Cultural Council Ushers In 40th Season With A Fusion Of Art, Heavy Metal Music, And Charity

LAKE WORTH, FL – November 27, 2017 – The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County will launch its 40th-anniversary season with a sensory feast of art, music and words featuring Jason Newsted, visual artist and Grammy Award-winning bass guitarist for Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne and Voivod. The exhibition RaWk – The Art of Jason Newsted will be on display at the Cultural Council galleries Dec. 1 – Feb. 3. 

“As we celebrate the Council’s 40th anniversary, we are presenting an exhibition and series of interactive events that incorporate visual art, music, conversation and giving back to the community,” said Rena Blades, president and CEO of the Cultural Council. “These events reflect our mission to support art and arts education, nurture Palm Beach County visual and performing artists, and build a musician membership program that brings together the bounty of talent that exists in our communities.” 

During December and January the Cultural Council will present a series of special events surrounding Newsted’s exhibition: 

RaWk – The Art of Jason Newsted, Dec. 1 – Feb. 3 

Newsted, a resident of Jupiter, has been a serious artist since 2004, with his first gallery show in San Francisco in 2010. He works with words and layers, manipulating canvases and upcycling ordinary materials. Using both hands, he scrawls out names or phrases and then layers paint to cleverly disguise them from the viewer. At times the artist twists and turns the canvas repeatedly, painting until he obtains the desired effect. Newsted imagines landscapes and otherworldly figures that come to light from an unlimited color palette, evoking a sense of frenetic emotion. 

The exhibition was co-curated by Nick Korniloff, Executive Vice President, founder and director of Art Miami and founder of the prestigious Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair, and Nichole Hickey, manager of Artist Services at the Cultural Council. 

Korniloff said, “Entering year two of our Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair, we look forward to the kickoff of another exciting cultural season in Palm Beach County by supporting and celebrating the Cultural Council’s 40th anniversary. When provided the opportunity to work with Rena Blades and her team to co-curate an exhibition with Nichole Hickey of the Council, I jumped at the opportunity. There was only one artist in mind -- and that was Palm Beach County resident, six-time Grammy winner, Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer and multitalented musical, lyrical and visual artist Jason Newsted. Jason’s immersive show represents all of the mediums of the arts that the Cultural Council has worked so hard to support over the years. The RaWk exhibition will be an event and art show that our community will never forget.” 

The exhibition is generously sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co., The Gardens Mall, Art Miami, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair, Bourlet Art Logistics and InJupiter magazine. A portion of the proceeds from artwork sales during the exhibition will support the Cultural Council’s art and education programs, the Perry J. Cohen Foundation, and Little Kids Rock. 

Pamela Cohen, president of the Perry J. Cohen Foundation, said, "The Foundation is honored to be a part of the vibrant cultural landscape and community that the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County embraces. We are thankful to our dear friend and multitalented artist Jason Newsted for his generosity in donating a substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of his amazing artwork to benefit the foundation we created in honor of our son. We are excited to utilize the proceeds from the exhibition to launch the first chapter of Little Kids Rock in Palm Beach County this coming year.” 

A Member Preview of the exhibition will take place November 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The reception is free to members and $20 for non-members. For more information and registration, visit palmbeachculture.com/newsted or contact the Cultural Council at dcalabria@palmbeachculture.com or (561) 472 – 3341. 

Musical Events: Jason Newsted and The Chophouse Band, Dec. 1 and Jan. 12 

Complementing the exhibition, Jason Newsted will perform at the Cultural Council with his band, The Chophouse Band, for two exclusive concerts. Advance tickets start at $25, and limited meet-and-greet and reserved seating tickets are available. The performances will take place at the Cultural Council from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. For tickets please visit palmbeachculture.com/newsted. 

Culture & Cocktails Conversation: Heavy Perspectives - From Metallica to Modern Art, Jan. 8 

As part of the Cultural Council’s popular Culture & Cocktail series, a conversation with Jason Newsted will take place on Monday, January 8 at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Newsted will be interviewed by Leslie Streeter, Pop Culture Reporter for the Palm Beach Post. They will discuss Newsted’s journey through art and music. Admission is $65 for advance registration; $85 at the door; and free for members of the Cultural Council at the $250+ level. Proceeds support the Cultural Council’s artist programs. Culture & Cocktails is generously sponsored by The Roe Green Foundation, Roe Green, Founder, The Milton & Tamar Maltz Family Foundation, Palm Beach Daily News, First Republic Bank and PR-BS. To register, please visit palmbeachculture.com/culture-and-cocktails or call (561) 472-3330. 

About the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County 

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, serving non-profit organizations, artists and communities. The Council promotes arts and cultural education, provides capacity-building training and advocates for arts funding and arts-friendly policies in Palm Beach County, Florida’s Cultural Capital®. A majority of the Council’s funding comes from private donations and membership programs. Every year the Council administers $4.5 million in grants to arts organizations in Palm Beach County, funded by hotel tourism taxes. To support this arts funding, the Council promotes cultural tourism to The Palm Beaches through multi-platform marketing and public information programs. 

The Cultural Council presents exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides additional programming at its headquarters in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building, an iconic Streamline Moderne former movie theater in Downtown Lake Worth. Also at the Cultural Council headquarters are the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store featuring products by Palm Beach County artists and the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center, a VISIT FLORIDA-designated Florida Certified Tourism Information Center. 

The Cultural Council galleries, visitor information center and store are open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, including a complete calendar of cultural activities in The Palm Beaches, visit palmbeachculture.com