Collaborative Community Projects

Community Art Tent: Sahrawi Tea Ritual Dialogues on Nomadic Knowledges

Mohamed Sleiman Labat is a Sahrawi multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, writer & translator. Born and raised in the Sahrawi refugee camps southwest Algeria. He now runs Motif Art Studio; a small art space built entirely from discarded materials following destructive floods that hit the refugee camps in Tindouf in 2015. His art draws upon the past and present life of the Sahrawi people. He has been exploring these interconnected topics through different art practices including films, writing and community-based art.

Event poster with details about a community art event featuring Mohamed Sleiman Labat. The event includes a Sahrawi tea ritual, a community tea ceremony, and a screening of DESERT PHOSfate at Plaza Cinema. The poster displays images of Sahrawi tea preparation, colorful textiles, a desert scene with a tent, and people sitting on the desert ground with traditional fabrics and artwork.

Art installation of four fabric panels with tie-dye patterns, secured with red and white striped ropes anchored by small brick bases in a gallery space with framed artwork on white walls.

A diverse group of people standing together indoors, smiling, with a colorful fabric backdrop behind them, and one person holding a large certificate or award.

Three people are standing inside a colorful, patchwork-style tent made of fabric sheets, in an art gallery. The tent has a multicolored roof and decorated walls, with one person visible outside the tent holding a rope.

An art installation in an gallery features a large, colorful fabric structure suspended from the ceiling. The fabric has various patterns and colors, including orange, green, purple, and black with designs. The structure is held down by ropes tied to

Group of five women sitting on colorful fabric-covered floor under vibrant, patterned fabric drapes in an art space with artworks on the walls. One woman is cooking or preparing food on a portable stove, and a tray of glasses and bottles are nearby.

Colorful umbrella with various patterned sections, displayed indoors with artwork on the walls and a person partially visible in the foreground.

Inspiration of the Bees at Fellbach Haus: 2025

Inspiration of the Bees was an immersive exhibition of collaborative art making and technology with robotic works and children’s ballet inspired by the dance of bees. It focused on what the bee teaches us through themes of sustainability and the environment. Inspired by the bee, it invited a decentering of the human to look to what we can learn from this creature whose power creates biodiversity and sustains life itself. Bees teach lessons on how to work together… Bees make life possible…Bees make honey… Bees make our environment healthy and colorful… Bees contribute to biodiversity… They are Architects, Housekeepers, Chemists, Builders, Guards, Foragers, Guides, Artists, Dancers… Inspiration of the Bees invited viewers to step into a sensory world of the bee, honoring and appreciating her contribution to life and her stewardship of our local and global garden. It offered visitors an immersive sensory experience and encourages them to reflect on their own responsibility to the bee for a thriving future.

Indoor art installation with paper leaves hanging from the ceiling, a mural projection on the wall, and children dressed in costumes in the background.

Two long paper-covered tables on a wooden floor with various sticks, branches, leaves, and natural materials arranged on them, possibly for an art or nature display.

Art project display featuring a twisted wire cone, small pinecones, and four robots made from plastic bottles and toy parts, decorated with yellow and black tape, on a gray surface with drawn colorful spirals.

Multiple yellow bee hives arranged in rows on open field with mountains in the background under clear blue sky.

Collection of various homemade cookies and treats on brown paper on a gray surface, shaped as stars, hearts, moons, and other shapes, some decorated with colorful sprinkles.

Small plants and branches with white flowers planted in rocks and soil, arranged on white paper on a table.

Colorful drawings on green, blue, yellow, and red paper hang on a white wall above a table with rocks and yellow popcorn.

A children's craft display featuring paper trees, bee and butterfly cutouts, painted mountains in the background, and colorful paper cutouts on the floor with a sign that says, 'Don't eat the trees!'

A small snowman-like figure made of dirt and rocks, with two small sticks as arms, sitting on a plastic surface outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

Small potted plant with white blossoms, planted in soil with rocks, and a green fern plant in a round soil mound.

Indoor art installation with hanging paper flowers or butterflies, soft lighting, and shelves with various decorative items in a spacious room.

Classroom with children in striped uniforms holding hands, decorated with large paper flowers and artwork, sunlight streaming through windows.

Small art project with rocks and soil arranged on paper, some decorated with small stones and plant material.

A man in a dark blazer and light-colored pants is speaking or presenting while three people take photos or videos of him in an indoor space with white walls, windows, and artwork on display.

Smiling boy in a maroon long-sleeve shirt holding a colorful drawing of a large tree with green leaves, a brown trunk, and various small colorful flowers on a grassy hill, under a wooden shelter with outdoor area in the background.

