Fine Art at the Magnolia 2021
Presents

Todd Fox
on Leadership, Cultural Dialogue, and the Healing Power of Art
Aug. 13, 2021

Todd Fox in his Studio photo credit: Zoe Alexander

This year, I'm serving as president of McRae Studios. I ask myself, "Really? Why did I choose this year!"

We had to figure out how the artists would do their openings, how we would all coexist here and work together. One idea was to open the bay doors and have walkthroughs -- someone even suggested drive-through! I was like, "oh, yeah uh that sounds scary." But McRae was a body shop at one time, cars used to dive through. ArtReach, the art education program, was moved to video conference only. We also did our 8x10 event virtually as well.

FAM2021 Date and Location

Ultimately, we did private openings with masks and sanitizer. I put out this email saying "here's all the protocols you heard about on the news." Back then, we cleaned the baths and doors, everything. Everyone did fine. I had no idea how challenging it would be, but we made it through. It's the team, we work together and it all worked out.

I had no idea how challenging it would be, but we made it through.

I've been doing art since I was 11 or 12. My people all migrated from Russia, all Russian Jews. My grandparents lived in Havana. My grandmother was this little Russian woman, first generation immigrant. She spoke fluent Spanish, and cooked arroz con pollo! So I'm a little bit Russian, another part Jewish, and culturally Cuban.

Way back when, I started a personal study of African artwork. Some of the things I use are authentic Kuba cloths, woven raffia and vegetable dyes from Africa. I use these a lot, I love the authenticity. This is my feeling for African art, which I love.

Work in Progress -- Todd Fox photo credit: Zoe Alexander

When BLM happened, I did a piece and showed it at the Polk Museum. Running Man was about the lack of care for indigenous people, the neglect of basic needs like water, food, anything. It's a motif of mine to depict figures in confined spaces, and this might resemble captivity, but it is actually about diaspora. The figure might be oppressed or held back, but you can see the heart glowing in the chest. Although he's in the box, he has a strong posture. Many interpretations, that's art.

An Exhibit in Todd Fox's Studio photo credit: Zoe Alexander

To convey metamorphosis, I might use actual luna moth cocoons -- which are empty of course! To convey love and creation, I incorporate rosary beads and pearls. Often, my themes guide my choice of materials. The turquoise tones in the clay come from copper screens, which migrate into the clay during firing. Even steel can migrate a yellow tone into the clay. I like the variations and happy mistakes, sometimes the materials have intentions of their own.

This is my feeling for African art, which I love.

Gears and metals are another favorite motif of mine. People see these and they sometimes tell me "you're an engineer!" and I'm like "no, I'm not an engineer." My dad had a boat, and when the boat had choke issues he'd send be below decks to jam things back together. If I know anything about engineering, I learned it from him.

'Together', by Todd Fox

When my dad was dying, I was his caregiver. Caring for dad gave me energy but not in a morose way -- it was activating. I just needed to heal. Art is definitely healing. Five years ago, I lost another friend... but there was another creative flow. Those events are very much things I've called upon, love, joy, suffering, pain.

Caring for dad gave me energy but not in a morose way -- it was activating. I just needed to heal.

I've been producing and traveling all over America. Since May, I've been to Chicago, Des Moines, and Michigan. The last one was St. Joseph on the Bluff, Michigan, really pretty resort areas. I've done an extensive amount of shows. I've started doing shows in Florida again, because Florida has been open.

'Truth', exhibited in Todd Fox's Studio photo credit: Zoe Alexander

McRae Studios has at least two events coming up, the 8x10 in August and an Open House in November. Artreach is live again, masks recommended, so kids can get art education. I have a lot of new ideas, they'll be coming to fruition on social media. "Window to my heart" is a new series, and there will be more like these, but others will be entirely different.

Pride -- Todd Fox photo credit: Zoe Alexander

The Bohrer Gallery Betsy Bohrer, Founder and Curator. Zach Weatherby, Web, Journal, and Accounts. Zoe Alexander, Film and Media Director. Ridley Aligerum, Marketing and Graphic Design. With gratitude to the City of Lakeland department of Parks and Recreation, the Polk Museum of Art, the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance, and all of our artists, patrons, and guests.