On Monday, May 10, 2021, City Council and representatives from Brightline and the Junior League of Boca Raton, broke ground on the new community garden located at Meadows Park (1300 NW 8th St, Boca Raton, FL 33486). As part of the agreement to build the Brightline station on a 1.8-acre site near the City’s Downtown Library, Brightline made a major contribution to help fund the construction of the garden.

“Boca Raton can look forward to our new, expanded community garden in a more central location adjacent to Meadows Park and Boca Raton Community Middle School,” said Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer.

“We are grateful to the Junior League and the dedicated gardeners and volunteers who will make this new location another Boca treasure, and to Brightline for their substantial support for this project.”

The garden is approximately 1.4 acres and will contain about 100 plots. Leasing of plots will open in July. Those who are interested in leasing a plot once garden construction is finalized can email garden@jlbr.org.

Additional features of the community garden include a pergola, an enlarged composting area, and special fencing around the garden and trees to keep iguanas from climbing or digging in to the area.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the City and Brightline on this new location for the community garden. We believe it will be a real asset to the community,” said Cristy Stewart-Harfmann, president of the Junior League of Boca Raton.

In addition to the community garden, construction of the temporary parking lot has also begun. Located directly south of the Downtown Library, the lot will serve patrons and staff of the library while construction of the station and parking garage is underway. Construction of the lot and community garden is expected to be completed in August 2021.

“The community garden is an important investment to creating more sustainable and resilient communities. This is the first phase of construction activity as we work to bring Brightline to Boca Raton,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “We are excited to kick off the construction of the community garden with the Mayor, Council and Junior League representatives.”

Pompano Citi Centre has announced it is adding new tenants where Sears and Sears Auto Center once stood. The new additions include Burlington, TJ Maxx and Five Below. Other signed leases include Crafty Crab, Aspen Dental, Venetian Nails Spa, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Wingstop and The Joint Chiropractic. They anticipate the construction to be complete by the fall.

They already had some changes last year, including finally adding Saito’s Japanese Steakhouse in the centre and the McDougle Technical Institute.

History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, will feature writer Arthur Jay Marcus on the next May 13 noon segment of its “Meet the Author” interactive Zoom series. The new free series takes place on the second Thursday of each month. Viewers may register at http://bit.ly/HFLMeetTheAuthorMarcus.

Arthur Jay Marcus, an architect, photographer and historic preservation consultant, is the author of The Architecture of Whimsy: Mid-20^th-Century Architecture in South Florida, a lexicon examining the quixotic architectural expressions fund on select Mid-20^th-Century Modern commercial buildings in South Florida. Showcasing the work of 13 noted architects from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, it highlights the decorative details and gestures – swooping overhangs, brise soleil, cheese holes and arches and screening – that expressed the era’s shiny optimism and the region’s carefree resort culture. With brief biographies of architects and street maps pinpointing the location of each building, this book offers tourists, architects, history buffs and preservationist a new context and appreciation for these works of art, many of which are endangered. The book is available on Amazon.

Architecture and photography have been Marcus’ life-long passions from an early age. While  maintaining an architectural studio in South Beach for 24 years prior to moving to Fort Lauderdale about six years ago, Marcus continued to take photographs of the south Florida architectural environment. His practice currently specializes in historic preservation consulting.  A native of Philadelphia, Marcus graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University and a Master of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Marcus joins historian John Bailey, plus authors Kingsley Guy and Donn R. Colee, Jr., as part of History Fort Lauderdale’s prestigious “Meet the Author” series, a chance to converse with South Florida-based writers, launched in February. Upcoming novelists will be announced.

History Fort Lauderdale is currently open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with docent guided tours, daily, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Group walking tours are available upon special request. 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 HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets.

In compliance with local and state health guidelines, visitors to History Fort Lauderdale will be required to wear a mask, have a digital temperature reading and practice safe social distancing of six feet apart. Hand sanitizer will be available at the front desk admission point and all surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned multiple times a day, per CDC guidelines. Additionally, guests will be asked to sign-in, daily, for contact tracing.

For more information, please call 954-463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. 

Funding Arts Broward (FAB) will present A Night at the NSU Art Museum, a virtual program, on Monday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. This free offering will feature a tour of the museum’s newest exhibit, “The World of Anna Sui” and an introduction to the other exhibits on display. A Q & A session will follow the tour and presentation.

