ATB is made up of the
husband-and-wife team Anthony and Trina Burks. Over the last 22 years, their
symbol has been a representation of artist empowerment in Palm Beach County. They
have encouraged artists from emerging to midcareer as well as well-established
to push ahead to earn their stripes as respectable citizens in the community.
Sadly, in 2011, they
went through a personal struggle that would knock many off their feet. However,
through their personal tragedies, Anthony and Trina still fought hard for their
artists’ community. Developing workshops, projects and connections with the art
collecting community has made other arts community leaders scratch their heads
wondering how these to keep going. Somehow they do.
Interviewer: Tell us what happened to your family
following December 2010.
Trina: December 2010,
Anthony was on vacation from work. We
were planning some milestones for 2011: our 20th Wedding
anniversary, our oldest graduating high school and our 25 high school reunions.
He returned to work January 4. January 6, 2011 he was laid off from his job. We
were still maintaining our bills because I had my part-time job and he was on
unemployment. He was actually selling his work too. Anthony took on a major
project for our company (The Endangered Species of Florida) to exhibit at the
Paul Fisher Gallery to help three major environmental charities. September of
that year he became ill. When we admitted him into the hospital, we found out,
he was a type 2 diabetic. Had we not brought him to the hospital that day he would
have been dead in two days. His sugar level was so high it would have caused organ
failure. From there that is when our
personal struggles started.
Interviewer: When did you start realizing that there was
no hope for you and you would have to potentially move out of your home?
Trina: When 2013 rolled around and we were put into the
foreclosure category. Prior to that when I tried and tried to get a dollar
amounts of what we owed. I would get no answers. I had already been doing a
modification since March 2011. Paperwork kept coming up missing on their end.
We held our first fundraiser and what we had to do was use that money to pay
down debt to be able to qualify for the modification. We were led to believe
that this modification would save our home. We applied for the hardest hit
program and heard nothing. We have since reapplied for both & paperwork is
pending.
Interviewer: In the meantime,
you're able to produce some outstanding art programs for your community. Tell
me a little bit about that.
Trina: When we first moved into the home, we had determined
that we were going to be hosting art shows in it. That was our vision from day
one. We, along with our friends Barbara Cheives and the late Lea Jefferson, put
together an initiative called Collaboration. This idea allowed artists to
showcase their art in alternative spaces; not necessarily a gallery, but not
excluding it as an option. We taught artists how to communicate with the public,
develop relationships with potential clients, turn clients into permanent collectors,
also develop relationships with nonprofits, and donate 10% of their art earning
to charity.
Later, my husband worked with the group of artists down in
the Miami area who were all of African descent.
He was so inspired by the creative outlet he experienced, we developed
under the Collaboration brand, an African Diaspora style exhibition. At the time,
they had not done anything like it in about 10 years prior. It was much needed
in the Palm Beach County area.
From there a fellow artist in the community named Craig
McInnis, who was the outreach coordinator for an art supply company, came to us
with an idea that would be a great partnership with Art Palm Beach, (an Art
Basel type exhibition in Palm Beach County). He asked Anthony and me to
facilitate a pop up exhibition in the West Palm Beach area. From this vision, CONTINUUM
WPB Arts was created.
When I was a board member for the Artists of Palm Beach
County, I was constantly thinks about developing art programs and facilitating
exhibitions. I noticed there was a need
for further education for our fellow artists and art professionals, who often
times are left behind because of lack of knowledge of the business side of art.
I developed the Artists Lunch & Lectures, which is an opportunity for
artists to meet with business professionals who can help them improve their own
professional careers.
Interviewer: WOW! That is a lot! With all that going on,
where do you find the time to take care of yourselves?
Trina: You kind of don't. When we first started this
process, never would I have thought that we would be in this situation. I have
enough paper work from this process, that I could start my own accounting &
law firm. Fortunately, there are many programs out there that are there to help
people. However, sadly many people in those positions don't really care about
other people. Many people make fun of the fact that every president that has
ever been in office has developed a lot of gray hair for their one or two terms
in office. Well my experiences this. I have been doing this process for four
years and yes stress over a four-year period, you will gray you considerably. (She laughs)
Interviewer: So you would say that the art community came
first and your life second.
Trina: Isn’t that the nature of all working women? We put
our personal needs last? For a cause,
for your job or even for your family. That's feminine human nature. We tend to
be nurturing of others but neglect to remember our own needs.
Interviewer: So where do you go from here. Will you lose
your home?
Trina: That remains to be determined. The late Lea Jefferson
our friend Barbara had told us to contact the local news. At the time, they
(WPTV) were talking about people and foreclosures. Florida obviously has a huge
epidemic on this issue to the point that it is just ridiculous. We went to the
news and they ran our story in conjunction with the fundraiser we first did.
The first fundraiser we were able, as I said to get rid of some of our debt
because bank would not take the money we earned. I had friends constantly telling me to do one
of these crowdfunding “things” online. I was hesitant for very long time. I was
embarrassed and ashamed of our circumstance. And wanted no more attention on
our situation. However, when we found out during one of our major exhibitions
(CONTINUUM WPB Arts) that's our house will go for sale in June, a friend of
mine said to me, “you need to use GoFundMe”. We found out in November of last year that we
could have reinstated our loan from the very beginning, but was not informed
nor did we know that that was even an option. Had I known that information
before, I would have dug ditches to reinstate that loan. At that time, we were
not in foreclosure and the amount I am sure was a 1/3 of the amount it is now. Now,
being in foreclosure, we have to pay off the foreclosure before we can
reinstate the loan. If we do not do this, we lose our house. In addition, when
we lose this house our company may go along with it. That breaks my heart,
because we have helped so many people, but we won't be able to help any more
people if we cannot help ourselves first. Therefore, I put my pride aside and
started our GoFundMe Campaign.
Interviewer: Is that
like Kickstarter? How exactly does your campaign work?
Trina: Through Kickstarter is a cool program, if you do not
meet your goal, you don't get any of the money.
Literally if I am a dollar short, all the money goes back to the
contributors. GoFundMe regardless if you meet your goal you to get the money
and it can go into an account for whatever you need it for. I have it going
into a savings escrow. As so, as soon as
we meet our goal, I will contact the attorneys and they will be able to take
the money. The other thing it doesn't mandate you give away gifts. However, I
feel that people should receive something for their contributions. Therefore,
we have a few options for people to take advantage of. One is our blue rooted
ground drawings that Anthony does. The other one is my Soul Much More from
Scratch cookbook. The other option is if they want to pick out prints or an
original from some of the artwork that Anthony and I have created.
Interviewer: So how
has the campaign been going so far?
Trina: So far so good, we are only 3% in but it has only
been five days so not bad considering that we did not gear anyone up for it. We
just put it out there and hope for the best. One great thing about this, once
we meet our goal. If we exceed the amount needed, we will pay it forward to
other artists. Help with a bill, preparing
for an exhibit, buy a piece of art. Whatever it takes.
Interviewer: Well, we are hoping for the best for you,
your family and your art community. You have done a lot and it would be a shame
for you not to continue your legacy. We are praying for all of you and hope for
the best. Good luck on your campaign.
Trina: Thank you.
