Mark Cohen’s SOLO Exhibit, “Mankind: What Happened” Opens At Armory Art Center December 13
The Armory Art Center invites you to a SOLO Exhibit by Faculty member, Mark Cohen. The Opening Reception for “Mankind: What Happened” takes place on Thursday, December 13. The exhibit makes us look at who we are and what we believe in, taking us from “what happened” to “what can each of us do to make this a better world”. Visitors to today’s West Palm Beach Arts Festival can meet Mark at the Open House, as well as enjoy the Festival. The Rickie Report shares the details with an in depth interview with Mark Cohen and some sneak peeks of his exhibit.
811 Park Place W. Palm Beach, FL 33401
www.armoryart.org
(561) 832-1776
Meet the artist, Mark Cohen in the Gallery
During the West Palm Beach Arts Festival
Today from 11 am – 4 pm
ARMORY ART CENTER
PRESENTS:
M A R K C O H E N
SOLO EXHIBIT :
“Mankind: What Happened”
Opening Reception:
Thursday, December 13, 2018
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Non-Members: $5 | Members: Free
East & Greenfield Galleries
Exhibit runs November 30 – December 29, 2018
An exhibition of recent paintings, drawings, intaglio, and screen prints created at the Armory Art Center by faculty member and student, Mark Cohen. The collection makes us look at who we are and what we believe in. From the genocide of humans and animals in the last 75 years, this collection is snap shots that beg the question, “what has happened?.” The artist hopes that we can all take the next step and ask ourselves “What can I do to make this a better world?”
“Las Vegas” by Mark Cohen
Mark Cohen tells The Rickie Report, “Five years ago, I took a walk in the woods with my friend, Rabbi Howard Shapiro. We were at his home in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina. I was at a crossroads and needed help. So I asked my friend, “What does the Torah say about what I should do with the rest of my life.” He stopped walking. And he said, “I’m retired. I’m not supposed to do this anymore.” After a brief moment or two, he said “Be Holy.” And we continued on our walk”.
Mark continues, “Unbeknown to Rabbi Shapiro, I had been watching him prepare for retirement for more than a year. And then he retired. I also watched Larry Bird, the basketball superstar, retire. And I watched my younger brother, Warren, retire. What they all had in common was they didn’t “retire.” I had no intention of retiring, but I did want to change my life. So, I watched the people I respected to see how they transitioned into new lives. What I learned was not to retire. You just do what you have always done, but differently. That was comforting”.
“9/11 Jumper” by Mark Cohen
Mark was ready to become a painter after a long career in advertising and marketing. Being a painter was a life-long ambition. “But, he says, ” I didn’t want to give up the other things that I’d always done. So I didn’t! I just made room for painting over a period of time and adjusted the time spent on my other activities. I found the Armory Art Center: A place to learn how to paint, but so much more…a second family… including Board members, the Administration, faculty and students. Miroslav Antic, Jenny Day, Amber Tutwiler, Skip Measelle, Sam Perry, Bob Barra, Anthony Burks, Jr., Ron Garret and Richard Santiago are faculty members who have all contributed to my growth as an artist”.
“I quickly found that the most difficult task in painting is choosing subject matter. I wanted to be an example for my son and daughter…that you could do something valuable later in life. That brings us back to Rabbi Shapiro’s admonition – ‘Be Holy’. My interpretation of those words was ‘Do the Right Thing'”, Mark explains.
“Goodbye, Father Mike” by Mark Cohen
Mark clarifies, “To me, that meant paint about injustice. In a speech given at Amherst College on October 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy passionately made the case for artists entering the societal issue venue when he said “If sometimes our great artists have been the most critical of our society, it is because their sensitivity and their concern for justice, which must motivate any true artist, makes him aware that our nation falls short of its highest potential. I see little of more importance to the future of this country than full recognition of the place of the artist.”
Mark Cohen feels that his purpose as an artist is to challenge our preconceived thinking about societal issues like genocide, foreign and domestic terrorism, racism, mass incarceration, police brutality, genocide of animals, mass shootings and gun violence in general, even what is art. “I hope my work makes people uncomfortable, for I believe that when people are uncomfortable it leads to the questioning of how and why these issues seem so difficult to confront and change”.
Mark Cohen is a graduate of Florida State University with BA and MFA degrees. After graduation, he built a marketing communications firm that specializes in health care marketing. Clients included the University of Florida Physicians, Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Duke University Medical Center, West Virginia University Hospitals, Scott & White in central Texas and many regional and community hospitals from Chicago to Miami. The firm earned hundreds of awards for creative excellence.
About The Armory Art Center:
The Armory Art Center’s art school and galleries provide creative opportunities to enhance your life. The Armory has served the community for over 30 years. The mission of the Armory Art Center is to inspire the creation and experience of art and the Armory’s vision is to be the leading community resource for arts education. Serving over 3,000 students annually, the Armory Art Center offers 160 courses per term in six terms throughout the year to students ranging in age from pre-school to retiree. Classes in drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, fiber, ceramics, and sculpture are held in 12 state-of–the-art studios. Twelve exhibitions are hosted annually in three galleries. Exhibitions, lectures, and special events are open to the public.
For more information:
Visit www.armoryart.org
or
Call (561) 832-1776
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