Emerson Center Presents Third Annual Florida Humanities Series
Acknowledging community interest in the continuation of its annual Humanities Series, the Emerson Center will present a new group of speakers for 2009-2010, again in partnership with the Florida Humanities Council. Wilmington Trust is the Presenting Sponsor and ABC Printing/Coastal Graphics is the Printing Sponsor of this third annual series.
Seven acclaimed speakers and performers will be presented between October 2009 and April 2010, with presentations relating to Florida and national history and issues. Admission to each is complimentary and all performances will begin at 7 p.m.
October is National Humanities Month, and on Sunday, October 18 the initial presentation will introduce
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass - A Meeting of Minds. Charles Everett Pace and George Frein portray these giants in recognition of the 200 th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and the 150 th anniversary of his election to the presidency. Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was born in slavery and later freed himself to become the abolition movement's most prominent and powerful orator. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was born in obscurity on the frontier. He came to national prominence during the famous Lincoln-(Stephen) Douglas debates. The two famous scholars met together three times. Each of the three meetings took place in the White House. Both Lincoln and Douglass brought to the meetings a personal history that included humble origins, powerful ambition, a great mind, a strong will, and incomparable eloquence.
Tellin' It Like It Is, featuring cracker cowboy poet/storyteller and Floridian Hank Mattson, will be presented on Thursday, December 3. Mattson uses his own works and those of turn-of-the-century punchers about the life and times of the many Florida folks who for over 400 years have been workin' cattle. He has performed at cowboy poetry gatherings from Florida to Utah. Holiday refreshments will follow.
The series continues on Thursday, January 7, 2010 with
Florida Dreams presented by Gary Mormino, PhD, historian.
Florida Dreams, the Emmy-winning PBS documentary, is based on Mormino's book about Florida History since WW11. Mormino holds the Frank E. Duckwall Professorship in Florida history at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. He directs the Florida Studies Program. The Florida Humanities Council named him Humanist of the Year in 2003. His latest book, "Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams", was published in 2005. He is presently working on two projects, a study of Florida and World War II, and a book weaving a history of food and culture in Florida.
During Black History Month, audiences will be treated to something very
special. On Thursday, February 25, 2010, Myron Jackson, drummer and griot (storyteller), presents
Talking Drums, a combination ofthe history and sound of African drumming as it changed and spread from Africa to America.
In Their Own Words will be presented on Thursday, March 11, 2010 by Michael Jepson, PhD, marine anthropologist. Audiences will join Jepson as they explore, through the use of oral history and photo journalism, a documentary with stories of fishing families from Cortez and Cedar Key, and what is happening in their communities as a result of new regulations and development pressures. Jepson is the Program Director, Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Tampa, Florida and currently serves as Social Scientist with the Southeast Regional Office of NOAA Fisheries in St. Petersburg. He specializes in research on fishing communities and the social impacts of fishery policy.
Concluding the six-performance series on Thursday, April 8, 2010, is
From Hard Times to Hard Rock, with Seminole scholar Patsy West. Ms. West, Director of the Seminole/Miccosukee Photo Archive, will share history and stories of the Seminole Indian Tribe. Ms. West is a seasoned presenter with the Humanities Speakers Bureau and has published numerous pieces on the Seminoles through the University Press of Florida.
Preceding the 2008-2009 Humanities Series, the Emerson Center was awarded a three-year grant from the Florida Humanities Council (FHC) to present these overwhelmingly successful lectures. The Council is an independent, non-profit organization and is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Each year, FHC funds hundreds of public programs in the state that explore Florida's history, folklore, environment, literature, music, and art. Emerson is now in the second year of its FHC partnership grant.
For more information about FHC grants, contact Susan Lockwood, Grants Director, at (727) 873-2011 or email
slockwood@flahum.org.
The capacity of the Emerson Center is more than 800; free admission will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis, and no tickets are required. Reserved seating for season ticket holders of the Celebrated Speakers Series will be offered with prior telephone arrangements. The Emerson Center is handicapped accessible and is conveniently located at 1590 27th Avenue, on the SE corner of 16th Street and 27th Avenue in Vero Beach. For more information, contact 772-778-5249.