WMG Volume 7 • Issue 18 September 10, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
COMMUNITY
Artist Chosen For The Pride Center Mural Project By Christiana Lilly Even with the coronavirus, the Pride Center is abuzz. Seniors are moving into the newly opened Residences at Equality Park, improvements are being made around the campus, staff members continue to connect with the community via Facebook Live, and by the end of the month, a 3,000 square foot mural will be erected. Steven Teller, originally from Fort Lauderdale and now living in St. Augustine, was selected to create Equality Park’s new murals, chosen from more than 90 artist applications. “There’s a lot of impact in public art and what it can do in the community and the message it can create,” Teller said. “A lot of my stuff is using nature and bright colors and harmonious color schemes.” Teller found out about the call for artists through friends and the art community, and he was drawn to how open the Pride Center and ArtServe — who are collaborating on the project — were to hearing ideas from artists. In his application, he shared his vision for a mural that would showcase growth, positivity and hope.
It resonated with the team. “I am so incredibly excited to witness the positive and uplifting impact that Steven Teller’s signature style of bright and imaginative creativity infused with deep meaning will bring — not only to this space, but to the entire community,” Pride Center CEO Robert Boo said in a statement. With the nation fighting against racial injustice and the White House’s attacks on transgender people, Teller feels it makes the mural he is working on even more important. Ever since his proposal was accepted, he has been interviewing members of the LGBT community locally and across the country, as well as board members at the Pride Center, to help guide the mural. He said that as a straight man, he wanted to hear from the community who would be most impacted by the mural. From sharing coming out stories, societal stigmas, and self-esteem, Teller found that something that resonated with everyone was the feeling of selfacceptance and acceptance by others for being yourself. This guided the use
IN HIS APPLICATION, HE SHARED HIS VISION FOR A MURAL THAT WOULD SHOWCASE GROWTH, POSITIVITY AND HOPE.
Steven Teller in the midst of creating a new piece of art. Photo courtesy of Steven Teller.
Turn to page 3 to continue reading.
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OPINION
Unemployed Holiday Weekend By Sal Torre Photo via Pixabay.
As COVID-19’s devastating impact on our economy continues with no end in sight, this past Labor Day Holiday witnessed many residents of our Island City struggling to get by and unemployed. Labor Day, a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength and prosperity if our nation, now stands as a gutted and hollow remnant as more Americans find themselves out of work since the Great Depression. While millions of Americans worried this past weekend about school for their children, unemployment, money for food and healthcare our president played golf and Rich Mitch along with his gang of Republican leaders raced home to enjoy their late summer recess before extending unemployment benefits for American families. Thankfully our city, along with the Broward County Commission, has been a bit more concerned about residents in this time of need. Wilton Manors continues to support the much-needed food distribution event each and every Thursday at Mills Pond Park along with the cities of Fort Lauderdale and Oakland Park. Broward County has unveiled numerous programs aimed at helping residents with rental assistance, business assistance and other necessary measures. All this hard work while also being in a state of readiness during the peak of hurricane season deserves our thanks and gratitude for a job well done. Area nonprofits are also stepping up helping needy families and residents of our Island City. Volunteers and donations are always needed and one can go the city’s website to find out more information. Now that September is well under way, my annual warning that the Holiday Season is just around the corner comes with a much different meaning this year. As events continue to be canceled with each tear of another page off my daily calendar, the uncertainty of the next few months leading up to the New Year is full of much unknown and much anxiety. One thing for sure is that we will be celebrating the upcoming Holiday Season
WMG September 10, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 18 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kimberly Swan
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com News Editor • Sallie James
Correspondents
Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires
Sales & Marketing For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970
without the usual celebrations at work, church, school and socially with friends and family as we move through what would normally be an exciting and busy three months leading up to the end of year holiday season. With many of us not venturing out to a restaurant or bar with friends since the beginning of March, without having travelled to see family and aging parents, without work or the possibility of finding employment for the foreseeable future, many in our community are struggling to make sense of it all. The upcoming election might be a good time to vent your frustrations. Republicans, Democrats and Independents, you have the opportunity to make your frustrations heard by overwhelmingly rejecting the failed leadership of Donald Trump. Speaking of elections, residents of our Island City can hear from all municipal candidates on Sept. 23 beginning at 7 p.m. when the three neighborhood associations of Wilton Manors host their virtual Candidates Forum. The three candidates for the Office of Mayor and the six candidates for two City Commission seats have all been invited to participate. Many local issues affecting the future of our community will be discussed during the forum. Information on how to access this very important meeting will be sent out through the neighborhood association’s membership, city email blasts, social media and other sources. Be on the look-out and mark your
MY ANNUAL WARNING THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER COMES WITH A MUCH DIFFERENT MEANING THIS YEAR.
