![“The Island Imprint: A History of the Caribbean Community in Broward County”](https://www.goriverwalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/history-fort-lauderdale.jpg)
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.
Support for the project has been provided, in part, by the Broward County Cultural Division and the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, David and Francie Horvitz Family Fund, Ann Adams Fund, Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund, Blockbuster Entertainment Unrestricted Fund, Robert E. Dooley Unrestricted Fund for Broward, Harold D. Franks Fund and Jan Moran Unrestricted Fund.
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.
About Island SPACE
Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives that represent the Caribbean region, in South Florida and the broader diaspora community. Learn more about Island SPACE at islandspacefl.org.
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 – Friday from noon – 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets are available online at http://bit.ly/HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a nonprofit agency supported by memberships, grants and charitable contributions.