Ian Francia, artist and musical composer, tells the story of Louis Armstrong – an American trumpeter from New Orleans whose musical presence transcended skin color in a racially divided America, ultimately paving the way to fame and fortune for other artists of color.
Dorlene Pierre, the Executive Assistant at C&I Studios, tells the story of Nipsey Hussle – an American rapper and gang member turned entrepreneur and social activist. He dedicated his energy to the betterment of his community and, ultimately, paid for it with his life.
Joseph Plumadore tells the life of Steve Jobs – a man’s whose genius completely revolutionzed digital technologies, improving the way people communicate and leading to the creation of the most widely used technology in existence: the personal computer.
James Carras tells the story of Michelle Obama – an American lawyer who graduated to the highest role of public service upon her husband’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States. Her tenure as First Lady is defined through the progressive work she led to uplift American veterans, further education and inspire young women to achieve the impossible.
Beth Bryant, the Vice President of Sales at C&I Studios, tells the life of Anne Frank – an inspiring young woman who retained her endearing outlook on the world despite living in persecution during the Nazi rule of Europe in World War 2.
Amy Miller, Producer at C&I Studios, shares the life of Susan B. Anthony – an American anti-slavery advocate who helped launch the women’s suffrage movement while fighting for equality on all fronts.
J. David Armstrong Jr., President Emeritus of Broward College, tells the story of Bayard Rustin – a pivotal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and an outstanding proponent for the rights of the working class and unemployed African Americans. His legacy shows why History Matters.
If you can’t invite your peers to appreciate something you made — something you believe is beautiful — then you’re missing out on an invaluable connection.
That’s one of the reasons we helped establish Artwalk 10 years ago.
For a short time, though, it felt like we were losing out. Artwalk seemed detached. It was lacking a certain emotion — a degree of thoughtfulness that has always been trademark to what we do at C&I.
Fashion shows, live hair cutting performances…they’re good entertainment, but they just aren’t exactly who we are.
If you attended C&I Storm, you may have noticed that the centerpiece was a whirlwind of handwritten notes from our personal journals. Combine that fidelity with the openness of drawing and writing in front of a crowd…well, by the end of the night we had all shed a few layers of apprehension.
The coolest part of the night, though, was that our vulnerability was contagious. While we were changing roles, you all took to the drawing board to share your crafts, your thoughts, and your reflection of the night as it was still forming. It was awesome.
In one night, we had made up for so much lost time. It felt really good. Familiar even. We could tell you all enjoyed it too. 🙂
We had to take Artwalk back by storm to continue along this path of making good art and sharing it too.
So, we’ll see you at the next FATVillage Artwalk on July 28. This month Self-Projection will test your imagination and challenge the depth of your interpretation with living, breathing optical illusions created live.
Bobby Brainard DuBose is a Democratic politician who currently serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 94th District, which includes most of Fort Lauderdale in central Broward County, since 2014. It was only right that he would be the one to tell the story of Ralph David Abernathy, a close friend to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the civil rights movement, he too ran for the position of U.S. House of Representatives. Etched on his tombstone are the words “I tried.” Yes, he tried, he made a difference, and we carry forth the spirit of his efforts today.
Community engagement through event planning has become a cornerstone of the C&I Studios experience. That’s one of the reasons we partnered with A2 Events. Our relationships with neighboring businesses, and our bond with the artists and people who come alongside us to further our shared mission is one of our strongest connections to the community.
When we first started this company we knew that the community would keep us honest. And that that connection would always bring us back to reality to keep us grounded. Together with A2 Events, we are able to support and reward our neighbors with cool experiences, like never before.
When we originally opened our doors in FATVillage, we recognized that Fort Lauderdale deserved art and technological districts that branch from Las Olas Boulevard. So we started hosting community-wide events, like the FATVillage Artwalk. And also offered our studio space to be enjoyed by others. But that wasn’t enough.
As our community-wide outreach became more ingrained in our brand, so did the importance that C&I Studios become a venue. It would be pointless for our studio space to exist exclusively for us. So we decided to extend our home for everyone in Fort Lauderdale to enjoy.
Our events are becoming a standard in the community, but maintaining the status quo isn’t really our style. We don’t settle. We strive to push beyond what’s expected of us, because that is what an Idea Agency is purposed to do. If we do not inspire our neighbors to think towards the future then we are not doing our part to better the community. And if we are not bettering the community, we are failing ourselves.
With A2 Events in the equation, we are starting to make the impact we set out to accomplish. With their expertise in event planning we are now able to develop and consistently support the innovative nature of FATVillage as a multifunctional hub of art and culture in Fort Lauderdale. Better yet, we’re able to regularly offer our studio space to companies and artists who want to join in that mission, just as A2 Events has.
With Erin Branham and her team we continue to orchestrate some of the coolest events in Fort Lauderdale. Her ability to cater to brand-crafted experiences that reflect the marketing goals of each client, from the fine details to the overall message, makes her a great fit here.
Our brand pillars are solidifying on multiple levels, too. From our focus towards influencing and shaping the future development of South Florida, especially Fort Lauderdale, to the way we style and maintain a boutique image. Erin said it best, “We want to be lean and able to adapt to our client’s needs. But also good at developing our employees, and flexible in our work environment.”
Take our most recent Taco Tuesday Town Hall event with Big Picture Broward, for instance. We invited our community and city commissioners to take part in an open forum discussion. Together, over free tacos and beer, we had a great political discussion about guiding the future development of Fort Lauderdale. And thanks to Erin Branham, and A2 Events, we made it so the logistics ran smoothly.
A2 Events has really helped us heighten our mission. There’s still a lot that we have to do if we’re going to change the artistic landscape of Fort Lauderdale and FATVillage. But with their involvement we’re seeing progress every week. So, whether you’re joining us for FATVillage Artwalk, First Friday, Culture Club, or taking over our studio space for a company event, know that you’re playing a direct role in creating a new, true downtown.
On this episode of History Matters, we’re sharing the story of Arthur Ashe – an American professional tennis player who won three Grand Slam titles. He was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.
On this episode of History Matters, Victoria Ranger shares the story of Angela Brown – an African American soprano singer who is particularly admired for her portrayal of Verdi heroines.