FREDERICK HAMMERSLEY FOUNDATION...

...NEW MEXICO ARTS,

A DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS,

AND BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

...AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU

THIS TIME, ON COLORES!

EVERTON TSOSIE'S 2020 SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET,

AWARD WINNING PAINTING, "LAST OF THE PURE" CALLS ATTENTION

TO THE NAVAJO NATION'S STRUGGLE FOR CLEAN WATER.

"ART IS GOING TO BRING US TOGETHER."

ARTISTS FIND NEW WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE TIME OF COVID.

FOR YOUTH WHO ARE COMPELLED TO CREATE,

THE BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY, THE CITY'S ONLY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL

DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE ARTS, PROVIDES THE FUEL TO FLOURISH.

NICOLE ASHTON'S SCULPTURES START WITH A DREAM.

IT'S ALL AHEAD ON COLORES!

EXPRESSING LIFE.

>>EVERTON TSOSIE: HI. YEAH THIS IS MY STUDIO AND

THIS IS WHERE I DO ALL MY PAINTINGS.

GROWING UP IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS ALWAYS

"WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING THE NIGHT?

WHAT CAN YOU DO OVERNIGHT TO SHOW EVERYBODY IN THE

NEXT DAY THAT YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE?"

AND I THINK THAT WHEN I, YOU KNOW, EMBARK ON A

BLANK CANVAS, THOSE REAL FEELINGS THERE IGNITE.

LATE AT NIGHT WHEN I'M WORKING, I REALLY HAVE

THIS, YOU KNOW, ENERGY IN ME WHERE I CAN JUST THROW

DOWN PAINT ONTO THE CANVAS, BE VERY

EXPRESSIONISTIC AS THE ACTION PAINTER, AND SHOW

PEOPLE IN THE WORLD REALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IN ART.

AND THAT IS JUST THROW DOWN REAL COLORS TO HIT

REAL EMOTIONS IN REAL PEOPLE.

AND I BELIEVE I DID THAT WITH "LAST OF THE PURE."

I WAS ABLE TO SEE A...

PUT A STRUGGLING NAVAJO MAN IN THE DESERT BECAUSE

OF THE COVID VIRUS THAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW IT CAN

IGNITE THOSE FEELINGS OF TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WHO

KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WHO KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE IN A PANIC.

TO NOT HAVE PPE.

TO NOT HAVE WATER.

CLEAN WATER.

I WANTED TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, THE VIEWERS, THE

AUDIENCE THE PROBLEMS OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

TO SHOW THAT WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH THIS

PROBLEM WITH WATER EVER SINCE THE POLLUTING OF THE

ANIMAS RIVER IN 2015.

I WANTED TO PUT THAT IN THE CANVAS BECAUSE I

WANTED THE IMAGERY TO SINK IN TO PEOPLE OF THE

NORTHWEST, PEOPLE OF THE EAST COAST.

YOU KNOW, TO SEE THE NAVAJO PEOPLE AS UH, AN

ENDURING PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE FACED WITH

CHALLENGES YET WE STILL CONTINUE TO SURVIVE EVEN

THOUGH WATER THE ONE SOURCE IS TOTALLY NOT THERE.

I WANTED TO EXPERIENCE ABSTRACTION IN NEW YORK.

WHILE I WAS WORKING AT THE GAS STATION AT CIRCLE K,

I WAS MAKING THE COFFEE.

AND THIS COWBOY CAME IN AND WE WOULD TALK NORMALLY ABOUT

YOU KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO AFTER I GRADUATED FROM UNM.

I EXPRESSED TO HIM THAT I WANTED TO BE AN ABSTRACT PAINTER.

THAT I WANT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT POLLOCK AND

DE KOONING WENT THROUGH IN NEW YORK.

SO HE EXPRESSED TO ME THAT SOMETIMES,

YOU KNOW, US MEN ARE STUBBORN.

HIS ADVICE TO ME WAS TO PURCHASE THE TICKET AND GO FROM THERE.

SO AFTER I GRADUATED FROM UNM I BOUGHT THE TICKETS.

AND WHEN I GOT TO NEW YORK I WOUNDED UP ON AT CENTRAL PARK.