Two people are crouching down and looking at a large table outdoors, which is covered with various painted rocks in different shapes and sizes.

People gather in a large indoor hall with wooden floors and high vaulted ceiling, decorated with hanging paper leaves and other crafts, at an art or craft fair.

A hanging decoration featuring a black and yellow striped bee with green pipe cleaner antennae and googly eyes, attached to white paper flower decorations.

Small DIY plant sculptures made from rocks and soil, with white blossoms, on paper and cardboard outdoors.

Bee Drawing Machines

Hive Animation

Students collected samples of life and nature through immersive video and audio recordings, exploring the world around them with curiosity and intention. From the rustling of leaves and the buzzing of bees to close-up footage of pollinators, flowers, and micro-ecosystems, each student captured unique sensory moments from their environment. These creative observations—both visual and sonic—were then collaboratively woven into a single, unified piece: the Hive Animation. This animation served as a collective artwork, embodying the interconnectedness of natural life and the students’ shared interpretations of ecological presence and harmony.

Pride on the Mile

Freeport, New York: 2025

At Pride on the Mile – I hosted an art-making table in the Kids Section (under the church) where young artists and families stopped by to get creative. It was a joy to see so many colorful works come to life throughout the day. As a special takeaway, everyone who participated went home with a free watercolor set to continue their artistic journey!

Set against the sparkling waterfront, Pride on the Mile 2025 brought together artists, musicians, local businesses, families, and allies in a shared celebration of inclusion. The event pulsed with color and joy—from live performances and food vendors to storytelling booths and community art stations. Everywhere you looked, people were laughing, dancing, creating, and taking up space proudly and unapologetically.

A collage of three photos: a concert stage with empty chairs, a bustling marina with boats and boats docks, and a crowd at a pride parade with rainbow flags.

A smiling man sitting behind a table at an outdoor art booth with various art supplies, colorful posters, and paintings, including a sign that reads 'Watercolor Drawing Art Kids' and magazines stacked on the table.

Imagining Place: Mapping New Worlds

Fellbach Haus: 2024

Since the beginning of civilization, we have looked to the skies to navigate our way, know when to plant for seasons of sustenance, and dream of new futures to flourish.

This year's artwork and final exhibition focused on the themes of place and world making. We created, with the children and youth, an immersive multi-sensory installation. Different aspects of the art included high- and low-tech kinetic drawing machines created by a team of robotics students, animations created by the youth, large-scale video projections with audio linked to the theme, and placed throughout the space, an entire range of handcrafted illuminated, symbolic plant, insect and animal life created by all of the participants. The workshops culminated with community members, the young people and their families coming together to explore, experience and celebrate this newly imagined world.

Colorful abstract painting with vibrant neon hues on a long canvas displayed on a wall.

Colorful paper flowers and headbands arranged on a white table.

Classroom with a table covered in cotton, a green chalkboard on the wall, stacked chairs, windows with pink curtains, and a wooden ceiling.

Indoor art exhibition with hanging paper structures, fabric-covered walls, and a long centerpiece on the floor with toys and decorations, in a wooden-ceiling gallery.

Indoor art installation with hanging paper artwork from ceiling, string lights, paper flowers, and clouds on the wall, creating a whimsical atmosphere.

Map of Poland surrounded by colored pens and markers on a desk.

Children working on a science project in a classroom, with adults in the background, colorful papers, and electronic components.

A modern interior with numerous suspended white rectangular panels hanging from a wooden ceiling.

Decorative string lights shaped like orange flowers with green leaves on a wall

Dark room with glowing and decorated holiday or Christmas-themed decorations, including lights, paper crafts, and a large decorated display on the floor, with several people in the background.

A long, abstract, colorful, glowing mural with bright neon colors in a dark room.

Map of Kosovo on a table with painted pieces in red and teal, surrounded by various tools and papers.

Dark room with a colorful, illuminated curtain with paper shapes, a large artificial flower with lights, a chair, and paintings on the wall.

Indoor event with a crowd of people gathered in a dimly lit space, decorated with hanging paper or fabric art, and colorful projected patterns on a large wall, with some illuminated decorative elements on the floor.

A large group of people, including children and adults, gathered outside at night, facing the camera. In the background, there are buildings, trees, and parked cars. The scene appears to be at an outdoor event or gathering.

A paper map of Kosovo, outlined in blue, placed on a red background with various colored markers nearby.

Freedom to...Liria për...