Funding Arts Broward (FAB), leading arts ambassadors in Broward County, will present A Night at the NSU Art Museum, a virtual program, on Monday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Bonnie Clearwater, FAB member and director and chief curator of NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, this free “friend”raiser program will feature a tour of the museum’s newest exhibit, “The World of Anna Sui.” The presentation will also introduce “Eric N. Mack: Lemme Walk Across the Room” and “Iké Udé: Select Portraits,” two other exhibits on display. A Q & A session will follow the tour and presentation.

Dedicated to supporting, sustaining and enriching the arts in our community, FAB creates captivating programming, entertainment and events for its members and the public that spotlights our region’s unique cultural offerings. This is the eighth installment of the FAB Presents virtual pop-up series. Previous programs are available on FAB’s YouTube channel.

“FAB is thrilled to be able to offer this engaging, exclusive and fashionable behind-the-scenes virtual foray into the art of fashion for its current and prospective members,” said Ed Hashek, president of FAB. “The public is invited to join us as we explore the glamorous and eclectic world of Anna Sui, one of New York’s most beloved and accomplished designers, and step inside her imagination.” 

Thematically arranged, the exhibition explores Sui’s lifelong engagement with an array of ‘archetypes’ including the rock star, the schoolgirl, the punk, nomads, and surfers — motifs that are featured throughout her work. Hallmark outfits include Sui’s “Silver Peruvian Ensemble” and iconic sequined silk organza  “Babydoll Dress” from Spring 1994. Items on view also include fashions worn by Sui’s personal style icons who include Anita Pallenberg and Jane Holzer.

The range of different styles on display emphasize Anna Sui’s consistent design approach as she incorporates her current passions into every garment. As it celebrates American fashion, the exhibition also provides a fascinating guide to the history of American pop culture, and an inside look into the creative process and unique world view of this iconic designer whose daring and experimental approach to design has become a mainstay of the international fashion scene.

“The World of Anna Sui” is organized by the Fashion and Textile Museum, London and is curated by Dennis Nothdruft.

To RSVP for FAB’s virtual A Night at the NSU Art Museum, please visit http://bit.ly/FABNightAtNSUArt2021 by April 16. To learn more about FAB including how to become a member or support the arts, visit www.fundingartsbroward.org or email fundingartsbroward@gmail.com.

About Funding Arts Broward (FAB)

Funding Arts Broward, (FAB) is a non-profit volunteer-based arts organization committed to preserving and cultivating the arts in Broward County, Florida. As leading arts ambassadors, FAB’s mission is to support, sustain and enrich the arts in our community.  Since its inception in 2003, the organization has granted more than $3.6 million to local visual and performing arts programming. More information about FAB can be found at www.fundingartsbroward.org.

Follow the Clues! The City of Pompano Beach Parks & Recreation Dept. presents its first ever Scavenger Egg Hunt! They invite everyone to participate in this “on your own” community -wide scavenger egg hunt spring event. Starting March 25  through April 4, you will be able to follow clues to find the five giant , brightly -painted eggs located in five different parks throughout the city . Clues can be found on the Parks & Recreation website at https://parks.pompanobeachfl.gov and on the city’s Facebook Page .
Solve the riddle, find all five eggs, take pictures with each egg, and post the gallery on the Parks & Recreation Facebook Page with your email. Three lucky participants will be selected at random to win a gift basket.
This event is FREE and registration is not required. For more information, please call 954- 786- 4111 or visit the Parks & Recreation website at
https://parks.pompanobeachfl.gov. 

Bernie Parness

In the March 9 Municipal Election, District 3 Commissioner Bernie Parness retained his position over Richard Rosenzweig, who originally held the position before Parness took office. The count was 1063 (with 67.8% of the vote) for Parness and 504 (32.2%) for Rosenzweig.

By Rachel Galvin

You may have heard the expression of someone wearing their heart on their sleeve, but what about encapsulating it within a pane of glass? The heart and soul of over 30 artists was poured into one-of-a-kind artworks now on display at the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park. The exhibit, entitled Glasstress, began on Jan. 27 and runs through Sept. 5. It includes artwork from Ai Weiwei, Fred Wilson, Joyce J. Scott, Jimmie Durham, Ugo Rondinone, Fiona Banner, Vik Muniz, Monica Bonvicini, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Laure Prouvost, Renate Bertlmann, Thomas Schütte, Loris Gréaud, Erwin Wurm and more. Most of these artists have, during their careers, been invited to participate in the Venice Biennale. The pieces chosen for the exhibit were handpicked by Kathleen Goncharov, the museum’s Senior Curator, who traveled to Italy in 2019. (At the time of this reporter’s visit, some of the pieces had not yet arrived at the museum due to delays because of COVID-19). Ever-resilient, many of the artists were hard at work making these creations during the pandemic.

