Key West, Florida (July 1, 2024) — Florida Humanities, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), has launched a new exhibition partnership program, “Exhibition Starter Kit: FOOD” and selected the Key West Art & Historical Society as an inaugural recipient. In total, eight nonprofit organizations received funding from Florida Humanities in June 2024 to create exhibitions that capture and share local narratives on food, utilizing templated resources as well as virtual and in-person support from the Smithsonian Institution.
Exhibition Starter Kits provide a Smithsonian-developed framework to guide selected venues through the development of local humanities-based exhibitions using their own collections and cultural content. While working on their exhibition project, funded venues will receive guidance from the Smithsonian on how to design and develop compelling exhibitions that highlight their local history and culture through the lens of food. By incorporating local elements directly into the exhibition, each installation will be unique while broadly addressing the same national themes curated by the Smithsonian. “Peeling back the layers of our local and regional food, you uncover a much larger story centering around the Key West’s diverse community,” says Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Society who will also serve as the project’s manager. “We are elated to have been selected by the Smithsonian and Florida Humanities to be one of eight partners in the state. It gives the Society an opportunity to tell the abundant Florida Keys food story that has been shaped by a mixture of Indigenous, Bahamian, Cuban, and international peoples. It is our hope to get the community involved in the exhibition, but also in a robust series of public programs and oral histories.” All sites have received initial funding of $5,000 from Florida Humanities to work with the Smithsonian over the next year to create their exhibition script, collect physical objects such as artifacts and images to accompany their exhibition, and design an exhibition floor plan. Exhibitions will then be fabricated and installed at each venue in early 2026 with additional support provided by Florida Humanities. The funded sites include:
“Exhibition Starter Kits give small museums a great opportunity to use a Smithsonian framework that gives national context to local exhibitions,” said Carol Harsh, Director, Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street program. “Florida Humanities contributes state-specific resources and scholarship, which adds an even richer training opportunity for host organizations to bring out the unique local flavors of each community.” “Exhibition Starter Kit: FOOD” is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service and State Humanities Councils nationwide. It is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History called “Key Ingredients: America by Food”. Support for the Smithsonian Institution has been provided by the United States Congress. Funding for this project in Florida has been provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. About Key West Art & Historical Society Founded in 1949, the Key West Art and Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization tasked with the promotion of the humanities, art, and history of the Florida Keys by educating the public and by collecting, preserving, restoring, and exhibiting significant art, artifacts, and historical properties. With its four culturally distinct museums – Key West Museum of Art & History, the Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters, Fort East Martello and the Tennessee Williams Museum – the Key West Art & Historical Society is dedicated to community engagement through its diverse educational programs, exhibitions and online resources. www.kwahs.org About Florida Humanities Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the history, literature, cultures, and personal stories that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves, their communities, and their state. Since 1973, Florida Humanities has awarded more than $20 million in support of statewide cultural resources and public programs strongly rooted in the humanities. These programs preserve Florida’s diverse history and heritage, promote civic engagement and community dialogue, and provide opportunities to reflect on the future of Florida. Learn more at www.floridahumanities.org. About Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.
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June 24, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). Raise a glass to Florida Keys history with Key West Art & Historical Society Curator and Historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., on Thursday, July 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during her popular “Happy Hour with the Historian” program at Comedy Key West, 218 Whitehead Street. Enjoy a complimentary draft beer, glass of house wine, or a soft drink while Convertito presents the evening’s topic, “The Great Depression and the WPA in Key West.”
