Drive-Thru Communion Service featured on NBC 6.
Mother Leslie interviewed on NBC 6.
Source: Sun-Sentinel
Source: El Sentinel
Source: Sun-Sentinel
Source: Las Olas Boulevard and Isles Magazine
Source: NBC6 South Florida
Source: Sun Sentinel
Source: Sun Sentinel
Source: Riverside Times
Source: Sun Sentinel
Source: Sun Sentinel
Source: Sun Sentinel
Source: WSVN Channel 7 News | Published: November 14, 2019
"Help Me Howard’s Howard Finkelstein honored at fundraiser for tenure in public service"
"Focus On South Florida: ‘Anguish in the Aftermath’"
“Anguish in the Aftermath” is a series of black and white photos and interviews of more than 75 students and teachers who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The exhibit, at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, is the work of internationally published photographer Ian Witlen, who is a MSD graduate.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Published: October 5, 2019
Source: WLRN | Published: September 18, 2019
"'Anguish In The Aftermath': MSD Survival Stories At Art Exhibit In Coral Springs"
Source: Narcity | Published: August 19, 2019
"This Colorful Seaside Village Near Miami Is A Great Escape For Locals"
Source: NBC 6 | Aired: August 13, 2019
Source: Sun Sentinel | Published: July 22, 2019
"A hot place for cool people to chill out during the steamy summer"
City of Wilton Manors' Mayor Justin S. Flippen spoke about the Wilton Manors Stonewall Parade & Festival during it's 20th year as a city celebration, as well as the significance of the 1969 Stonewall riots to the LGBT+ community as it marks the 50th anniversary of the riots.
The segment aired on NBC 6 on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.
The Coral Springs Museum of Art, located in Coral Springs, FL, was featured on a segment of Your South Florida on WPBT2 South Florida PBS. The Museum's Executive Director, Julia Andrews, discussed the Healing with Art program the museum hosts for those coping with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School event that took place on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, FL.
The Danto Builders 2018 Big Bad BBQ event, held on October 2, 2018, was featured on a segment of Your South Florida on WPBT2 South Florida PBS. The annual event hosts local vendors, BBQ favorites, music and more, all benefiting the Special Olympics.
House of Hope CEO, Sue Glasscock, was featured on a segment of Your South Florida on WPBT2 South Florida PBS. Sue discussed the opioid epidemic in Broward County and explained their role as a local resource for those seeking help and in a crisis.
City of Wilton Manors' annual Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival was featured on WPLG Local 10, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots to the LGBTQ+ community.
City of Wilton Manors' annual Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival was featured on NBC 6 in the Mix, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots to the LGBTQ+ community.
The Coral Springs Museum of Art hosted the Sacred Art Tour with Tibetan Buddhist Monks for the third year in a row from June 5 - 10, 2018. Deco Drive featured this unique event, including an interview with the museum's Executive Director, Julia Andrews.
The segment aired on WSVN on Friday, June 8, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Matchbox Sawgrass Mills' General Manager, Pete Smith, was featured on a segment of Inside South Florida on The CW. Pete made matchbox's classic 3.6.9 mini burgers and provided information about their MSD Giveback Day on May 8, 2018, where Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and staff (with ID) will receive 50% off their bill, and a portion of the proceeds from the day will benefit the Broward Education Foundation.
The segment aired on The CW on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 12 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine | Published: May/June2018
"No More Tears' Happy House for a Cause"
No More Tears hosted a happy hour at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in Weston. Guests enjoyed pizza and wine while mingling with founder and former Bollywood actress Somy Ali and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Proceeds benefitted the organization’s various victim assistance programs.
House of Hope's CEO, Sue Glasscock, was featured on a segment of Focus on South Florida on CBS My TV 33, and was accompanied by House of Hope client, Hendrixs. Hendrixs shared his story on how he became addicted to opioids and moved on to other substances before seeking help at House of Hope and Sue discussed the opioid crisis that is occurring in South Florida.
The segment aired on CBS My TV 33 on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 10 a.m.
No More Tears founder Somy Ali was featured, along with Anthony Borges' parents on WSVN Channel 7. A press conference was being held at El Dorado in Coconut Creek, FL where the Borges family received a generous donation of furniture from El Dorado. No More Tears also presented a check of $37,000 to the family, which was raised through donations.
The segment aired on WSVN Channel 7 on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 6 p.m.
