Come sip the fruits of the “Black White Winemaker” at Spady’s event, Oct. 21

It’s always cool when you learn things that you weren’t even aware of, say 15 minutes earlier in your day.

I recently learned that black winemakers are a rarity in South Africa. So rare, that one of the few has his own blog, sharing his unique experience of having a career in wines in a region where the population is predominantly black, but wineries are still very segregated.

I learned this because The Spady Museum is holding its new “Soulful Tastings: An Evening of Southern Foods and South African Wines” on Oct. 21 at Patio Delray, and one of our potential guests wanted to know if the wines being featured were not tainted by apartheid practices.  Smart question.

A few hours later, I discovered that our featured wines from the Nederburg winery, employed Tariro Masayiti, who blogs on “Black White Winemaker.” He loves his job. He calls wine-making a passion. I was heartened that Nederburg had taken such a stance with Tariro and that we would be able to enjoy his passion in a few weeks.

Come sip the fruits of a region that is still transforming and support a wonderful career that hopefully will inspire others, so being a black winemaker in South Africa isn’t a rarity anymore.

Join us at "Soulful Tastings" at Patio Delray, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. © artjazz / www.fotosearch.com

 

 

All Aboard!!! The Ride & Remember Trolley Tour Takes Off Again

It seems people like their history in quaint, charming doses, aboard a red-and-white colored trolley bus.

Or maybe they like the personalized approach that walks them through the city’s historical and cultural districts.

Or maybe it’s the opportunity to get up close and personal with venues they always pass by, but never seem to have time to explore thoroughly. Or maybe they just need another way to entertain out-of-town guests, who are ready to do something other than recline on the beach.

Who knows why the Spady Museum’s “Ride & Remember” Trolley Tour is so popular? It just is, and it’s coming back for its monthly schedule, beginning Sept. 10. (Save your spot by calling 561-279-8883; cost is $15 per person.)

Every second Saturday, visitors board the signature trolley bus for a two-hour tour that is narrated by Charlene Jones and/or Brandy Brownlee. They stop at Old School Square, a rotating historical district and end with a walk-through of the Spady Museum.  Afterwards, several riders take advantage of downtown’s many restaurants to grab lunch.

A nice way to spend the day, as evidenced by the folks who sign up every month.

Some bring friends. Others bring family. All take away memories. Check out photos from “Ride & Remember” at Danika’s “I-Love-Delray-Beach.com.” If you haven’t climbed aboard, try to join us this year.  Upcoming 2011 dates are Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.

Sponsored by Florida Power & Light and The Colony Hotel, the Ride and Remember Trolley Tours begin Sept. 10 and continue every second Saturday through 2011.

Spady Welcomes Playwrights and Play Readings

Yesterday, the Spady Museum played host to a new group of people — folks who love plays enough to want to seek out new playwrights, gather with like-minded people and read these plays aloud. The playwright joins the group through Skype. Last night, they were reading “Soil Beneath my Sole,” by Felecia Turner.

“Playwrights and Play Readings” is directed by Donalda McCarthy, friend to the museum.  The group is pictured below, deep in play-reading focus.

In her own words,  Donalda describes the photo of the first meeting at the Spady a little something like this –

“The two ladies on the left are an actress and a director from Hollywood, FL. The man on the right is a vaudevillian performer from Jupiter. The lady on the right is an actress and Drama teacher from Costa Rica (well, okay, Boynton Beach.)… Smile.

Our playwright was initially perplexed/concerned to hear her African-American characters through the voices of non-Black voices. Understandably. Alas, the actors were so strong and their professional production experience was able to offer her a wealth of additional feedback and broaden her audience scheme, to boot!

Thanks everyone! See you next month for Denyce Shaw’s “Three Generation of Men.” — Donalda”

To learn more about “Playwrights and Play Readings,” visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Playreadings/

What’s in your sackpack? Spady prepares for school

On August 9, representatives from the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum’s Kids Culture Club were present to receive cool new sackpacks from the Office Depot Foundation, the independent charitable giving arm of Office Depot^® (NYSE:ODP).

The Foundation donated 6,000 sackpacks in five colorful designs to children served by area non-profit organizations and schools. The Foundation presented the sackpacks, which contain essential school supplies, during a special “Back-to-School Celebration” at the Office Depot store located at 14539 Military Trail in Delray Beach.

