Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIdiwNCk-ro&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=73
Evan: So we are back here on the Choose 954 podcast, episode 28, from the beautiful Young at Art Museum here in Davie, Florida. Here with the museum curators, Zach Spechler, and local participating artist, Julian Pardo, in front of his fantastic piece. He's going to tell you about it a little bit here. If you didn’t know about Choose 954, we started a social movement to cultivate culture and community here in Broward County, where I’m from, in an effort to keep people in the know with all the great things going on. It’s a culture and effort to make this a better place to live, not just a better place to vacation. The point of the podcast is to connect you with the creative people like them who are doing amazing things in the community. So without much further ado, Julian, why don’t you set up and tell me a little bit about yourself?
Julian: Oh, and what a journey. My medium... I used everything from sculptures, installation, video, and box art. For example, I’ll show you—well, gets added a little bit—and it’s packed up for those who don’t know. Do you want a little extra sauce? The curator of the Young at Art Museum. It's my passion and work.
Zach: What’s great about Young at Art is that we are a contemporary art museum. We’re exclusively contemporary art, but predominantly for families and children. So, you’re able to have a really fun experience no matter what age you are because we make sure it’s one-of-a-kind. And here, to this, I’m gonna say this, but it’s widely regarded as one of the best children’s museums—or just museums—around. Really, I think so, thanks to you guys and everyone who has contributed.
Evan: How did you get into the art initiative?
Julian: I’ve been involved in art since I was born. Prior to being born, the son of an artist, my mom was a ceramicist. Growing up, that young-at-heart spirit started in her studio in our house. There was this little can full of toys and tools that kids would use. She’d be making ceramics, and I would get involved with art like this king, you know? And that’s grown into a 55,000 square-foot, LEED-certified, amazing place.
Zach: Exactly. So, we’ll get into a little more about the museum. How did you get affiliated with it?
Evan: And also, the museum?
Zach: Once you tell us a little more, from a high-level overview, where we are, what’s going on here?
Zach: We’re in Davie, Florida, which, as you know, is part of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area—further west. We’re in the suburbs. A lot of people in Davie are—it’s a nice mix of culture, right outside of Fort Lauderdale, and just 25 minutes from the beach. So, we’re at an interesting place where art has its own specific meaning but also has an audience through Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We're just outside of the Knight Gallery, which was originally sponsored by the Knight Foundation. It’s a space for change, allowing artists to come in and create contemporary, ambitious works, from traveling exhibits to brand-new, site-specific pieces.
Evan: That’s amazing. I remember seeing Milagro’s work and thought it was truly immersive. What are some of the exhibits you’re most proud of that have come through here?
Zach: Oh man, if I just go down the line of exhibits, it's kind of like depending on the day. Federico Uribe was one artist who immersed the space. He turned small spaces into beautiful sculptures, all under the theme “Call Me Paradise.” Milagros’ exhibit, where the floors and walls were painted, was something I’d always dreamed of doing—a project as immersive as that. One of my favorite projects.
Evan: The upcoming exhibit Royal Castle—what’s that about?
Zach: Royal Castle is about creating a loose symmetry of a sculpture park inside the contemporary gallery. It was probably the largest-scale installation we’ve had.
Evan: I loved experiencing the Milagros exhibit. It’s such a rare opportunity to do something that immersive. Tell us more about what we’re standing in front of right now, Julian.
Julian: This is a tree made using gumball machines as the medium. The idea came from a project in Colombia in 2016 about Monsanto certifying seeds for farmers. I thought, why not use art to spread the seeds? The first version of this project was at Deering Estate, and it’s since been shown at multiple locations, including here. Kids interact with it by grabbing an apple from the machine, which contains seeds inside.
Evan: That’s such a creative idea. How have the kids responded to it?
Julian: They love it! They grab the apple, open it up, and realize there are seeds inside—like papaya seeds or milkweed. These are easy to plant in Florida. It’s a fun, interactive experience that spreads the seeds and the message.
Evan: What are your thoughts on the impact of the Young at Art Museum, as an artist and for the community?
Julian: It’s a really important venue for kids. We get to give them hands-on experiences that help them realize their creativity.
Evan: What would you say is the museum’s impact on the broader community?
Zach: There are so many impacts. For example, we go into the community to work with organizations like Pace Center for Girls, providing programs for at-risk youth. We also work in schools. The museum helps fund these initiatives, which have a great impact, not only inside the museum but outside as well. We’re introducing kids and families to contemporary art in a fun, accessible way.
Evan: That’s great! Where can people find out more about the museum?
Zach: You can find us on Instagram and Facebook at Young at Art Museum.
Evan: Thank you both for sharing. It’s been amazing learning about the museum and your work. Everyone, be sure to check out the upcoming events at the Young at Art Museum!
Evan: A couple of other things to check out this weekend—we actually produce an event through our group, United We Stand Up, the first female craft beer festival to create a platform to highlight and showcase female brewers, female chefs, and bathroom artists. It’s our third year, and it’s going to be at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on March 23rd. You can find out more at bevelgroup.com or on my social media.
