Page 10 - Boca Exposure - January '23

Page 10, Boca Exposure
‘Reginald Cunningham: Black Pearls’ Photo Exhibit

At Boca Museum Of Art Through Jan. 22

The Boca Raton Museum of Art Coming in February: museum’s major renovations to the collection galleries, with
is in the final week of its exhibition, The U.S. premiere of support from Pat and Nick Ohnell and the Stein Foundation.
Reginald Cunningham: Black Whitfield Lovell: Passages The new installation spans the entire second floor of the
Pearls, the first-ever museum (Feb. 15 to May 21) The museum, across 8,000 square feet, and was conceived
exhibition of Cunningham’s six-city tour of this major by Kathleen Goncharov, senior curator. The dominating
work, curated by Kelli Bodle, exhibition kicks off at principle for these new collection galleries is the quality
assistant curator. The museum has the Boca Raton Museum of the objects and the way they are installed: creating new
commissioned Cunningham for of Art, organized by the connections between works of art in a variety of media,
this new series of photographs to American Federation of from diverse cultures and across centuries. The museum’s
honor the nearby historically Black Arts in collaboration with collections of African Art and Art of the Americas, a gift
neighborhood of Pearl City, celebrated as one of the earliest and Whitfield Lovel. The most from David and Jean Colker, have been repositioned to
longest lasting African American neighborhoods in Florida. “The comprehensive exhibition to date of the contemporary better give visitors opportunities to see cultural links and
Pearl City residents are our museum’s closest neighbors, located artist’s masterful conté crayon drawings, assemblages, and compelling aesthetic connections between art from the
only two blocks away, and we want to celebrate our neighbors multi-sensory installations that focus on aspects of African- distant past and the work of contemporary artists. This
with this exhibition,” says Irvin Lippman, the executive director American history while raising universal questions about mix of cultures, media, and centuries, with unexpected
of the Boca Raton Museum of Art. identity, memory, and America’s collective heritage. juxtapositions, offers a fresh look at the continuum
Cunningham is a photographer and influencer whose work Major renovations of the museum’s collection galleries, of artmaking. The museum’s newly renovated Ohnell
focuses on urban style and portraiture. His editorial/activist the Ohnell Sculpture Garden, and recent acquisitions Sculpture Garden and the Mary Ann and Harold E. Perper
lens, and his images of concerts, fashion icons, performers premiering this season: Premiering this new season are the Courtyard also debut this season.
and thought leaders, are at the forefront of contemporary
trying to create affinity for and uplift Black people and the Council Corner
photography. “Through the lens of my photography I’m always
Black experience in this country,” says Cunningham. “Being
commissioned by the Boca Raton Museum of Art to photograph By Fran Nachlas, who was forward to continuing to keep our city safe, supporting
the residents and cultural emblems of Pearl City – one of the appointed to the Council to our local business community, and attracting innovative
South’s most beloved and enduring Black districts – is an replace Andy Thomson when and exciting new partnerships that can provide economic,
amazing experience.” During the 2020 history-making marches he retired from the Council to cultural and social progress.
and protests, Cunningham was selected to photograph the cover run for statewide office. In It was a special experience to be sworn in shortly before
of British Vogue’s special issue titled Activism Now: the Faces March, Nachlas will be re- the opening of our new Boca Raton Brightline Station
of Hope. Featuring a portrait he took of his wife, the prominent elected without opposition to last month. I appreciate the vision Mayor Scott Singer
activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham, the headline-grabbing a term on the Council in her had to bring this game-changing transportation platform
magazine cover was heralded as a consequential power-couple own name. to our community, and applaud the entire city council,
move. The pair first met in 2014 at a Black Lives Matter protest Ha p p y Ne w Ye a r staff and the Brightline team for the hard work they put
a few blocks from Cunningham’s family home in St. Louis. everyone! I am excited and in to make this happen. Also, Nathan and I were delighted
They are currently based in D.C. humbled to be your new Boca to attend the opening of the beautiful Harbor Place and
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated Raton City Council Member for Seat A. I have been a proud renovated Tower at The Boca Raton during the holidays.
catalog, featuring an essay about the artist by Dr. Imani M. Boca Raton resident for most of my life, and serving you in The work there proves history and progress can co-exist
Cheers, associate professor of digital storytelling at The city hall is the honor of a lifetime. in a remarkable way.