Through the award-winning National Backpack Program, which is now in its 11^th year, the Office Depot Foundation help deserving children prepare for school by donating 350,000 sackpacks across the United States and internationally.  The newly designed sackpacks, which were specially created for the Foundation, reflect and respond to changes in the ways that children are taking their materials to school.

“In keeping with our mission – Listen Learn Care − we’ve created these fun and exciting sackpacks in response to what kids have told us they like,” said Foundation President Mary Wong.  “We are thrilled to donate these very cool sackpacks to more children in a single year than ever before.

Charlene Farrington, director of the Spady Museum’s youth program, will distribute the museum’s allotment of Foundation sackpacks to the many community children it serves through its programs and collaborative partnerships.

Left to right: Office Depot Foundation team member, Office Depot Foundation team member, David Fannin (O.D. Foundation Board Member), Mary Wong (O.D.Foundation President), Shanel Smith (Front), Shayna Wright (Back), Charlene Jones (Spady Museum), George Ballou, (O.D. store manager), Bill Lanning (O.D.district manager).

Spady’s Juneteenth Celebration Raises $5,000 at Hot Event

It was hot. That is the one thing you can always count on at South Florida, summertime, outdoor events. You will perspire. Sweat. Drip. Gleam.

More than 130 people turned out to the Spady’s Juneteenth Celebration at the lovely Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel &  Tiki Bar a few weeks ago to do just that — and to raise $5,000 to help The Spady Museum do what it does so well, provide cultural and historical programs to the community.

All of us were either under, near or next to the straw Tiki Hut, which had the drinks, food and music. And no one left until the raffle of wonderful prizes got started. I won a one-night stay to the Historic Hartman House, a new bed and breakfast in Delray Beach (which I gave to my visiting sisters-in-law from New Jersey) and a pass to the Delray Beach International Tennis Tournament (which I gave to a tennis buff friend).

Special thanks must go to the donors who made the extra-great raffle possible: Sunfest; Raindancer Steakhouse; Boca Ballet Theatre; Lion Safari; Delray Beach International Tennis; Miami Dolphins, Ltd.; Mounts Botanical Garden; The Gym 111; Bluegreen Corporation; City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill; Mercedes Benz of Delray Beach; Massage Envy; Mary Coup; Palm Beach International Raceway; Ziree Thai & Sushi; Mark Williams; the Historic Hartman House; Crane’s BeachHouse & Tiki Bar; Lake Worth Golf Course; Hand’s Office & Art Supply; Prep & Sports; and Iberia Bank.

Despite the heat, which some of us weathered better than others, a great time was had by all.

Next up, the Spady Day Festival, August 20, along historic Northwest Fifth Avenue. More hot summertime fun, outside, in Delray Beach, courtesy of the Spady Museum. Keep a fan close by, ya’ll.

Jessica Hinners, Brian Hinners and Donalda McCarthy

Peter Perri and Chuck Walberg

Clayton Bell and Yvonne Odom

You’re invited to Juneteenth at Crane’s Beachhouse!

Come sit poolside in an Eden-like setting with a cold drink and good food, while a lovely singer serenades you. Sound good? Then you’re invited to Juneteenth at Crane’s Beachhouse & Tiki Bar.

As part of its “Third Thursday Fun-Raisers” to benefit local nonprofit organizations, Crane’s Beachhouse & Tiki Bar will welcome the Spady Museum for the second annual Juneteenth Celebration on Thursday, June 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sponsored in part by The Auburn Group, the Fun-Raiser will take place poolside at the Tiki Bar at Crane’s, 82 Gleason St, Delray Beach. The event is open to the public.  Admission is $25 per person.  Attendees will each receive one free drink ticket good for beer, wine or frozen drinks; additional drinks will be available at happy hour prices. Live music will be performed by DYMiN, and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Coming? Then, email RSVPs to Diana Wright at the CVB at PR@palmbeachfl.com. For more information, contact Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar at 561-278-1700 or visit www.cranesbeachhouse.com or call the Spady Museum at 561-279-8883;  spadymuseum@spadymuseum.com.

