Although your beautiful new condo at Sabbia Beach might give you the feeling of living on a deserted tropical island, you are in fact at the center of myriad cultural and artistic events.
Here’s a sample of what’s happening this month in and around Pompano Beach, Florida.
Bailey Contemporary Arts (BaCA) is a veritable hotbed of contemporary art and performance nestled unassumingly in the Pompano Beach community. For example, every Wednesday, you’ll be able to nourish your creative side when you bring your own lunch or pick up a little nosh at their in-house café and settle in for an hour in galleries among the art and artists. Lunch with Art features something different and captivating each week, whether special guest-artist speakers, simple hands-on activities, or just an inspiring lunch backed by music and art. Blooming Bean Coffee Company serves up freshly brewed, locally roasted coffees, along with sweet and savory baked goods like empanadas, scones, and cookies. Call in the morning (954-295-2225) to see what’s on the menu. Lunch with Art is free, and Wi-Fi is available. At BaCA, 41 NE 1st Street.
Richard “Byrd” Wilson, an award-winning poet and public speaker, will host one of his bi-monthly writing workshops on June 21 at BaCA, 41 NE Street, from 7-8 p.m. Every first and third Wednesday of the month, Wilson’s popular “Fresh Air with Byrd” classes assists all levels of writers and performers to improve their craft in conjunction with Lyrics Lab. Tickets are $15 and are available through pre-registration at Eventbrite or by calling (954) 786-7824.
Also on June 21, the critically acclaimed Lyrics Lab presents its program of the area’s best spoken-word and musical artists, open to all, including beginners. Held from 8 to 11 p.m. at BaCA, 41 NE Street, you will be inspired, moved, and motivated by the performances of these talented artists. Live music accompanies all performances, and cocktails and refreshments are available for purchase. Pre-register at Eventbrite or phone (954) 786-7824.
June 22 features the popular Ali Jam Sessions, hosted by Eccentrich Displays. All levels of singers, musicians, and poets are welcome to take center stage on the fourth Thursday of every month to jam alongside the special guest band of the month, which in June is Juggernaut Music. The house band Ellison Kendrick and the Black Suit Band are in residence at Historic Ali Cultural Arts, 353 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Tickets are $10.
June 22 and again June 29 are the days to explore the BaCA exhibits on the weekly tour led by acclaimed curator Terry Davis. Tour with Terry will take you on an exciting journey through the minds of the BaCA artists, as Davis leads you through the emotional impact of each creation every Thursday from 2-3 p.m. His extensive insight provides an interesting, interactive, and entertaining experience as you trail along, coffee from the café in hand, while he opens to you a whole new way of looking at art. With 40 years’ experience curating exhibits in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami, Paris, Cannes, and Tokyo, he’s sure to bring a fresh perspective to art you thought you knew. Blooming Bean Coffee Company provides the brew, along with light, sweet and savory bites. Call daily to find out what freshly baked goods are on the menu (954-295-2225). Pre-registration is available on Eventbrite.
Also on June 22, at Historic Ali Cultural Arts, the works of La’Vaughn (aka Eddie Wright) will be presented in an exhibit-closing reception from 6-10 p.m. La’Vaughn is an abstract expressionist whose work can best be described as eclectic—not following one style of art, but selecting and using the elements derived from a wide range of styles. He attended the Broward County school system graduating valedictorian, and later received his BFA from Florida Atlantic University. He has worked in the art field as an artist, designer, and consultant. The exhibit will close permanently on June 27.
On June 23 and June 30, and every Friday, you’ll want to explore your inner artist by sketching a painting a live model at BaCA from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is your own effort: no instructor will be there. Cost is $10. Call (954) 284-0141 ahead of time, as spaces and easels are limited.
For you lovers of every shade of pink, you won’t want to miss Lisa Rockford’s BaCA lecture from 1-3 p.m. on June 24. She will outline the permeation of the color pink into Western culture, and highlight examples of the use of pink by historic, global, and contemporary professional artists. The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with four artists from the exhibition.