Haitian heritage art exhibit opening in Coral Springs, with vice mayor tribute

A women-led art exhibit celebrating Haitian Heritage Month will be on display at the Coral Springs Museum of Art this May.

The museum is hosting the opening reception of “Continuum: Heritage & Expression” on May 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. to present the inaugural exhibit by the Haitian Women Fine Art Collective.

“This exhibition explores identity, memory and transformation through painting, textile and metalwork,” according to the museum. “Each work reflects a personal journey while contributing to a shared narrative of resilience, beauty and cultural continuity, honoring the past while shaping contemporary Haitian artistic expression.”

The event will also pay tribute to late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer, the first Haitian American commissioner in Coral Springs. Commissioner Joshua Simmons will share a few words about her legacy, and the reception will feature a memory ribbon art activity and a piece made in her honor by Harold Caudio as well.

“In every shared experience there is a continuum,” Simmons said in a video promoting the exhibit. “A continuous flow of memory, strength and spirit carrying us forward. It is in that spirit that we honor the vision of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer, whose passion for culture, community and connection helped bring this experience to Coral Springs.”

After the reception, a National Day of Prayer event will begin in the theater, with speeches from faith leaders, performances and a moment of silence for the vice mayor.

Simmons said his late colleague “had a special place in her heart for both of these events.”

“It is a meaningful coincidence that they fall on the same day this year, giving us the opportunity to celebrate local artists and faith leaders while further honoring the vice mayor’s legacy,” he said.

Both the reception and National Day of Prayer event are free to attend.

Visitors can view the exhibit in the museum’s lobby hall gallery through May 29.