Activating Vacancy Arts Incubator Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

A surge of creative activity has come in the form of Activating Vacancy Arts Incubator, an arts and public design initiative, settling into the San Fernando building on 1106 E. Adams St. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on a Thursday morning, August 25th, and was led by Christina Houle, of the Brownsville Community Workshop.

"If we create art, if we use at as a tool for civic engagement, then we create a more just and equitable society." Houle began. "If we get more people out, creating the cultural products of their city, then we have those voices represented in the curation and the cultivation of the city."

Other public figures then took the microphone and expressed their thoughts on the project and the importance of establishing it in a downtown location.

"Art is not only a means of expression that enhances public spaces, but it brings our community together."

Commissioner John Villarreal

                                                                           

"We figured if, in other cities all over the world, the Arts play such a wonderful and important role in the community and also in the forming of the community, why couldn't it happen here in Brownsville?"

Rene van Haaften, director of the Brownsville Museum of Art

                                                                           

"[The San Fernando building] was purchased by the COB a few years ago with the intent of not only restoring but also bringing new activities into the downtown area."

Ramiro Gonzalez, Assistant Director of the Brownsville Planning Department

                                                                           

"[Activating Vacancy Arts Incubator] will be joining all of our local artists in the community, and I think that's what downtown is about. It's about creating spaces where we can all come together and really enjoy our city and the amenities that it offers."

Commissioner Cesar de Leon

                                                                           

"The Incubator we begin in the San Fernando building is an incredibly important thing, because it's the beginning of moving forward on the rest of the restoration of that building... I love these buildings because they a truly a unique thing to our area."

Lawrence Lof, professor emeritus at UTRGV, led the restoration project of the San Fernando building

As van Haaften mentioned in his alloted time, forty artists applied for residency at the AVAI, and three were chosen.

Celeste de Luna considers her art to be "community-based work, which means it's about my community and the people I work with." She also aims to address certain topics in her work as a "border artist." She hoped to work at the residency "because of the idea of social practice and engaging the community, talking to people and being able to envelop those voices into my artwork."

                                                                           

Nancy Guevara explained to the audience that she feels very connected to the border and is "really dedicated to the work that is being done here." Her approach to art is "building on the community and cultural wealth of Brownsville. She also expressed her belief that "true revolution and true progress doesn't happen without taking into account the voices of women and the leadership of women..." and hopes to represent them well.

                                                                           

Rigoberto Gonzales explained that, while he occasionally had to travel for educational and career purposes, he spent most of his life in border communities. His goal as a "narrative representational figurative artist" is to depict the local culture in a manner in which he feels it has not been depicted enough while also addressing social justice issues. He also would like to work with the city to create a "permanent mural that can be enriching for the community."

Overall, Activating Vacancy Arts Incubator is another step toward creating a more welcoming environment for creative minds to shape the city for the betterment of the community. For more information about AVAI and events associated with it, visit the Facebook page. Also, I will soon upload what I was able to transcribe from my recordings of the event.