Coral Springs, FL (January 14, 2019) –Members of the community, still healing from the February 2018 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, will now have an opportunity to create public art installations to help continue their recovery.“Inspiring Community Healing After Gun Violence: The Power of Art,” a curated series of five public art installations, will launch on January 29, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the Coral Springs Museum of Art (2855A Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33065) with a complimentary meet and greet reception featuring internationally acclaimed artist David Best.
Best, who boasts an inclusive artistic style, will work with the community to design and build a 40’ elaborate temple – the first of the five installations. The temple will have no defined religious meaning but will be a space for healing where people are free to express and reflect upon love, grief, joy, sorrow and remembrance. Construction will begin the week of January 28, 2019 with a core team of 10-crew members and community volunteers. An announcement, regarding how community members can volunteer, will be made at the meet and greet reception.
“Our community is encouraged to participate in this extraordinary creative process,” said Julia Andrews, Executive Director of the Coral Springs Museum of Art. “It will serve to reduce feelings of stress and help to build lasting community bonds.”
In addition to Best, four artists were selected to create public art installations with the help of community volunteers as part of the “The Power of Art” project: Kate Gilmore, Carl Juste, Steven and William Ladd, and R&R Studios, steered by Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar.
Inspired by the Coral Springs Museum of Art’s Healing with Art program, the City of Coral Springs, in partnership with the City of Parkland, was awarded support from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2018 Public Art Challenge in November 2018. The healing program began as an immediate response to the shooting and is led by licensed art therapists in tandem with Museum personnel. Weekly sessions of specific art-making techniques that help with emotional well-being, in the peaceful setting of the Museum’s gallery, serve students (Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and educators (Thursdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.).