The West Palm Beach cultural renaissance that has so far included the Restoration Hardware building—an overnight landmark that’s practically visible from space—and Grandview Public Market will continue, in vibrant color, with the inaugural Art Affair.
Taking place throughout the CityPlace district, this 10-day art festival begins Friday, and will coincide with the eighth-annual Downtown West Palm Beach Arts Festival on Rosemary Avenue this weekend. The festivities culminate with exclusive artist talks, workshops and performances the following weekend, with plenty of engaging activities in between.
Organized by Related Companies, which operates CityPlace, Art Affair will highlight Culture Lab, downtown West Palm Beach’s latest public canvas and gallery space, aka the best transformation of a former retail anchor we could have ever imagined. The former Macy’s storefront’s conversion into this immersive arts hub opened in December, with its blazing-pink, Pop art mural by Michael Craig-Martin turning plenty of heads and inspiring many a photo op.
Ioanna Pantazopoulou, one of the artists behind “Assemblage”
Beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Culture Lab also will be home to “Assemblage,” an evolving installation, co-created by artists Ioanna Pantazopoulou and Jennifer Steinkamp, in which visitors are permitted to take a load off. It’s a series of nine hammocks surrounded by lush vegetation and hung in a carousel-like display. Guests of the exhibition can lie in these interactive sculptures and stare up at Steinkamp’s hypnotic projection of swaying pearls, a wry nod to the space’s former home—the jewelry department at Macy’s. More artists expect to be added to this multimedia exhibition over time.
When you visit, be sure to visit the second floor of Culture Lab and marvel at Stephen Vitiello’s site-specific sound installation “You Are the Magic,” another of many impressive Art Affair highlights. This weekend also marks the commencement of Steed Taylor’s mile-long “street tattoo” titled “Genii Loci” and the launch of a 90-minute Walking Art Tour that begins and ends at the Hilton West Palm Beach on April 7, 8 12, 14 and 15 during Art Affair. It explores the many public murals and sculptures that dot the downtown area, from the materials deployed to the artists’ intentions and backstories, and it includes free valet parking and refreshments.
On top of all this, there will be yoga classes, an interactive performance by the Palm Beach Symphony, an open mic night, a drum circle, live painting exercises and the aforementioned artist talks and workshops—plus the adjoining Downtown West Palm Beach Arts Festival, which brings more than 100 artists’ tents filled with all mediums and price points. (We recommend Uber to get there.)
Downtown West Palm Beach Arts Festival
Did we mention it’s all free? If you haven’t made the trek up to West Palm recently, there’s no better time to make a day of it. Art Affair’s full 10-day schedule is posted below.
Friday, April 6
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Opening Day of ASSEMBLAGE featuring visit with artist Ioanna Pantazopoulou
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Meet and greet with sound artist Stephen Vitiello
6:30 – 9 p.m. Armory Art Center Experience at CityPlace Opening Reception
Saturday, April 7
10 a.m. – 5p.m. 8th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Arts Festival
10 – 11 a.m. Yoga at Culture Lab
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Culture Lab open with sound artist Stephen Vitiello
12 – 9 p.m. Armory Art Center Experience Grand Opening
3 – 5 p.m. Walking Art Tour
Sunday, April 8
9 – 11 a.m. Walking Art Tour
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Arts Festival
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Science Center Kids activity on the square
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Culture Lab open
12 p.m. Live Painting Project by Frankie Cihi at the WPB Collective
2 p.m. Palm Beach Symphony’s Conduct Us on the stage
Monday, April 9
3 – 6 p.m. Culture Lab Open
Tuesday, April 10
3 – 6 p.m. Culture Lab Open
5 – 7:30 p.m. Dreyfoos SEED Open Mic Night on the stage
Wednesday, April 11
3 – 6 p.m. Culture Lab Open
Thursday, April 12
3 – 5 p.m. Walking Art Tour
3 – 6 p.m. Culture Lab Open
5 – 7:30 p.m. Dreyfoos SEED Open Mic Night on the stage
6 – 8 p.m. GARALA Art Fashion Show with David Maison
Friday, April 13
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Culture Lab open
Saturday, April 14
10 a.m. Yoga at Culture Lab
3 – 5 p.m. Walking Art Tour
11 a.m. – 2 :30 p.m. Carole Feuerman artist talks and book signing at Culture Lab & fountain
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Daruma Doll Painting Class with Frankie Cihi at WPB Collective
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Daruma Doll Painting Class with Frankie Cihi at WPB Collective
Sunday, April 15
9 – 11 a.m. Walking Art Tour
12 p.m. Live Painting Project by Frankie Cihi
2 – 2:30 p.m. Urban Youth Impact Drum Circle Performance
2:30 – 3 p.m. Casper Pillow Painting Activity
3 – 3:30 p.m. Casper Pillow Painting Activity
