A summer art crawl is here. Destination: Pompano Beach.
Credit: Pompano Beach Arts
Summer in Broward comes with plenty of ways to stay cool amid the brutal heat, and Pompano Beach is adding four fresh reasons to step inside this season. Across three cultural venues, visitors can explore exhibitions celebrating Black heritage, craftsmanship and even the surprising story of South Florida's most infamous tiny resident: the drywood termite.
Now through Sept. 16, the Ali Cultural Arts Center hosts I Am My Ancestors, a new exhibition by artist Will Simpson of Timelessartz. Through paintings inspired by dance, music, poetry and visual storytelling, Simpson honors Black culture while highlighting generations of resilience, artistry and achievement. Located in one of Broward County's most historically significant African American communities, the exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on heritage while celebrating those whose influence continues today.
Beginning July 17, the Pompano Beach Cultural Center presents In Connection, featuring artists from the Coral Springs Artist Guild. Running through Sept. 25, the exhibition spans painting, photography, collage, drawing and mixed media, exploring the relationships that connect people to one another, their communities and the natural world. A free preview reception takes place July 16 at 6 p.m.
The Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA) welcomes artist Luke Jenkins with two exhibitions opening July 24. Shape, Break, Build, on view through Sept. 19, showcases a decade of Jenkins' experimentation with reclaimed wood using techniques that include CNC carving, sandblasting, thermal modification and even termite activity. The resulting sculptures and functional works examine resilience, adaptation and renewal.
Also opening July 24 in BaCA's West Gallery, Carried Home runs through Sept. 12 and traces the remarkable migration of Cryptotermes brevis, a drywood termite species that journeyed from Chile's Atacama Desert to South Florida aboard colonial-era ships. Using reclaimed wood, ceramics and paper, Jenkins transforms insect markings into artwork exploring migration, hidden histories and the connections between people and place.
All four exhibitions are free to attend, making this one of Broward's easiest summer art crawls.
For more information, visit the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Division at pompanobeacharts.org.
