Orlando Arts Season Preview 2020-21: Museums & Learning

THREE TO SEE

A trio of education-based cultural highlights selected by Orlando Sentinel arts writer Matthew J. Palm.

A VISIT TO POMPEII: The ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, looms large in culture’s imagination. Once buried under 13 to 20 feet of volcanic ash, today the ruins remain a popular tourist spot in what is now Italy.

More than 100 artifacts from the doomed community are coming to the Orlando Science Center as part of “Pompeii: The Immortal City,” a touring exhibition making only three stops in the U.S. Displays, including artwork, jewelry, statues and architecture of Pompeii, will allow guests to contemplate the tragedy.

More ominously, the Science Center says that “spectacular immersive moments allow the visitor to experience the destruction of the city and to identify with the inhabitants of that time, immobilized by the volcano’s ashes.” How immersive are we talking?

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Central Florida Watercolor Society will display “Images of Pompeii” at the center. The University of Central Florida will host an online symposium, “Life and Death in Pompeii,” at noon Nov. 6 with historians of art, archaeology, classical languages and literature. Register at bit.ly/PompeiiSym.

“Pompeii: The Immortal City” was developed and produced by Tempora in collaboration with Civita and Filmmaster, based on scientific research by Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli and Museo Galileo Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza.

“Pompeii” tickets, available online only, are $26 for adults ($18 for ages 2-11) and also include access to the rest of the center. More information: osc.org/pompeii.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: As World War II recedes further into the past, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida is keeping alive the memory of what can happen when hatred and bigotry go unchecked. In an online discussion series, survivors of the Holocaust will share their stories.

As a child, Renee Kann Silver was separated from her little sister, but managed to reunite her family and with fake documents escape occupied France.

“I would not be here if not for the righteous Gentiles. These were people who did not hesitate for one second about what would happen to them if they were discovered hiding Jewish children,” says Silver. “Nobody had to tell them what to do; they were just human beings doing the right thing.”

Other speakers were helped by a Catholic cleric and Protestant pastors in these stories of resilience — and how individuals can change the lives of strangers in need.

To register for any of the talks, go to holocaustedu.org.

OCOEE MASSACRE REVISITED: Mose Norman went to vote in Ocoee on Election Day 1920. But white men turned the Black citizen away from the polls.

Later that evening, a mob looking for Norman came to the home of his friend, July Perry. Shooting ensued, Perry was captured and lynched, an unknown number of other Black citizens were murdered, and their homes and community were burned to the ground. Most of the black population of Ocoee fled, never to return.

In “Yesterday, This Was Home: The Ocoee Massacre of 1920,” which opens Oct. 3, the Orange County Regional History Center will look back at the largest incident of voting-day violence in the U.S. a century after the fact.

The exhibit will explore not only that horrific time in our community’s history but also look at historical and recent incidents of racism, hatred and terror. It also will consider the power of social transformation, the importance of voting and ask how history can inspire us to move forward.

The Orange County Regional History Center is at 65 E. Central Blvd. in Orlando. It’s open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 ($7 seniors, students and military; $6 children 5-12; free for children younger than 5). For more information, go to thehistorycenter.org or call 407-836-8500.

YOUR SEASON PLANNER

With the uncertainty of the coronavirus, planned events are more likely to change than usual. Always doublecheck closer to the date of an event, and use the websites and phone numbers listed with each organization to familiarize yourself with an event’s or institution’s COVID-19 precautions.

GILLSEPIE MUSEUM

Stetson University’s Gillespie Museum is at 234 E. Michigan Ave. in DeLand. For more information, go to stetson.edu/other/gillespie-museum or call 386-822-7330.

SCIENCE SATURDAY: MOSTLY GREEN HALLOWEEN: Oct. 31. The Gillespie Museum’s annual fall fair provides an outdoor showcase of hands-on activities and experiments demonstrating mysteries of the plant and animal worlds.

ALAN SONFIST EXHIBIT: March 2-31, 2021. The exhibit will include rock and soil core samples by Earth art-movement pioneer Alan Sonfist, known for his landmark “Time Landscape” sculpture in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL RESOURCE AND EDUCATION CENTER OF FLORIDA

All events are free and online. Registration is required to receive the online link to each event. For more information, go to holocaustedu.org.

STRATEGIES FOR ACTION: YOUR VOICE. YOUR POWER. YOUR VOTE: Sept. 30. A lunch-and-learn session hosted by the League of Women Voters.

IN MY OWN WORDS: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR RENEE KANN SILVER: Oct. 18. Silver shares her story of escaping from Nazi-occupied territory. (More information under “Three to See.”)

IN MY OWN WORDS: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR PETER FEIGL: Nov. 1. As German occupation spread in Western Europe in 1940, the Feigl family first fled to Belgium and then to France, where Peter was sent to live at a summer camp run by a charitable Catholic organization. During this time, his parents were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Feigl will share his harrowing story of escape and resiliency.

IN MY OWN WORDS: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DR. MORDECAI PALDIEL: Nov. 15. Paldiel, a leading scholar on the rescue of Jews during the Holocaust, will share his story. In September 1943, with the help of a Catholic cleric, the Paldiel family fled to Switzerland to evade the Nazis.

