It’s a Family Affair at the Spady Museum

Tales were told from the people who were there and remember. Government officials made congratulatory statements. Gospel music filled the air, and the hugs came quickly and often.

At the May 17 debut of “The Legacies of Delray Beach Families,” it was a family affair. Contemporary photos by Michiko Kurisu and family artifacts adorned the walls of the Spady Museum first floor gallery.

The patriarch of the Quince family gave thanks to God Almighty for allowing him to see life in his 90s and reminded the crowd to recognize the Higher Power with song and grace. A matriarch of the Spells family laughed her way through memories and shared that the Quince and Spells family had been long connected through friendship and marriage.

The daughter of the Mitchell family thanked the crowd on behalf of her father, and Mr. Stick of the Edmonds family just nodded silently in appreciation.

The exhibit reception was punctuated by extremely special moments:

–       Michiko Kurisu’s mother made a surprise appearance, flying in to celebrate the moment with her daughter.

–       Former Spady Museum special educator Brandy Brownlee shared the evening with her one-year-old son, John Xavier, who met members of the EPOCH board

–       Museum Director Charlene Jones gave touching recognition to her mother, Museum Founder Vera Farrington, whose oral histories were the impetus for the exhibit.

Most definitely a family affair.

The exhibit, “The Legacies of Delray Beach Families,” runs through Aug. 31 at the Spady Museum. www.spadymuseum.org; 561-279-8883.

Award-Winning Author Stops By and Plans to Come Back

It’s not every day that an award-winning author stops by the Spady – AND plans to come back again.

R.J. Tolson, teenage entrepreneur, philanthropist and author, visited the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum on May 20 for a special public book signing of his novel, “Chaos Chronicles Book 1: Zephyr The West Wind.”

He was in town to promote his book at Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High and Highland Oaks Middle School in North Miami. Tolson was invited by Spady Museum Director Charlene Jones to sign his novel and answer questions about his multi-faceted enterprise, as part of the museum’s cultural and educational outreach programming.

Tolson has been celebrated recently for being named a Beverly Hills Book Awards Finalist for his novel.

“I saw this as a great opportunity to inspire our young people – and some older ones – with the energy, focus and success of this young man,” Jones said. “The art he’s creating in the form of music, literature and spoken word was simply too cool and innovative not to share with Delray Beach.”

R.J. Tolson was convinced to return to Delray Beach for another visit, so look for him soon…

Pictured are (l-r) Nolan Kabrich, R.J.’s personal assistant; Eddie Alex Jones, a member of the audience; Vanessa Jean Baptiste, a member of the audience; and R.J. Tolson.

New Times Shows Spady’s New Show Some Love

New Times Shows Spady’s New Show Some Love

Reporter Falyn Freyman did more than preview the new exhibit at the museum, “The Legacies of Delray Beach Families.” She explained clearly how the Spady Museum came to be, the important role that Solomon Spady played in the community and why cultural venues like this need to be supported early and often. Great job, Falyn! Thank you.

A Work in Progress: The next exhibit at the Spady Museum

Photographer Michiko Kurisu takes pictures of the descendants of Jerry Spells at the House of God.

There were babies and elders and toddlers and adults and women and girls and men and boys and …. one photographer in the middle of the chaos, systematically taking their pictures one by one or in small groups.

This was not Olan Mills or the place in the mall or even a family reunion. It was a photo shoot for an upcoming exhibit at the Spady Museum, and it’s a work in progress.

On this particular day, it was several works in progress, as Delray Beach photographer Michiko Kurisu captured in digital memory each member of the Spells family, as they waited patiently. More than 50 members of the large family showed up to have a group photo taken. They represented one of the pioneers of Delray Beach, Jerry Spells, who came to Delray Beach in 1924 as a seasonal worker and stayed to build churches. His descendants still reside in the city and have multiplied into many branches off the family tree.

The Spells, Mitchells, Edmonds and Quinces will be part of the first photographic exhibit on the founding black families of Delray Beach. The show is set to open in April/May, as a first-time venture of the Spady Museum. It will be a wholly original exhibit, photographed by Michiko and documented by Michelle Brown of Kaliah Communications, Inc.

But first the photos must be taken. And so the photographer and her aide slowly make their way through the boys and girls and babies and elders and adults waiting patiently in the House of God church on a Saturday afternoon for this work in progress.

