Exhibit Celebrates Boca Centennial

Sonia Giusto - Tropical Pineapple

(Press Release) January 6, 2024 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) -- An exhibition of artwork reflecting the past, present and future of Boca Raton will soon be on display at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County’s main gallery in downtown Lake Worth Beach.

The free public exhibition Reflections of a Century: Celebrating Boca Raton’s 100 Years through Art will take place January 31 through March 29 and will feature the work of 13 Palm Beach County-based professional artists. The exhibition will feature a diverse range of works by Bob Birkenes, Margot Carr, Jennifer Fisher, Cloe Gibson, Sonia Giusto, Marilyn Liedman, Jeanne Martin, Ralph Papa, Maxine Schreiber, Serge Strosberg, Ted Shaine, Herm Siegel and Robin Zygelman.

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Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of The Palm Beaches’ southernmost city, the Cultural Council will present both historical images of Boca Raton and contemporary works by artists who pay homage to the themes of architecture, culture and the city’s residents, while also looking to the future as the famous resort destination continues to evolve.

“This exhibition will provide a museum-quality juxtaposition between the past and the present: both a look back and a look forward,” said Jessica Ransom, the Cultural Council’s director of artist services and curator of the exhibition. “We’re excited to celebrate a century of Boca Raton in an innovative way.”

Interspersed with the exhibition’s contemporary works will be historic photographs and paintings created by artists who once lived in the county. On loan from the Boca Raton Historical Society, the historic images and pieces will feature key elements that shaped Boca Raton’s history, including its iconic architecture by Addison Mizner; the Yamato Colony of Japanese farmers who settled in the area early in the 20th century; and Pearl City, a historic African American neighborhood and the oldest community in Boca Raton.

“Most people think of Boca Raton as the beautiful and desirable city it is today. But how did it get there? The historical elements of this exhibition will offer a look back at a tiny Florida East Coast Railway farm town that became an overnight national sensation because of visionary architect Addison Mizner,” said Susan Gillis, curator of the Boca Raton Historical Society. “Even though the bust of the land boom ended many of Mizner’s plans for the ‘world’s greatest resort community,’ here we are 100 years later -- and those dreams have all been realized.”

As the local arts agency for The Palm Beaches, the Cultural Council champions the work of Palm Beach County-based artists. This exhibition provides the opportunity to showcase the work of artists both past and present, while also celebrating the city’s vibrant arts scene and history, said Dave Lawrence, the Cultural Council’s president and CEO.

“Boca Raton is such a special place. We’d like to invite everyone to come to our exhibition and celebrate 100 years of artists documenting and creating work about Boca Raton,” he said. “The exhibition provides a journey through a century of history and present-day contemporary work and honors the beauty, the culture, and the importance of this slice of paradise in Palm Beach County. It’s an exhibition not to be missed.”

The exhibition will take place in the Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building at 601 Lake Avenue in Lake Worth Beach. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The council will host an opening reception on Thursday, January 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Artists from the exhibition will be present to answer questions and discuss their work. Visit palmbeachculture.com for more information or to register for the opening reception.

On February 1 at 2 p.m., an exhibition extension about the history of Boca Raton will take place at the Cultural Council, featuring a presentation by Susan Gillis, curator of the Boca Raton Historical Society.
Reflections of a Century: Celebrating Boca Raton’s 100 Years through Art is sponsored by Florida Weekly, Boca magazine, WLRN Public Media and Legends Radio 100.3 FM.