AND WHILE I WAS AT CENTRAL PARK I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS NEXT.

ALL I COULD DO WAS JUST PRAY TO THE CREATOR AND

HAVE HIM GUIDE ME.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

FOR ONE THING BEING AN ARTIST IT'S MY LANGUAGE.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN KNOW HOW TO SPEAK UP OR

TALK ABOUT ANYTHING IS THROUGH A PAINTING.

AFTER EXPERIENCING ABSTRACTION IN NEW YORK I

WAS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, FIND MY WAY BACK HOME TO NEW MEXICO.

AND THE SPIRIT WAS ALIVE FROM MY FAMILY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT CALLED ME HOME.

AND FROM THERE I WAS ABLE TO

START ON A FRESH CANVAS THAT I BUILT.

MY FIRST ONE.

AND IT WAS 61 AND A HALF BY 61 AND A HALF.

AND THAT WAS "LAST OF THE PURE."

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WATER YOU KNOW IS WHO I AM.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS WHAT I'VE KNOWN

AND WHAT MY MOTHER HAS ALWAYS TOLD ME.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A TÓ'AHANÍ AND YOU'RE NEAR

THE WATER CLAN.

THAT'S ALL SHE USED TO TELL ME.

SO IT'S LIKE BEING FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO,

AN URBAN NAVAJO THAT REALLY HAD NO CONNECTION

TOO MUCH WITH ANYTHING ELSE.

ALL I COULD KNOW ABOUT IS THAT

I'M MY CLAN IS NEAR THE WATER CLAN.

AND TO ME THAT HITS HOME EVERYWHERE WITH WHEREVER I'M AT.

IN NEW YORK, NEW MEXICO.

I REALIZED THAT THIS IS WHO I AM YOU KNOW.

AND I CAN'T BE ASHAMED OF THAT.

AND FOR ME TO DO A PAINTING THAT EXPRESSES

THAT FEELING OF OF LOYALTY IN MY HEART,

OF KNOWING THAT THIS IS MY CLAN,

AND TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT WATER IS ESSENTIAL,

THAT WATER IS EVERYTHING, THAT WATER MAKES PEOPLE SMILE.

IT REALLY DOES SIGNIFY,

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD AS A TRUE NEW MEXICO ARTIST.

CREATIVE RESILIANCE.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST, AND I'M

QUARANTINING AT HOME AND MY HOME IS FULL OF

PAINTINGS BECAUSE THE ART SHOWS I HAD SCHEDULED WERE CANCELLED.

THERE'S SOMETHING SO VALUABLE ABOUT HAVING THE

LIVE SPACE, THE FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION,

THE KINESTHETIC EMPATHY.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I REALLY MISS ALL OF

THESE PLACES IN RENO LIKE ACRO ENSO AND THE LOFT AND FLUX

MOVEMENT LAB WHERE WE CAN DANCE TOGETHER AND CREATE TOGETHER.

AND I THINK PEOPLE REALLY NEED THAT AND MISS THAT.

IT'S IN THE SILENCE AND IT'S WITHIN THAT TIME TO

MEDITATE THAT YOU ACTUALLY BECOME MORE CREATIVE.

SO I'VE HAD A LOT MORE IDEAS OVER THE PAST TWO

MONTHS, I'VE WRITTEN A LOT MORE AND MY PASSION TO

ACTUALLY CREATE SOMETHING HAS DEFINITELY GROWN OVER

THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO BE ALONE.

ART IS REALLY A HISTORIC TRAIL OF THE STORIES THAT

ARE GONNA BE TOLD ABOUT THIS TIME.

I MEAN, ART COMES OUT OF SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, AND

TRAGEDIES AND HARD TIMES, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE

ARTS WILL TELL A STORY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT

NOW FOR PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.

