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Oolite Arts Celebrates 40 Years with Landmark Exhibition Penumbras: a narrative of ArtCenter/South Florida • Oolite Arts 1984–2014
Co-curated by william cordova and Marie Vickles, the exhibition reflects on the early decades of ArtCenter/South Florida and honors alumni artists who shaped its legacy.
MIAMI, FL – July 31, 2025 – Oolite Arts continues its 40th anniversary celebration with Penumbras: a narrative of ArtCenter/South Florida • Oolite Arts 1984–2014, on view August 6 – October 19, 2025, at Oolite Arts on Lincoln Road.
Co-curated by cultural practitioner william cordova (ACSF 1998–2000) and Marie Vickles, Education Director at Pérez Art Museum Miami and Chief Curator at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, the exhibition revisits three decades of transformative artmaking, mentorship, and cultural exchange that began when Oolite Arts was known as ArtCenter/South Florida.
Penumbras shines a light on alumni artists from 1984 to 2014, including those in the CAVA (Career Artists in the Visual Arts) program, and honors alumni who have passed away over the last 40 years. The exhibition highlights early African diaspora artists such as Fenol Marcelin, Vickie Pierre, Michael Richards, Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow, Manuel Acevedo, Charo Oquet, and Edouard Duval-Carrié, among others.
A centerpiece of the show is a video installation featuring rare TV news clips, artist films, documentaries, and home videos from 1984 to 2014, offering an immersive look at the creative evolution of the institution.
With support from artist and archivist Kevin Arrow, Penumbras also presents archival materials that trace the history of ArtCenter/South Florida/Oolite Arts — particularly the pivotal years leading up to the 2012 sale of the organization’s 800 Lincoln Road building.
Public programming will expand the exhibition’s scope with artist talks and a deep dive into Oolite’s visual archives, inviting the community to engage with the stories behind the art.
“Penumbras is both an archival project and an artistic celebration,” said John Abodeely, President and CEO of Oolite Arts. “It honors the artists who built our foundation, remembers those we’ve lost, and reconnects the community with the creativity and experimentation that defined the early years of ArtCenter/South Florida.”
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Title: Penumbras: a narrative of ArtCenter/South Florida • Oolite Arts 1984–2014
Dates: August 6 – October 19, 2025
Location: Oolite Arts, 924 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL
Curators: william cordova & Marie Vickles
Featured Artists: Fenol Marcelin, Michael Richards, Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow, Vickie Pierre, Charo Oquet, Manuel Acevedo, Edouard Duval-Carrié, and more
ABOUT OOLITE ARTS
Founded in 1984 as ArtCenter/South Florida, Oolite Arts has supported artists for four decades through residencies, exhibitions, educational programs, and community engagement. Today, Oolite continues its mission to help artists make art, fostering creativity and cultural dialogue that resonates in Miami and beyond
For more information, visit oolitearts.org or follow @oolitearts on social media.
FACT SHEET
- Exhibition Title: Penumbras: a narrative of ArtCenter/South Florida • Oolite Arts 1984–2014
- Dates: August 6 – October 19, 2025
- Location: Oolite Arts, 924 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL
- Curators: william cordova (ACSF 1998–2000) & Marie Vickles
- Featured Artists: Fenol Marcelin, Michael Richards, Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow, Vickie Pierre, Charo Oquet, Manuel Acevedo, Edouard Duval-Carrié, and others.
- Special Elements: Video installation featuring rare TV news clips, artist films, documentaries, and home videos from 1984 to 2014; archival materials curated with support from Kevin Arrow.
- Public Programming: Artist talks and an exploration of Oolite Arts’ visual archives.
- Significance: Part of Oolite Arts’ 40th anniversary celebration, honoring alumni who helped shape the organization’s foundation and legacy.