In July 1934, Key West, once one of the richest cities in Florida, formally declared itself bankrupt. Of the 13,000 people who inhabited the town, 80% were on government financial assistance and the city was deeply in debt. Once-flourishing sponge and cigar industries had long since moved elsewhere making it difficult for Key West residents to pay their taxes. Unpainted houses, weedy beaches, debris-littered streets and dilapidated storefronts became commonplace, all of which told the story of an isolated city in urgent need of help. “Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Governor Dave Sholtz appointed Julius Stone as head of Florida’s Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) to ascertain what could be done to help Key West residents navigate the Great Depression,” says Convertito. “After careful study, Stone determined the only way to rescue Key West was to embark on an extensive restoration and beautification program to transform the weary, unkempt island town into a vacation paradise. This involved a near reinvention of its former industries and a series of programs to make the island appear attractive to would-be tourists.” A significant portion of the city’s gallant effort to transform itself came through the Federal Art Project, a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a federally sponsored program that supported professional artists who needed work. Artists such as Stanley Wood, Avery Johnson, Alfred Crimi, Eric Johan Smith, Adrian Dornbush, Richard Jensen, and Peter Rotier were dispatched to Key West to create artwork that showcased the area’s natural beauty and its multicultural inhabitants. Their paintings, etchings and murals were made into tourist brochures, posters and postcards and sent all over the country to entice tourists to visit America’s only Caribbean city. Happy Hour with the Historian is limited to 75 attendees; reserve your spot now at kwahs.org/hh-depression - $12 for KWAHS members, $15 for non-members. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, with additional support provided by Comedy Key West. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. “Commodore David Porter and the Pirates” to be next KWAHS Happy Hour with the Historian Event5/23/2024 May 23, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). Raise a toast to Florida Keys history with Key West Art & Historical Society Curator and Historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., on Thursday, June 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during her popular “Happy Hour with the Historian” program at Comedy Key West, 218 Whitehead Street. Enjoy a complimentary draft beer, glass of house wine, or a soft drink while Convertito presents the evening’s topic, “Commodore David Porter and the Pirates”.
A key member of the fledgling United States Navy, Commodore David Porter gained notoriety during the Quasi-War with France, and experienced success during the War of 1812. With Spain and her Latin American colonies at war during the late 1810s, Caribbean piracy flared up, attacking American merchant shipping. The navy ordered a fleet to the West Indies to stamp out rampant piracy and to protect the shipping network in the newly settled area. Porter’s proficient leadership skills and earlier successes, the navy ordered him in command of its anti-piracy squadron based in Key West. “Key West was a relatively new settlement, and the small number of inhabitants were entirely susceptible to pirate attacks when they took to their ships as part of their everyday lives,” says Convertito. “Under Porter’s governance, particularly his insistence on fleet size, tactical skills and navigation know-how, the navy triumphed, purging the region of pirates. His squadron is credited with taking nearly 80 pirates out of Caribbean waters.” Happy Hour with the Historian is limited to 75 attendees; reserve your spot now at kwahs.org/hh-porter - $12 for KWAHS members, $15 for non-members. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, with additional support provided by Comedy Key West. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. May 13, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Museum of Art & History will celebrate the opening of its newest temporary exhibition, “Beaches, Creatures & Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters” on Friday, May 31. The exhibition was first developed by the Museum of Florida History and many of the posters and ephemera form part of its permanent collection. A reception to mark the opening is scheduled to take place from 5-7 p.m. in the Bryan Gallery and is open to the public.
In the early days of movie making, Florida sunshine lit the sets for many movies, while the palm trees and beaches provided a beautiful backdrop. Movie producers have been making films in Florida almost since the dawn of the industry. For a short time in the early twentieth century, Florida even rivaled California as a place for movie making. However, a lack of government support, money, and studio facilities hurt the industry here, and movie companies soon began leaving the area. “Despite many Florida studios relocating to the country’s West Coast, many filmmakers still made use of Florida’s landscape, cities, and tourist attractions during filming,” says Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Key West Art & Historical Society. “Tarzan swung through the Florida jungles, swimming champion turned actress Esther Williams frolicked on the beaches, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon lurked in the state’s dark and mysterious springs.” Colorful, eye-catching posters advertised films and drew people to the movies. Often, several movie posters, each with a different image, promoted one film. The movie’s marketers designed each image to appeal to a specific audience. Depending on the film, a poster might display a dramatic, heroic, romantic, or funny scene. The 40 classic posters that form part of the display include artwork for “Beneath the 12 Mile Reef,” “Cocoon,” “Flipper,” and “Operation Petticoat” and feature such actors as Gregory Peck, Betty Grable, Spencer Tracy, Jessica Tandy, Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Steve Martin, Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, and Jim Carrey. “Beaches, Creatures & Cowboys” runs through September 1, 2024, in the Bryan Gallery and is sponsored by the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts & Culture and the Museum of Florida History. For more information, visit www.kwahs.org/movieposters, call Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x 507 or [email protected]. ![]() Key West ghost stories and characters will be the topic for the Key West Art & Historical Society’s upcoming Distinguished Speakers Series talk, “They Only Follow Us At Night” with Key West native and folk artist Wayne Garcia on May 10. Tickets can be purchased by visiting kwahs.org/dss-garcia (Photo Credit: Wayne Garcia) April 22, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). On Friday, May 10, join folk artist, third generation Cuban American and Key West native Wayne Garcia as he presents a night of eerie storytelling spotlighting the island’s ghost stories as part of the Key West Art & Historical Society’s Distinguished Speaker Series. His talk entitled, “They Only Follow Us At Night” takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street.