Fellbach Haus: 2023

We returned to Kosovo after a 3 year hiatus! The theme, chosen by our partners at Fellbach Haus was Freedom to...Liria për... We were inspired by a desire to continue with the STEAM workshops via small kinetic sculptures, animation and exploring the science behind fluorescent light and color. We also wanted to celebrate our reunion with our Kosovar family and designed the curriculum around the themes of play and celebration.

This years exhibition included guests from the US Embassy, past and current mayors of Suhareka/Theranda, Albanian Culture TV, and the many young people who participated in the workshops, with their families.
We are grateful for our partner, Refki Gollopeni and Albanian Culture TV for facilitating the video, providing an overview of the workshops.

Room with colorful artwork and posters illuminated by blacklights, featuring drawings, shapes, and the words "Free to" in the center, with vibrant fluorescent colors.

Colorful neon glow-in-the-dark painting with abstract shapes and figures on a dark surface.

A chaotic drawing of numerous multicolored concentric circles jumbled together across a blank background.

Two illuminated wall art pieces with abstract patterns, glowing blue against a dark wall.

Abstract colorful, iridescent fabric with neon hues of pink, green, purple, and gold, creating a vibrant textured pattern.

Colorful neon abstract drawing of a landscape with wavy lines, dots, and shapes representing water, mountains, and a sun or spiral in a night sky on black paper.

Colorful paper cut-out of a cityscape with various tall and short buildings on a wall.

Colorful, abstract artwork on a wall with torn paper shapes, stickers, and glow-in-the-dark elements.

Colorful neon drawing of a peacock with hearts and leaves on black paper, created with chalk markers.

Colorful paper cutout cityscape with various buildings, windows, doors, and small painted people cutouts on the windows.

Colorful chalk drawings on black paper, including stick figures, a dog, a face, a sock, and a card with hearts and stars, surrounded by chalk markers.

A young boy is holding a craft project resembling a small robot or figure made from foam, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and candy sticks, in a classroom setting.

Interactive art display featuring two colorful, painted paper hands with wiring connected to electronic components on a wooden table, with a handwritten sign above that says 'This exhibition is to touch! Explore, compare, feel, and share!'

A young boy in a black Adidas jacket holding a green yarn craft with Christmas decorations, while another boy in a beige jacket looks on in a classroom with tables, chairs, and craft supplies.

Room decorated with colorful artwork and paper animal crafts arranged on white sheets of paper on the floor, with people observing and taking photos.

Neon-colored doodles on black paper, including a pink heart, a smiling face, swirls, a sun, and various lines and dots, with a person drawing with a pink marker.

Colorful neon and glow-in-the-dark artwork on a classroom wall, with various shapes, drawings, and words illuminated under black light.

Colorful artwork illuminated under black light, featuring a large abstract piece with bright neon colors, surrounded by paper cutouts of stars and shapes on a wall.

Colorful drawing of a nature scene featuring a sunset with yellow rays, blue clouds, pink and green trees, and colorful fish swimming in water, all on a black background.

Colored rocks painted with bright, varied designs, arranged on a tiled surface.

Child drawing a scene of a wolf howling at the moon on black paper with blue, brown, and yellow chalk.

A black paper with a colorful drawing of a person, two irregular landmasses, and space-themed elements such as planets, stars, and comets. Several brightly colored chalk markers are placed above the paper.

Art / Technology: A Virtual Exhibition

2022

Brian Testa

Art / Technology: A Virtual Exhibition
Year: 2022
Curated By: Brian Testa
Exhibition Type: Virtual Reality / Capstone Project

Art / Technology: A Virtual Exhibition explored the intersection of artistic practice and emerging digital technologies, leveraging virtual reality as both a medium and a platform for engagement. Curated and developed by Brian Testa as a capstone project for the College of the Arts at the University of Florida, the exhibition featured works by students learning in diverse formats: fully in-person, hybrid, and fully remote. Ceativity of artists across varied educational settings is showcased.

The exhibition included a rich variety of student-created work, from imaginative landscapes that envisioned alternate realities, to automatic drawings that channeled intuitive expression, to photography capturing the unique experiences and emotional landscapes of the COVID-19 era. These works reflected both personal and collective narratives, documenting the ways students navigated unprecedented times while experimenting with digital and VR tools.

By integrating contributions from diverse learning contexts and artistic approaches, the exhibition demonstrated how technology can amplify creative voices, foster experimentation, and create immersive experiences that bridge physical and virtual spaces. It invited audiences to engage deeply with the evolving ways art can respond to contemporary life, education, and global events.

