Artwork by  L.T.G - (AKA Ana Novaes)

Ida Wyman     Under the Newsstand, the Bronx, New York     1947

Afro-Dominican Artist Raelis Vasquez’s Paintings are Figurative Compositions That Conjure the Complexity of the Afro-Latinx Experience

In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, we had the honor of interviewing Afro-Dominican artist Raelis Vasquez on Black artists he admires, the need for art in children's lives, using art as a storytelling tool and more.

1) Please name 2-3 Black, African-American and/or Afro-Latinx artists (preferably visual artists, but could also be a poet or author, etc) past or present that you respect/admire and why.

Njideka Akunyili Crosby- Her works deal with the importance of representation. She is a Nigerian woman who is married to a white American man and her complex works often explore her complex narrative of dealing with being from multiple places at once. The transfer method that she uses allows the viewer to be rewarded the more they look at her work.

Barkley Hendrix- This incredible artist has greatly contributed to black portraiture and conceptualism. His best-known works are large life-size painted portraits of Black Americans.

2) Why did you choose to use the arts as a tool for telling stories of Afro-Latinx people/communities?

I am not sure that I did the choosing of art to tell my stories. I think it is a calling in my case. Art has allowed me to speak in ways that language never could. I naturally fell into it from the moment I arrived in America in 2002.

3) What do you hope to accomplish through your art?

I hope to represent my Immigrant, Latino and African Diasporic communities with my art. I hope to do this with great vulnerability and honesty.

4) How were the arts nurtured in your childhood and how can caregivers and/or schools better nurture a child's interest in the arts?

Well, I wouldn't say that the arts were nurtured in my childhood. Like most children, I just doodled and used my creativity to have fun. I continued to do this in a more serious manner as a teen and as an adolescent. It is something that was mine and served no purpose other than to serve my creative interest and help me understand and work through things that I was going through.I think caregivers and schools could encourage kids to continue their creative experience. I think the problem is that as children grow up, they begin to see the arts as a frivolous endeavor and that is both something that is learned and a mistake.

To learn more about Raelis Vasquez and his work, please visit:

https://www.raelisvasquez.com/

https://www.instagram.com/raelis/

https://www.facebook.com/RaelisV/

To learn more about Cool Culture, please visit:

https://www.coolculture.org/cc/index.html

OUR BRING THE COOL FAMILY FESTIVAL RETURNS JUNE 15!

This year’s Bring the Cool Family Festival will be held at the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday, June 15th. It will mark our fourth year of co-creating this family-centric event with Brooklyn Museum.

The festival is designed to create welcoming spaces where families come together, to celebrate their stories and explore creative self-expression through activities, workshops and performances that center on art-making, movement, and dramatic play. It gives families a chance to explore the interconnections between art, community, heritage and social justice.

INTRODUCING OUR “WE ARE ALL CURATORS” ONLINE MUSEUM!

We are excited to introduce a new user-friendly digital storytelling platform, the “We Are All Curators” Online Museum will showcase the rich stories and art of Cool Culture families!

Our Online Museum provides an opportunity for Cool Culture families to take the lead in curating their very own exhibits online that showcase their rich and important cultural stories - stories that are often untold in public institutions. Submissions can be made directly onto the webpage www.weareallcurators.org/submit, via email or at workshops. Our current themes focus on the cultural stories that personal objects and food hold, which connects to one of our workshop’s focus, on how our homes are like museums. We look forward to collecting the stories that unfold from our themes in the coming weeks and plan to launch the online platform in April 2019. Stay tuned! Submissions from Cool Culture families will also be showcased at our family festival at the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday, June 15th!  

To learn more and for examples of stories and art that will be shared, visit: www.weareallcurators.org

Hundreds of New York City Educators Explore Curation, Storytelling and More at Our We Are All Curators Workshops

In November, we launched the second year of Cool Culture’s We Are All Curators initiative, which includes a four-part professional development workshop series for over 200 early education partners. The workshops create space for educators to question and expand their notions of who makes art, where art and culture exist, and why it’s important to uphold the stories of our school communities’ cultures and histories, which are often untold.

As part of our program, participating early education partners explored culturally-relevant and socially conscious exhibits at select cultural institution partners, to get a deeper understanding of how curators and cultural institutions decide how and which stories are told by the objects and works of art they display in their exhibits. A few of the popular exhibits we’ve incorporated into our curriculum are:

Brooklyn Museum’s “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power” (November 2018 workshops)

El Museo del Barrio’s “Down These Mean Streets: Community and Place in Urban Photography” (December 2018 workshops)

The Tenement Museum’s “Under One Roof” (December 2018 workshop)

New Museum’s “Nari Ward: We the People” (March 2019 workshops)

In addition to holding space for exploration and meaningful conversations about the works of art on display, we connect the exhibition themes to activities and resources that are suitable for families with young children. Workshop participants then turnkey customized versions of the activities in their schools to support families in engaging with art, museums and storytelling practices that honor their culture and help them learn about other’s cultures.    

