Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 2-12-19

Library Hosts Art Exhibit Featuring
Local Artist
LADALE LLOYD Local Artist
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
As part of the Black History Celebration a local library is hosting an art exhibit. The ex- hibit will feature the works of local arts. It is being co-spon- sored by the Robert W. Saun- ders, Sr., Library Foundation.
The Robert W. Saunders, Sr., Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Avenue, has several events planned to celebrate through- out the month. The first event is an exhibit that began on February 1st, featuring the works of Ladale Lloyd.
The library will display se- lections from his “Unstolen Dignity” Series. The Series recognizes the contributions of African slaves through oil por- traits that reaffirm their dig- nity.
Ms. Carrie Hurst, Ad- ministrative Librarian said, “He is the first artist, but an area of the library has been re- purposed and art exhibits are an ongoing event.”
Lloyd stated on his Face- book page, “I’m honored to be the featured artist for Black History Month at the Robert W. Saunders Library in Tampa. Paintings from my “Unstolen Dignity” Series are on display throughout Feb- ruary.
About Ladale Lloyd Lloyd has been a profes- sional artist for more than 25 years. He developed his love of painting watching his father, who was a self-taught artist
and commercial sign painter. A native of Anniston, Ala- bama, Lloyd said, “I strive for expressive-realism in both my portrait and landscape paint- ings. My goal is to remain true to external elements such as form while expressing a deeper understanding of the subject.” A graduate of Alabama
“Mandy Hadnot” from the “Unstolen Dignity” Series
“Mr. Josh Tarbutton” from the “Unstolen Dignity” Series
State University, Lloyd earned his B. A. degree in 1985. He also earned his Mas- ter’s Degree from Ohio State University in 1989.
Lloyd relocated to Tampa in 1992, and is married and the father of 4 children.
He credits his late father with inspiring him to become an artist. “My love of art comes from my father, a self-taught folk artist and commercial sign painter. I learned to visually express myself by watching him, sometimes getting into trouble for expressing my vi- sion on the walls of our home with his paint, my first abstract murals.
“Nowadays, my work is more representational, focus- ing on works that try to explain the character and ambiance of a subject through my eyes.”
Lloyd’s work hangs in both public and private collec- tions.
The exhibition will be on display from February 1st through March 8th. It is located in the front lobby of the library and is open during the library’s hours of operation.
On March 5th, at 6 p.m., a reception will be held for Lloyd. The event is funded by the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries. It is free and open to the public.
Historic Story Of Maggie Stroud Told At H. B. Plant Museum
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Mentions of the historic Tampa Bay Hotel often con- jure up images of the resort’s well-manicured lawns, luxuri- ous furnishings, and first-class accommodations.
But behind the scenes was a pool of workers who kept the machine of opulence running smoothly. One of those work- ers was Black woman named Maggie Stroud.
It’s surmised that around 1920, Stroud was a laundress at the hotel which opened in 1891. Stroud, who lived in Tampa, also took on some housekeeping duties. She came to develop a special friendship with one famous guest: baseball player Babe Ruth.
The mother of 11 children (eight of whom survived to adulthood), Stroud had only a third-grade education, but would go on to become a su- pervisor in a canning factory and, along with her husband, was a pillar of Mount Sinai AME Zion Church.
On Sunday, Stroud and her story came to life again when actress Amber Forbes performed a reenactment at the Henry B. Plant Museum, part of its Upstairs/Down- stairs programming of single- character performances.
Stroud is one of four workers who were featured.
Some of the characters are composites of the person whom after they are modeled. But Stroud certainly was a real person and so much is known about her thanks to a direct descendent: her grand- daughter, educator Doretha
MAGGIE STROUD
Edgecomb.
Edgecomb said she was
first made aware of the per- formance of her grandmother in 2014. Much of the story fic- tionalized for entertainment purposes (such as Stroud’s interactions with actress Sarah Berhardt), but Edge- comb said she felt compelled to ensure the museum told Stroud’s story as accurately as possible.
“I called them up and said that there were some things that she would never say, and I worked with them on the monologue,” she said.
The details of the lives of hotel’s rich and famous visi- tors is easy to trace thanks to letters and other correspon- dence, but can be much more difficult for the workers, said museum Executive Director
Cynthia Gandee Zinober. Stroud’s story is special because a living connection is around to provide factual con-
text to her narrative, she said. Liberties taken with Stroud’s story enhance those areas that are already docu- mented. For example, there is a part in the monologue that references Stroud washing Ruth’s uniforms, Zinobar
said.
“It’s these things that bring
(the story) to life,” she said. “People are very touched by these stories.”
Mrs. Edgecomb was six when Stroud died in 1949. Much of what she knows about her grandmother was passed down to her from her mother, one of Stroud’s five daugh- ters.
Stroud was a South Car- olina native who came to Tampa in the early 20th cen- tury with her husband, who was a carpenter. She brought three of her children with her and once settled, sent for her remaining offspring.
“(Stroud) was strong- willed,” Edgecomb said. “She was strong in her faith. And she absolutely loved her fam- ily.”
Stroud was a lover of her community as well. She tended a huge garden where Blake High School’s baseball field now sits. Each year, Stroud shared her harvest with her neighbors and friends, Mrs. Edgecomb said.
Stroud’s story offered some insight into life for women and Black women dur- ing the 1920s, she said.
“I would hope that it would continue,” she said.
Features
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019