Inside the walls of Art Basel, I found a whimsical and
wondrous survey that pushes my boundaries of contemporary art. From plastic
bags to classic painting and sculpture to, my favorites:
performance, kinetic and live painting, this show truly had something for
everyone to enjoy.
Mexico City Mural in Miami Beach
(Thursday photo: T. Chadwick)
Mexico City Mural in Miami Beach
(Friday photo: T. Chadwick)
Of these, I really enjoyed watching the mural in process
presented as part of Mexico City's #RestorationofaMural. To my North American eye, the overlays of
vellum on painted campaign slogans was unexpected, a little jarring, and,
similar to my own recent political experiences, I couldn’t figure out if the
art was for or against the will of the majority of the people. The tools,
brushes, and process of creating circles and lines took me back to the 9th
grade computer class called “data,” where everything we ever wanted to program had
to be rendered as a circle or a line. Watching the muralist and assistant add
elements of the mural was almost like watching an archaeological excavation in
reverse. Careful measurements, ancient techniques, tools for the future.
#Reparations David Castillo Gallery
(photo: T. Chadwick)
‘This year’s show definitely had a great energy with its new look, and our booth was extremely well-received. Within the first two hours of the fair, some of our gallery’s most important clients came to the booth. With the sale of a major Lyle Ashton Harris piece and an important group of clients visiting us early on in the fair, it is clear that this year’s fair was punctuated by significant collectors in attendance and as always, there was interest from buyers early on in the show.’ David Castillo, Owner, David Castillo Gallery, Miami Beach (In quotes from Art Basel post show press release.)
...miscellaneous unnamed photos, except for Maggie by #ChuckClose...
(photos: T. Chadwick)
Basel blog – Art Basel Conversations
#EdgarHeapofBirds discussing #Indigenous #Art
(photo: T. Chadwick)
One of the problems I’ve had with Art Basel and contemporary
art in general, is that distinction between what one of the art experts this
week describes as “pastoral” art versus the elevated stature and value of
“fine” art. For example, there were many examples of fabric art during this
year’s Art Basel show, one of these was a giant, larger-than-life
pseudo-dreamcatcher created by an artist in the UK. When I first set eyes upon
the purple and black mass I was surprised, since generally in fine art shows
such as Art Basel, this type of work is relegated to the low rank of “craft” or
“tribal art.” Immediately I looked closer to see if I could see the origin
story of the dreamcatcher woven within the fabric. As I surveyed the types of
twists and turns used in the weaving, sadly, I saw nothing representing the
cultural teachings or history that traditional dreamcatchers convey, in fact to
me this weaving was empty. An empty shell, a hollow reproduction of a
traditional art form containing nothing of the beauty and love that it is meant
to hold. I still wonder about the artist and their intent in making this piece,
but more, I wonder about the gallery that decided to choose this as their main
showcase. What were they thinking? That Indigenous art forms co-opted by white
European artists are flattering? Honoring? Even when indigenous people
themselves are not welcomed to participate as artists, curators or even spokes
people?
#RichardHughes Birmingham, UK
(photo: T. Chadwick)
Seeing the Art Basel Conversation titled “What of Indigenous
Art Now” was a boon to me. I was so excited that someone decided to bring this
topic to the conversation. For too many years, I’ve seen incredible Indigenous
artists, with traditional, folk and contemporary styles, struggle to make ends
meet… invisible in the art magazines… absent from the juried shows… neglected
by collectors and curators. This is changing. But way too slowly. And still,
European artists using Indigenous themes get much more recognition and
appraisal value than Indigenous artists using any theme.
#Oaxaca
(photo: T. Chadwick)
I was so glad to be
able to take part in this conversation. In fact, it was, in part, a
retrospective on Indigenous Art over the past #525yearsofresistanceandsurvival,
it’s been 25 years since 1992. Many of the prominent Native owned and operated
galleries have since closed their doors. But there are a few still in
operation, and a few that have opened since the Sesquicentennial resurgence of
Indigenous art. In my view, the more we have conversations that lead to strategies
for how the arts and business community can best support artists and especially,
Indigenous artists, the stronger our community will grow together.
