– Presentation includes an artist lecture, reception and exhibition at Art Gallery –
Artist Xavier Cortada
DATE: November 18, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Jody Horne-Leshinsky
Broward Cultural Division
PHONE: 954-357-7463
EMAIL: jleshinsky@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL –Broward County’s Public Art & Design Program invites the public and the media to a unique conversation with artist Xavier Cortada at Broward College on Thursday, November 20, at 5PM. The presentation accompanies an exhibition, Littoral Creatures, at the South Campus Art Gallery from 6 – 8PM. The event is part of Cortada’s education outreach initiative for his public art commission, Starfish Shuffle, completed at Port Everglades, Terminal 2 in 2013; and Pelican Path to be completed in late 2014 in Terminal 4.
Cortada will be discussing Starfish Shuffle because he feels that the exhibit, Littoral Creatures, emphasizes the importance of sea grass within the context of his artwork at Port Everglades, one of the top three cruise ports in the world. “I aim to remind people about the interconnectedness of things and the impact of even our daily routines. We, along with seahorses, sea stars, and other littoral animals, call South Florida home.”
Starfish Shuffle, a series of eight wall-mounted ceramic murals, creates an awareness of the vibrant marine life that abounds in the natural environment just offshore from Broward County’s blue wave beaches and across the Caribbean basin. The ceramic mural accompanies passengers as they go through the processing sequence from security towards ticketing and through the terminal to the ship. “These artworks, Starfish Shuffle and Pelican Path enhance the overall cruise experience and contribute to the economic vitality of Port Everglades,” says Leslie Fordham, Public Art & Design Administrator, Broward Cultural Division.
Xavier Cortada’s past work has included art installations at the Earth’s poles (north and south) to generate awareness about global climate change: In 2007, an National Science Foundation Antarctic Artist and Writer’s Program Fellow, he used the moving ice sheet beneath the South Pole as an instrument to mark time; the art piece will be completed in 150,000 years. In 2008, he planted a green flag at the North Pole to reclaim it for nature and launch a reforestation eco-art effort.
“As soon as they arrive at the Terminal, passengers see the murals of starfish as they journey from the shoreline, through the sea grass, across a sandbar and into the currents. I positioned the works in that order because I want the passengers to immerse themselves in what awaits them as they cruise across the water and from port to port. In a sense, the passengers are following the starfish that will take them on their journey from land to sea.”
The event will be held at Broward College, Judson A. Samuels South Campus, 7200 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines.
For more information about this project, contact Leslie Fordham, Public Art & Design Administrator at 954-357-7532.
About the Broward Cultural Division
Broward Cultural Division is a local arts agency, one of thousands across the U.S. providing financial, technical and marketing assistance to artists and arts organizations. Broward County has more than 1.8 million residents, 13.4 million visitors, 10,000 artists, 6,523 arts-related businesses employing 23,497 people, 823 not-for-profit cultural organizations and 31 cities, some of which operate their own arts councils and public art programs. For more information about the Broward Cultural Division, call 954-357-7457, visit Broward.org/Arts, “like us” on Facebook.com and “follow us” on Twitter.com/BrowardArts.
About Port Everglades
Port Everglades is one of the top three cruise ports in the world because of its modern, guest-friendly facilities and attention to customer service. Seatrade Insider, one of the cruise industry’s leading international trade publications, has named Port Everglades the “Cruise Port of the Year” twice in the last four years. With the majority of the world’s premier cruise lines and cruise ships, Port Everglades is expected to welcome more than four million cruise guests in 2014, who will choose from a wide variety of cruises, from short island getaways to around-the-world adventures.
Release Properties
Date:11/18/2014 10:02 AM
Photos: 2
Keywords: Community, Culture and Arts, Education Outreach, Environment, Events, Port, Tourism, District 1, District 6, District 9
News Type: News Release