March 6, 2023 – (Key West, FL). The Key West Art & Historical Society invites the community to attend a free lecture by Dr. Sharika Crawford titled, “The Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean: Labor, Conservation and Boundary Making from the Cayman Island to Key West.” The lecture will be held at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street, on Friday, March 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The program is free of charge, but advance registration is required to ensure seating. To register online visit www.kwahs.org/dss-crawford.
In her talk, Dr. Crawford will discuss the entangled histories of peoples and commodities that circulated across the greater Caribbean, which connected places like Key West to the Cayman Islands and further south toward Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The story of the humble turtle and its hunter, Crawford argues, came to play a significant role in shaping the maritime boundaries of the modern Caribbean. Focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, she traces and connects the expansion of turtle hunting to matters of race, labor, political, and economic change, and the natural environment. Crawford is associate professor of history at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Her scholarship focuses on Latin America, the circum-Caribbean, and the West African nation of Ghana. Recently, her book “The Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean: Labor, Conservation, and Boundary Making” was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2020. This program is free and is limited to 150 attendees; registration is required kwahs.org/dss-crawford. Support for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support was provided by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, The Helmerich Trust, Aloys & Carol Metty, and The John & Marilyn Rintamaki Family Charitable Fund. For more information, contact Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
0 Comments
February 28, 2023 – (Key West, FL). Key West Art & Historical Society’s month-long Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration, which remembers the Pulitzer-prize winning literary icon with an array of arts and cultural events, begins this week with a kick-off party and fundraiser. Williams, who first visited the island in 1941, called Key West “home” for over thirty years after he bought a quaint clapboard house on Duncan Street.
Events during the Birthday Celebration include a garden party themed fundraiser at the home of Tennessee Williams Museum founders Dennis Beaver and Bert Whitt on March 5. Attendees will be treated to a short performance by Waterfront Playhouse actors, an open bar and heavily passed canapes. Tickets available through www.kwahs.org/upcoming-events. Every Monday during the month of March, from 6:30 p.m., the Tennessee Williams Monday Night Classic Film Series will be screened at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street. Films include “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond,” “This Property is Condemned,” and “The Glass Menagerie.” There will also be a free outdoor screening of “The Rose Tattoo,” which was partially filmed in Key West in the mid-1950s, on March 15 in front of the Tropic Cinema. Film tickets available exclusively at Tropic Cinema or www.tropiccinema.com. Beaver will also host a series of curator tours at the Tennessee Williams Museum, each with a special theme. He will share highlights of the filming of “The Rose Tattoo” and “The Glass Menagerie” and provide a general overview of Williams’ life in Key West. Tickets available through www.kwahs.org/upcoming-events. On Saturday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m., The Studios of Key West presents a special Rick Worth Painting Boot Camp celebrating Tennessee Williams. Worth, a renowned painting instructor, will offer a specific edition of his popular class concentrating on the methodology of Williams’ own paintings. Tickets are available through Studios or www.tskw.org. Waterfront Playhouse is staging “Suddenly, Last Summer” for a two-night run on March 12 and March 13. Williams’ play revolves around a young woman who, at the insistence of her wealthy aunt, is evaluated by a psychiatric doctor to receive a lobotomy after witnessing the death of her cousin Sebastian Venable while traveling with him in Spain the previous summer. Tickets available through Waterfront Playhouse or www.waterfrontplayhouse.org. Thursday, March 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., join Fringe Theater and the Key West Art & Historical Society for a reading of Williams’ short stories and poems concentrating on his sultrier characters in a program titled “The Smoke and Sizzle of Tennessee Williams.” Readers organized by Fringe Theater and local poet Vicki Boguszewski will share these works during a performance at The Little Jazz Room, 821 Duval Street. Tickets available through the Key West Art & Historical Society or www.kwahs.org/upcoming-events. Culminating the monthlong festival, the public is invited to party at the Tennessee Williams Museum celebrating what would have been Williams’ 112th birthday on March 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The evening, which is free to attend, will include contest award presentations, light snacks, bubbly beverages, and birthday cake. Visit www.kwahs.org/upcoming-events for the full schedule of events and advanced ticket purchases. You can also contact Cori Convertito at [email protected] or 305-295-6616 x507. The Tennessee Williams Museum, at 513 Truman Avenue, is open Thursdays to Sundays for self-guided tours 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jessica Argyle, author of “No Name Key,” will be signing copies of her highly anticipated sequel “Sidetrack Key” in the Museum Store at the Key West Museum of Art and History on February 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