[Links to the program are available here: ... Indigenous Art Now... and below you can watch the official recording of the "What of Indigenous Art Now?" #ARTBASEL conversation - my remarks can be heard at minute 42]
Basel Blog – #ArtMiami
#ArtMiami / #Context
(photo: T. Chadwick)
This year, once again, I didn’t get to Pinta, Superfine, Red
Dot, Context, Untitled or Scope. I really do wish I’d had time to make it over
to Scope, as I enjoyed the Conversation with Edgar Heap of Birds about
the interconnection between art and history. I particularly wanted to see the “sign
post” he did marking this land as Tequesta territory, a site specific artwork
in relation to the Miami Circle just a few miles away.If anyone happened to snap a pic of it, I’d
surely appreciate having a glimpse!
#AndyWarhol at super stuffy Archeous/ Post Modern
(photo: T. Chadwick)
I also wanted to get to Context because I’m interested in
comparing the overall content between each show. Surprisingly, I found Art Miami
to have a more standoffish feel than Art Basel, something I was definitely not
expecting! My favorite aspects of this show, like Basel, were in the margins… “Unleashed”
had an inspiring piece in the entry way featuring a world map in thread, surrounded
by fabric strips of messages by fair goers, flanked by multiple display screens
flashing still and video images of colourful fashions and wearable art from
India and Asia.
#Unleashed #ConnectingThreads @ Art Miami
(photo: T. Chadwick)
My other favorite piece from Art Miami was “DeepSee,” an incredible
collaborative experience integrating natural vegetation, visual art and visual
reality, all with an action based intended outcome of raising awareness,
interest and motivating everyone to set a goal to take at least one action to support
the earth’s ability to heal herself from the daily stress we inflict upon
her.I loved being able to literally
step inside of the beautifully painted canoe and although I generally dislike
the popular innovation of virtual reality imaging, this VR canoe journey was so
very beautiful with its overlapping integration of earth, space and water
travel, it was impossible not to love.Congrats to Dita, Jared, Houston and the FIU advisory council for
creating this inspiring experience.
Although I’m fairly new to the Art Basel scene (this was
only my 3rd year attending events at Miami’s signature week of high profile,
contemporary art fairs which include but are certainly not limited to the
world-renowned #ArtBasel,) I loved my inaugural experience
with the Basel House Mural Festival.
#SFLBloggers
(photo: T. Chadwick)
Even before attending my first Miami Art Week events three
years ago, I’d heard the perspective of local South Florida artists who too
often struggle for recognition, attention of gallery and representatives, and interest in their work
from the local and global community. Basel House set out to address this
problem by showcasing a few of the artists that have infamized the walls of
Miami’s Wynwood Arts District.
#Wynwood #Wall Tag
(photo: T. Chadwick)
As a kid, this was the factory outlet side of town – large, vacant industrial lots, warehouses, some still used for direct and commercial sales of shoes, washing machines, and bric-a-brack, now almost unrecognizable due to the incredible splashes of colour disguising every wall, coffee shops and cute little trendy places to eat, drink and be merry.
...before...
(Friday photo: T. Chadwick)
Basel House Mural Festival took place between the old RC Cola Plant and Wynwood Brewing Co. It was an homage to the street artists who work every day to bring color and consciousness to our concrete jungle. Featured artist Ruben Uribe is a masterful installation and graphic artist who describes his style as “post graffism popular urban art.”
The opening was unlike any other I’d ever experienced
complete with Rolling Stones sponsored ice cream, a delicious dinner bar
of salad, quinoa and paella, and as much kombucha as you dared to consume… One
of the marketing pieces I enjoyed was the live screen printing of Basel House cloth
tote bags to hold all your swag for the night.It was a great evening to connect with the beauty of what local mural
art brings to Miami during Art Basel and all year through.
I love art, but I’m not one to party much… don’t get me
wrong, I love dressing up as much as the next kid, but I’d rather go see a live
orchestra, ballet or jazz performance than try to strike up meaningless
conversations with a thousand people I don’t know and still won’t know
tomorrow.That said, I did enjoy the hubbub
of going to the “Basel Brunch” at the Sagamore this weekend. Rain pouring. Wind
whirling through what’s left of the art deco buildings my grandmother skipped past
as an 8-year-old in 1931, on her way to spend her day on the beach while her
mother tended her ailing father under a prescribed winter in Florida, the antidote
to his WWI inflicted health issues. The rivers of rainwater filled the streets
as we searched for a semi-safe spot to cross the deluge.
