INTERN EXPERIENCE WITH DIVERSEWORKS

By Perata Bradley

As a summer intern with DiverseWorks, the goal for me is to gain valuable experience and confidence as an artist and future director of my own art organization and facility.  My assignments consist of fieldwork in the Gulfton community with activities including researching artists, businesses and galleries that are a part of the community or have contributed to the Gulfton area.  I like that Gulfton is a diverse community of different backgrounds and cultures and through discovery, I’ve learned the area is widely an apartment-based community that is exploring different ways of transforming space for art. 

Arts in Gulfton 

In my research, I was privileged to come across a few interesting and emerging art facilities and programs and even more thrilled to know that I have personal connections with a few. In particular, I discovered a newly created art organization on a mission to enhance the region by elevating opportunities for a variety of performances and visual artists and architects. Alta Arts, located at 5412 Ashbrook Drive, is nestled in between the Gulfton and Sharpstown residential areas. It is modern, built by design, clean-cut with a museum district ambiance. Most distinctive was the layout of the location which has a long driveway that has sculpture pieces that outline the pathway to the building.

Alta Arts is focused on spotlighting emerging artists of all backgrounds and has recently ushered in its opening exhibition STRATUM 2021 (on view July 10-August 29), which highlights three Houston artists who focus on the built landscape.   My love for construction and interest in expanding as a multi-disciplinary artist led me to take a trip to Alta Arts in hopes of meeting the artist, but unfortunately, I didn’t make the opening reception. The mediums include paintings by Charis Ammon, watercolors of the downtown Houston landscape by Bill Willis, and sculptures by Jacob Villalobos. I was truly impressed with the art selection, especially the paintings, and could recall a few of the locations used. I appreciate most importantly the subject matter of exploring the built and constructed landscape and those artists who strive to bring awareness to the subject.  I questioned the available personnel and learned that the Director of Programs happens to be Alexander Squier, who also was my print relief instructor at the University of Houston. What started off as curiosity turned into a golden nugget as a personal win for me.  Not only did I learn of another art facility with an amazing mission spotlighting emerging artists; most rewardingly  I made a valuable connection for DiverseWorks as an intern and also for myself. 

Connecting with Gulfton Residents

Another component of the DiverseWorks Project Freeway fieldwork involves meetings with artists in the Gulfton/Sharpstown area in which we were lucky to chat with multi-disciplinary artist Renata Lucia who invited us to lunch at a Persian restaurant. Due to the dense population of residents living in apartment complexes, there was talk about bringing art to residents’ doorsteps so that residents can be exposed to art outside of their homes in their respective communities.  Renata also introduced a grassroots artists’ market that will be a hub for artists in the community to provide art services that engage the people and also to promote art. 

On another occasion, we met up with muralist Amy Malkan who works with the community-based organization CHAT Academy students. CHAT is a nonprofit organization that fosters the health of Houston’s immigrant and refugee communities through advocacy and education. What’s interesting about CHAT and artist Amy, is that they have set up shop in two of the apartment units located in Ashford Crescent Oaks Apartments.  We met Amy at one of the units used to paint; there Amy works with the community youth and adults to create art and workshops for residents alike. We watched as she painted and talked about the people and her role in the community and how art is being used to help those residents.

Being able to meet with Amy and walking the grounds of the apartments gave me a feel of the culture and a glimpse of the residents. I saw kids playing something known as crickets which is an international sport in immigrant communities. I saw their style of dress which resonated with their religion and culture even the fenced patios of the dense number of units gave character to their culture. There you could feel a sense of togetherness and oneness; peace to be exact, even though I had only been there for approximately 10 mins.

On July 22,  a six-panel mural reveal took place on the basketball courts in which city officials and others came out in support and celebration of the kids in the community.  The mural was painted and created by the youth of Ashford Crescent Oaks apartment. The reveal was filled with performances by the youth involving acting reenactment and a musical interlude in which they harmonized different instruments creating sounding patterns that led you into a trance.

All photos by Perata Bradley