Events: June 18, 2025

The 2025 "Take PRIDE!" honorees who have made significant contributions to the South Florida community are: Steve Glassman, City of Fort Lauderdale District 2 Commissioner; the Honorable Robert Lee retired judge; Scott Holland, vice president of operations and associate publisher of HotSpots! magazine and Happening Out Network; Michael Berry, complex general manager at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort; FayWhat?! Albernas, of The FayWhat?! Show on the Happening Out Television Network; Velvet Lenore, entertainer and philanthropist; T.P. Lords, entertainer and choreographer; Tony Lima, CEO and executive director, SunServe; Franchesca D'Amore, founding president and executive director of TransEd and Ed Hashek, arts advocate and philanthropist.

The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort "Take PRIDE!" 2025 exhibit will feature photos and ephemera from Zorita's World, the life and career of famed burlesque dancer and icon Zorita, as well as her same-sex relationships and networks of friends. The performer and entrepreneur pushed boundaries in Miami and beyond in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s - a time when so much of what she did was often controversial and illegal. Today, perhaps more than ever, her legacy and influence offer important lessons on the power of individuals in shaping history and making necessary waves towards progress. The exhibit is curated by Julio Capo, Jr., Ph.D., an author and associate professor of history at Florida International University.

Additional contributors to this year's reception and exhibit are Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library and Florida International University. Capó curated a different exhibition on Zorita's life in 2024 for Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library.

The exhibition, located near Swarovski, between Macy's and Dillard's, will be free and open to the public during mall hours.

History Fort Lauderdale's "Take PRIDE!" is sponsored by co-presenter Galleria Fort Lauderdale and title sponsor The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, The Our Fund Foundation, HotSpots Media Group/Happening Out Television Network and GPR | Goodman Public Relations. Additional funding is provided in part by Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward County Cultural Council and Visit Lauderdale - Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Tickets for the June 18 "Take PRIDE!" reception are $50 and are available at www.historyfortlauderdale.org. Guests will enjoy a preview of the exhibit, special performances, an open bar, and light bites courtesy of Dom Caruso's, Seasons 52 and P.F. Chang's.

History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community's past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, hosts a variety of engaging multicultural experiences, year-round. It seeks to bring awareness to the community through both traveling exhibits and multiple permanent exhibits including "Women Trailblazers," "Fort Lauderdale - the Early Years," "Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward," "Fashion & Musical Theatre," "From Dugouts to Dream Yachts: the story of boatbuilding along the New River," Seminole Arts & Culture," "New River Archaeology" and "Viva Fort Lauderdale: Celebrating Hispanic Art & Culture."

For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call (954) 463-4431 or visit website. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory, on Instagram @ftlhistory and on Twitter @FTLHistory. Subscribe to us on YouTube at youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.

Smith’s work traverses a spectrum of influences—from a childhood imbued with mystical and spiritual healing to ancient pictographs—creating a tapestry of personal and collective memory. Iconography derived from biology texts, diagrams, and Cold War spy manuals coexist in his compositions, offering not only a visual feast but also an energetic, intellectual dialogue.

At MOCA, the exhibition traces Smith’s artistic evolution. Early works from the Pictures era showcase his ambitiously-scaled drawings based on found images forming enigmatic, puzzle-like compositions. Another section, “Black Paintings,” draws from his studies of ancient cultures and mystery schools, and then into “Modern Paintings,” which overlay linear patterns with abstract geometries inspired by mid-century painters like Barnett Newman, Mark Tobey, and Jasper Johns.

The latter half of Smith’s career is represented through“ Color Paintings”, which feature crisp graphic imagery carved into bold, monochromatic fields, and “White Paintings” works, where erasures evoke both disappearance and emergence.

The exhibition culminates in Smith’s newest series, “Energy Paintings,” in which monumental canvases are uniquely activated with gestural and chromatic energy. These works synthesize elements from earlier series, radiating a fresh dynamism. Much like the earth’s magnetic field—generated by molten iron at its core and shielding the planet from harmful solar radiation—Smith’s “Energy Paintings” emit their own magnetism. Vibrant lines and cosmological symbols pulse across the canvases, drawing viewers into their powerful, protective embrace.

Philip Smith: Magnetic Fields will remain on view through October 5, 2025.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, a lush, historic oasis nestled in the heart of West Palm Beach, this exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience Katz's iconic art in a setting where natural beauty and artistic excellence converge. The Gardens, once the private residence of renowned sculptor Ann Norton, now serve as a cultural landmark dedicated to preserving her artistic legacy while hosting world-class exhibitions like ALEX KATZ: Portraits and Landscapes - Through the Seasons.

Renowned for his minimalist approach, Katz emerged during the 1950s as a counterpoint to the gestural dynamism of Abstract Expressionism. His signature style distills time and space into visually arresting compositions that balance flatness with emotional depth. Influenced by cinematic storytelling and the aesthetics of advertising, Katz's art transcends Pop Art conventions, emphasizing clarity, balance, and personal narrative. Recurring subjects, such as his muse Ada Katz, take center stage in works like Large Black Hat (Ada) and Ariel (B&W), exploring themes of identity and presence with striking simplicity.

The exhibition further delves into Katz's profound engagement with nature's rhythms. His Autumn and Spring series, with their abstracted depictions of leaves and budding branches, capture the ephemeral beauty of seasonal change. These works, alongside floral masterpieces such as Purple Irises on Red and Yellow Flags on White, underscore Katz's ability to merge fleeting natural beauty with the enduring precision of printmaking techniques.

As Katz approaches his centennial, this exhibition stands as a powerful testament to his continued influence on the art world. His reductive methodology transforms everyday moments into monumental visual essays, emphasizing elegance, simplicity, and human connection.

Sponder Gallery invites collectors, art enthusiasts, and the community to experience this remarkable exhibition at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. Immerse yourself in the poetic vision of Alex Katz while exploring the historical charm of the gardens, where art and nature exist in perfect harmony.

For further information, press inquiries, or to schedule a private viewing, please contact: Sponder Gallery at email or by calling. Visit website.