Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 2-1-19

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Fred Johnson Is Back At The Straz Center As Artist-In-Residence
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
There’s a revival of sorts taking place at the Straz Cen- ter for Performing Arts and Fred Johnson is leading the charge!
Johnson was installed last February as the center’s Artist-In-Residence and within a year has established the Arts Legacy REMIX, a se- ries of free events highlighting Tampa Bay’s diverse culture and talent that features dancers, spoken word artists, actors, and musicians.
The latest, Black Artists Film Series, begins next week. It will celebrate Black cinema with viewings of the films Rosewood and Stormy Weather, along with a tribute to James E. Tokley, Sr., the first Poet Laureate of Tampa and Hillsborough County.
Future events include Asian Cultural Celebration in March and Global Storytellers in April.
Johnson said the Arts Legacy REMIX was born of
conversations he had with Judy Lisi, the Straz’s presi- dent and chief executive offi- cer, upon his return last year to the center. As Artist-In-Resi- dence, Johnson wanted to expand opportunities to en- gage the broader community with the center.
That meant creating pro- gramming that made the cen- ter a destination for everyone, including those who may not necessarily be interested in seeing a Broadway show, he said.
“There is an understand- ing that some have the percep- tion that the theater is where big shows come and I can’t af- ford those shows and I don’t have access,” he said. “One of the important things that I be- lieve is that art can be a bridge.”
But what does program- ming outside of shows and classes at the center’s Patel Conservatory look like? Along with the film series, it could be pop-up performances in and around the Straz’s complex.
And it also means maxi-
FRED JOHNSON
... Artist-In-Residence, Straz Performing Arts Center
mizing the center’s existing partnerships as well as creat- ing new ones, like an arts and health program with the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital that will examine how arts shifts chemistry in the body.
The goal is to share the greatness of the arts and use it
to bring together those with different backgrounds to find a point of commonality, John- son said.
“We offer great art and we also work at authoring a con- versation,” he said. “It’s im- portant for people to be able to experience how seamlessly those things come together to create an experience that’s joy- ful and exciting.”
Johnson’s second stint at the Straz aligns with the center’s focus to be more open and welcoming as plans for its future begin to take shape, Lisi said.
“He’s put together a pro- gram that helps us appreciate the cultural make up we have, and celebrate that,” she said.
Using art as a bridge is a practice Johnson has used throughout a 40-plus years in the arts and public service.
The very first artist to play the Straz when it opened in 1987, Johnson served as its vice president of education from 1996 until 2005. Prior to that position, Johnson was the director of cultural pro- gramming for the Tampa Housing Authority, which fos- tered collaborations with the center.
Johnson left the Straz in 2005 to “deepen my under- standing of the arts” and ac- cepted a role as senior fellow at Intersections International, a
New York City nonprofit that uses education and the arts to bring awareness and common ground to social issues. John- son traveled the world carry- ing the organization’s mission, including Israel, Kazahkstan, and Pakistan.
Today the work location is Tampa, but the work itself re- mains the same – to imagine and create together something that goes beyond the limita- tions we’ve set upon ourselves, Johnson said.
“Let’s create beautiful ex- periences together and we’ll break away from the walls we’ve allowed ourselves to cre- ate,” he said.
If You Go
The Straz Center presents Arts Legacy REMIX: Black Artists Film Series on Sundays in February from 3 p. m. to 5:30 p. m. This free film series is part of the Arts Legacy: REMIX, a celebration of di- verse culture and artistic talent in the Tampa Bay area.
Excerpts from the follow- ing films, with discussion, will include:
Feb. 3: Rosewood
Feb. 10: Stormy Weather Feb. 17: Tribute to James E. Tokley, Sr., First Poet Laureate of both Tampa and Hillsborough County.
For more information, visit www.strazcenter.org.
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