No More Tears founder Somy Ali was featured, along with Anthony Borges' parents on WPLG Local 10. A press conference was being held at El Dorado in Coconut Creek, FL where the Borges family received a generous donation of furniture from El Dorado. No More Tears also presented a check of $37,000 to the family, which was raised through donations.
The segment aired on WPLG Local 10 on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 6 p.m.
No More Tears Founder, Somy Ali, was featured on a Special Projects segment on WSVN, along with a No More Tears survivor of sex trafficking, "Mya."
The segment aired on WSVN Channel 7 on Friday, March 9, 2018 at 10 p.m.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine | Published: February 2018
"Big Bad BBQ Benefiting Special Olympics of Florida"
Danto Builders and the Florida Design & Construction Professionals hosted the fourth annual Big Bad BBQ, a professional networking event, attended by more than 600 guests. The night included all-you-can-eat barbecue, live art, auctions, a raffle and a performance by KC and the Sunshine Band vocalist James Magnole.
Source: VENICE Magazine | Published: Winter 2017
"Shall We Dance?"
Cuban photographer Luis Castaneda's relationship with the Cuban Ministry of Culture and the Ballet National de Cuba (or the Cuban National Ballet) has resulted in thousands of intimate photographs.
No More Tears Founder, Somy Ali, was featured on a segment of NBC 6 In The Mix. Somy discussed the nonprofit organization, gave a survivor testimonial and provided information about the upcoming fundraising event for No More Tears at Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza in Weston on January 30, 2018.
The segment aired on NBC 6 on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 11:30 a.m.
Somy Ali, Founder of No More Tears, was featured on The CW's Inside South Florida segment, which aired on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 12 p.m. and Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 1 p.m.
Somy discussed the nonprofit organization, gave survivor testimonials and provided information about the upcoming fundraising event for No More Tears.
Source: INDULGE Miami Magazine | Published: December 1, 2017
"No More Tears celebrates Heart in Hand Awards"
Now in its 10th year, No More Tears -- the nonprofit founded by former Bollywood actress Somy Ali to help empower victims of domestic violence and human trafficking -- honored local women Christina Getty, Eva Hughes, Kathryn Mikesell, Meg Daly and Yolanda Berkowitz at its annual Heart in Hand Awards at East, Miami.
On Thursday, January 11, 2018, No More Tears Founder, Somy Ali, was featured on CNN International as a human trafficking expert, discussing the recent tragedy in Pakistan, the society-wide changes that we all need to participate in to put an end to these heinous crimes against children, women and men, and her own personal experience in overcoming the life-altering effects of abuse.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine | Author: Clarissa Buch | Published: December 1, 2017
"Man Behind the Manors"
As Wilton Manors celebrates its 70th anniversary, Mayor Gary Resnick remembers the city before its charm, urban core and reputation as a national LGBT destination.
On Saturday, December 2, 2017, the Fort Lauderdale Country Club hosted a Toys for Tots event, where Toys for Tots invited 80 military families for an evening of fun.
The segment aired on WSVN Channel 7 on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 7 a.m.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine | Published: November 1, 2017
"Victory Living Programs' Black and Blue Dine Around Event"
The seventh annual Black and Blue Dine Around Event at Blue Martini and The Capital Grille in Fort Lauderdale helped to raise funds for Victory Living Programs.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine | Published: November 1, 2017
"Working Toward Dry Eyes"
South Florida's Somy Ali, a former Bollywood actress, celebrates 10 years since the inception of her non-profit No More Tears, which helps victims of domestic violence.
Source: Fort Lauderdale Magazine | Published: November 1, 2017
"Victory Living Programs' Legislative Brunch"
Victory Living Programs hosted a legislative meet-and-greet at Cokesbury Methodist Church where they discussed the services VLP provides, the population they serve, the Arc of Florida and the individuals they represent and the current and projected needs for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine | Published: October 1, 2017
"Coral Springs Museum of Art's Anniversary Exhibition Reception"
The Coral Springs Museum of Art celebrated the 20th anniversary of its permanent collection opening with a reception for members and the general public. The museum's permanent collection exceeds 125 works and featured artists including Keith Haring, Romero Britto, Andres Desjardin and Pablo Cano among others.
Source: South Florida Business Journal | Published: September 22, 2017
"Victory Living Programs hosts meet-and-greet brunch with legislators"
Victory Living Programs (VLP), which creates independent living experiences for people with disabilities, hosted a legislative brunch August 31 at Cokesbury Methodist Church in Margate.
