New City-Wide Public Art Initiative: Installation Phase

Published on October 30, 2024

October 30, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Diane G. Papadakos, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
dpapadakos@wpb.org
(561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)

New City-Wide Public Art Initiative: “A Community Portrait: West Palm Beach” Installation Phase 
Partners include the Mandel Public Library, CityPlace, and the Norton Museum of Art

WEST PALM BEACH, FL — The Mayor’s Office of the City of West Palm Beach and ArtLife WPB announce the installation phase of the City-wide public art project A Community Portrait: West Palm Beach. Between August 24 – September 14, 2024, artist, photographer, and creative producer duo Christine Wexler and Luigerman Gomez met with hundreds of community members throughout the City of West Palm Beach and implemented phase one of the project.

Through the platform of public art, the lens of photography, and the inspiration of the Inside Out Project  platform, Wexler, Gomez, and their team visited neighborhoods, community centers, public spaces, and cultural institutions to document the communities stories and take participants’ portraits. The goal of the project was to connect people to one another and create interactions. A Community Portrait: West Palm Beach captured 700+ individuals who make up the great City of West Palm Beach.

The final phase of this project temporarily installs our community portraits in public spaces.  This performative-based project physically creates a temporary snapshot of the community through a multitude of black and white portraits of participants, creating a synergy of inclusivity.

This performative-based project physically creates a temporary snapshot of the community through a multitude (700+) of black and white portraits, creating a synergy of inclusivity.  

Sites and dates for the installations include:  

• November 4, 4, & 6 — Clematis Garage/West facing Banyan Boulevard Wall

• November 7, 8 & 9 — CityPlace

• November 10, 11, & 12 — Currie Park Fence / Pleasant City Community Center

• November 13, 14 & 15 — Norton Museum Plaza

• November 18, 19 and 20 — Urban Living Room at the Mandel Library 

For inquiries about Norton’s Installation Days, please contact Charlee Nolan at nolanc@norton.org; and for CityPlace’s Installations Days, please contact Eileen Sturgis at esturgis@related.com.

This creative initiative supports the interaction and connection of the vibrant communities and cultures that make up West Palm Beach. Through photography, film, and the Inside Out Project (IOP)-inspired platform, the project aims to highlight the rich fabric of our community. IOP was created by artist JR to help communities around the world project their beliefs and values and make connections through public art. To date, IOP has impacted more than 500,000 people in 149 countries and territories. 

A Community Portrait: West Palm Beach redefines the concept of how public art is created; exposes a broad audience to a participatory art project and produces art that is inclusive, accessible, dynamic, and inspirational.

A Community Portrait: West Palm Beach is funded through the City’s public art program ArtLife WPB. All updates will be posted to the project’s City webpage.  

For more information about this project, please contact Sybille Canthal, director of arts, culture and community building at scanthal@wpb.org or (561) 822-1521.

Join the conversation on social media. Follow @ArtLifeWPB & @TheCityOfWPB — and use #CommunityPortraitWPB when posting about this new public art project!

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About The City of West Palm Beach

The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic City located on the Atlantic coast of Florida. With a rich history, a thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region, and the central City of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing, waterfront City that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the region with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit us on our official website, or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and/or LinkedIn.

About ArtLife

ArtLife WPB is the public art program of the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. ArtLife projects capture the diverse, contemporary beat and rich history that make West Palm Beach a destination city. For more information about ArtLife WPB, please visit https://www.wpb.org/Residents/ArtLife-WPB or contact Sybille Canthal, Director of Arts, Culture, and Community Building at (561) 822-1521 or scanthal@wpb.org.

About CityPlace 

CityPlace, developed, owned and managed by Related Ross, is Downtown West Palm Beach’s most visited shopping, dining and entertainment destination located in the heart of the City’s bustling urban core. Since its creation in 2000, CityPlace has transformed into a well-connected neighborhood that is committed to working with the best local artists, chefs, creatives, entrepreneurs and fitness enthusiasts – culminating in an exceptional district to live, work and visit in South Florida. For more information about CityPlace, please visit www.cityplace.com. 

About the Norton Museum of Art

Founded in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton and his wife, Elizabeth Calhoun Norton, The Norton Museum of Art collects, preserves, and exhibits art, and engages the public through diverse special exhibitions, publications, and events. Programs, lectures, and workshops are held year-round, with an emphasis on activating works on view and inspiring the public through the power of art. The Museum is internationally known for its collection of nearly 9,000 works of art in American Art, Chinese Art, Contemporary Art, European Art, and Photography.  

About the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach 

Founded in 1895, the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach has evolved from a modest Reading Room along the waterfront to an innovative and cutting-edge facility located in the heart of Downtown West Palm Beach. The Mandel Public Library provides a wide range of programming for kids, teens, and adults focused on creating inspired lives by connecting people with information and ideas. Programming is supported by the West Palm Beach Library Foundation. For more information, visit wpbcitylibrary.org or call (561) 868-7700 (TTY: 800-955-8771).