*The newest exhibition in the Art & History Museums – Maitland’s (A&H) Maitland Art Center, Untold Stories features two exhibitions that share personal narratives of traditionally under-represented populations. These thought-provoking exhibitions are complemented by a quilt display that shows the plight of local farmworkers and other programs that connect visitors to the past to encourage them to look more closely at historically marginalized populations.
Located minutes from Downtown Orlando, the City of Maitland’s history has been closely tied to the neighboring Town of Eatonville for more than a century. Programming highlights include learning how northern philanthropist Lewis Lawrence and others played important roles in the Eatonville settlement, and works by nationally-known African American artists: Faith Ringgold, Radcliffe Bailey, Howardena Pindell and Lorna Simpson.
Exhibitions, on view until September 4, sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation:
Photo Gallery – Untold Stories Opening Event
Untold Stories: Tomengo’s Maitland Project
A&H’s Maitland Art Center; open Tuesday–Sunday 11:00-4:00
A&H’s former Artist-in-Action Trent Tomengo presents ‘The Maitland Project’ a series of oil paintings inspired by photographs, artifacts and profiles of working-class residents of Maitland and its surroundings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Tomengo was particularly inspired by Maitland’s history in relation to the neighboring Town of Eatonville after starting his residency as an A&H Artist-in-Action. This exhibition will feature twenty paintings of people who lived in this area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as representative of the working class that helped build cities and towns across the U.S.
Untold Stories: The African American Narrative (Selected works from the Polk Museum of Art)
A&H’s Maitland Art Center; Tuesday–Sunday 11:00-4:00
An exhibition recognizing noted contemporary African American artists from the permanent collection of the Polk Museum in Lakeland, working in the narrative tradition to address personal and historical themes. Artists include Faith Ringgold, Radcliffe Bailey, Howardena Pindell and Lorna Simpson. The Polk Museum of Art’s collection began in 1983 and has increased to include works by nationally and internationally recognized artists.
Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt
A&H’s Maitland Historical Museum; open Thursday–Sunday 12:00-4:00
On display until September 4, the blue Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt is a tribute to the lives of farmworkers who harvested and packed vegetables on Lake Apopka farms. The quilt, created by community members, brings to the forefront the effect of pesticides on farmers, many who died or were afflicted with long-term health issues. Materials are available that tell the story of each person represented by a quilt square.
The A&H is located at 231 W. Packwood Ave. Maitland. Admission to either museum: $3 Adults, $2 Seniors/Children 4-17, Free for Members. Contact: artandhistory.org; [email protected]; 407-539-2181.
Educational Programs, made possible by the Duke Energy Foundation, and a partnership between Art & History Museums – Maitland and University of Central Florida’s Public History Department:
In Search of “St. Lawrence”
August 29, 6:00pm; free admission; A&H’s Germaine Marvel Building
A public lecture discussing history and race in America by UCF History Professor, Scot French. The talk covers how a wealthy white businessman from upstate New York, Lewis Lawrence, became patron saint to the historic black township of Eatonville.
Local Untold Stories of Justice and (In)Equality
September 24; Exhibit preview at Noon, program at 1:00; free admission;
Held at Bridge Auditorium, UCF’s Center for Emerging Media, 500 W. Livingston, Orlando. Witness the Changing America exhibit, and view pieces from Trent Tomengo’s The Maitland Project. Then watch the film Hymns of Three Cities, and participate in a panel discussion with community members, artists and scholars.
About Art & History Museums – Maitland
Art & History Museums – Maitland is home to five museums celebrating contemporary art through exhibition, research, residencies, and education, as well as honoring the history of Central Florida through preservation and hands-on history programming. Founded as an artist colony in 1937, the A&H’s Maitland Art Center is the only National Historic Landmark in four-county area of Central Florida. Additional details are available at www.artandhistory.org or 407-539-2181.
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