History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, will celebrate the significant contributions of local Seminole artists during Native American Heritage Month in November with a new exhibit, “A Return to Self: The Art of Healing.” The exhibit highlights new contemporary works by Seminole artists that reflect upon paths to self-expression, an appreciation of daily tasks and a determination to provide the best possible care for self, family and community during the ongoing global pandemic. The exhibit opens to the public on Sunday, November 21, at 10 a.m. with a VIP tour followed by an artist meet and greet and art talk at 1 p.m. Residents and visitors are invited to participate in the exhibit’s premiere in-person or online at https://bit.ly/HFLAReturnTofSelf2021. “A Return to Self: The Art of Healing” will remain on view at History Fort Lauderdale’s New River Inn through January 9, 2022. As a featured Cultural Institution, complimentary admission will be extended to Art Basel First Choice or Preview cardholders.
“History Fort Lauderdale is proud to present the art and healing insights of the Seminole Tribe of Florida,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. “This is especially relevant, now, as we navigate new ways to connect with and care for loved ones during the pandemic and learn from Native American artists who have been nurturing themselves and this land for hundreds of years. We are grateful to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for its continued support of History Fort Lauderdale during Native American Heritage Month and beyond.”
Curated by Tara Chadwick and Tia Blais-Billie, “A Return to Self: The Art of Healing” will showcase a variety of contemporary and traditional media including oils, acrylics, fiber, glass, metals, mixed media and digital art from 25 Seminole artists spanning 5 generations: Elgin Jumper, Eden Jumper, Durante Blais-Billie, Tia Blais-Billie, Iretta Tiger, Brian Zepeda, Corinne Zepeda, Erica Dietz, Ruby Dietz, Wilson Bowers, Jessica Osceola, Alyssa Osceola, Jackie Osceola, Jacob Osceola, Madeline Osceola, Samuel Tommie, Daniel Tommie, Carla Cypress, Danielle Nelson, Donna Frank, Stephanie Hall, Nicholas DiCarlo, Gordon Oliver Wareham, Leroy Osceola, and the late Jimmy Osceola.
“A Return to Self: The Art of Healing” is one of several insightful multicultural experiences at History Fort Lauderdale. Permanent exhibits include “From Dugouts to Dream Yachts,” a visual narrative weaving the story of the ever-changing use of Fort Lauderdale’s waterways by following the strokes of the first people to today’s sightseers, “The Bryans of Fort Lauderdale” which allows visitors 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 stories and photos sharing the history of other founding families of Fort Lauderdale. The nonprofit museum also hosts a variety of yearly multicultural exhibits highlighting African American, Caribbean, Latin and women artists sharing their views of history and an artists’ collective collaborative space.
“A Return to Self: The Art of Healing,” is sponsored, in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward County Cultural Council and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. With additional support from Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc.
History Fort Lauderdale 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 http://bit.ly/HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets.
For more information, please call (954) 463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory, on Instagram @ftlhistory, on Twitter @FTLHistory and subscribe 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 & 3 p.m. with walking tours available upon special request. Tickets are available online at http://bit.ly/HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a nonprofit agency supported by memberships, grants and charitable contributions.