In “Sidetrack Key,” Argyle continues the journey of Elle Woodman from “No Name Key,” taking readers through the unique settings of the lower Florida Keys during the Great Depression era of the 1930s. With her signature style and vivid storytelling, Argyle has once again crafted a page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. “I am thrilled to be live at the Key West Museum of Art & History to share my new book with readers,” says Argyle. “I have lived here since 2009 and fell in love with the Lower Keys while writing “No Name Key” and I can’t wait to bring the magic of lesser-known parts of the Lower Keys to life in “Sidetrack Key.” Argyle crafts historically accurate novels set in the lush and unpredictable Florida Keys of the 1930s. Her poetry flash and prose were used to narrate “Painting A Pandemic,” Michael Haykin’s recent exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum. Born and raised in Montreal, she and her husband decided to move to Key West after a single visit in 2005. She has always had a love for storytelling and a fascination with dark impulses and odd settings. For more information about the book signing, contact Dan Ayers-Price at 305-295-6616 x509 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. February 13, 2023 – (Key West, FL). Architect and historic preservationist Bert Bender to receive 2023 Scotti Merrill Preservation Award at Key West Art & Historical Society “Back In Time” Fundraiser
Bert Bender is an advocate for the past, the metaphorical brick and mortar for historic preservation, especially in Key West. This year he will be celebrated as the Scotti Merrill Preservation Award recipient by the Key West Art & Historical Society at their annual “Back In Time” Prohibition Dinner Party on Friday, February 17 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. The festive costumed event will transform Fort East Martello into the “A1A Speakeasy,” complete with open bar, hand rolled cigars, delicious rums, surf & turf dinner, and swing jazz— all to support ongoing preservation needs for the Custom House Museum, the island’s architectural crown jewel that Bender is more than familiar with. The building was his second project with The Society after his 1988 work with the Key West Lighthouse. The massive and complex restoration took 9 years to “finish” before opening the Richardsonian Romanesque building to the public as a museum in 1999. Today, the brick-red building with robust columns and large, graceful arches is an iconic national landmark, the official headquarters of the Key West Art & Historical Society, and an award-winning museum with two floors of exhibitions representing two centuries of history art, people, and events. “The Key West Custom House will always stand out as our favorite project,” says Bender. That’s saying a lot for a man whose historic preservation projects span the state of Florida, Washington, D.C. South Carolina, and Montana, and in Key West— Old City Hall, the Elizabeth Bishop house, the Monroe County Detention Center, and Key West Lighthouse and Fort East Martello, the latter two which The Society stewards. But then again, Bender takes a challenge head-on and doesn’t stop until it’s “done”— a word he knows is a restoration irony. Bender’s father came to the States from Russia an orphan at 14, his parents lost to the hands of a German solider when he was 7. He was a plumber who taught his son how to use his hands for good. Bender went to school— the first in his family to do so— but in junior college he was told to give it up, that he’d never make it as an architect. “Nobody tells me what to do,” he says. “So I started my practice.” He graduated from the University of Illinois in architecture in 1971, interned until he launched his Flagstaff-based business in 1975, then moved to Key West with his wife, Nancy, in 1985. It didn’t take long for him to get noticed. His “dedication, commitment, and matter of fact approach” sets him apart, says Society Executive Director Michael Gieda. “Bert doesn’t mince words and is direct ,” says Gieda. “From our first interaction, I knew he could be trusted and that he cared most about preservation, especially with regards to the Custom House.” Bender remains the lead architect for the building’s capital projects and his firm serves as architects for Fort East Martello and the Lighthouse. The 132-year-old building is on track for the completion of mechanical system upgrades (12 internal air handler units, 2 external chiller units, the control system) and forthcoming archives storage improvements. In 2013, Bender & Associates completed a building assessment that outlined deficiencies, required improvements, and unfinished restoration work from the 1990s. All of the work detailed in assessment has been completed over the past 10 years. “He has always gone above and beyond with our needs for the building. If something is needed, he is there ASAP. He is truly