I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF ARTISTS

RESPOND TO THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

I HAVE SEEN ARTISTS HOLD RAFFLES OR SELL ART, TO

FUNDRAISE FOR RELIEF FUNDS AND GIVE BACK TO THOSE IN

NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THROUGH SHARING THEIR ART,

ARTISTS ARE HELPING CONNECT AND UPLIFT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE DRAKULICH FOUNDATION FOR FREEDOM OF

EXPRESSION HAS TURNED FROM MAKING PAPER OUT OF OLD

MILITARY UNIFORMS AND THEY'VE HIRED VETERANS TO

MAKE MASKS, SOME FROM THOSE RECYCLED MILITARY UNIFORMS.

WE HAVE PRODUCED OVER 1700 MASKS SO FAR AND ARE

EXCITED TO SAY THAT MANY OF THOSE HAVE BEEN DONATED

TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO MAKE ORDERS FOR BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM

GET BACK TO WORK.

IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO TAKE THE MILITARY UNIFORMS

AND USE THEM TO PROTECT CITIZENS.

AND THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

AND THEY'RE VERY HANDSOME AND WELL MADE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE EASY,

THEY'RE COMFORTABLE, THEY'RE LIGHT.

YOU CAN TRY THEM AS TIGHT AS YOU WANT OR HANG THEM

LIKE SO OF AIRRING.

AND THEN THEY JUST SLIP RIGHT DOWN OVER YOUR EARS

AND YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS TILL YOU NEED IT AGAIN.

AND IT IS WONDERFUL FOR VETERANS AND MYSELF TO

REMAIN ENGAGED AND PRODUCTIVE DURING THIS

DIFFICULT TIME OF SOCIAL DISTANCING.

IT HELPS US TO KEEP OUR ART RESOURCES ALIVE AND

WELL SO THEY'RE READY WHEN WE CAN GET BACK TO MAKING

ART AS A COMMUNITY AGAIN.

COVIDANCE-19 IS A WAY FOR DANCERS TO CREATE

SOMETHING IN THEIR OWN HOME WITH A ROOMMATE, A

PET, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A DANCER, JUST

MOVEMENT AND THEN CREATE SOMETHING, SEND IT IN VIA

A SMARTPHONE AND RELEASE ONE DANCE EVERY 19 DAYS.

AND OF COURSE THE QUARANTINE'S LASTED LONGER

THAN EVEN 14 DAYS, BUT IT WAS JUST REALLY AWESOME TO

SEE WHAT PEOPLE CAME UP WITH.

PEOPLE WERE DANCING WITH INANIMATE OBJECTS, TWEETY

BIRD HAD A MOMENT, THERE WERE CONTACT IMPROV PARTIES,

THERE WAS DANCING WITH THEMSELVES OR WALLS OR FLOORS.

AND IN LIGHT, IT WAS JUST REALLY LOVELY TO SEE WHAT

PEOPLE CAME UP WITH AND HOW THEY TIED,

OFTENTIMES WHAT THEY WERE

WITH WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH AND

HOW THEY WERE DEALING WITH THE QUARANTINE

AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW,

WHICH IS HIGHLY VOLATILE AND EXTREMELY CHANGING,

AND INCONSISTENT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AREA.

NONE OF US REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

DURING THIS TIME, QUARANTINE HAS JUST REALLY BEEN,

I GUESS, MORE CREATIVE, I THINK, WORKING ON NEW PROJECTS.

ME AND MY FAMILY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP

THE ROLE OF MILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND

PAINT A MURAL FOR ALL THE KIDS IN SCHOOL.

A LOT OF THE KIDS PROBABLY HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, BUT

HOPEFULLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY BRIGHTENS

THEIR DAY AND GIVES THEM A SMILE WHEN WE'RE FINALLY

ABLE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

OKAY, SO SINCE SOME OF MY ART SHOWS WERE CANCELED,

I'VE DECIDED TO SELL MY ARTWORK ONLINE, IN AN AUCTION FORMAT.

AND ALL OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO LOCAL CHARITIES.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'VE DONE, SINCE WE'VE BEEN QUARANTINED,

IS MAKE A COLORING BOOK ABOUT THE QUARANTINE

USING ANIMAL PUNS AND COLOR-YOUR-OWN POSTCARD SET.

AND THESE WHALES SAY, WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL

BE TOGETHER FOR A WHILE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE PUNS.

