Opening reception to be held Sept. 15 featuring music by the Don Soledad Group
OAKLAND, FL – The Town of Oakland is excited to announce its new combination art and history exhibition “La Florida: Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heritage” at the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage. The public is invited to the exhibition’s opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Center, located at 126 W. Petris Ave., Oakland.
Learn about the origin of Spanish Florida over 500 years ago and the fusion of culture that continues to enrich our state today, from Cuban cigars to baseball. Explore the Spanish pirates behind the famous Gasparilla festivities, discover Spanish architecture in Florida, and trace the birth of the oldest city in the U.S.
The exhibition features paintings and sculptures inspired by Hispanic heritage created by well-known Florida artists, including Jose Pardo, Jesus Marin, Francisco Arias, Alejandro Selmi, Violeta Militaru, Heather Lorenz, Fabian Pesci, Dave Minichiello, Joe Warren, Lori Warren, Kelley Batson-Howard, Erick Marquez, Aury Perez, George Stuart, Ivan Delgado, Roger Ballas, Carol Brown, Jambvant Ramoutar, Tom Eder and Anne Fanelli.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists and purchase their work while enjoying a flamenco guitar performance by the Don Soledad Group. Soledad, a performer and recording artist, was inspired by the guitar of flamenco legend Paco de Lucia and cultivated his sophisticated, soulful sounds beginning with his early guitar studies with the great Spanish flamenco maestros; Mariano de Cordobá and Agustin Ríos. The Don Soledad Group won 1st place at Orlando’s ‘FusionFest 2020’ for ‘Best Musician’ category.
The opening reception will also feature the Street Fusion Latin food truck and light fare from the West Orange Creamery.
The “La Florida” exhibition will run through Nov. 2. The Center is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and on select Saturdays. For more information, visit www.oaklandfl.gov/artsandheritage or www.facebook.com/HWOAHatOakland.
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About the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland
The Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center is committed to preserving Oakland’s past, present and future. Working with its partners, the Center provides important tools and social connections to help residents eat well, stay active and enjoy life. This project is funded in part by a $1 million lead grant from the West Orange Healthcare District, as well as funding from Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program and countless other donors. The Center supports the mission of Healthy West Orange, a grassroots movement to inspire west Orange County to become the healthiest community in the nation. For more information, visit www.oaklandfl.gov/artsandheritage and www.facebook.com/HWOAHatOakland.