dedicated to the cause,” says Gieda. The Scotti Merrill Preservation Award honors those who dedicate themselves to preserving the cultural heritage of the Florida Keys, with special emphasis on the Custom House, a 9 million-dollar renovation spearheaded by the late philanthropist and founder of the Dogwood Foundation. ”This award is very meaningful to me,” says Bender. “Key West Art & Historical Society is the reason that I became what I am today.” The evening, partially funded by the Dogwood Foundation, will feature free flowing cocktails to toast Mr. Bender during his award presentation and throughout the night, surf n’ turf by Catered Affairs, hand rolled cigars from Rodriguez Cigars, delicious rums from Papa’s Pilar Hemingway Rum Company, and swinging music from Skipper’s Key West Jazz Band. For more information, visit KWAHS.ORG or call 305.295.6616. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. IMAGE: Key West Art & Historical Society has selected Bert Bender as this year’s Scotti Merrill Preservation Award recipient, to be celebrated at their annual “Back In Time” Prohibition Dinner Party on Friday, February 17 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. The festive costumed event will transform Fort East Martello into the “A1A Speakeasy,” complete with open bar, hand rolled cigars, delicious rums, surf and turf dinner, and swing jazz— all to support ongoing preservation needs for the Custom House Museum, the island’s architectural crown jewel that Bender is more than familiar with. Photo by Cricket Desmarais Poets and Writers Invited to Participate in Tennessee Williams Poetry and Short Story Contests2/13/2023 February 13, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL). As the Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration nears, Key West Art & Historical Society invites poets and writers to submit original works for its 2023 Poetry and Short Story writing contests – components of the annual celebration held each March in honor of the Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icon that moved to Key West in 1949 and remained a resident for 34 years.
While there is no specific theme for the 2023 writing competitions, submissions must in some way reference Tennessee Williams. Authors may choose to write a story referencing Williams, his family, one of his characters, or one of the actors/actresses who played a role in his plays or films. Cost is $10 per submission and is limited to one poem and/or one short story per person. The first-place winner in each contest will be awarded $200 while the second-place winner will receive $100. Submissions will be accepted through March 11, 2023. For full contest information, guidelines, and a submission link visit www.kwahs.org/upcoming-events The Tennessee Williams Museum on 513 Truman Avenue is open everyday for self-guided tours 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit www.kwahs.org. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. Image 1: Key West Art & Historical Society invites poets and writers to submit works for the 2023 Tennessee Williams Poetry and Short Story Writing Contests - components of the upcoming Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration. (Photo Credit: Key West Art & Historical Society) Key West Art & Historical Society is reviving its popular juried art exhibition, “From a Woman’s Hand,” and invites Florida Keys women to apply. The exhibit in the Key West Museum of Art & History’s Bumpus Gallery will feature paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, prints, textiles, and ceramics created by female artists. There will be a special opening reception for the artists and the public on February 24, 2023, with the show running from that date through April 16.
Drawn entirely from the Florida Keys community, the exhibit illuminates the remarkable achievements of women artists who have been marginalized for centuries. Gender bias is less obvious today, but contemporary women artists still face many barriers and disparities, as well as continual underrepresentation in museum collections and exhibitions worldwide. Arts community leaders Jane Grannis, Martha Resk, Lois Songer and Cori Convertito, Ph.D. will jury the exhibit. The submission fee for artists is $10, which will offset the cost of the opening reception. Only one submission per artist, with a deadline of January 8; all mediums and themes will be considered but work must have been completed within the last three years and cannot have been displayed previously at the museum. Artist notification is January 23 with delivery dates February 13 to 15. Please note that Society policies strictly prohibit the sale of any artwork during the exhibit. Please visit www.kwahs.org/exhibits for important entry details and to submit your work. This exhibit 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 The Helmerich Trust. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. Poets and Writers Invited to Participate in Tennessee Williams Poetry and Short Story Contests12/28/2022 As the Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration nears, Key West Art & Historical Society invites poets and writers to submit original works for its 2023 Poetry and Short Story writing contests – components of the annual celebration held each March in honor of the Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icon that moved to Key West in 1949 and remained a resident for 34 years.
