Open Studios Chance For Artists To Show Their Wares

Open Studios Chance For Artists To Show Their Wares
by Sharon Geltner

Rolando Chang Barrero, who owns ActivistArtistA Studio in West Palm Beach and leases 10 warehouses to artists in the Boynton Beach Arts District, says he is  scouting locations for his capstone career retrospective next January. 

Barrero started his career in Miami then lived in South Beach before moving north to Wilton Manors.  (Barrero won Best Artist of Palm Beach County in 2021 and was honored with a  Muse award for cultural leadership, as well as garnering recognition for his galleries, LGBTQ representation and political activism.)  

Rolando Chang Barrero

Broward is the ideal spot for that exhibition,” says Barrero.  “I am getting closer to my retirement. I want to concentrate on leaving a body of work reflective of my 40-plus years as a visual artist while I still can,” he says. He also contemplates how, 30 years ago, he cheated death at age 32, by beating a “hopeless” brain tumor diagnosis.  

Today he says his health is delicate due to the radiation and chemo treatments. During recovery, Barrero had seizures and he says the medications bloated him and made him sluggish and depressed. A friend ordered him to “snap out of it.” That’s when he detoxed, returned to painting and became a hyper-productive dervish – due to his insomnia and his father’s influence.

“I wake up at 4 a.m. and work 17 hours a day,” he says. 

Barrio says he has his father’s work ethic.

“He was a Cuban exile and worked two to three jobs to help us kids survive. Even as he became more comfortable and successful, he kept up that pace.”  

Barrero’s packed schedule included collaborating with Broward artists such as Tedd Davis, Axel Martinez, Alfred Perez, Roger Schinkler, Joseph Skarzynski, Ornella Verano and Rosaria Vigorito. In addition, he has juried a few shows at Hot Spots Happening Out Art Gallery with Dennis Dean in Wilton Manors. 

Barrero is guided by this credo, “I simply live and experience my life to the fullest,” says Barrero. “I’m dedicated to leaving a record of what is possible to experience a legacy to inspire others to live in discovery.” 

Aidana Baldasarre of Trash Fashions in Lake Worth Beach, will model her creations in a fashion event at Katrina Moldova Boutique Gallery in the emerging Thrive Art District, in Fort Lauderdale, this year, she confirms. 

Moldova visited Baldasarre at her home studio for the first time during Open Studios weekend, to consult on which of four outfits the artist will wear. Baldassare recycles 

used materials to make striking and unusual clothing and accessories. Shoe designer Kenneth Cole sold her custom tote bags which she made from a 900-square-foot, discarded, canvas billboard.

All of these artists credit the synergy created by the Open Studios event, as well as enthusiastic support from area Cultural Councils for boosting their prospects. The word is getting out.

“Our inaugural Open Studios last year attracted 75 artists. This year we have 110,” says Dave Lawrence, president and CEO of the Cultural Council in Palm Beach. “We promote artists who are an important part of the tourism engine,” says Lawrence. “They are great ambassadors to residents and visitors. Open Studios is a special way to interact with artists they would not have known before in different parts of the county that they don’t usually see. And it’s easier for the artists to make sales.”

Participants included Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach, Zero Empty Spaces in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton and The Peach in West Palm Beach. Visitors had custom maps and took self-guided tours. They saw demonstrations of painting, glass blowing, photography, jewelry making, decorative arts, fibers/textile, sculpture, printmaking and more. 

Harriet Weinstein, a longtime resident of Coral Springs, showcased her paintings, drawings, collages, metal sculptures and prints at her studio at Zero Empty Spaces at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRIC.) 

“I absolutely love working at this wonderful BRIC studio. The other artists here are excellent creatives and I love their work. All of them create an inspiring atmosphere,” says Silverstein.  

Silverstein has taught fine art and art history at Broward County Public Schools and has exhibited at Art Trax Studios & Gallery at the FATVillage Arts District; ArtServe; Studio 535 and Las Olas Capital Arts Gallery, all in Fort Lauderdale. She’s also exhibited at Coral Springs Museum of Art; Bailey Contemporary Art Center Gallery in Pompano Beach; Pride Corner Gallery in Wilton Manors, and the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale. 

Barrero believes events such as Open Studios are the future of art sales, because getting galleries to showcase unknown artists’ work is extremely difficult. After COVID, many galleries closed.  Ever since, the artist community has debated which is more necessary, galleries or studios. 

Lawrence says, “There’s a place for both in the artist ecology, including the fine art galleries of Palm Beach which do very well.  Not every artist has gallery representation, which is hard to achieve. It’s sort of like self-publishing versus having an agent, who can get authors published by Random House and Simon & Schuster.” 

The type of business place may not matter as it is not the only factor in an artist’s success. The willingness and ability of experienced art dealers to spot talent counts.  Moldova sees her role, in part, as a talent scout who promotes budding, unknown artists to the public.  

Her perspective: “I give people chances that not every other gallery would. Many galleries only want to represent artists that have a budget and are established. I am the one to give artists a chance, and I’m still selective.Galleries still christen new artists and place their work in collections. Emerging artists gain respect in the community based on being on the walls of that gallery and people come and see their work,” Barrero acknowledges the staying power of tradition. 

 Except for a stint as a flight attendant, Barrero has always doubled as an artist and as an economic driver. He’s been an urban pioneer, living and working in offbeat, affordable places, then attracting artists who bring vitality, significance and improve those neighborhoods exponentially. Once developers arrive, rents skyrocket and the artists leave. That happened to Barrero in Wilton Manors, Lake Worth and West Palm Beach. 

“When I came to Belvedere and rebranded it as the ‘Cultural Corridor,’ people laughed. There is no vacancy now. It’s a thriving district,” he says