Irvin Lippman, the museum’s Executive Director, said of the exhibit: “Three years in the making, with 2020 being such a challenging year to coordinate an international exhibition of this size and scope, the effort serves as an important reassurance that art is an essential and enduring part of humanity. This is also a tribute to the resilience of Venice’s surviving the floods and continuing to make art through the pandemic.”

Much like sand combined with heat creates glass, these projects required the craftsmanship of at least two to make them come to life. Each artist worked in collaboration with a master glass artisan at Berengo Studio on the island of Murano near Venice. Due to pandemic lockdowns, sometimes, that collaboration was done via Zoom. (This reporter has been to this Italian island, known for its glassmaking, and even taken a tour. There is something magical about watching the glass blown art come to life).

Each piece is a unique dichotomy of fragility and strength and such are the artistic creations shown at the museum. A catalyst of fire brings about the changeling’s transformation. Melted molten substance, stretched like taffy has life breathed into its length giving it shape. A mysterious alchemy unfolds resulting in magical forms – bulbous and alien until its purpose is decided. The possibilities are endless. It is the essence of creation itself.

Adriano Berengo said within the introduction of the catalogue that accompanies the exhibition, “The concept of transformation has always held an affinity with glass, a medium which, as the name Glasstress suggests– exists in a state of constant tension. As it morphs from molten liquid to defined solid shapes, glass reinvents itself.”

Within the exhibition, glass serves many purposes. None of it is there to just sit pretty. Each piece is symbolic and requires study to glean its meaning. Some is more utilitarian. Many others, like “DNA Has No Color” by Nancy Burson, which spells out those words, and “Acqua Alta,” by Valeska Soares, which uses glass to look like plastic bottles that cause problems in our environment, send a message.

Other pieces show the extent of glass’ mobility. How far can it stretch? To what lengths will it go? What boundaries could it break? “Outside the Bubble,” by Sudarshan Shetty, seems to defy gravity itself as the bulbous blob bauble of glass slumps off the table as just ready to fall slowly like a teardrop, but held in suspended animation… in place for all eternity. Saint Clair Cemin’s “Innocence” showcases the ultimate futility and instability as his 24 chairs not only are too small, unstable and disfigured for sitting anything upon, but to add to it, they are hung on a wall for decoration, never to fulfill their given purpose. Similarly, Vik Muniz’ ”Quantum Leap” is comprised of chalices never to be drunk from, unless you are a giant, as each stands 5 to 6 feet tall. They are made in bright colors, and sit as sort of hosts beckoning guests into the exhibition. They may be sturdy but their intricate patterns make them seem very fragile. “The Pandemic Oculus,” by Tim Tate, is a rounded and framed piece filled with puffed up faces of woe in sickly green. The eeriness of it makes it hard to look upon – a perfect symbol for its solemn message about a pandemic, fitting for COVID-19 times… perhaps too fitting… These are just a few of the many pieces on display– each filled with meaning and symbolism. Part of the exhibition is a film called “The Unplayed Notes Factory” by Loris Gréaud. Make sure not to miss it before or after seeing the rest of the exhibit.

Speaking of dark subjects, another exhibition within the museum is “An Irresistible Urge to Create: The Monroe Family Collection of Florida Outsider Art.” It features darkly painted views of the world from people who have had their fair share of darkness… people with mental illness, disabilities or who are on the outskirts of society, people who have turned to artistic endeavors as a means of therapy. Within each piece, there are similar figures seen – depictions of heaven and hell, wild animals, all manner of twisted creatures and tortured souls. For fans of raw art, this is quite a find.

Upstairs you will find an exhibit that you can take at face value. It is all faces, painted in detailed precision by Paul Gervais. It is called “Faces and Forms” and their accuracy is stunning, more like a photograph than a painting.

Also make sure to see all of the rest of the collections on display throughout the museum, including ancient artifacts and other glass works. 

For more information on the museum, visit https://bocamuseum.org. More photos coming soon on The Observer Newspaper Online Facebook page.

Outside the Bubble,” by Sudarshan Shetty.