I THINK SOMETHING THAT I'VE REALLY LEARNED DURING

THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IS HOW CAPABLE I AM.

FILM IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES AN ARMY TO CREATE.

AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE FORCED TO CREATE

SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN, OR YOU WANT TO CREATE

SOMETHING AND YOU ONLY HAVE YOUR ROOMMATE THERE,

YOU BECOME MORE CREATIVE IN HOW YOU'RE GONNA GO

ABOUT MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S DEFINITELY

BEEN ENCOURAGING FOR MYSELF.

TO BE LIKE, OH LOOK, YOU ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO DO

ALL THESE ELEMENTS AND YOU CAN DO 'EM PRETTY WELL.

AND THAT SHOULDN'T RESTRICT YOU IN THE FUTURE

TO CREATE SOMETHING IF YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE OR TWO PEOPLE.

ART IS A CONNECTOR, WHETHER IT CONNECTS PEOPLE

TO EACH OTHER, OR MAKES US FEEL LESS ALONE WHEN WE

SEE SOMETHING, OR READ SOMETHING OR LISTEN TO

SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO US.

IT'S AN EXPRESSION OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, AN

INTERPRETATION OF THE WORLD AROUND US.

WE NEED THAT CONNECTION NOW.

PUBLIC ART HAS ALWAYS SERVED THIS PURPOSE, AND

IT'S STILL ACCESSIBLE DURING THIS TIME.

UNLIKE GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS, WHICH ARE CLOSED,

THERE'S STILL ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC SPACES.

SO THE PUBLIC ART COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AT ANY TIME.

IT SERVES TO CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE AND COMMUNITY,

TO CONNECT, INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM.

THIS QUARANTINE PERIOD, AND THIS PERIOD OF ISOLATION,

HAS DEFINITELY SHOWN PEOPLE THE IMPORTANCE OF ART.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOW FORCED TO GET DOWN TO THE CORE OF

WHO WE ARE BECAUSE WE'RE ALONE WITH OURSELVES.

IT BRINGS OUT THE CREATIVE SIDE.

WHEN YOU'RE STUCK IN HOME, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN ALWAYS PULL OUT PENCILS AND PENS AND

MARKERS AND PAINT AND CREATE SOME.

AND SO IT JUST GIVES YOU AN OUTLET TO

ALWAYS BE ABLE TO CREATE.

BUT YOU NEED ART IN EVERY FORM.

PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH DANCE, THROUGH DRAWING

AND MAKING PICTURES AND TELLING STORIES AND

ART IS THE ONE THING THAT IS GONNA BRING US ALL TOGETHER.

WE ARE RESILIENT AND CREATIVE, ALL OF US.

AND IT'S BEEN SUPER INSPIRING AND WONDERFUL TO

SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE FIGURING OUT NEW WAYS TO CONNECT,

OFTEN THROUGH ART.

THE ARTS WILL BE A LARGE PART OF REBUILDING AND

FINDING OUR NEW NORMAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

STAND UP AND REPRESENT YOURSELF.

"SO... NOBODY, NOBODY... NOBODY, NOBODY..."

AT BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT,

MUSIC FILLS THE AIR.

(INSTRUCTOR COUNTING IN)

(BAND STARTS)

(WHAT IS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE TO

LITERALLY HEAR MUSIC WALKING DOWN THE HALLS?)

UM AT TIMES, IT COULD YOU KNOW BE FRUSTRATING.

BUT UM.

I CAN TESTIFY FOR A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AS WELL, IT'S

BEEN ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES EVER."

DANNY RIVERA IS A SENIOR AT BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY AND

A MUSIC MAKER HIMSELF.

I FIRST MET HIM ON THE WGBH PROGRAM SING THAT THING!

WHERE HE WAS CONDUCTING THE SCHOOL'S SPIRITUALS ENSEMBLE.

(CHOIR IN HARMONY)

TODAY THOUGH, RIVERA IS WORKING ON THE BACKING

TRACK FOR AN UPCOMING PERFORMANCE.

AND THEN THE LEAD VOCALIST:

[VOCALIZES SAY MY NAME WITHOUT WORDS].

BUT THIS IS JUST IS- TO BACK UP THE BAND.

