Posted May 2, 2013 at 6:18 pm
Reblogged from jordanvkifer
ART IS… From Buenos Aires to Chicago
I have been communicating with Atiba Edwards through emails for close to a year. Though we have never met face to face, I’ve found in him what most artists spend years looking for: a talented, passionate, driven and inspiring individual who believes in building a collaborative community of artists. Atiba Edwards co-founded the non-profit arts organization “F.O.K.U.S” with Alma Davila Toro in 2003. FOKUS is dedicated to bridging the gap between under-resourced communities and the arts through education, community art events and an online magazine. Based out of New York and Ann Arbor, MI, FOKUS continually produces phenomenal work. They have collaborated with a wide variety of artists and organizations that include Janelle Monae, John Legend, Slum Village, Kola Va$htie and Brooklyn Academy of Music.For the past year FOKUS has been working on a photographic project entitled “Art Is” that has already taken place in Buenos Aires, New York City and Ann Arbor. Their next step…Chicago.
Sophia Nahli: What is the “Art Is” project, and how was it formed?
Atiba Edwards: The “Art is” project is a multi-layered project that highlights how art, despite being a very personal concept, is something that connects us to each other, regardless of who we are, where we are from and the access we have (or don’t). It was formed through many nights of insomnia due to ideas running wildly in my brain. It really got its legs through conversations with Jordan Kifer, a member of FOKUS Ann Arbor, Michigan chapter. We were discussing a couple different projects around the concept of hearing from individuals what art means to them. I had a rough idea of just having people write down what art means to them because there is a certain power in putting things into words. After some great brainstorming with her, it was formed in March 2012, and Jordan officially launched the project while in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a study abroad semester. We have completed Buenos Aires, New York City and Ann Arbor, Michigan thus far but are anxious to have installments from all over the world!
Read the full interview HERE
Check out the full Art Is project HERE
@FOKUS
#skyhigh #murals. Great advertising by showing what you do and how you do it. #art #williamsburg #brooklyn #fun #artists (at Skyhigh Murals 85 Wythe Street)
Posted April 26, 2013 at 4:44 pm
#bob #marley #art outside. Looks like a @fumeroism piece is by the #brooklyn nets arena. #exodus #naturalmystic #color #artoutside #fumeroism #poster (at Barclays Center)
Reblogged from jordanvkifer
@InADash showing some ‘love’ to the Art Is project in our final update to the Ann Arbor MI installment
Check out Dash’s equally dope projects HERE
Just chillaxing. Venice beach #losangeles #california #art #mural #wallart #artoutside #streetart
Posted April 20, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Posted April 17, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Reblogged from jordanvkifer
Art is… an extension of the spiritual self.
Ann Arbor MI
*new photos from the Art Is project*
