Artist as Catalyst 2024: Miami (2/2)
Mapping Miami Panelists: Sandra Portal-Andreu, Kathryn Mikesell, Alejandro Rodriguez
Good Morning from day 3 (Saturday, August 3rd) of Artist as Catalyst at the Green Space Miami! We started with the Mapping Miami panel—the most information dense and labor intensive presentation (TBH). We were joined by Sandra Portal-Andreu, a movement artist & former director of ProjectArt, Kathryn Mikesell, founder of Fountainhead Art Residency, and Alejandro Rodriguez, the founder of AAC and a playwright & director. The panel was an opportunity for us to talk about the South Florida arts ecosystem and the available resources the Catalysts had access to. The panel went over time with us covering museums, galleries, performance venues, residencies and more. While we were rushed at the end, I wanted the Catalysts to see the full breath of what was available so they could also spread the word to their peers in other disciplines and dabble interdisciplinarily with the resources. I had several Catalysts and panelists voice how important this panel was and am thinking about how I can deliver this presentation again in a revamped format.
Slide from the Mapping Miami Panel comparing South Florida's ecological systems to the artist timeline
After giving the Catalysts access to so many resources, we presented their challenge: to create a pitch for a community project that could be completed with $1000 and connected to some of the spaces & organizations we had just presented on. The hope of this is to literally ‘catalyze’ them working together and submitting applications in the artistic ecosystem. To help with writing and thinking creatively about how to develop their pitches, we asked Jessica Campbell, an AI guru to deliver a presentation on AI tools for creatives. Now I will preface the reactions the Catalysts had to the workshop with their is a global debate among artists and the uses of AI right now. AI uses preexisting art to train its algorithms. Companies like Meta are making it part of their policies that AI may train using artists works posted on their pages. This allows people using AI to generate generic art (seen in stores like hobby lobby), produce children’s books, and copy styles of artists in mere seconds. Luckily a judge just ruled that AI companies can now be sued for this. So with that being said the Catalysts had some very pointed questions for Jessica about her and others like her on their ethical stances of profiting from work that isn’t theirs and the environmental impacts of AI. Google’s energy needs increased 50% in 5 years due to AI. While I sat back it was honestly delightful to see the Catalysts keeping the presenter on their toes.
In our last bit of the day we ended with a relaxing sound bath from the angelic Paloma Dueñas who uses sound and vibrational healing techniques on children with hyper sensory bodies. We all got to lay down and and take an hour to learn how to deeply rest. Another running theme of the program was mental health for artist. When we are doing long duration social work for the community, how can we best take care of ourselves so that we can show up for others.
Climate Crusader talks about Emergency preparedness for Artists
Day 4: The last and final day! We started off with a presentation by muah on ‘Emergency Preparedness for Artists’. We discussed sea level projections, hurricanes, and how you can transform your purpose in times of emergency. If you are curious to find out more I would suggest finding the elevation of your home here and making sure you are hurricane prepared here. After my presentation, Allyn Ginns Ayers, the director of LegalARTLink and Dance Now! gave a presentation on contracts and IP basics for the artists. Both emergency preparedness and legal talk can be some of the not so fun parts of being an artist but they are foundational to a successful practice. Artists need to understand how to protect themselves and operate as a business in order to thrive.
Allyn Ginns Ayers, director of LegalARTLink presents on Law basics for Artists
After the presentation from LegalARTlink, we broke for lunch. I want to know that while I haven’t mentioned it yet, Claudia Campos- the communications manager of Artist as Catalyst always ordered the most incredible food. I also want to say that they made my job of hosting the program so easy. So thank you, thank you, thank you Clau.
After lunch Claudia hosted a fish bowl conversation. The fish bowl consists of a spiral of chairs where the Catalysts in the center are talking and when anyone on the outer rings has something to speak on, they can tap in. This year the prompt was “What does it mean to be an artist in Miami in 2024?” Claudia set up the room, brought, the snacks, dropped the question and then let the Catalysts go. The conversation was really heavy. Housing unaffordability, feeling alone as an artist, and feeling like the scene offer too many opportunities to corrupt morals for money.
Catalysts discussing the realities of being a Miami Artist in the Fishbowl
To lighten the mood, we enlisted Yadira Capaz, to offer a theatrical practice in imagining the Catalysts’ rainbow selves. To be honest, I was setting up for the next panel so I did not get to see much of the magic, but reflecting on the Catalyst’s responses this was their favorite workshop. They paired up talk through their insecurities about stepping into their highest selves and played out angels and demons each other’s shoulders. This was the only workshop we did in the other gallery space and we could hear the laughter through the walls.
Rainbow Self workshop by Yadira Capaz
As the afternoon approached we started on the Arts and Longevity Panel. The panel was comprised of total bad asses: Diliana Alexander, director of Filmgate Miami, Onajide Shabaka, current Florida Prize finalist, and Chire Regans aka VantaBlack, community leader and social justice champion. The intent of the panel was to talk about longevity…how do you last in the arts and not burn out? What tips could the panelists offer and how has their work shaped the community. This was another one of those lovely surprises where the panelist brought up some of the undercurrents of the city… seedy development, racism and issues with art censorship. They got right to the point, were honest, and talked about cultivating fearlessness.
Arts and Longevity panelists, Diliana Alexander, Onajide Shabaka, and Chire Regans
After the panel we took some time to shuffle the space and turn the gallery space into a gala ready affair. We put up blue lighting, black table cloths, candles, and lots of delicious food. The closing ceremony was a space for the keynote, a musical performance from alumni and the pitches of the group projects.
Our Keynote this year was Rosie Gordon-Wallace, the founder of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI) a pillar of the South Florida arts scene. Rosie did something so beautiful, it wasn’t a keynote about their work or accomplishments— it was a speech dissecting The Peace Studio’s mission and values: strengths-based storytelling, refection and self-care, collaboration, representation, and being a learning organization. It was a class act lesson how to BE and BUILD community, to be authentic in how you interact with others and to spread love while doing it.
Rosie Gordon-Wallace delivers our keynote speech
And for the finale of the night, the Catalysts presented their projects to our esteemed panel of judges for the opportunity to win the micro grant. After 40 minutes of deliberation…our judges have reached a decision…and the winner is…THE PURPLE TEAM!!!!
Purple team's winning pitch, "Nature as Language"
That’s a wrap on Artist as Catalyst 2024. Thank you The Peace Studio, Green Space Miami, Tadia, Thomas, Claudia, Lorena, Neco, Lance, all the speakers and Catalysts. It was truly a gem to lead this program and I am forever grateful. This program was the culmination of many of my life experiences and knowledge and being able strengthen a bridge for young artists into stable creative careers in the community.
With Love,
Alexander Zastera
Rainbow leading to Green Space Miami
