Cover Image (top left to right): Adee Roberson, Noé Montes, Terrick Gutierrez, Brianna MacGillivray, Michelle Sui, Edgar Fabián Frías, Grace Ramirez Gaston, Emily Womack, Allie Ihm, Jazmín Urrea. Not pictured: Dominique Moody, Star Montana, and Pat Gomez.
I'm absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with you all. Drumroll, please... I've been selected as one of the inaugural members of the Public Artists in Development (PAiD) program's Artist Council! 🥳 Being part of this prestigious cohort feels like a dream come true, and I couldn't be more honored to join such a talented group of individuals.
Let me introduce you to my fellow council members: Adee Roberson, Dominique Moody, Jazmín Urrea, Michelle Sui, Noé Montes, Star Montana, and Terrick Gutierrez. Each of us comes from diverse artistic backgrounds, united by our passion for promoting the growth and empowerment of underrepresented artists in Los Angeles County. Throughout this blog post you’ll see photos from our wonderful kick-off event at Los Angeles State Historic Park!
The PAiD program is a beacon of hope for artists facing barriers to participation in Civic Art and the wider public art sphere. It's designed not only to address these obstacles but also to pioneer new practices that better cater to artists' needs. As part of the Artist Council, I'll be engaging in profound discussions with fellow artists, experts in various fields, and public art administrators. Together, we aim to craft recommendations that will enhance Civic Art practices and provide valuable resources to our Los Angeles arts community.
But that's not all! Each council member, including myself, will also embark on a journey to develop a temporary public art project. These projects will not only serve as a creative outlet but also allow us to delve deeper into the topics we discuss within the program.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for making this program possible. Their support is invaluable in fostering the growth and success of artists like myself. Additionally, a big shoutout to Dyson & Womack for their role in developing and managing the Artist Council. Your dedication to the arts is truly inspiring.
I can't wait to embark on this journey with my fellow council members and see where it takes us. Together, we'll be making waves in the art world and championing the voices of underrepresented artists.
Stay tuned for updates on my PAiD journey! And once again, thank you all for your unwavering support. Let's make some art! 🎨
Photos provided by LA County Arts.