By Glenn Lochrie (June 22, 2011, Florida Fine Art Blog via FIU News) – Miami artist Xavier Cortada will serve as founding director of the Office of Engaged Teaching, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (ETSCA) at Florida International University’s College of Architecture + The Arts.
ETSCA will be located at FIU’s new space at 420 Lincoln Road, on South Beach and will offer an extraordinary level of hands-on experience for FIU students. FIU on Lincoln Road will open this fall.
“Xavier Cortada has deep roots in this community and a rich artistic background, which he will put to work for our dynamic students,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.
(…)
“Art has the power to transform society,” said Cortada. “Because our community’s future is so dependent on the success of this public university, FIU’s College of Architecture + the Arts is the perfect place to continue developing my participatory art practice. I am thrilled to join the FIU family and look forward to working with students and faculty to harness the energy of South Beach and use art to build community.”
Xavier and I are on the Florida Art and Culture Council together and I have appreciated his work over the past year. Not only a brilliant artist with a great career, Xavier is a real community leader and strong arts advocate. More from the Article; “The new office is tasked with fully utilizing the talents of the faculty and students in the visual arts, performing arts, and design specialties to engage with the local South Florida community in collaborative problem-solving initiatives.” I can think of no one in Miami better suited for such an undertaking. Congratulations Xavier! GL
LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://flafineart.blogspot.com/2011/06/miami-artist-xavier-cortada-joins-fius.html