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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2018 - 12:11:40 AM |
FMU Board of Trustee Members -Elena Carpenter-Smith, Jolinda Herring, Horace Hord, Dr Castell Bryant, John Ruffin, Dr. Annette Warren Roberts, wife of Antonius Roberts,
Consul General Linda Mackey, Captain Vena Symonette, Deputy Consul General Sandra Carey, Allison Maynard Gibson,Commissioner Thomas Dorsett.
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MIAMI, Florida - A dedication and unveiling ceremony of Artist Antonius Roberts' "Sacred Woman" bronze sculpture was held on the grounds of the historic Florida Memorial University (FMU) campus on March 16, 2018.
The bronze sculpture is cast from one of the original tapered-shaped sacred women carved from a Casuarina tree, rooted on Clifton Cay, Nassau, The Bahamas.
Roberts said the mounted sculpture is edition number one of twelve pieces and it represents the intention of triumph, hope, determination and a vision to help conserve Bahamian heritage. It also represents one of several beautiful dancing women born out of the artist’s deep-seated respect for the sanctity and significance of trees and forests.
The unveiling was timely, as the university chose to mount the sculpture during National Women’s History Month. It is dedicated in memory of Roberts’ mother, Zelma Bowe-Roberts, as well as Mariah Brown who is known as Coconut Grove’s first black female immigrant (a native of Eleuthera), and all other women who have positively helped and shaped the community of South Florida .
Photos l to r: "Scared Woman" Mariah Brown Sculpture on
Florida Memorial University Campus; and 2nd photo: Antonius Roberts standing in front of "Scared Woman" Mariah Brown Sculpture
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In attendance were the president of FMU, Dr. Castell Bryant, Members of FMU Board of Trustees, Commissioner John Riley, Commissioner Thomas Dorsett and a representative of Commissioner Ken Russell's office; as well as former Bahamas Attorney General, Allison Maynard Gibson, a patron of Mr. Roberts's Art; Members of the Bahamian Diaspora; FMU Bahamian students and friends of The Bahamas.
As a Tribute to Mariah Brown, the Mayor of the City of Miami, Francis Suarez and Commissioner Ken Russell, provided a very generous scholarship contribution for a deserving FMU female student.
In addition to the presentation of the "Mariah Brown" scholarship a proclamation was also presented to the university declaring, Friday March 16, 2018, ‘Mariah Brown Day’ in the City of Miami.
Following the sculpture unveiling, a reception was sponsored by The Bahamas Consulate General, Miami. The purpose of the reception was twofold: to introduce Consul General Mackey to the Bahamian students matriculating at FMU, as well as to celebrate the artist’s work to the students, the Bahamian Diaspora and FMU family of Board of trustees, faculty and staff.
The Florida Memorial Jazz Ensemble provided entertainment for the ceremony and ended the celebration with a saxophone rendition of the Negro National Anthem penned by Bahamian descendants, James Weldon and John Rosamond Johnson. The music was composed and penned on Florida Memorial University's original campus.
© Copyright 2018 by thebahamasweekly.com
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