Kickstarter

As artists, we are all passionate about something.

My passion has been learning about Florida’s mangrove estuaries and using that environment as a platform for both creatively tapping into some of Florida’s most beautiful terrain, and looking at the hidden story of mangroves locally and around the world. It’s a history of people and migrations.

Your financial assistance will help this residency (November & December) and creative project come to fruition while providing some fun ways to learn about our local ecosystem and its mythology. Funding is necessary to produce the art works, and your assistance is key to the success of the project as a whole. You will receive art in exchange for your financial support.

Much of Florida’s coastline has been cleared of mangroves only now we realize the importance they have for both the fish and fowl that breed in the tidal estuaries, maintain a stable coastline during storms, and act as a barometer of our environmental health.

Mangrove Mud Womp is a fun look at how this protected tidal area is reflected in cultures around the world, focusing on the myths of the African diaspora populations that were transported to North America.

Sacred waters bathe the histories of African peoples, sometimes as tears of deep sorrow, sometimes as drops of soothing and cooling liquid sustaining life and hope. Water connects this world with the undersea world. For Africans dispersed across the vast Atlantic, those waters are emblematic of the ultimate journey back home to distant ancestors and the abode of Mami Wata, Simbi, Olokun, Yemoja, La Sirene, and countless other divinities. Their names are regularly invoked to maintain, refresh, and strengthen the spirit needed to endure the hardships and challenges of daily life we face.

Mangrove estuaries are one of the places where mythological creatures make themselves manifest, often in the form of fish, or portrayed as a mermaid, a snake charmer or a combination of both; that is the water divinity Mami Wata (Mother of Waters).

(Example below of an art work done with Florida family in a reflection of the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie County, FL.)

Mangrove Mud Womp is a two part project with funding for the initial phase at Anne Kolb Nature Center. At the conclusion of the creative research, and art making period, there will be a temporary on-site display, followed by a gallery exhibition at Florida Atlantic University downtown Fort Lauderdale campus. The art objects created here will be on display at this final gallery exhibition.

By pledging on this Kickstarter page you are giving this project invaluable support to continue pushing forward.Yes, this is a personal request to those that believe in my art practice, even though it is often out of sight by taking place in non-traditional locations such as this venue.

The Mangrove Mud Womp project will be a short 6 week park residency (November & December) working with the park’s licensed naturalist while creating a temporary outdoor installation consisting of sculptures and performances.

(Example below of a poster produced for a previous art project done in the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie County, FL.)

Kickstarter is all or nothing: If I cannot secure at least $8,000 in pledges for the art works that will be produced from this public art project by October 15, 2011, the project will not go ahead and you will not be charged.

YOUR PART

By contributing, you are taking an active part in the creation and exhibition process, and are helping to define the trajectory of a non-traditional art practice in a public space. Other cultural projects like this one will also benefit.

And please help spread the word on Twitter and Facebook using this url: http://goo.gl/SDh39.

As I said above, this is all or nothing. If I don't receive the minimum $8,000 in pre-order pledges by October 15th, 2011, the project doesn't happen and you aren't charged.

Warmest greetings from South Florida and Thank you in advance for your support!

Funded in part by a Creative Investment Grant from Broward Cultural Division