During his presentation, Garcia will delight attendees with yarns of old Key West, his memories from growing up, and several of the island’s lesser-known ghost stories. His tales will be accompanied by his colorful woodcarvings and vintage photographs depicting the island’s incredible and idiosyncratic past. “The Society is delighted that Wayne has once again agreed to present an evening of Key West stories, using his striking artwork and the characters within as a visualization tool,” says Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Society. “Wayne deftly weaves together thoughtful yet lighthearted accounts of the people, the places, and the events that make us long for Old Key West, and I am eager to hear about the spirits that only come out at night.” The presenter, Wayne Garcia, is a third generation Cuban American and Key West native. He learned the techniques of carving on wood from watching legendary folk artists Mario Sanchez and Papito Suarez. Garcia’s delightful accounts of Key West’s past should not be missed. He literally and figuratively paints a picture of an island paradise rich in community and culture, validating all the reasons why many of us have chosen Key West as our home. To reserve tickets for the lecture; visit kwahs.org/dss-garcia - $12 for KWAHS members, $15 for non-members. This program is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, Aloys & Carol Metty, and the John & Marilyn Rintamaki Family Charitable Fund. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. Key West Art & Historical Society Commemorative Brick Program Paves the Way for Preservation4/22/2024 ![]() The Key West Art & Historical Society has launched another round of its popular commemorative bricks campaign to support the ongoing preservation efforts of its Key West Museum of Art & History. Bricks are now available for purchase through www.kwahs.org/support. (Photo credit: Damali Phipps/Key West Art & Historical Society) April 22, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Art & Historical Society has announced it will be adding a limited number of personalized commemorative bricks along the southeast walkway adjacent to its Key West Museum of Art & History. Bricks are available for purchase for the remainder of the year with a projected installation date of June 2025.
Personalized bricks are the perfect way to celebrate your connection to Key West and to ensure that you, your business, a friend, a loved one, or even your pet will be memorialized in history. Funds from the brick campaign provide for the ongoing costs of safeguarding the Society’s architecturally significant museum building—a beacon of historic preservation and center for community engagement. Your $130 donation secures one commemorative brick which can accommodate up to three lines of text and can also be embellished with a selection of decorative symbols for an additional $25. To leave your legacy and help preserve Key West’s most historic structure, visit www.kwahs.org/support. Alternatively, you can contact the Society’s Membership Coordinator Kim Livingston at 305-295-6616, ext. 506 or [email protected]. The Key West Art & Historical Society is a registered 501(c)(3) organization under IRS guidelines and contributions may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for more details. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. ![]() Thought-provoking male characters developed by Tennessee Williams will be explored in the upcoming “The Men of Tennessee Williams” event at the Little Room Jazz Club on March 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The program is organized by the Key West Art & Historical Society, Tennessee Williams Museum and Fringe Theater. Tickets available www.kwahs.org/tw-men. (Photo Credit: Tennessee Williams Museum) March 19, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). On Thursday, March 28, join the Key West Art & Historical Society, Tennessee Williams Museum and Fringe Theater as they together present “The Men of Tennessee Williams” as part of the annual month-long Tennessee Williams Festival. The staged reading, directed by Wende Shoer, takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Little Room Jazz Club, 821 Duval Street.
Tennessee Williams, one of the leading American playwrights of the 20th century and a resident of Key West for more than thirty years, has often been credited with crafting compelling female characters such as Amanda Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” and Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Male characters, on the other hand, are regularly snubbed by literary critics and reviewers. “The Men of Tennessee Williams” will shift the spotlight to the male characters through two little known one-act plays by Williams.” First to be featured during the evening’s stage reading will be “The Parade, or Approaching the End of Summer” which delves into the story of Williams’ first love during the summer of 1940. It is an unguarded story about gay men, but also a portrait of passions unrequited and denied that reveal the depth in compassion which can be found in friendship. The second play is “The Big Game” that takes place in a hospital room where Tony, a baseball player, has an infection in his leg and insists on joining the big game even though the doctors won’t let him. Dave has a lung infection, sleeps poorly at night, and spends the majority of his time daydreaming. The interactions between patients and staff are lively in this cryptic short work. “The Men of Tennessee Williams” will showcase several local actors including Wayne Dapser, Jim Argoudelis, Merle Dimbath, Jim Speake, Wayne Smith, Nancy 3 Hoffman, Samantha Laskey, Zach Franchini, Thom Masat and Alana Thurston. Tickets are on sale now and the Little Room Jazz Club’s full food menu will be available during the performance. Doors to the venue will open at 5:3 p.m. with the one-act plays beginning promptly at 6:00 p.m. To reserve your spot at the reading; visit kwahs.org/tw-men - $50 for KWAHS members, $60 for non-members. This program is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, with additional support provided by Dennis Beaver & Bert Whitt. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. “Shadow & Light” Juried Art Exhibition Set to Open at the Key West Museum of Art & History2/16/2024 February 16, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). On February 23, 2024, the Key West Museum of Art & History will open its juried art exhibition, “Shadow & Light” which features over 50 Florida Keys artists. The exhibition beckoned artists to immerse themselves in the outdoors, capturing natural light and its interaction with everyday objects into visual expressions that evoked contemplation, wonder, and introspection. The museum, located at 281 Front Street, welcomes the public to a special reception on February 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to celebrate the participating artists and the exhibit opening.
