FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County Historical Museum exhibit featuring Fort Pierce's most famous author, Zora Neale Hurston, will be on display until April 27. The exhibit features the art work of local artist Ade Rossman through a series of paintings that highlight the dynamic life of Zora Neale Hurston. The eight paintings showcase the many people and places that helped Hurston become one of the world's greatest African-American woman writers. Also on display are the four stained-glass mosaics created by local artist's Anita Prentice that also celebrate Hurston's colorful life.

Since this year's Zora Fest focused on the Harlem Renaissance years, the exhibit also features scenes from Harlem circa the 1920s when many black artists were recognized for their incredible works. Brenda Cooper, the art director for the "Zora, The Documentary," assisted in recreating the Harlem scene as well as a scene of Hurston's writing room when she lived in Brevard County. The Dust Tracks Heritage Trail posters are also available for viewing so guests have the opportunity to see the local spots where Hurston frequented when she lived in Fort Pierce in the late 1950s.

Held in conjunction with the April Zora Fest, scholars and authors that have published books on Hurston were able to see the exhibit and were excited with the work St. Lucie County has done to honor the author. Cultural Affairs Director Jody Bonet was thrilled to see the positive response from Valerie Boyd and Dr. Deborah Plant and to have them sign our guest book at the Historical Museum.

"It is exciting to see that this exhibit has expanded our reach to attract people from outside the community to visit our Museum," said Bonet.

In September, St. Lucie County will find out if a National Endowment for the Humanities grant will be awarded to further expand the exhibit into a traveling exhibit so that more people have the opportunity to learn how this one woman was able to accomplish her dreams and live up to her mother's words: "to jump at de sun."

The exhibit will still be on display until April 27 at St. Lucie County Historical Museum, 414 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce in Museum Pointe Park. The museum currently features 16 permanent exhibits of local heritage, as well as the 1908 Gardner House. Regular Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 4 p.m. with a modest admission price.

For more information please contact the St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council at (772) 462-1767.

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