Reaching for the new … at Kevro’s Art Bar

Kevin “Kevro” Rouse (far left) joins supporters to present Charlene Jones of the Spady Museum with a check for museum programs and activities.

On March 24, the Spady Museum was the grateful benefactor of an outpouring of support and friendship from the owners and patrons of Kevro’s Art Bar, a bohemian hang-out/artistic showcase/music bar in downtown Delray Beach. A beloved spot for its regulars who love live music, outside patio seating and ping-pong tables, Kevro’s is the creation of Kevin “Kevro” Rouse and Deb Sullivan. The Spady Museum Singer/Songwriter Showcase was a first-time partnership that culminated in a great night of music and friendship.

As stated on their website, “Kevro’s Art Bar arose from the ruins of South Side blight. Fueled by dreams and hard work, artists Rouse and Sullivan revitalized a downtown commercial property to create an authentic, intimate and creative compound. It’s a full liquor bar, but it’s not just a bar; it’s an art space, but it’s not just a gallery; it’s a studio, but it’s not just a place; it’s your place, an oasis in a world gone mad.”

Musicians Stephen Minotti, Brian J. Cline and Pearl Pop took the stage to entertain the crowds, while friends bid on silent auction items and enjoyed the music.  Hosts Steve Martel and Max DuBose brought a long list of sponsors to the event, all out of love for the museum and its cause. It was a fantastic night that we hope to repeat again soon.

A very special thank you to all who came out and joined us, supported us, sang along and showed us love. 

Kevro’s Art Bar Rocks!

A blast from the past made this exhibit happen…

When Brandy Brownlee worked at the Spady Museum as its museum educator, her energy and influence were unmistakable. She brought a level of friendliness and warmth to every person who entered, and her laughter and sing-song voice echoed through the building. When she left, not only did she take her infectious attitude, but she also took her knowledge and expertise in art history and presentation.

Of course, she left to have her baby boy, so we were happy for her… but that experience can only be channeled into play dates and Sesame Street for so long.

When you come to visit the new “Local Treasures of African-American History” now on display at the Spady Museum, you’ll see Brandy’s return in every piece. She curated the show, which originated from the museum’s archives of donations and gifts, which she also helped to organize and manage. The masks, sculptures, dolls and shields of the exhibit were selected and displayed according to Brandy’s vision, and reflect the travels and contributions of Delray Beach’s globally influenced citizenry.

Shows such as these illustrate the treasures that are inherent to Delray Beach and the appreciation our residents have for the history and culture of Africa. “Local Treasures of African-American History” also illustrates the talent of our staff, so please come take in the beauty of Africa and the gifts of Brandy Brownlee.

We’re so glad she decided to come back one more time!

THANK YOU, FPL!!

Florida Power & Light people don’t play around.

They show up ready and don’t waste time. Yes, they are a friendly lot, joking and laughing. But when plants need removing, mulch needs laying and weeds need pulling, they are a focused and dedicated group of individuals, working with the utmost efficiency and speed.

That’s why when they arrived at 8 a.m.  on March 9 for their “Power to Care” volunteer effort at the Spady Museum, things started on time and ended a scant two hours later. FPL employees, sporting lime green T-shirts and safety gear, transformed the Spady Museum complex into a freshened, manicured space, replete with new shrubs and plantings from the Delray Beach Plant Center.

FPL Area Manager of Corporate External Affairs Ethel Williams kicked off the effort with introductions of Spady Museum staff and leaders – Vera Farrington, Charlene Jones and Michael Brady – then safety goggles and leather gloves  were pulled on, and dirt started flying. Old shrubs and bushes were bagged up and replaced with new plants and fresh mulch, placed around the museum and the Williams Cottage. Everything was watered, swept and neatly put away. Santa’s elves have competition!

FPL has been a supportive partner to the museum and a premier sponsor of the “Ride & Remember” Trolley Tour. The relationship has yielded a continuing collaboration, which led to the “Power to Care” event. A group of about 20 employees and their family members donated their time, elbow grease and ideas to making the Spady Museum more attractive and alive with natural beauty – and for that we say “THANK YOU, FPL!” from the bottom of our museum hearts.

 

 

 

Welcome Dr. White!

Expanding & Preserving Our Cultural Heritage, Inc. (EPOCH) is proud to announce the addition of Derrick E. White to its Board of Directors. EPOCH owns and manages the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, 170 NW Fifth Avenue.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Derrick White to our board,” said Board President Vera Farrington. “His research and connections to our area’s public university will be a real benefit to the programs and archive development of the museum.”