IN MY OWN WORDS: 3RD GENERATION OF A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR LAUREN MEYEROWITZ PORT: Dec. 6. Using her grandmother’s notes, other documents and oral testimony, Lauren Meyerowitz Port reconstructed the story of her grandmother, an Auschwitz survivor who died in 2009.

MAITLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The museum is at 221 W. Packwood St. in Maitland. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Details: 407-539-2181 or artandhistory.org.

GROWING UP MAITLAND: Through Feb. 14, 2021. How school, sports and play have changed during the last century for children growing up in Maitland

ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER

The history center has various ongoing exhibitions focused on Central Florida, including its first inhabitants, the cattle and citrus industries, African American life, aviation and tourism. The center is at 65 E. Central Blvd. in Orlando. Except for AdVOTEcacy in Action, the events below are online. All require registration. Details: thehistorycenter.org or 407-836-8500.

Special exhibit

YESTERDAY, THIS WAS HOME: THE OCOEE MASSACRE OF 1920: Oct. 3-Feb. 14, 2021. Looking at the Ocoee Massacre a century later. (More information under “Three to See.”)

Events

VIRTUAL 14TH ANNUAL JOHN YOUNG HISTORY MAKER CELEBRATION: Sept. 29. In an online celebration, the Historical Society of Central Florida will present the award, given to a Central Floridian whose lifetime of achievement has made a historic impact on the community. This year’s recipient: Sanford “Sandy” Shugart, longtime president of Valencia College.

ADVOTECACY IN ACTION: Oct. 3. A free event marking the opening of an exhibition that highlights the importance of voting and civic engagement. In partnership with the League of Women Voters, voting resources will be offered, including voter registration.

ARE WE THERE YET? EARLY ROADS, AVIATION, AND TOURISM: Oct. 14. Join museum director Michael Perkins on Zoom as he reviews the significant events in transportation history that shaped Central Florida.

CELEBRATING BLACK CULTURE: EVOLUTION OF MUSIC: Oct. 15. JoAnne Stephenson, associate professor of music at the University of Central Florida, and Donald Harrell, co-founder of Orisirisi African Folklore, will lead an exploration of African American music and the influence of African traditions, including performances.

THE LEGACY OF OCOEE: A PANEL DISCUSSION: Oct. 29. A panel of experts discusses the Ocoee Massacre and the dark legacy the massacre left in Central Florida.

ARE WE THERE YET? INTERSTATES AND AIRPORTS: Nov. 11. This installment in the series on transportation history looks at how airports and highways were built to entice millions to the Sunshine State.

THE DESTRUCTION OF ROSEWOOD: Nov. 15. Vincent Adejumo of the African American Studies program at the University of Florida examines Rosewood, a once-predominantly Black community in Levy County that was destroyed in 1923 during a racially motivated attack.

ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER

The science center features live shows and hands-on activities for children in such areas as DinoDigs, NatureWorks, the Crosby Observatory, Kinetic Zone and Flight Lab. In addition, its Dr. Phillips Cinedome shows movies on an 8,000-square-foot screen. This season’s offerings include “Great Bear Rainforest,” “Oceans: Our Blue Planet,” “Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation” and “Apollo 11: First Steps Edition.” The center is at 777 E. Princeton St. in Orlando. Details: 407-514-2000 or osc.org.

Special exhibits

POMPEII: THE IMMORTAL CITY: Oct. 26-Jan. 24, 2021. Experience the volcanic destruction of the Italian city and identify with the inhabitants of that time. (More information under “Three to See.”)

PLANET PIONEERS: Feb. 22-May 9, 2021. 17 hands-on exhibits allow visitors to discover if they have what it takes to survive on a new world. Visitors can experience G-force in a spinning capsule and drive a Surface Exploration Vehicle, among other activities.

RESCUE: May 22-Sept. 6, 2021. Visitors can engage with hands-on and full-body experiences such as firefighting, surf rescue and sea-life survival, while learning how technology plays a vital role when rescuing humans.

Events

SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE: Oct. 23. Adults-only night.

OTRONICON: Feb. 12-15, 2021. The annual celebration of interactive technology and entertainment showcases state-of-the-art video games, digital media and military and medical simulators typically not available to the public. A Science Night Live party for adults, will take place Feb. 13.

UNVEIL: A WEDDING SHOWCASE: Feb. 24, 2021. Get the scoop on getting married at the science center.

LOVE AND LOSS ACROSS SPECIES LINES: THE NEUROSCIENCE OF ATTACHMENT: February 2021. A look at cross-species bonds.

10TH ANNUAL SCIENCE OF WINE: April 24, 2021. A night of wine, gourmet food and science with experiences such as cooking demonstrations and seminars.

SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE: May 8, 2021. Adults-only night.

SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE: June 26, 2021. Adults-only night.

WINTER PARK INSTITUTE

The program of cultural speakers is now overseen by Winter Park Magazine.

BILLY COLLINS: Oct. 1. Former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins will give a free online reading and lead discussion of his latest book, “Whale Day, and other poems.” To register, go to aneveningwithbillycollins.eventbrite.com.

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