After that, I’m very excited to be leading our first curated tour during the monthly Fort Lauderdale Art Walk in MASS District and FATVillage. We’re going to start at 6:00 p.m. The Art Walk takes place on the last Saturday of the month—this time on March 30th. There's a free trolley service there at MASS District. You can find more information by typing in “monthly Fort Lauderdale Art Walk.” I’ll be taking people around, introducing them to the artists, and having them explain their work. It’s a great way to discover one of the best recurring events in Fort Lauderdale.
We’re also working on a public art project called the Artificial Reef Project, which involves creating eco-friendly public art. We'll be participating in an Earth Day beach cleanup on April 22nd, with the celebration at the Marriott Harbor Beach. If you’ve never participated in a beach cleanup, this is a great opportunity to start. We can always use more volunteers! You can find out more at thousandmermaids.com.
We’re still hosting our Tuesday at 954 series, a live artist discovery pop-up event every Wednesday at YOLO. We provide local artists with a table, easel, and marketing, all at no charge. We’ve been doing it for 108 consecutive weeks, and we’re excited to continue supporting our local art community. If you want to check it out, we’d love to see you there.
Finally, if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, we’ve got a special Sofar Sounds Song from a Room Experience coming up this Thursday in Pompano. It’s a secret show where you either have to request access or be invited. The location is revealed only to those attending. If you want more details, you can check out SofarSounds.com.
Any other questions, feel free to reach out to me. I'm Evan Snow, the co-founder of Choose 954. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and definitely follow these guys—they’re doing incredible things! We hope to see you at the 30th-anniversary party here at Young at Art Museum on April 27th, or just come by any time. Tell a friend, bring the family, and enjoy everything this amazing space has to offer!
Evan: So, what's coming up next on your radar, Julian? Any exciting projects in the works?
Julian: Yes, I’ve been working on a workshop in robotics. It’s a pretty ambitious project where I’m creating a ceramic piece using a robotic arm. I was in Puebla, Mexico, studying the traditional ceramics there, and I decided to combine that knowledge with modern technology. I’m programming the robot to replicate the intricate designs found in the ceramics of Puebla. It’s an exciting juxtaposition between the handmade art and the precision of robotics. I’ve been writing some grants for it since it's a bit costly, but I’m optimistic about making it happen. Maybe it’ll debut in New York—fingers crossed.
Evan: That sounds incredible! Robotics combined with traditional ceramics—what an innovative approach. We definitely hope to see that in the near future.
Zach: And, of course, Julian was one of the participating artists at Art Fort Lauderdale this year. We were really proud to have him, and hopefully, he’ll be involved again in the future. His clock piece was a big hit, and you can find it on our social media.
Evan: Speaking of social media, Julian, where can people find you online?
Julian: You can find me on Instagram at @JulianPardoArtist or visit my website at JulianPardoArtist.com.
Evan: Awesome. And Zach, where can people follow the museum?
Zach: We’re on Instagram and Facebook, just search for Young at Art Museum, and you’ll find us.
Evan: Great! There’s so much going on at Young at Art Museum—from robotics workshops to immersive art installations and all the exciting community events. There’s really something for everyone. We encourage everyone listening to visit, whether it’s with your kids, friends, or family, and check out all the amazing things happening here.
Thank you so much, Zach and Julian, for joining us today. It’s been a pleasure learning more about the museum and your work. And thank you to everyone tuning in to episode 28 of the Choose 954 podcast. We hope to see you at the 30th-anniversary event or any of the great programs happening soon!
Evan: And before we wrap up, I just want to remind everyone that if you're in town for the 30th-anniversary celebration, don’t miss out on all the incredible experiences Young at Art Museum has to offer. From the new exhibitions, interactive art pieces, and workshops for all ages, it’s really an amazing place to dive into the world of contemporary art.
Zach, before we go, any last thoughts or things you want to share with our listeners?
Zach: Just that we’re really grateful for the support from the community, our visitors, and, of course, our incredible team of artists and staff who make everything possible here. We have some really exciting plans for the future, including more community outreach programs and expanding our exhibits to make sure art is accessible and inspiring for everyone, no matter their background. So if you haven’t visited yet, we’d love to welcome you and show you everything we’ve been working on.
Evan: Fantastic! Well, thanks again, Zach and Julian, for being part of the podcast today. And to our listeners, thank you for tuning in. Don’t forget to follow the Young at Art Museum and Julian Pardo on social media for updates on their latest exhibits and events.
Stay connected with us at Choose 954 on Instagram and Facebook, and if you’re interested in more about the craft beer festival, the art walks, or anything else we’ve mentioned, check out the links in the show notes.
Evan:: We hope to see you at the 30th anniversary here on the 27th of April and any other time. We want to come by, the museum’s open, take a kid, tell a friend to tell a friend, and we’ll see you there.
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