White is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Florida Atlantic University.  He is the author of The Challenge of Blackness: The Institute of the Black World and Political Activism in the 1970s. He is a scholar of modern Black history, sports history and intellectual history. He received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2004, and is co-editor of the forthcoming Civil Rights and the Presidency from Nixon to Obama (2013). White is currently working on Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The Rise and Fall of Florida A. & M. Black College Football Dynasty, which would be the among the first scholarly analysis of Black college football. He has published articles in the Journal of African American History, the C.L.R. James Journal, the Journal of African American Studies and the Florida Historical Quarterly.

Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Derrick White earned his Ph.D. in history from The Ohio State University in 2004. He was a dissertation fellow at the University of California-Santa Barbara Black Studies Department and was awarded the inaugural Julian Pleasants Visiting Scholar Grant at the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida. 

A trip through time … for Black History Month

When riders climb aboard the “Ride & Remember” Trolley Tour, Charlene Jones tries to give them an experience they’ve never had before.

“So much of Delray Beach’s history is wrapped up in the personalities,” she said. “Of course, you can see the buildings, the landmarks and the things they left behind, but who they were and what was important to them is not always obvious.”

From the air-conditioned trolley bus, she narrates the history behind the districts that comprise the different areas of the city. For Black History Month, a special emphasis will be placed on the West Settlers’ District, where several descendants of the pioneering families of Delray Beach still reside today.

The West Settlers’ District was home to the bustling, vibrant community of citizens from the Caribbean and Jamaican islands and where the children of African-Americans and Native Americans came to stake their claim in South Florida. From their roots grew educators, entertainers, law enforcement officers, government officials, civil rights leaders, farmers and other professionals who helped mold the racially diverse city.

A descendant of a pioneering family herself, Charlene knows their stories well, and relays them with humor and a personal touch that allows tour riders to connect with people they will never meet. 

“Some of the most interesting and compelling tales come from the neighborhoods that people ride past every day and never think about,” she said. “It’s along these roads and in these communities that history was also made, and we want to share their stories in the most authentic and memorable way possible.”

Celebrate Black History Month on the tour with her; book your seat now: Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m.

 

Martin Luther King Inspires $7,000+ in Giving to Spady

Our Annual MLK Breakfast was fantastic and we owe it all to you! Thank you.

A little more than 200 old and new friends came out to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we think he would have been proud of us. The fundraising event cleared (after expenses) more than $7,000 to support the Spady Museum’s programs.

 

You are so great.

 

Following is an article that appeared in the Sun-Sentinel yesterday, in case you haven’t seen it.

From an early-morning breakfast at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum to a memorial march, Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations throughout the city were well attended, showing that the message of the civil rights icon continues to resonate with Delray Beach residents.

The Spady Museum’s 13th annual MLK breakfast took place at Delray Beach Golf Club, 2200 Highland Ave. It was attended by 250 people, including city officials, religious leaders and business professionals.

Dr. Art Evans, a sociology professor at Florida Atlantic University, spoke about King’s legacy and how his faith influenced his work.

“One of the things that Dr. King knew was that religion provides a foundation,” Evans said. “Without a foundation, we wouldn’t be here today. And without religion, there would have been no civil rights movement.”

Oratory contest winner Zykra Carter, a student at Village Academy, received a standing ovation for her remarks about King.

“If Dr. King were alive today, I believe that he would be involved in many things,” Carter said. “He would probably be the most important black man in the United States. Dr. King would probably be involved in politics. From my point of view, he would be a leader of his church.

“He would probably be president and help to stop violence and black-on-black killings.”

Spady Museum Director Charlene Jones hosted the event, which took place on the same day that President Obama was inaugurated for his second term.

Vice Mayor Angeleta Gray spoke at the breakfast about social justice.

“Dr. King fought segregation,” Gray said. “He expressed that all life is interrelated. What King was trying to express was that we are all in this life together and that each of us can only reach our full potential if we truly recognize our interdependence on one another.”

Joseph Bernadel, chief executive officer of Toussaint L’Overture High School, 301 SW 14th Ave., spoke about the importance of education.

Later in the day, a crowd of more than 300 people walked in the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial March from the Delray Beach Community Center to Pompey Park. The participants braved rain and unseasonably hot temperatures as they marched down West Atlantic Avenue escorted by a Delray Beach Police Department motorcycle patrol.