George Washington University. The catalog also includes I graduated from Atlantic Community High School and I look ahead to all the exciting Boca happenings
a historical essay by Dr. Candace Cunningham, assistant the University of Florida, earning my Bachelor of Science and hope to see everyone out and about. Boca Raton
professor of history at Florida Atlantic University. This is the in Nursing. I worked as a surgical nurse in Boca Raton for has everything from world-class beaches, beautiful
first time a museum has presented a solo exhibition of Reginald almost 30 years before retiring in 2021, and I’ve also held my parks, new pickleball courts, The Boca Museum of Art,
Cunningham’s work. He personally interviewed each of his Florida real estate license for 22 years. I have served on my excellent restaurants, fantastic musical options, theater
subjects thoroughly before their portrait sittings. Cunningham homeowner’s association board for over a decade, including performances and magnificent sunrises. A few upcoming
has also captured the physical and ephemeral elements that four years as president. Through the years, I actively volunteered events include Food Truck Friday’s return to Wildflower
make up the community, preserving the stories of generations. at all of our children’s schools and for many local nonprofit Park on Feb. 3. I also look forward to the Festival of the
These works by Cunningham have now entered the organizations because my husband, Nathan, a local physician, Arts and many exciting author and concert events March
museum’s collection. This is most definitely a project born in the and I believe in giving back and helping others however we can. 3 to 12.
community, that serves to create a record for future generations,” We raised our four children here in Boca, and we look forward Thank you for making Boca Raton so wonderful and
adds Lippman. Founded in 1915, Pearl City predated the to welcoming our first grandchild in February. allowing me to serve. Please reach out to me at fnachlas@
incorporation of the surrounding City of Boca Raton by a decade. Moving Boca Raton forward while respecting our myboca.us with questions or concerns.
“This is one of south Florida’s oldest neighborhoods, and the only history and protecting our quality of life is essential. I look I wish everyone a joyous, happy and healthy 2023!
historically Black community in Boca Raton,” says Cunningham.
“More than a century ago, a land auction was held and African-
Americans purchased 30 lots that day to create Pearl City. Yet, Everyone deserves a doctor who they
as was often the case in the segregated south, their opportunities
paled in comparison to those presented to white Americans, who trust and like. One who listens and
also purchased land at two other Boca Raton land auctions that
day and they got larger lots for less money. Rooted in Pearl City’s takes their time to answer questions
creation were socioeconomic disparities its residents continue to
fight today. Those disparities pushed African-Americans out of and address concerns. A doctor who is
Georgia and the Carolinas and pulled them into southern Florida.
It was by no means the land of opportunity for Blacks, but it did available when you need them most.
offer more options than they were finding elsewhere during that
time in history,” she adds.
Decades later, the descendants of those Pearl City pioneers
found it necessary to protect the community their ancestors built. I provide proactive, preventive, wellness & sick care to
As the city grew, Pearl City’s location became more appealing adult patients at my concierge medical practice.
to encroaching real estate developers who wanted to rezone the
area for commercial use. Thanks to the work of the Developing
Interracial Social Change organization, and to many other To discuss your health needs, and my care model, you
community activists, this museum project is part of a larger
effort to advocate for the designation of Pearl City as a State of are invited to a complimentary meet and greet with
Florida Historic District. me - by video, phone or, when the pandemic permits,
This exhibition also features the oral histories of both
current-day Pearl City residents and the children of the original in-person at my practice.
settlers who have moved to other cities. Visitors to the museum
may hear the stories in the subjects’ own words via audio and Please call 561.368.0191 to schedule your meet and
transcribed video of the interviews. Interest in Pearl City has
blossomed, and residents celebrate their community’s honored greet with me. I look forward to meeting you.
past. In recognizing their own histories, they see a connection to
the broader struggle for equal rights. To many of these residents, Steven E. Reznick, MD, FACP
holding on to their land is almost sacred. When it comes to this Recognized as a “Best Doc”. Practicing in our community since 1979.
community’s connection to its history, it is clear that some things
simply are not for sale.
Additional Exhibits At The Museum 7280 W. Palmetto Park Road | Suite 205N | Boca Raton | 33433
Currently on view, on the entire first floor: The ww.BocaConciergeDoc.com
monumental world premiere of Art of the Hollywood
Backdrop (through Jan. 22).