Headline Surfer photo illustration /Water/Ways will be on view in the African American Museum and Cultural CenterFounders Gallery, 4422 N. US Hwy 1, Palm Coast, from July 9th through Sept. 3, 2022, free of charge.
By SERA KING / Headline Surfer
PALM COAST, Fla. -- The African American Museum and Cultural Center of Florida, in partnership with the Florida Humanities, will examine water as an environmental necessity and just as an important as a cultural element as it presents the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program throughout the summer in the Museum’s Founders Gallery, starting July 3 and running through Sept. 3.
The Museum here was expressly chosen by the Florida Humanities as part of the Smithsonian's national, state, and local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to museums and cultural organizations in rural locations across the nation. Support for MoMS is provided by the U.S Congress.
“It is an honor for the AACS museum and cultural center to have been chosen as one of seven locations out of over 300 who competed, to bring Water/ Ways to our region," said Sybil Dodson-Lucas, director of curatorial affairs.“We look forward to welcoming local and out-of-town students, families, and community members to learn about the importance and significance of water.”
From above, Earth appears as a water planet with more than 71 percent of its surface covered with this vital resource for life.
Water impacts our climate, agriculture, transportation, industry, and more, Dodson-Lucas noted.
It also inspires art and music and explores the endless motion of the water cycle, water’s effect on the landscape, settlement and migration, and its impact on culture and spirituality. It looks at how political and economic planning have long been affected by access to water and control of water resources, and how human creativity and resourcefulness provide new ways of protecting water resources and renewing respect for the natural environment.
In essence, the exhibit showcases the numerous connections humans have to water that are overlooked. Others involved in the summer program agree.
“Water is an important part of everyone’s life and we are excited to explore what it means in our community,” said Meshella Woods, local museum curator. “Palm Coast was recently recognized on a national basis as being “Most Water Wise.”
“Water is an important part of everyone’s life and we are excited to explore what it means in our community,” said Meshella Woods, local museum curator. “Palm Coast was recently recognized on a national basis as being “Most Water Wise.”
"With this exhibit," Woods added, "We hope to promote a positive dialogue about water that results in continued conservation actions throughout our communities. As a complement to the Smithsonian exhibition, we have created a local artist exhibition and presentations that will also contribute to a greater understanding of water in cultural, social, and spiritual contexts."
For a detailed exhibition description, tour/speaker schedule, special events, and how to obtain free tickets, please visit aacsmuseum.org/waterways.
About the Byline Writer: Sera King is associate publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet in Lake Mary, FL serving greater Orlando, Sanford, and Daytona Beach via HeadlineSurfer.com since 2008. She's also a byline writer (business, community & sports features), a videographer, and a cartoonist for the media outlet. King received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Metro Orlando Campus of Ana G. Mendez University in 2008. Headline Surfer is published by Henry Frederick, Central Florida's award-winning journalist.