What our school partners have to say:

“This was very powerful. A small window into the soul of our nation!” - Participating Parent Coordinator

“I learned new strategies to use in parent workshops like community-building activities, “mini-museum”  exhibits, books of the month!” - Participating Parent Coordinator

“I will be sharing how Cool Culture can be a partner in our school’s initiative of the work we are doing around race, diversity, inclusion and “talking about race in the classroom!” - Participating Parent Coordinator

For more information on We Are All Curators and other Cool Culture programs, please visit: https://www.coolculture.org/cc/our_work.html

Cool Culture Welcomes Dr. Christopher Godfrey to Our Board of Directors!

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Christopher-John Godfrey as Cool Culture’s newest board member. Dr. Christopher Godfrey is a clinical health psychologist who studies community health and health disparities among New York City’s diverse community settings. He is a professor of psychology at Pace University where he recently co-directed the Office of Multicultural Affairs and currently directs the Center for Urban Health and Education Research. A seasoned public health program developer, Dr. Godfrey has built and evaluated community health programs for urban families, at-risk youth, older adults and LGBT populations. He maintains a small clinical and behavioral health research consulting practice. Currently, Dr. Godfrey is working with Cool Culture’s Program and Development staff on articulating our program goals and impact, including looking at our evaluation. We are now looking to formalize this relationship through a NEA research grant. Dr. Godfrey joined the Cool Culture board because he believes that social science has an obligation to service the public and is at its best when scientists help communities tell their stories. Joining the board is also a way of carrying forward his academic parents’ legacy. His mentors who were both renown scientists, worked in community-oriented research and always impressed the importance of recognizing the arts as one of the most essential ways for communities to engage and tell their stories. Dr. Godfrey looks forward to having the opportunity to use science to help Cool Culture in its mission.

Cool Culture Welcomes Rob Krulak to Our Board

Rob Krulak is proprietor of Acme Projects, LLC, a fundraising and management consultancy. Acme works with artists and cultural organizations on projects ranging from organization development and fundraising to institutional histories and communications.

Rob is the former Chief Development Officer of New York Live Arts, home of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. At the Brooklyn Museum, he was also Senior Development Officer for nearly ten years, managing the museum's campaign for the 2004 entrance pavilion and overseeing the institutional gifts program. In 2015–16, Rob was interim executive director of Groundswell, one of New York's leading public art and youth development organizations.

Rob's other affiliations during his career include the M.H. de Young Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art. He is a former board member of Kyle Abraham’s dance company, A.I.M., and was on the board of Groundswell for 11 years. Rob is a member of the 20th cohort of Coro Leadership New York and a volunteer for Crisis Text Line. A graduate of Wesleyan University, he holds advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (MA, Art History) and Case Western Reserve University (MBA).

Rob’s interest in joining the Cool Culture board comes from a career-long interest in the ways that museums navigate their civic and social roles. He believes Cool Culture is doing amazing work toward making sure that museum audiences more fully represent the communities that surround them. He’s looking forward to connecting his background and interests with Cool Culture’s work to foster engagement with the arts and culture among historically marginalized communities.

Cool Culture Welcomes Cathy Elkies to our Board

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Cathy Elkies as Cool Culture’s newest board member. Cathy Elkies joined Phillips as Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer in January 2018, based in New York. In her roles, Ms. Elkies works to elevate Phillips’ strategy of engaging with clients and expanding the reach of the auction house’s brand. She provides strategic leadership, collaborating across the company with Phillips’ vast network of specialists and business development teams, who serve multiple regions and collecting interests.

Prior to joining Phillips, Ms. Elkies spent twelve years at Christie’s, where she most recently served as Global Managing Director, 20th and 21st Century Art & Design. In this position, she drove all aspects of strategic planning, organizational structure, performance management and financial results for five global business divisions: 20th Century Design, Photographs, Prints, Pop Culture & Posters, and Handbags. Ms. Elkies also previously served as Christie’s Global Managing Director of Client Strategy, President of Christie’s East, and Managing Director, Los Angeles. During her time at Christie’s, she was instrumental in the consignment of several notable collections, including the Estate of Marlon Brando, Costume and Couture from the Private Archives of Bob Mackie, The Estate of Bobby Short, The Contents of the Plaza Hotel, 40 Years of Star Trek, and The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum Collection.

Ms. Elkies is a licensed auctioneer, frequently conducting charity auctions for non-profit organizations across the country, in addition to Phillips’ own auctions. An expert in the field, she is often called to lecture on the state of the art market and the auction industry, as well as emerging businesses. She holds a bachelor of art degree from Kenyon College.

A childhood punctuated by a paintbrush in hand and an easel by her side, Cathy’s early love of art has been a theme throughout her life. Much to her parents surprise, she leveraged her under grad degree in Art History into a technicolor career in the art world. The central role art has played in her life is something that she continues to celebrate with her son Oliver.  And through Cool Culture’s inspiring work, she can help further impact communities through access to and engagement with art.

