The African American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley awarded artist Alpha Bruton, as an honoree for the 2013 AFRO Awards, honoring women that give back to their communities. Bruton was noted for how she has worked with the Executive Director, providing professional development training, and connecting him to resources with the California Association of Museums. In 2012 she curated the new installation of the State Community College District Wall of Fame for the museum.
Gregory Melancon Executive Director of the Museum began the Afro Awards in 2011, to acknowledge and honor the accomplishments and contributions of African American Women from Fresno California who have aspired, and contributed to careers in the arts, education, health, humanities, law, nursing, science, social work, and political fields.
Alpha Bruton, pictured with lifelong friend Babette Stevenson of Fresno, CA
In 1984, the African American Historical and Cultural Museum was established to provide a vehicle for African Americans that had made significant contributions to the richness of the San Joaquin Valley. Jack Kelly Gallery features 3 cultural exhibits per year, that stay up for two months before rotating out. This gives the community an opportunity to visit the museum during Art Hop which is held the first Thursday of each month, 5-8pm, the museum is open to the public on Thursday, Fridays and Saturday, Noon - 5pm.
African American History and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley
1857 Fulton St Fresno, CA 93721
Alpha Bruton- at the AAHCM-
Installation in Berlin, at the 1st International Exhibition Berlin Art Club
Painting in the studio of Susanne in Berlin, Germany, 2012
Bruton has served as a board member of Borderbend Arts Collective, a producer of the Chicago Calling Arts Festival, where local Chicagoans call out to artists in other cities, states, nationally, and internationally to engage them in collaborative projects highlighted during Chicago Artists Month in a two- a week-long festival during Chicago.
Bruton's current inspiration comes from her work in arts in wellness and environmental art projects. After completing a six-month residency at Oak Forest Hospital, in 2002, she started reflecting on how her piece affects lives. As a result, she started her series of vibration sound narratives that teach our bodies at all levels how to have a new experience.
Bringing us into focus with the opportunities to choose new ways to live out our lives in each unique moment, they seem to mirror to us things that we have forgotten about ourselves, reminding us just how powerful we are in changing our reality.
Experimental Art Installations and Performance Art
Borderbend Arts Collective, Inter-Faith Peace Concert, Living Sculptures.
These explorations affect her personally because she is examining what transpires between the audience and the canvas. As an installation artist, she stages experiences; in her performance art, she creates an observational view for others as spectators. As in this performance art piece performed using living sculptures, created site specific at the Chicago Temple in April of 2008, each model, and music was improvised, and choreographed on location for the Interfaith Peace Concert.
"Snow Cones" to "Snow Peas"
Performance Art at the Chicago Temple, 2008 Scope of the Wiki Installation 2009
Environmental Art Installations
She will continue her exploration this summer with the MAP Gallery of Myths, Stories, and Living Tradition in Auburn, CA, by installing a "land trust," a building. The project is co-sponsored by the Visual Arts Development Project of Northern California, Rituals and traditions, a two-week artist in residency May 13th - May 25th, in Placer County.
The project has proposed to create a living land trust for outdoor Altar Installations, a Continuum: MAP Gallery of Myth, Stories, and Living Tradition Breathing Life into the Gallery 2013.
