History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, will reopen to the public on June 15, just in time to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. The attraction will present “The Island Imprint: The Art and History of the Caribbean Community in Broward County,” a historical fine art exhibition produced by cultural nonprofit Island SPACE (islandspacefl.org) through June 29 in The New River Inn (231 SW Second Avenue).
This second staging in a multiyear initiative celebrating Broward County’s Caribbean heritage displays the works of three artist-contributors. Photo artist and curator David I. Muir (Jamaica) shares a selection of photos from the “Caribbean-American” collection, printed on canvas and featuring Caribbean scenes around Broward County. Two-time photography participant Sonya Sanchez-Arias (Trinidad) shares pieces from her “Fragments” collection, in which images she has captured from the Caribbean region are digitally manipulated, printed on metal, and mounted on natural, reclaimed materials. Mixed-media artist Krystle Sabdul (Jamaica) has included a variety of expressive, oversized portraits. The historical aspect of the exhibition, curated by Calibe Thompson (Jamaica), traces the Caribbean community’s roots in Broward through news clippings, archival photos and information displaying the influence of diverse island people on the vibrant fabric of Greater Fort Lauderdale.
History Fort Lauderdale is proud to showcase a variety of annual multicultural exhibits highlighting African American, Caribbean and Latin artists sharing their views of history. Permanent exhibits include “The Bryans of Fort Lauderdale” which allows guests to experience the story of the City of Fort Lauderdale as told through the pioneer family that shaped its development from an agricultural outpost in 1896 to a bustling city in the 1920s to its current status as a leading Metropolis, “Juliette Lange: A Portrait of a Mezzo Soprano,” a fashion and lifestyle glimpse of the socially prominent Fort Lauderdale resident with a lauded career as a star vocalist of musical comedy, plus “Archaeology of the New River” and a multitude of narratives and photos sharing the history of other founding families of Fort Lauderdale.
Admission to “The Island Imprint: The Art and History of the Caribbean Community in Broward County” is free with History Fort Lauderdale general museum admission – $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 http://bit.ly/HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets.
In compliance with local and state health guidelines, visitors will be required to wear a mask 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. 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 on Instagram @ftlhistory and on Twitter @FLLhistory.