Dance to DJ Paz’s music at our #GivingTuesday event, Give to Get, on November 27 at Phillips Auction House! Based in New York, DJ Shaun Pazel has spun at a long list of premier, A-list landmarks including Tao Downtown, Catch, Hudson Terrace, Aspen Social and more! Creating a strong name and reputation for his work, Paz has developed an eclectic style that showcases his love of funk, soul, disco, house, R&B and hip hop. If you want a sneak peek of DJ Paz’s sounds, visit his website dj.pazmerica.com. Purchase your tickets here: http://bit.ly/2K9eiLr.

We're getting closer to our Give to Get event taking place in just ONE week on November 27! 🎉 Party for a cause on #GivingTuesday to help us raise funds for our arts program, which annually serve over 50,000 diverse New York City families and hundreds of school educators. Spend an evening filled with dancing, food, live art making, and an open bar at Phillips—one of New York City's most renown auction houses. Participate in a raffle to win a prize, dance to DJ Paz's eclectic music, create art with recognized Argentine artist Magda Love and more! Have you bought your tickets yet? If not, purchase your tickets today by visiting the link in our bio or here: http://bit.ly/2K9eiLr.

Immerse yourself in the colorful world of artist Magda Love at our upcoming event! Don't miss out on this opportunity to participate in a special interactive art experience just for our guests, at our Give to Get event on #GivingTuesday, November 27 Phillips Auction House! From TEDx projects to fashion collaborations, this inspirational Argentinian artist utilizes her work to promote love and community and is determined to raise awareness about social and environmental issues. Her work has been featured on MTV, Complex Magazine, HYPEBEAST, Bustle, ARTnews Magazine, Street Art NYC, and many others. Check out Magda's latest accomplishment, "Soul Ancestors", the women empowering mural, that also happens to be the LARGEST mural in NYC, located in the heart of the West Village! Purchase your tickets here or via the link in our bio: http://bit.ly/2K9eiLr. * Sponsors: Sixpoint, Phillips Media Partner: Street Art NYC Co-chaired by Sophia Leenay, Rich Greene and Ashley Collier

Express yourself and your ideas through art at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) "Open Art Space", a free drop-in program for LGBTQAI teens and their allies! The program will be starting on Tuesday, October 23 from 4:30pm-6:30pm and at every session free MetroCards, food, museum passes, and art supplies will be provided. Check out the flyer for more info or visit www.moma.org.

Exploring the complex & diverse nature of Muslim women's fashion, The Metropolitan Museum of Art's new director Max Hollein initiated "Contemporary Muslim Fashions" at de Young Museum in California, making it the first major museum to do so. The exhibition recognizes and examines how Muslim women took charge of style within and beyond their communities. For more info on the exhibit, visit: https://deyoung.famsf.org/exhibitions/contemporary-muslim-fashions

Are you interested in the arts and museums? The National Museum of African American History & Culture's internship and fellowship program pave the way for underrepresented individuals to grow successful careers in the cultural sector. For more info, visit https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/internships-fellowships.

Our museum partner Museum of Modern Art is hosting an after-hours art course for TASC-involved teens and adults who are currently working towards receiving their High School Equivalency Diplomas. The MoMA will provide all art-making materials, meals during each session, MetroCards, and more. And the course is taught by their very own Shellyne Rodriguez. The online application can be found HERE. Applications and letters of recommendation are due Monday, September 24th.

More information can be found here: https://stories.moma.org/in-the-night-studio-79fba37faad0

WE ARE ALL CURATORS PILOT YEAR COMPLETE!

In May, we wrapped up the pilot year of Cool Culture’s We Are All Curators initiative, which included a four-part professional development workshop series for over 180 early education partners. Workshops took place at the Noguchi, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, the  Museum of the City of New York, and The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), providing educators with an opportunity to become familiar with family friendly exhibitions and programming across the city. We Are All Curators also created space for educators to question and expand their notions of who makes art, where art and culture exist, and why the stories of their school communities’ cultures and histories need to be heard.

Our educators used art and storytelling to activate these concepts at their school in inspiring ways.

At ACE Integration Head Start, families and staff collaborated on a museum exhibit in their school to highlight Black History Month and Dominican Republic’s Independence Day. The community brought in personal objects from their home and created beautiful displays. Ms. Santos, a parent at the preschool, led an exhibit tour to share stories with the children about her native country, The Dominican Republic. The school Director led a story circle in their exhibit space about African American history. Families were proud to work together on a school museum that represented their cultures and histories to their children. Educators also gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of art and culture in the liberation of our younger generation.

“The workshops further solidified for me how the arts are an integral part of children’s positive socio-emotional development, and definitely need to be a valued part of their everyday lives - in and out of school. It’s an outlet that they all need and deserve.” – Jessica Diaz, education partner  

Click here for an inside look at our workshops this year!