About Juneteenth:

According to Juneteenth.com, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

(l-r) Larry Rosensweig, EPOCH board member; Brian Hinners, CEO of event sponsor The Auburn Group; Daisy Fulton, director of the Spady Museum; Cathy Balestriere, general manager of Crane's; Vera Farrington, president of EPOCH; and Peter Perri, EPOCH board member, welcome you to the Spady Museum's Juneteenth celebration at Crane's Beachhouse June 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Summertime is Kid-Time at the Spady Museum

Summer is almost upon us at the Spady Museum, and we are starting to see its effect. It’s all kids, all the time. New kids’ programs, new kids’ exhibits, new kids’ clubhouse. You can almost hear the bell ringing and feel all those little bodies springing from their classroom confines.

Charlene Jones heads up the kids programming at the Spady Museum, and she’s all set to welcome them in all their various forms — elementary-age, pre-teen, teenage and yes, even collegiate students make their way to the Spady Museum in the summer. The museum welcomes college and university students to volunteer at the Living Heritage Festival on August 20 or to spend some time with the smaller ones all summer long.

Here’s what’s on tap at the Spady Museum, beginning next month. If you like kids, have kids or will be welcoming kids who are visiting, come by the Spady Museum. It’s kids’ town, kids’ time, kids galore — until August!

Woodland Wonders Theatre Is a Wonderland – June-July 2011: A new exhibit on loan from Explorations V in Lakeland, FL, opens June through July and transports visitors to a Florida woodland theatre inhabited with “wildlife.” With appeal to younger visitors – many of which will be visiting the Spady Museum during the summer – the show encourages youngsters to stick to the scripts or create an original story! Make music! Dance! Direct! Change the scenery! This interactive, immersive exhibit includes animal hand puppets, musical instruments, moveable scenery, colorful background panels, scripts, costuming, a director’s chair with megaphone and real lighting controls for interactive fun.

Library Adventure Museum Pass (LAMP) program – June 1- July 31, 2011: The Spady Museum will join 14 other local cultural institutions in participating in the “Library Adventure Museum Pass” program. Children who visit one of the Palm Beach County Library System’s 16 locations and present their library card can receive a LAMP to one of the participating museums. These passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, as quantities are limited by each participating museum. Students who show their LAMP at the Spady Museum get free admission for themselves and up to three other family members. For more information, call 561-279-8883 or e-mail spadymuseum@spadymuseum.org.

Spady Underserved Cultural Club Educational Support Session (SUCCESS) – June 20, 2011: A new pilot program designed to involve students, ages 7-13, in hands-on academics and interactive arts will be held at the Spady Museum. Held in partnership with C.L.A.S.S., directed by Mrs. Francis Carter, SUCCESS will initially focus on 20 students to help them increase their FCAT scores with personal tutoring and to involve them in creating a public sculpture made with natural materials, under the direction of artist Gary Moore. Cost is $180 per student for the six-week program. To register your child(ren) for SUCCESS, call Charlene Jones at 561-279-8883 or email cfjones@spadymuseum.org by June 6, 2011.

Spady Living Heritage Festival – August 20, 2011: Anyone who loves a good party and the ways of traditional Southern Florida are invited to join the fun along historic Northwest Fifth Avenue. That’s where the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum will celebrate its Annual Living Heritage Festival. The event features the Tradition Bearers of Renaissance Park of Marianna; a children’s play area; live musical entertainment; a vintage farm exhibition; storytelling and more. Entertainment has included a children’s parade, pony rides; face painting; a bounce house; a petting zoo; and traditional games. The festival is free. To learn more, visit www.spadymuseum.org.

Woodland Wonders Theatre exhibit, opens June 2011

Don’t Miss the Exhibit; Africa is Leaving the Building March 24!

“A Journey Through Africa: Masks, Music, and Warriors,” now on display at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach (www.spadymuseum.org), is getting ready to leave the building. March 24 is its last day taking up residence on the first floor of the Spady, and it will be missed when it’s gone.

On loan from Lynn University in Boca Raton, it is a well-curated collection of different types of African art from 14 tribal groups. The show represents nine geographic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa – a diversified look at artistic points of view – all authentic representations of their areas.

The show has garnered good reviews from visitors, according to Brandy Brownlee, museum educator who greets people at the door and often gives personalized tours. The best visitors have been those who show up with an open heart and mind, leaving behind whatever assumptions they may have of Africa and its artists.

