IMAGINE PUPPETS is Coming to the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center

ArtServe, a non-profit that supports artists committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, is collaborating with The Miramar Cultural Trust to bring "Imagine Puppets," a national collection of handmade figures crafted entirely by contemporary African-American artists, to the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center, 2650 N.W. 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The exhibit is on display from March 4-30.

"These puppets are truly magical," said ArtServe Executive Director Craig W. Johnson. "We are thrilled to partner with the Miramar Cultural Trust and bring this incredible exhibit to the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center. Accessibility to the puppetry arts leads to the responsible cultivation of creativity, pro-social skills, academic success and a lifelong appreciation for diversity."

The puppets in "Imagine Puppets" represent the post-slavery-era evolution of African-American puppetry. Offering intimate, whimsical and sometimes profound perspectives in modern black culture, the puppets bring attention to the significance of self-preservation through oral tradition. Used to communicate customs, beliefs and history from one ancestral generation to another, puppets have a rich and perpetual purpose in African culture.

In conjunction with the exhibit, there will be a free puppet making workshop at the African-American Research Library on Friday, March 20 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Open to all ages, the puppet making workshop is led by youth puppet workshop facilitator Anwar Floyd-Pruitt who opens every workshop with a brief performance and demonstration of how a puppet is made, starting with a fully constructed puppet and deconstructing for participants. The goal of Floyd-Pruitt's workshops is to inspire radical imagination and create an opportunity for deeper engagement and communication between Floyd-Pruitt and participants through a combination of puppetry and Hip Hop. Collaborating on the development of an improvised and experimental aesthetic holds potential to unleash the creativity and expansive thinking that youth will need to empower themselves and change the trajectory of their lives.

"As one of the earliest forms of theater and communication, puppetry art is a fitting medium to underscore the Miramar Cultural Trust and ArtServe's commitment to expanding the language and function of art in the area," said Rhonda Siegel, Director, Business Development for the Miramar Cultural Trust. "We are excited about introducing this exhibit to new audiences. Puppets are not only interesting artistically, but they are such dynamic conversation pieces."

The puppets were initially introduced during "Roots of the Spirit: Soulful Expressions of the African Diaspora" on display at ArtServe during Black History Month. Under the artistic direction of Consulting Curator Ludlow E. Bailey, "Roots of the Spirit" was a multimedia exhibition and performance series exploring African customs and aesthetics - from ancient traditions to works produced exclusively for this show.

The African-American Research Library & Cultural Center is open Monday and Wednesday, 12 to 8 p.m. and all other days, including Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 954-357-6282.

About ArtServe

Fort Lauderdale-based ArtServe - one of the country's first arts incubators - has a 30-year history of building Broward County communities through the arts. Each year its programs contribute tangibly to the region's economy, help 2,000 artists sell their work and build businesses, and engage countless citizens who walk through the doors. ArtServe in 2020 will continue its transformation into a creative laboratory, a hub for experimental artists committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. ArtServe has won several awards for innovation in the arts. It is supported in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Florida's Department of State and the Division of Cultural Affairs. www.artserve.org

About the Miramar Cultural Trust

The Miramar Cultural Trust establishes relationships with strategic partners for the purpose of generating opportunities to increase visibility of the arts, and strives to extend its reach by attracting participants beyond the Miramar city limits. The Miramar Cultural Trust also provides annual financial support to the Miramar Cultural Center, and encourages, solicits, and administers gifts and funds for the advancement and long-term fiscal viability of the Miramar Cultural Center. It is committed to supporting projects and programs that educate and inform the community about all forms of art and the cultural experience. www.miramarculturaltrust.org

About the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center

The African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) provides our community with the vast resources necessary to educate this generation and future generations about the rich and colorful African, African American and Caribbean heritages, cultures and histories. This 60,000-square-foot facility, built in the heart of one of Broward's historically black communities, is the third of its kind in the nation to house extensive collections related to this unique blend of cultures. It is the sixth largest branch library of the Broward County Libraries Division, a service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. The library houses more than 85,000 books, manuscripts, artifacts and documents. In addition to these resources, it features permanent and traveling exhibits, a 300-seat state-of-the-art auditorium and a computer training lab.