calendar for this very important event. Driving around town, one begins to notice the campaign signs showing up at various properties around town. Not sure how many candidates got permission from the property or business owners before placing their signage down. Two large campaign signs for Mayor posted on the old Science of the Mind Church property, located on NE 26th Street, has me a bit amused and frustrated. Both candidates were City Commissioners back in 2016 when a spectacular residential development was scraped due to a Commissioner’s opposition. Four years later the property remains undeveloped, deteriorating and an enormous loss of tax revenue for our city. Then City Commissioners Julie Carson and Scott Newton voted to limit the number of units causing the developer no alternative but to pull the project. One of those two candidates will most likely now become our new Mayor after Election Day. Let us hope they have listened, learned and are ready to make the tough decisions necessary to bring smart development to our city. Along with a new Mayor we will also have two new City Commissioners, so do your homework and VOTE! Good news on the renaming of Jaycee Park to honor our late Mayor, Justin Flippen. The first of two Public Hearings was held tonight at City Commission with many residents voicing support. At times emotions spilled out in the open, a testament of how strongly many residents, staff and elected officials support memorializing Justin’s legacy. Working together, adapting to the new realities that challenge us and always looking towards tomorrow, while remembering those who got us to where we are today will continue to make life just better here… WMG
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Did you know? Gray foxes, also called tree foxes, are found all across Florida, including Broward County. Good luck seeing one, though... they’re very shy! Photo via PxHere.
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September 10, 2020
COMMUNITY
Artist Chosen For The Pride Center Mural Project Continued from page 1 of flowers, inspired by the colors of the rainbow and progressive flags. With help from the community, the flowers can be nurtured and continue to grow. He also is including birds flying free in the mural. “I want that first emotion, the first impact, to be really representative of a welcoming, loving space for someone who has never been to the Pride Center before,” he said of the mural. At 30, Teller’s work has been showcased in murals across the country, from Jacksonville and Orlando to Chattanooga, Memphis, New York City, Colorado and more. He’s especially proud of a piece he created in Chicago last summer outside of the Cornerstone Community Outreach transitional shelter for homeless families. In “If Only You Knew,” a young Black
woman with beautiful dreads hanging to her waist looks out into the distance, surrounded by bright blue flowers. While he’s gotten used to the pressure of creating public art, Teller says it doesn’t minimize the importance of the work he does. “Some of the first walls that I ever painted that were upwards of 50 feet tall in the middle of a city, there definitely is that moment of an ego check where it’s like, ‘Is what I’m going to say worthy of this space and to see all these other people see and receive this work? Is what I’m saying worthy of impacting their day?’ A few years ago, I probably would have been crippled with pressure.” For the Equality Park project, he will be painting the panels in his studio in
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“The Future,” an example of Steven Teller’s artwork. Photo courtesy of Steven Teller.
St. Augustine, which will then be printed onto metal panels for longevity. The mural is expected to be installed at the end of September. Teller has been given a stipend or $5,000 for the mural project, funded by the Community Foundation of Broward. On Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. ArtServe Live will present a virtual meet and greet with Teller. More info here. WMG See more of Steven Teller’s artwork at steventellerarts.com or follow him on Instagram @stevetellerarts
September 10, 2020
“I WANT THAT FIRST EMOTION, THE FIRST IMPACT, TO BE REALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF A WELCOMING, LOVING SPACE FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO THE PRIDE CENTER BEFORE.” - Steven Teller ARTIST
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