Juried by Dr. Cori Convertito of the Key West Art & Historical Society, Martha Resk from the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, Emma Starr of The Armory Studios, and Elena Devers of The Studios of Key West, the exhibit incorporates the basic painting principals of shadow and light in the broadest sense. A wide range of mediums will be on display including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, fabric, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media. “In art, shadow and light are fundamental to expressing three-dimensional form. When applied the correct way, shadow and light effects make a powerful storytelling tool,” says Cori Convertito, PhD, curator for the Society. “We were delighted and overwhelmed by the wide-ranging submissions that artists submitted and applaud the endless creativity in our arts community.” “Shadow & Light” runs through April 28, 2024, in the Bryan Gallery and is sponsored by the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts & Culture, with additional support provided by The Helmerich Trust. For more information, visit www.kwahs.org/shadow-light, call Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x 507 or [email protected]. KEY WEST, Florida Keys – The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden offers “Nature is Art” Workshop Series with a 3-part photography workshop with noted wildlife photographer Kristie Killam. Kristie has a long history with nature in the Keys, as a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ranger at the National Key Deer Refuge, a biologist, a photographer and a teacher.
Workshop I: 9AM, Saturday, February 17, 2024 at the historic Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden Toppino Nature chapel. Introduction, equipment review, techniques and ‘in the Garden’ field work with Kristie Killam. Workshop II: 9AM, Saturday March 9, 2024, individual photo reviews, one on one mentorship session with Kristie to transfer pictures into a final art product (in person and/or zoom). III: Art Gallery Showing, April 20-30, 2024. Finished art will be on display to the public at the Toppino Nature Chapel. Registration required: $25 pp. Registration limited to 25 people. The Garden is located at 5210 College Road on Stock Island. For more information call 305-296-1504 or visit www.keywest.garden January 17, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). Raise a toast to Florida Keys history with Key West Art & Historical Society Curator and Historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., on Monday, February 5, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during her popular “Happy Hour with the Historian” program at Comedy Key West, 218 Whitehead Street. Enjoy a complimentary draft beer, glass of house wine, or a soft drink while Convertito presents on the evening’s topic, “Keeping the Light: The History of the Key West Lighthouse” in celebration of the arrival of USCGC Barbara Mabrity for a brief port visit. The namesake of the vessel was the principal keeper at the lighthouse for thirty-eight years.
Almost immediately after the U.S. Navy established a base in Key West in 1823, the need for a lighthouse became evident. Erecting a lighthouse was essential in assuring the safe arrival of both military and commercial vessels navigating the shallow, reef-laden waters off the Florida Keys. The current lighthouse opened in January 1848 with a woman as its keeper; nearly unheard of during the nineteenth century. In the years following, the Key West Lighthouse underwent several upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens, an extension to the tower which allowed the light to be seen from a greater distance, the addition of Keeper’s Quarters, and finally the electrification of the light. “Our Key West Lighthouse is unusual for many reasons, most noticeable is the fact that it is located inland,” says Convertito. “Aside from the location, it is also distinctive in that it had a total of three female lighthouse keepers between 1826 and 1914. They resided on the property with their families and were responsible for grueling responsibilities to keep the lighthouse lit every night, even during treacherous conditions, including hurricanes.” In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since there was no longer a need for a full-time keeper due to technological advancements. Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather. Happy Hour with the Historian is limited to 75 attendees; reserve your spot now at kwahs.org/hh-lighthouse - $12 for KWAHS members, $15 for non-members. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, with additional support provided by The Helmerich Trust and Comedy Key West. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. |
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