AT BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY, THE CITY'S ONLY PUBLIC

HIGH SCHOOL DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE ARTS,

RIVERA AND SOME 500 STUDENTS LIKE HIM ARE

GIVEN THE FUEL TO FLOURISH.

"I SAY I WANT TO DO SOMETHING, THEY'RE LIKE

"OK WHAT'S STOPPING YOU? LET'S DO IT."

YOU KNOW?

SO THEY'RE REALLY, THEY'RE REALLY BIG ON PUSHING

THEIR STUDENTS TOWARDS WHAT THEY REALLY WANT TO DO THE MOST.

(HAVE THEY EVER SAID NO TO YOU?)

NOPE.

SCHOOL FOR RIVERA IS A MIX OF THE MUSIC HE LOVES

AND THE MATH HE DOESN'T.

ALTHOUGH HE'S FOUND THAT MUSIC NOW HELPS HIS COURSEWORK TOO.

"I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WRITE SONGS ABOUT BOOKS, I'VE

BEEN ABLE TO WRITE SONGS ABOUT DIFFERENT YOU KNOW,

STRATEGIES AND, AND EQUATIONS.

I'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO USE MY ART TO HELP ME DEVELOP MY

SKILL ALSO AS A STUDENT WHO'S LEARNING ACADEMICS."

"MUSIC MAJORS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE OPEN THE

SCHOOL THEY ALL WANTED TO BE PERFORMERS AH- ON THE STAGE.

NOW A LOT MORE ARE INTERESTED IN,

IN PRODUCTION, BEHIND THE SCENES."

ANNE CLARK HAS BEEN AT BAA SINCE IT OPENED IN 1998.

A TEACHER THEN, SHE'S NOW THE PRINCIPAL OF THE

SCHOOL WHICH CAN COUNT HIGH PROFILE ALUMNAE LIKE

DIANE GUERRERO OF ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK.

"HEY...I LOVE YOU"

BUT THE IDEA OF THE SCHOOL ISN'T NECESSARILY TO

PRODUCE HOLLYWOOD STARS OR EVEN PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS.

INSTEAD CLARK IS INTERESTED IN WHAT MAKES AN ARTIST.

"THE ABILITY TO STAND UP AND REPRESENT YOURSELF. UM.

THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT TAKES QUESTIONS LIKE, UH.

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE, WHAT'S THE MEANING?

HOW DOES IT HELP OUR GREATER GOOD?

VERY SERIOUSLY."

MANY STUDENTS COME TO BAA BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIT

IN AT OTHER SCHOOLS WHERE ARTS PROGRAMMING IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

HERE, STUDENTS HERE MUST AUDITION, BUT THE

ADMISSION PROCESS IS LIBERAL.

"IT'S ACADEMIC BLIND.

THAT MEANS WE DON'T LOOK AT PRIOR GRADES, TEST SCORES.

DISCIPLINE RECORDS.

EVEN ATTENDANCE RECORDS, OR ANY SPECIAL EDUCATION INFORMATION,

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT,

UNTIL AFTER STUDENTS ARE ADMITTED.

WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY'RE YOUNG PEOPLE,

THAT MAYBE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DO

WELL IN SCHOOL, BECAUSE SCHOOL DID NOT DO WELL BY THEM.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, 80-PERCENT OF BAA STUDENTS

HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE WHICH CLARK SAYS

IS A HIGHER RATE THAN BOTH THE CITY AND STATE

AVERAGE-ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

IN THE FALL, SASA MURRETT-KAM WILL ATTEND

THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN NEW YORK.

SHE IS AMONG THE FIRST GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL'S

NEW FASHION DESIGN PROGRAM.

AND RECEIVED AN HONORS AWARD THE DAY WE MET HER.

(STUDENT HI-FIVES SARADA)

"THANK YOU!"

THE HONORS CEREMONY STILL HAPPENING JUST OUTSIDE HER

CLASSROOM AND WORKSHOP, MURRETT-KAM WALKED US THROUGH

THE "LOOK" SHE WAS CREATING FOR AN UPCOMING FASHION SHOW.