While there is no specific theme for the 2023 writing competitions, submissions must in some way reference Tennessee Williams. Authors may choose to write a story referencing Williams, his family, one of his characters, or one of the actors/actresses who played a role in his plays or films. Cost is $10 per submission and is limited to one poem and/or one short story per person. The first-place winner in each contest will be awarded $200 while the second-place winner will receive $100. Submissions will be accepted through March 11, 2023. For full contest information, guidelines, and a submission link visit www.kwahs.org/upcoming-events The Tennessee Williams Museum on 513 Truman Avenue is open Thursdays to Sundays for self-guided tours 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit www.kwahs.org. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. Just in time for the holidays, 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 the Key West Museum of Art & History. The bricks are now available for purchase with a projected installation date of December 2023.
Personalized bricks ensure that you, your business, a friend, or a pet will be memorialized in history while supporting the ongoing costs of keeping the museum building a beacon of historic preservation. At 131 years old, the Florida Keys’ most iconic landmark looks exceptional for her age, but not without dedication and effort. 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 the history of Key West and the Florida Keys, visit https://www.kwahs.org/support. Alternatively, you can contact Membership Coordinator Kim Livingston at 305-295-6616, ext. 506 or [email protected]. 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. Key West Art & Historical Society is reviving its popular juried art exhibition, “From a Woman’s Hand,” and invites Florida Keys women to apply. The exhibit in the Key West Museum of Art & History’s Bumpus Gallery will feature paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, prints, textiles, and ceramics created by female artists. There will be a special opening reception for the artists and the public on February 24, 2023, with the show running from that date through April 16.
Drawn entirely from the Florida Keys community, the exhibit illuminates the remarkable achievements of women artists who have been marginalized for centuries. Gender bias is less obvious today, but contemporary women artists still face many barriers and disparities, as well as continual underrepresentation in museum collections and exhibitions worldwide. Arts community leaders Jane Grannis, Martha Resk, Lois Songer and Cori Convertito, Ph.D. will jury the exhibit. The submission fee for artists is $10, which will offset the cost of the opening reception. Only one submission per artist, with a deadline of January 8; all mediums and themes will be considered but work must have been completed within the last three years and cannot have been displayed previously at the museum. Artist notification is January 23 with delivery dates February 13 to 15. Please note that Society policies strictly prohibit the sale of any artwork during the exhibit. Please visit www.kwahs.org/exhibits for important entry details and to submit your work. This exhibit 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 The Helmerich Trust. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. Food-crafters, artists, and alchemists of all imaginings are invited to show and sell their creations at the upcoming Holiday Concert & Bazaar, on Friday, December 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, 281 Front Street. The outdoor annual spectacular, which features many of the Keys finest artisans, musicians and choirs, and a dazzling holiday light show, attracts hundreds of happy revelers each year who come to shop and enjoy food, libations, and holiday cheer with friends and neighbors.
Those interested in registering as a vendor for the event should submit their application by November 15 to confirm their spot. The application and additional information are found on the Society’s website at www.kwahs.org/education/bazaar/vendor. Vendor spaces are limited and are granted on a first come first served basis. Questions about vendors or the event should be directed to Bonnie McInnis, Events Coordinator, at [email protected] or 305-295-6616 ext. 115. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. |
Submit Your StoriesChamber members send us your press releases on your organizations accomplishments, staff awards and/or major happenings. We will post them for free. Archives
July 2024
Categories
All
|