Our first stop was the Muse Art Exhibit, a miniature version
of the much-anticipated Muse Art Fair, scheduled for launch during Art Miami
Wee 2018. Housed in the front lobby of the Hampton Inn, curator and lead
organizer Q stopped to chat about the exhibit and plans for the 2018 art fair.
Then we dashed off in the rain across the street to the
Sagamore. It was my first time to the iconic beach front property... filled
with a warm mass of dripping wet bodies, this brunch was jam packed with
several hundred of the most hard and happy art lovers on the beach. Despite the
torrential downpour outside, Basel Brunch goers were chipper, friendly and happy
to be inside. Pastries and mimosas abounded and freshly made crepes were the
finishing touch to a very well attended event, especially considering the extremely
wet weather. On our way out the door, turkey and cheese crepes in hand, we
noticed that the late arrivers were all lined up outside, being kept at bay by
the doormen relating that the space was at capacity and could hold no more. Grateful, we stepped back out into the torrent.
I did’t get to Prizm Art fair last weekend, but it’s not too
late! Prizm, like Art Africa Miami, which I was able to attend during Miami Art
Week, are both still open to the public. I am so glad
about this because last year I found more art I loved at Prizm than at Basel. Prizm is open through this Sunday, December 17th so don't miss it.
Similarly,
Art Africa Miami was filled with large scale treats for the senses. Fabric paintings,
sculptures, etched light box prints… two galleries full of fantastic fun and
fearless art.These bold works spoke
volumes about our place, as people of color, living in the United States, Miami
in particular, reflecting our current circumstance and bringing with us an unbreakablebond to our ancestors and the ancestral
homelands that continue to nurture and sustain us over the course of
generations….
This month, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society has the
distinct honor of featuring the photographic work of JohnBob Carlos in the
world premiere of his first solo show: Healing Waters. JohnBob’s work focuses on the intrinsic and often unseen
beauty of the imperiled Florida everglades. During the opening held last week,
JohnBob shared stories of the multi day journeys he took to capture each intriguing
image, often encountering pieces of our history long forgotten.
At a special encore of the opening preview, in celebration of International Human Rights Day, Miccosukee Grandmother Betty Osceola shared her thoughts about the exhibition and the images that reflect the home, lifeways and future of her people. “We are a reflection of the earth,
we are the earth. If we heal ourselves, then we will also heal the earth.”For Betty, the images remind her of being in
those places, and of the life that surrounds us.“These everglades, they belong to all of us.
The are all our responsibility…The
everglades are the kidneys of the world, just like the Amazon are the lungs of
the world. What will we do if these kidneys stop working? Put them on a
machine? Well, eventually we know, machines will break down. So, what then…?”
Take a moment to come experience these inspired images and
take home a print of your favorite one to remember: if we heal ourselves, we
will heal the earth.
Healing Waters: The
Photography of JohnBob Carlos
On view at
HistoryFortLauderdale.org
Through January 28th
Basel blog – action!
The role of art in our societies no matter where on the
earth or at what point in history, has always been to inspire, to reflect, to
communicate, and to express…Life is
art. Art is life. Let us rise up together and take hold of both. Put aside all
the myriad daily tasks that must still get done. And take the time, just for a
moment or two, to enjoy the art that exists all around us and the effect it has
on our bodies, minds and spirits. Let’s take a second or two to be thankful for
that “food” that art brings to our lives. And then pick up the phone or open up
a blank email and communicate to our own state legislators that we value art
and the artists who make art, and we want to support art, artists and arts
organizations to continue flowing, through tax programs, charitable donations
that are tax deductible, grant programs, investment and incentives that
encourage and support art.
Yours truly #ByeBasel #selfie
Beyond Basel Saturday, December 16th, Tara Chadwick
will be sharing some of her particular style of "performance" art with the community in the Sistrunk
Neighborhood, everyone is welcome to attend. And on Tuesday, December 19th, a community tour of the #NativeArtattheCannonball exhibit is being offered to #Sistrunk residents and the public at 2 pm.