SHE'S BEEN WORKING AFTER SCHOOL AND EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS.

"SO MY THREE LOOKS HERE.

UH, THE NAME OF MY COLLECTION IS CALLED PETRICHOR.

AND PETRICHOR IS THE SMELL OF RAIN.

I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY BLUE?

BECAUSE I REALLY ENJOY RAIN.

AND I WANT TO DO A MIXTURE OF BLUE AND KIND OF LIKE,

THE DARK.. THE DARK CLOUD, SO THE BLACK, UM.

BUT GIVE IT A SENSE OF LIKE...

SEXINESS ALMOST.

YOU KNOW, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SKIN BUT NOT TOO

MUCH BECAUSE I'M STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL."

STUDENTS LIKE MURRETT-KAM AND DANNY RIVERA SEEM TO

BE GOING FAR FAST.

RIVERA HAS ALREADY PERFORMED AT THE WHITE HOUSE

AND CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF CONGRESSWOMAN

AYANNA PRESSLEY EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH THIS SONG AND VIDEO.

IT'S INSPIRED BY HER FIRST SPEECH TO CONGRESS.

IT'S OUR TIME, WE'RE ON OUR WAY UP. OUR WAY UP. YEAH

"I USED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST TALK ABOUT THE

THINGS SHE TALKED ABOUT IN HER SPEECH BUT TO ADDRESS SOME

THINGS THAT I FELT WERE - NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND-

(LIKE?)

LIKE, MASS INCARCERATION, LIKE, UH BEING, ONE OF THE LINES IS

"BEING A BLACK MAN IS THE WORLD'S GREATEST SIN."

THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW,

IT'S JUST SO DIFFICULT TO BE UH.

A MAN OF COLOR IN SOCIETY.

IT'S-IT'S JUST LIKE...

IT'S A SETBACK.

FOR THE MOMENT, BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY IS HOUSED IN

AN AGING BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT CONSTRUCTION IS NOW UNDERWAY FOR A STATE OF THE ART,

$125 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY IN THE FENWAY.

SET TO OPEN IN 2021, IT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME THE

SCHOOL HAS A BUILDING TO SUIT ITS NEEDS.

"I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE GROUP THAT IS MOST EXCITED

ABOUT THE NEW BUILDING IS THE ALUMNI...

THEY ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO WERE THE ONES WHO WERE

REHEARSING IN CLOSETS, OR DANCING IN A DANCE STUDIO

WITH A SUPPORT BEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, OR, HAVING

TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE CITY TO PERFORM BECAUSE WE

DIDN'T HAVE OUR OWN PERFORMANCE SPACE AND-AND

THEY KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS NEW BUILDING IF IT WEREN'T FOR

OUR ALUMS AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM."

INSPIRING CURIOSITY.

I CERTAINLY AM AN ARTIST WHO WORKS IN ALL MEDIUMS

BUT OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE TO COME REALIZE THAT MY

PASSION TRULY LIES IN INTERACTIVE PUBLIC ART.

IT CAN REACH THE MASSES, IT IS THERE AND LIVES ON,

WILL OUTLIVE ME AND WILL STILL BE MAKING AN IMPACT.

INTERACTIVE PUBLIC ART IS SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A

LITTLE PAINTING ON A WALL, SOMETHING THAT GRABS YOUR

ATTENTION, DRAWS YOU INTO IT OR SOMETHING AS LARGE

AS A MONUMENT, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GO TOUCH, FEEL,

GET INSIDE OF, BE A PART OF IT, MOVE THINGS AROUND AND ANYTHING

THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE A PIECE OF THAT ART.

PUBLIC ART DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT PEOPLE.

CURIOSITY KIND OF OPENS UP TO THEIR OWN DREAMS, GETS

THE MIND GOING AND HOPEFULLY, SPARKS

SOMETHING CREATIVE IN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO SEE IT.

ALL OF MY SCULPTURES, THEY ALWAYS START WITH A DREAM

AND IT'S MORE LIKE THEY'RE A MACHINE INSTEAD OF ART.

