History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, will celebrate Women’s History Month and World Water Month with “Beyond the Shimmering Waters: Everglades + Immokalee Photography,” a visual narrative by award-winning artist Lisette Morales. The exhibit will open on Monday, March 8, International Women’s Day, with a special livestream virtual reception via YouTube where attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q & A with Morales, at 4 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through May 28 in the New River Inn (231 Southwest Second Avenue in Downtown Fort Lauderdale) and available digitally via History Fort Lauderdale’s YouTube channel.
“We are delighted to welcome back Lisette Morales to History Fort Lauderdale and premiere her new stirring portraits during Women’s History Month,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. “We are honored to have a chance to spotlight her artistic lens storytelling. We invite the community to tune-in digitally, or visit, in person, this showcase of our region’s diverse female leaders who have advocated for environmental, social and political change in our community and beyond.”
“Beyond the Shimmering Waters: Everglades + Immokalee Photography,” is a project created entirely in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the coronavirus quarantine, I divided my time, while socially distancing, between the Everglades and Immokalee documenting narratives through my lens as a Latina and Indigenous artist,” said Morales. “The title was inspired by Miccosukee multi-media artist Rev. Houston Cypress’ poetic translation of the Miccosukee word for the Everglades, Kahayatle, as ‘shimmering waters.’ As we start a second year of the pandemic it is my hope that we stay healthy and find peace by connecting with nature and art.”
This exhibition at History Fort Lauderdale begins with a series of images highlighting Miccosukee Grandmother and Everglades conservationist Betty Osceola, Panther Clan, and her work promoting respect and awareness for our planet by organizing Indigenous prayer walks through the Everglades. It also highlights a collection of portraits of women who work or live in Immokalee and whose strength and perseverance are admirable and worthy.
Lisette Morales is a Nicaraguan-born photojournalist and interdisciplinary artist based in Florida. Her camera has been her tool for activism since the early ‘90s when she traveled through war-torn areas of Central America, documenting the disruption from military conflicts. After surviving domestic violence in her own life, Morales turned to painting and illustration as a mode of catharsis and self-expression. Her work echoes the feminist worldview that she now embodies and has been featured in numerous publications. In recent years, Morales has returned to photography as her media of choice. Morales was an official delegate to the United Nations Women 2018 Commission on the Status of Women. She is a member of the Artful Activist, Zuma Press, The Authority Collective, ArtAid Naples and Colectivo Liminal.
“Beyond the Shimmering Waters: Everglades + Immokalee Photography,” is one of several stories that History Fort Lauderdale is proud to offer during Women’s History Month. In addition to this exhibit, History Fort Lauderdale and The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale will also present “Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change – Broward County,” another photography exhibition, March 4 -31. This exhibit, to be displayed at The Galleria (2414 East Sunrise Blvd), will showcase six prominent women of today who are proponents of change along with historical female predecessors who helped to pave the way for our community. A ticketed exhibition preview and recognition ceremony honoring these women of today and benefiting History Fort Lauderdale will take place on Wednesday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m., at The Galleria. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/HFLWomenTrailblazers.
History Fort Lauderdale is currently open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with docent guided tours, daily, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Group walking tours are available upon special request. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and $7 for students (through age 22 with a valid student ID). Admission is free for members, military and children ages six and under. Tickets are available online at HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets.
In compliance with local and state health guidelines, visitors to History Fort Lauderdale will be required to wear a mask, have a digital temperature reading and practice safe social distancing of six feet apart. Hand sanitizer will be available at the front desk admission point and all surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned multiple times a day, per CDC guidelines. Additionally, guests will be asked to sign-in, daily, for contact tracing.
For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call (954) 463-4431 or visit us online at historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory and on Instagram @ftlhistory and subscribe to us on YouTube at youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.
About History Fort Lauderdale
History Fort Lauderdale, formerly known as Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, brings the stories of our diverse community to life through engaging educational experiences, innovative cultural exhibits, research and preservation of artifacts. Residents and visitors to Fort Lauderdale are invited to explore the city’s rich past that is housed in historic buildings on a lushly landscaped campus – the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale situated in the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 Pioneer House Museum, the 1899 Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse Museum and the Hoch Research Library, South Florida’s foremost history center housing print resources and newspapers from 1910 – present plus 400,000 archival photos, 2,500 maps and 5,000 architectural blueprints. History Fort Lauderdale is located at 219 SW Second Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Museum hours are Monday – Sunday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Guided tours are available, daily, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. with walking tours available upon special request. Tickets are available online at HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a nonprofit agency supported by memberships, grants and charitable contributions.