“Where We Stand,” a powerful exhibition by St. Augustine fine art photographer Lenny Foster, will open with a reception at First Coast Cultural Center on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. In celebration of Black History Month, this exhibit will be featured at FCCC through March 27, and it is free and open to the public.
Foster’s unique storytelling technique involves placing shoes, representing groups and individuals, in historical places throughout the city. For example, one of his thought-provoking photos shows shoes lined up at the Woolworth’s lunch counter where “The Saint Augustine Four” were arrested for a sit-in. Others are in places where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke and at the plaza market where slaves were sold.
“As the awareness of this history dawned on me, it became the focus of my work,” said Foster, who moved from Taos, New Mexico. “I feel honored to be able to share this history, through my work, with a broader public.”
According to Donna Guzzo, FCCC’s president and CEO, “One truly walks through time when viewing Lenny’s compelling work. It is my hope that visitors will leave with a deeper appreciation of Black History and the struggles and triumphs of the people who greatly impacted the Civil Rights Movement.”
For more information on Foster’s exhibition and other events and programs, go to FCCC’s website at https://www.firstcoastculturalcenter.org or call 904-280-0614. FCCC is located at 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach. Learn more about Foster, who also published a book of photos with poems by J.M. White, at his website: https://www.galleryonefortyfour.com.
Additionally, tickets are now on sale for FCCC’s 30th anniversary gala, “Beaches, A Celebration of the Arts!” This annual event will be held at TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27. To support FCCC, a nonprofit organization, gala sponsorships and program advertisements are being sought. Contact Kimberly Sheridan at ksheridan@firstcoastculturalcenter.org or click Upcoming Events on FCCC’s website.
