Artspace x Armada Exhibition Kick-off

Join Artspace and the artists featured on Armada’s limited time labels for a celebration of art and culture! We will meet at Armada Brewing after Lee Cruz’s tour for the opening of this unique exhibition of art on beer can labels.

Drinks for purchase. 21+ to enter upstairs at Armada Brewing.

Curators: Steve Roberts and Lee Cruz

Lee Cruz is a resident of and advocate for this ethnically diverse, historic neighborhood with a beautiful waterfront. Lee has been leading community walks, most of which feature Fair Haven eateries for 14 years. By day Lee is the Outreach Director at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. In this role he connects nonprofits, civic leaders and the business community to create social and economic benefit for Greater New Haven. Lee is also a Co-founder of the Chatham Square Association, a group of residents, nonprofits and small businesses working to build and sustain community in Fair Haven. He lives in the Fair Haven with his wife Sarah and their children, Pablo and Mateo. When he is not walking or biking in Fair Haven, you will find him promoting and supporting civic leaders, nonprofits and small businesses on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Steve Roberts uses his love of skateboarding and food to create social connection. A native a of New Haven, Connecticut, he began skateboarding at 13 years old. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College in advertising and public relations, he spent time as a community organizer in Providence,RI. While in Providence, he began working in kitchens to explore the culinary arts. After moving back to New Haven in 2016, he continued to work in restaurants around New Haven including Zinc, ROIA and Anchor Spa.
In 2017, he started the Push To Start Skate Program, which uses skateboarding to build community, provide opportunity, and foster civic engagement with the youth of New Haven. The program started in the parking lot behind Stetson Library but has expanded to the Scantlebury Skatepark. Steve, along with fellow New Haven resident, J. Joseph, helped coordinate the construction of the Scantlebury Skatepark as a part of their ongoing Finding a Line project. The Skate Haven bowl, a community sourced, interactive art installation is the most recent FAL project.
Steve is looking forward to including skateboarders in New Haven’s plans for public space, and using skateboarding as a tool for common good and social change.