History Fort Lauderdale has strived for years to cultivate a diverse range of exhibitions that reflect and honor the numerous cultural backgrounds of artists who live in Fort Lauderdale. With that, the historical museum has brought back its annual exhibition, VIVA Fort Lauderdale, which is currently on display through October 19.
“This will be our fourth year doing VIVA Fort Lauderdale, and each year I’ve kept trying to build on what we’ve done in the previous years,” says Ellery Andrews, deputy director of History Fort Lauderdale. “But what makes this exhibition exciting is that all of the artists are so different from each other. So, it’s always a very dynamic and bold exhibit that everyone enjoys.”
This year’s multicultural artist showcase, which coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month, features artwork from five different award-winning Latin American artists-in-residence and aims to highlight the wide breadth of talent in the local Latin artistic community.
Lifrancis Rojas, a featured artist from Venezuela, feels lucky to be able to showcase her art alongside her fellow Latin artists and friends.
“I’ve done several Hispanic Heritage Month exhibits, but something that makes this one special is this group of artists,” Rojas says. “We all have in common that we work with mixed media. But each one of us has our own voice and style that comes through in our work. So, I am proud to be showcasing my work alongside theirs because I admire each of them, and I feel that the respect for each other and that admiration is mutual.”
Rojas is known for her texturized paintings that create a three-dimensional effect as well as works with a mesmerizing sense of movement. Her fellow featured artist María Garcés Luzuriaga, who is from Argentina, had a significant impact on Rojas’s style and what it is today.
“I didn’t go to art school. But I’ve been painting since I was a child, and I’ve taken art classes all my life. María has been painting for more than 30 years, and she was my teacher. So, it’s extra special for me to be able to have my art featured alongside hers in this exhibition,” says Rojas.
As for other artists in the show, like Isabel Perez Salazar, exhibiting her work alongside artists who inspire her pushed her to create new pieces to showcase in the exhibition.
“I feel very proud to show what I learned throughout my career as an artist, but it’s exhibitions like this one that pushed me out of my comfort zone and to create two new works for this show,” says Salazar.
Salazar’s work also features mixed media, but she uses her background in working with stained glass and wood carving to create her unique pieces of art. Her pieces feature materials like ipaint and resin, and even stitching materials like silk directly onto the canvas, which create a kaleidoscope effect of colors and textures.
The exhibit also features art from Colombian artist Oscar Montoya and Spanish artist Florencia Clement de Grandprey. Montoya is known for his evocative approach to the classic medium of oil painting, with each painting expressing a sense of nostalgia and depth of emotion. Clement de Grandprey has made a name for herself by creating larger-than-life portraits using intricately painted details on area rugs.
VIVA Fort Lauderdale not only gives this group of talented artists a chance to showcase their vivid and diverse artwork, but the exhibition also offers viewers a chance to connect with a different community of artists like never before, said Andrews.
“I want our visitors to value our local artists, and I truly believe that getting to see these types of exhibits enhances everybody’s life in general. But also, it’s a learning experience and something you don’t necessarily see in your day-to-day life, and therefore, it adds a little bit more of something special to the life of everyone who visits,” she says.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: VIVA Fort Lauderdale Exhibition
WHERE: History Fort Lauderdale, 231 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday through Saturday. Through Oct. 19.
TICKETS: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $7 for students. Free for members, military, and children ages six and under.
INFORMATION: (954) 463-4431 or historyfortlauderdale.org
