By Adrienne Noel
Central Florida will be the destination for all who love the Visual Arts, during the 24th annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities (ZORA! Festival), which runs from Jan. 26 to Feb. 3, in Historic Eatonville and throughout Orange County.
ZORA! Festival celebrates the life and work of 20th century writer, folklorist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, her hometown, Eatonville, the nation’s oldest incorporated African American municipality, and the cultural contributions people of African ancestry have made to the United States and the world. Activities include live concerts, educational seminars, heritage tours, museum exhibitions and an Outdoor Festival of the Arts.
“This year, we have an exceptionally strong program for anyone who enjoys the Visual Arts. In fact, one could consider the Visual Arts to be the signature accents of this year’s Festival,” stated N.Y. Nathiri, Director of Multidisciplinary Programs for the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community.
On the first Sunday of the festival, guests will be able to view and acquire the works of Haitian artists who attended ZORA! Festival 2011, when the theme was “Remembering Haiti” on the first anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the island nation.
On Jan. 31, the ZORA! Festival, along with the City of Orlando and Onyx Magazine, will hold the Inaugural Black History Month Kick-Off Salute Honoring the Original Florida Highwaymen. It will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Rotunda, Orlando City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, Fla. The reception is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. RSVP by calling 407-647-3307.
For those who love art with more of an edge, ZORA! Festival will present “Question Bridge: Black Males,” a thought-provoking transmedia art project that has received international acclaim. We also have Master Artist Charles Bibbs, as our Guest Artist In Residence in the Fine Art Lane at the Outdoor Festival of the Arts from Feb. 1 through Feb. 3.
Attracting tens of thousands of locals and tourists to Orange County, ZORA! Festival, presents an impressive roster of arts, humanities and cultural programming including the screening at the Enzian Theater, of the independent film, “We Still Live Here – As Nutayunean,” written and produced by Native American Anne Makepeace, the festival favorite HATitude, educational programming presented by University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine and the Orlando Science Center, in addition to public talks, panel discussions, workshops and concerts.
ZORA! Festival 2013 culminates with a three-day weekend Outdoor Festival of the Arts, featuring children’s activities, including the ZORA! Literacy Initiative; a Health Village featuring “Fabulous Foods” demonstrations by Celebrity Chef Marvin Woods and other health-related offerings; an African Diaspora Pavilion; Center Stage featuring local, regional and international acts; an International Marketplace; The ZORA! Food Trucks Stop and much, much more.
Admission to the Outdoor Festival of the Arts, Feb. 1-3, is free for ages 17 and younger. Adults will be able to enter the Outdoor Festival of the Arts with a cash donation.
For additional information on ZORA! Festival 2013 events visit zorafestival.org or call 407-647-3307.