Enter VR Exhibit

Native Perspectives: 2021

Brian Testa

Exhibition Number: 716
Year: 2021
Curated By: Brian Testa
Artists: Heidi C. Powell & Jeremy Dennis
Exhibition Categories: Contemporary Art, Museum

Native Perspectives offered a compelling dialogue between heritage, identity, and contemporary artistic practice. Featuring works by Heidi C. Powell and Jeremy Dennis, the exhibition foregrounded Native voices and experiences, presenting both intimate and expansive interpretations of cultural memory. Under the curatorial guidance of Brian Testa, the show invited visitors to consider the ways in which contemporary art can illuminate Native histories and lived realities, bridging traditional narratives with modern visual language.

The exhibition emphasized authenticity and respect, ensuring that each work engaged audiences thoughtfully, while highlighting the diversity within Native communities. Through careful curation and contextualization, Native Perspectives positioned itself as both an artistic and educational experience, fostering understanding, reflection, and connection.

Enter VR Exhibit

Outside In/Inside Out

Nga Jasht Mbrenda / Nga Mbrenda Jasht

Fellbach Haus: 2018

2018 is the 10th anniversary of Kosovo's independence. The theme Outside In/Inside Out or Nga Jasht Mbrenda / Nga Mbrenda Jasht in Albanian, was conceived with the idea that celebration offers pause to reflect on personal and collective pasts/presents/futures. In conjunction with looking at artists such as Philip Guston, Annette Messager, Barbara Kruger and Shimon Attie, the approach involved sharing a memory, a current event and envisioning a future. Students then interviewed community and family members about their memories from the past twenty years. These stories were documented with drawings, video, audio recordings and photography and became the content that informed our collaborative artwork, an interactive timeline.

Three people creating a mural on a white wall, with the words 'light' and 'Imagine a better united' visible among various drawings and graffiti, in a room with wooden floors and large windows.

Three teenagers sitting on the floor in a casual setting, with one playing a small guitar or ukulele, others sitting nearby with backpacks and personal belongings.

Group of twenty people, posing in a room with art on the walls and wooden flooring.

Group of people standing in a room, engaged in conversation, with a table holding various items in front of them.

Group photo of two adults and three young girls smiling outdoors

A panoramic cityscape view of a European city with red-tiled roofs, a mosque with minarets, modern buildings, and distant mountains under cloudy skies.

Three people creating a colorful mural on a white wall in an indoor space with wooden floors.

A colorful, abstract art piece on a poster with murals of a star, musical notes, peace signs, and handwritten words like 'light,' 'together,' and 'komunizt' in black marker. The star is illuminated with small LED lights.

Exterior of a white building with a ramp and steps leading to the front door, three windows, and an overhang supported by two columns, with a paved walkway in front.

Two yellow sticky notes on a wall. The top note has names with hearts and a shaded heart. The bottom note has more names, a heart with 'WE LOVE YOU' inside, and multiple names written around.

People gathered in an art gallery with artwork on the walls, and a large screen projecting video or images in the background.

People observing artwork and posters on a gallery wall, including a peace sign, building graphic, tank drawing, and peace-related messages, in an indoor space with high ceilings and windows.

Interior of a room with white walls and a wooden floor, decorated with colorful artwork and signs, including a vertical sign on a corner pillar that says 'Inside Out' with arrows pointing in different directions.

A hallway with wooden floors and white walls decorated with colorful artwork and drawings. There is an arrow sign on the wall pointing to the left with the text 'Outside in,' guiding visitors along the corridor.

Series of large vertical screens displaying a pixelated black-and-white image of a woman with short hair and earrings, set up in an indoor space.

Multiple screens and columns displaying abstract, blurry images and light patterns, creating an immersive digital display environment.

Beautification Mural, Jackson Annex Elementary School

Hempstead, NY: 2017

In partnership with Garden Vines S.E.E.D.S. (Schools Engaging the Entire Development of Students)

As the muralist for this project, I had the privilege of working closely with the students and educators of Jackson Annex Elementary to design and paint a vibrant outdoor mural that brought new life to the school’s exterior. In partnership with Garden Vines S.E.E.D.S., our goal was to create an environment that not only beautified the space but also fostered a deeper connection between students and the natural world. Through collaborative workshops and hands-on painting sessions, the mural became a celebration of growth, community, and creativity—an everyday reminder of the positive impact of art in education.

Colorful mural on a brick wall depicting a pink flowering tree with a blue sky and yellow sun rays.

Colorful mural of a tree with pink blossoms on a brick wall, with blue, yellow, and red geometric shapes on the left.

Group of five smiling people painting a brick wall with blue and green colors, holding paint brushes and a paint bucket, outdoors.

Two people painting blue tape on a brick wall in preparation for a mural or art project, one person standing on a ladder and the other standing on the ground holding the ladder.