Change Happens TogetheR

The project “Change Happens Together” will focus on the power of change and collaboration in supporting the project’s theme of climate emergency and systemic racism. The project will include paintings inspired by the nature of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and will explore how diversity and interdependence are critical for the survival of both an ecosystem and society. The resulting art will be a hands-on interactive source for visitors, both online and in-person, to become active contributors by creating their own version of the original art.

At a minimum, the project will include 6-10 original paintings. Each painting will have a corresponding web page where additional descriptions will provide educational opportunities for exploring the intended message of the piece. Guest contributors will share their experiences, expertise and perspectives on the topics. These web pages will also include photos and videos taken by the artist that provide an additional connection to Kenilworth and the local waterways.

Kenilworth, a park on the edge of a major urban area, symbolizes the need for coexistence with nature, which is directly related to our climate emergency. Each original painting will highlight different aspects of the interconnection we have with nature, from food sources to habitat, and how each impacts the other within the overall environment.

Correlations between the climate emergency and systemic racism will provide the focal point for each web page’s educational content. The pieces will celebrate diversity. The art will examine how one change can have a ripple effect for the entire connected environment or society. It will provide connections and awareness to the imbalances in nature and society that result in the need for responsibility and action. The imbalances will be examples of our interconnectivity and how addressing these imbalances support a more equal and just society.

The individual paintings will be assembled into a montage. The montage of the will also incorporate ceramic and glass relief tiles, providing an additional level of visual interest and connection as well as a reinforcing connection to the themes through the materials and representation. There will be a method to share the original art and final assemblage within the park grounds that is compliant with rules and regulations. Both in-person and online, visitors can engage with templated outline versions of the original art so that they can create their own versions of each design. These alternative versions created by visitors will be shared in an online gallery connected to each piece’s web page presence.

Artist - John Moffitt

John is an artist with a BFA from Syracuse University with a major in Illustration. He has published editorial illustrations in Virginia Business magazine and published an illustration as part of a children’s book. He created and installed two murals in the concession area at the Statue of Liberty National Monument which consisted of 9 independent paintings. He received an honorable mention for his painting, “Pair of Lotus” which represented Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in the Arts for the Parks National Park Service stamp contest in 2005. (see article link) He is the owner of bluefishgallery.com which is an artist co-op site that he conceived and developed. There he displays his art and the art of others. Through bluefishgallery.com, John also shares artistic perspectives through the blog pages. A previous collaboration project at a wedding, allowed guests to contribute onsite to a reproduction of Gustav Klimt’s painting, “The Kiss”.

John is a frequent visitor to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a place where he often finds his inspiration. The project “Change Happens Together” will combine John’s artistic endeavors with his activism for social justice and climate change.

Other Volunteers
For onsite community outreach events, volunteers would be recruited to help coordinate and interact with visitors.