The Art of Resilience

DeWayne Barton’s “The Art of Resilience” art opening, book release, and poetry reading takes place Friday, November 13, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the YMI Cultural Center.

Barton’s art focuses on justice issues for people and the planet, as well as strategies for creating vibrant, healthy, sustainable communities. The opening event will also be a book release and poetry reading from Barton’s second book, Return to Burton Street. Books will be available for purchase during the exhibit.

The show will also launch Hood Huggers International, Barton’s organization which offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for systemically marginalized neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education, and social enterprise. Proceeds from the show will go to support Hood Huggers.

Barton is known for combining his creative practice with community activism. His mixed-media, found-art installations have been featured at Duke University, Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of African American History and Culture, Upstairs Gallery, August Wilson Museum as part of Affrilachian Artist Project. He has been working collaboratively with other community members on public art initiatives including the Hillcrest Community Mural Project, sculptures and black history paintings at the Burton Street Peace Community Peace Gardens, a mural of E.W. Pearson at the Burton Street Community Center, and a new mural at the Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center.

Barton is co-founder of the Burton Street Community Peace Gardens, and serves on the African American Heritage Commission, CoThinkk, and the Neighborhood Advisory Board. He is also the co-founder of Green Opportunities, a job training program designed to prepare area youth and adults for “green-collar” careers.

The Art of Resilience is on display at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market Street, through January 1, 2016. For more information, contact DeWayne Barton, Hood Huggers International, (828) 275-5305 or visit www.hoodhuggers.com.