“We had a group of men from Abbey Delray recently, and I just loved talking with them. They were a joy because they were open to the experience. Some people arrive knowing what they are going to see because of their past travels and memories, but they are not the ones who truly get the most from the show,” said Brandy. “I love the ones who come ready to learn and enjoy.”

So come with an open spirit to the last days of “A Journey Through Africa: Masks, Music, and Warriors,” and walk away enriched. The show was held in collaboration with the Delray Beach Public Library and the Creative City Collaborative.

On a different note, congratulations to the Spady Museum for winning the Bernays Award, in recognition of its 2010 Living Heritage Day Festival. The award was given by the Gold Coast Public Relations Council (GCPRC) at its January 28 Bernays Award luncheon at Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton Beach. GCPRC judges recognized several successful marketing and PR campaigns executed by local firms and organizations.

Charles Kuhn, library director at the Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Library at Lynn University with Vera Farrington, president of EPOCH, which operates the Spady Museum, at the Feb. 3 opening of "Journey Through Africa."

Judy Joffe of the Gold Coast PR Council present Daisy Fulton of the Spady Museum with a 2011 Bernays award.

 

Only at the Spady…

A friend of mine was kind enough to take some photos of the opening of the current exhibit at the Spady Museum, “A Journey Through Africa: Masks, Music and Warriors,” which I was unable to attend, due to a conflict. As I clicked through his photos, I thought “only at the Spady…”

I’ve lived in Palm Beach County for more than 20 years. And although it is home to several wonderful museums and cultural institutions, none of them consistently showcase the brilliance and artistry of African-, Caribbean, and Haitian-American artists — not only enlightening our youth, but also educating people of other cultures and races.

Spady does its slice of the pie so well. Below are photos from the opening event, which also doubled as the beginning of the museum’s “Connecting Community and Culture” lecture series. Charles Kuhn, library director at the Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Library at Lynn University, lectured about the pieces of the show, which was on loan from Lynn.

It was a collaboration of young and old, black and white, African and American.  This happens all the time, Palm Beach County-style, only at the Spady.

Charlene F. Jones, Educational Programs Director speaks with girls from Carver Middle School.

Charles Kuhn, library director at the Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Library at Lynn University answers a guest’s questions.

Visitors Dorothy Ellington and Barbara Haider

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum Executive Director Daisy Fulton, Museum Education Brandy Brownlee, Charles Kuhn, library director at the Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Library at Lynn University and Vera Farrington, president of the board of EPOCH, which operates the Spady Museum.

Visitors Valerie Matthews and Joan Ellis

Africa Comes to the Spady

There is a stereotypical notion that all African art looks the same. If you’ve seen one shield or one mask, you’ve seen them all.

Well, I have a two African masks, one African hat, a wall hanging that is about 3′ by 3′, a 10-inch sculpture, a doll, various vases and a 6′ batik painting — all in my home, and none of them bear any resemblance to the other. Also in my living room hang three Kemetic (Egyptian) paintings — again they look nothing like their brethren.

This is the point of a new exhibit opening at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum on Feb. 3. “A Journey Through Africa: Masks, Music and Warriors” presents a selection of African ceremonial masks and sculptures, musical instruments, tools, weapons and some functional objects made in a variety of media, including wood and cast metals, on loan from the collection of Lynn University in Boca Raton. Different elements of the collection represent works of 14 tribal groups from nine geographic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

“A Journey to Africa” is significant in its attempt to paint the continent in the many colors its populations demand. For a variety of reasons, the public’s view of African art is often generalized into a singular stereotype of primitive tribal art. This generalization has resulted in part from early 20th century artists, like Picasso, who was influenced by the visual directness and geometric patterns of African art. By the mid-20th century, African art was often shown like western art, devoid of cultural context or explanation in art European and American art galleries and museums.

But when you get up close on a mask or a sculpture or a painting, you plainly see the differences, the complexities and the subtleties that distinguish one region’s aesthetic from another region. The artisans’ perspectives, treatments and techniques are not the same.

Instead, they represent the beauty and variety of Africa — the largest continent on Earth — and they are on display at the Spady Museum until March 24. Please come journey through Sub Saharan Africa with us, without leaving Delray Beach, of course.