IF I DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO SKETCH IT OUT,

WRITE THINGS DOWN WHEN I WAKE UP,

I'LL HAVE THE SAME DREAM THE NEXT NIGHT.

THAT GETS REPETITION, SO I FINALLY JUST GAVE IN, I

WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA FOLLOW THIS, I'M

GONNA DO THIS EVERY MORNING AND THAT'S HOW

TRANSCENDENT SOULS CAME ABOUT.

THAT WAS MY FIRST SOLO PIECE THAT I WORKED ON

THAT WAS THAT LARGE OF A SCALE.

IT WAS A CRASH COURSE IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING,

HOW TO FIGURE OUT TAKING A MODEL THAT'S THIS BIG TO

SOMETHING THAT'S 28 FEET TALL AND THINKING ABOUT

ALL OF THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING NEEDS AND WIND LOAD.

TRANSCENDENT SOULS REALLY IS ABOUT THE PROGRESSION

OF OWN SOULS, GOING THROUGH THE STEPS AND

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR FAULTS, OUR STRENGTHS AND DOING

EVERYTHING IN A MANNER OF GRACE.

AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND JUST

KEEP DOING, DO IT STEP BY STEP, THAT'S THE PROCESS

THAT'S WORKED FOR ME.

AS YOU WISH WAS THE PROJECT AFTER TRANSCENDENT

SOULS AND IT IS ALL ABOUT GOING IN WITH THE

INTENTION, KNOWING WHAT YOUR HEART'S DESIRE IS,

WHAT YOUR WISH IS.

IN THAT, I WAS KIND OF PULLING FROM MYSELF ALL MY DOUBTS.

THE FEAR OF NOT HAVING FUNDS TO BUY THE MATERIALS

AND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT

PROCESS AND YOU'VE GONE THAT FAR, YOU'LL DO

ANYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

DREAMCASTER IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO

ALL OF THE WHAT IFS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DOING A LARGE

SCALE PIECE TO DO A MAQUETTE, SO YOU CAN GET A

BETTER IDEA OF WHAT YOUR BUILD PROCESS IS GOING TO BE.

I HAVE BECOME THE PERSON THAT THINKS ABOUT THINGS

LIKE SHIPPING AND BUILDING.

SO, HOW DO YOU MAKE IT FIT INTO A BOX?

WHERE ARE YOU GONNA SEPARATE IT?

HOW IS IT GONNA GET LOADED?

THAT PART OF THE PROCESS IS REALLY A GOOD PLACE TO START.

THE PIECES ARE GOING TO BE ALL RECLAIMED WITH THE

EXCEPTION OF STRUCTURAL STEEL INSIDE THE FRAMEWORK

OF THOSE HEXAGONS OF THE DOME WILL BE INDIVIDUAL DREAMCASTERS.

THEY'RE MEANT TO ALL BE DIFFERENT.

THE TOP OF THE DOME WILL HAVE ANOTHER CRYSTAL AND

THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA GO DIG IT OUT OURSELF.

ANYBODY CAN DO THIS, IT'S ALL ABOUT JUST HAVING THE

DRIVE AND THE WILL TO DO IT AND I HOPE THAT THAT'S

WHAT EVERYBODY WHO EXPERIENCES IT WALKS AWAY WITH.

PUBLIC ART, FOR ME, IT'S MEANT TO INSPIRE,

IT'S MEANT TO EXCITE, IT CAN EVEN BE MEANT TO GET YOU

ANGRY, MEANT TO PUSH YOU TO MAKE A CHANGE.

HOPEFULLY, IT JUST GETS THEIR WHEELS TURNING AND

THEY GO OFF AND THEY DO AMAZING THINGS.

TO VIEW THIS AND OTHER COLORES PROGRAMS GO TO:

NEW MEXICO PBS DOT ORG AND LOOK FOR COLORES UNDER

WHAT WE DO AND LOCAL PRODUCTIONS.

ALSO, LOOK FOR US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

"UNTIL NEXT WEEK, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING."

FUNDING FOR COLORES WAS PROVIDED IN PART BY:

FREDERICK HAMMERSLEY FOUNDATION...

...NEW MEXICO ARTS,

A DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS,

AND BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

...AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU