(RE)FRAMING FLORIDA: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
As a popular tourist destination, the Sunshine State is often defined by outsiders – temporary visitors who have a limited view of the state as a whole. Often these preconceived notions are riddled with stereotypes and generalizations which can be destructive to our state’s reputation. Florida is famous for its fun-in-the-sun vacation destinations, amusement parks, and plentiful sandy beaches. On the other hand, the Sunshine State is also notorious for less appealing reasons such as high-profile crimes, devastating hurricanes, humorous and often bizarre “Florida Man” headlines due to open public records, and political controversy such as the “hanging chad” debacle of the 2000 Presidential election. Like it or not, Florida is all of those things … and more.
The southernmost state is multifaceted and complex – at once a tropical oasis for beachgoers as well as farmland with a robust history of agriculture; the metropolitan urban sprawl of Orlando and Miami contrasted with the marshy wetland of the Everglades. Florida’s residents are as varied as the land; the state is home to retirees, northern transplants, immigrants, migrant workers, indigenous peoples, veterans, college students, vacationers, snow-birds, and those whose families have lived here for generations. In this way, this exhibition aims to reflect this diversity and celebrate the state in all of its complexity.
(Re)Framing Florida examines the rich and varied views of the Sunshine State. Spanning across disciplines and time periods, the images captured by notable photographers such as Gordon Parks, Alex Webb, and Elaine Ling alongside Florida natives Karen Glaser, Lee Dunkel, Rick Lang, and Eric Breitenbach aim to showcase the breadth of the land and the people who inhabit it.
The exhibition also includes a selection of historic photographs from as early as 1885 taken by Volusia county photographers E. G. Harris and R. H. LeSesne. These images capture a sense of a by-gone era and encapsulate early life in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond and Holly Hill at the turn of the century. This collection includes snapshots of smiling beachgoers dressed in full length Edwardian frocks and large decorative hats; views of Beach Street travelled by horse and buggy; images of the legendary freeze of 1899 and the 1896 Seaside Inn fire; and scenes of very early car racing on the beach, among many others. These rarely displayed vintage photographs present an intricate tapestry highlighting local history.
(Re)Framing Florida invites you to consider your own perception of the state – as a visitor or a Florida native – and think critically about the positive or negative connotations you may have about it. This exhibition hopes to broaden your viewpoint and leave you with a richer appreciation for the Sunshine State and its people.