What’s Your Elephant?

A human experience project using the arts to create provocative conversations around the unspoken.

Join the Movement!

#whatsyourelephant

What’s Your Elephant is a movement that creates a safe space for people to use the arts to have dialogue and bring awareness to the unspoken. It includes visual and performing arts, interactive arts, creative community building, hands-on projects, workshops and events.

‘What’s Your Elephant’ as in ‘the elephant in the room’ is a metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored or going unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there have chosen to avoid dealing with the looming big issue.

Mission:

‘What’s Your Elephant’ uses a combination of art exhibits, interactive installations, and workshops. With our series of discussions and interactive arts – we provoke awareness and facilitate discussions unveiling unaddressed topics including, but not limited to; gender, discrimination and abuse. WYE works with the public, at risk groups and communities. The value of a share & engaging the masses will demonstrate how the creative arts can assist in self-healing, bring awareness, and strengthen communities.

What’s Your Elephant collaborates with community groups, artists, non-profits, and corporate organizations.

EVERYONE is invited to join this movement!

FEEL INSPIRED, CREATE and SHARE.

An artistic background is not a requirement.

Youth under the 18 must have parental consent.

For events dates & booking contact: Niki Lopez – nikilopez@gmail.com

or Alana DaCosta – rebelrasmusik77@gmail.com

Connect with us:

facebook.com/whatsyourelephant

whatsyourelephant.tumblr.com or instagram.com/whatsyourelephant

Look for us on the web via #whatsyourelephant

About the facilitators:

Niki Lopez

Niki Lopez is a multi-media artist & activists who works primarily in acrylics, “My representational work allows me to share and explore stories, symbols and concepts from ancient cultures and ideologies, as well as provoke thought as to the probability of life in other dimensions, multiple universes and galaxies, how they are all inter-connected with us here on planet earth”.

Known for her vibrant color palate, Lopez’s often ‘other-worldly’ art has been exhibited across South Florida (including the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art), New York, and California.

She is an independent award winning Graphic Designer and Social Media enthusiast, well known for her community spirit and avant-garde art shows. Niki is passionate about grass root initiatives and community outreach, and is affiliated with non-profits like SWAN Sisters Spoken Soul Festival, Drag It Out, ArtHeart, Love Thy Neighbor, F.O.C.U.S., the VSA Florida, and organizations like Sailboat Bend Civic Association, Broward Arts Guild, and Broward Artists as Entrepreneur Institute alumni.

She has also donated art work for fundraising initiatives for breast cancer, children orphanages in Haiti and Rwanda.

As an original member of Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts (2009 recipient of the Louis Davis Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts “Resident of the Year” award), Niki has been an integral part of the creation of the 1310 Gallery space located within the lofts, where residents create monthly art exhibitions, workshops, and outreach programs. In 2014 & 2015 Lopez was nominated for Artspace USA’s Steve Kramer Award for community service. As Web Master, Niki created the community’s on-line presence, and is a contributor to the 1310 Gallery brand via Social Media.

Founder of What’s Your Elephant- Creative conversations around the unknown. Lopez is also a member of the 1310 Bandits 1310 Bandits is a visionary, women lead team of filmmakers creating stories that advocate consciousness and social responsibility.

nikiartstudio.com

nikilopez.com

Alana DaCosta

Alana DaCosta is a creative rebel, artist activist, vocalist, musician, and poet whose distinctive sound extends beyond boundaries as she blends neo-soul with hip-hop, reggae, jazz, and a drop of funk. A graduate of the Dillard School of Performing Arts, she excelled in voice and instrumental training. Also a previous member of the Howard University Vocal Jazz ensemble, Alana has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. She has shared the stage with international icons such as Freddie Jackson, Beres Hammond, Roberta Flack, Babyface, Angelique Kidjo, Erikah Badu, Common, and Anthony Hamilton.

“My music and art will touch the minds, hearts and souls of people across the world, and will increase one’s motivation for self-discovery, collective consciousness of one’s purpose, and the desire to live life freely, without regrets.” says Alana, who also has a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling and understands the healing power of the arts. With the drive and passion felt in her music and community art initiatives, there is no doubt that Alana DaCosta is destined to leave her own mark in our world and achieve her artistic mission.

alanadacosta.com