Source: Around Town Newspaper | Published: September 8, 2017
"Danto Builders and Florida Design & Construction Professionals To Host 4th Annual Big Bad BBQ for Special Olympics Florida"
Enjoy all-you-can-eat BBQ for a cause! Join Danto Builders and the Florida Design & Construction Professionals on September 14th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the 4th Annual Big Bad BBQ, a professional networking event being held to benefit Special Olympics Florida.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Helen Wolt | Published: August 27, 2017
"Las Olas Link Offers Pass for Floridians"
Like sunshine, rides on the Sun Trolley's Las Olas Link will be free until Sept. 30 with Florida identification. Fares are normally $1 per ride or $3 for an all-day pass.
The link operates along Las Olas Boulevard on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Source: THINK Magazine | Published: August 1, 2017
"Master the Art of the Latest Trends: Escape Games"
You enter a seemingly ordinary but mysterious office. You see a complex code on the wall, countless padlocks, or a haunting message of impeding doom. You know there is only one option: Escape in 60 minutes. This is one of the many premises for the nation’s latest craze- Live Escape Games. Think Escape Games, located in Fort Lauderdale, offers three separate, immersive experiences to players. These include The Study, Laboratory 51, and the Shady Tavern.
Source: Sun Sentinel Society Scene Section | Published: July 20, 2017
Scene + Be Seen
Victory Living Programs hosted its Black and Blue Dine Around Event at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. Guests began the evening with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at Blue Martini, followed by dinner, wine and dessert at The Capital Grille. The night concluded back at Blue Martini with after-dinner drinks and dancing.
Source: South Florida Business Journal | Published: July 7, 2017
"Coral Springs Museum of Art's 20th Anniversary Reception"
The Coral Springs Museum of Art celebrated the opening of its 20th anniversary permanent collection exhibit with a reception on June 22.
City of Wilton Manors' Mayor Gary Resnick spoke with Roxanne Vargas about the Wilton Manors Stonewall Parade & Festival as well as the significance of the 1969 Stonewall riots to the LGBTQ community.
The segment aired on NBC 6 on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 11:30 a.m.
The Shane Duncan Band, the musical performance for Friday Night Sound Waves that kicked off the Ford Lauderdale Air Show weekend, was on NBC 6 In The Mix on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 11:30 a.m.
Source: Sun Sentinel| Author: Helen Wolt | Published: May 7, 2017
"Sun Trolley Marks 25 Years of Service"
Fort Lauderdale's Sun Trolley celebrates 25 years this month. In 1992, the transit service launched with Lolly the Trolley. Today, it's fully modernized with a new Tracker App that lets customers track each bus in real time; an updated website and a 24/7 customer service hotline.
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale's 5th Annual Bike to Build Ride, partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Broward, was featured on WSVN Channel 7, which aired on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 10:30 p.m.
Artist Tony Mendoza was interviewed on Telemundo and talked about his new exhibit at North Beach Village Design, "Cafecito with The Ladies" on February 25, 2017. His interview aired on Telemundo on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 6:00 a.m.
Source: Gold Coast Magazine & Boca Life| Author: Kristen Desmond Lefevre | Published: February 1, 2017
"Escape from the Ordinary"
Inside "The Laboratory," nothing is as it seems.
You enter through an ordinary looking door, only to realize that you and your team have stumbled into the workspace of a scientist who has made a groundbreaking discovery gone horribly wrong...Your escape depends upon your ability to decode a series of clues in the form of artifacts scattered throughout the room. Your goal? Unravel the mystery, and find the exit before time runs out.
Source: Lifestyle Magazine| Author: Clarissa Buch | Published: January 1, 2017
"No Way Out?"
Greg Kormendi, owner of QQuest in Pompano Beach and Think Escape Games in Fort Lauderdale, is one of the first to bring the dark-room adventures to South Florida. Born in Hungary, where escape games are widely popular, Kormendi and his father thought it was time to bring the adventure across the Atlantic.
Source: Lifestyle Magazine | Author: Alyssa Fisher | Published: January 1, 2017
"Art at Heart: Coral Springs Museum Continues to Showcase New Works"
The recent Art Basel Miami Beach drew thousands of collectors, artists, gallery curators and art enthusiasts from around the globe. Julia Black Andrews was all of the above, driving south to find inspiration--and possibly a guest curator or artist--for a future exhibition at the Coral Springs Museum of Art.
The museum, which turns 20 this month, operates on the theory that art is everywhere, says Andrews, the executive director...Every three months, the museum changes its exhibits to expose South Floridians to new art and local, national and international artists.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Arun Sivasankaran | Published: January 29, 2017
"Tibetan Monks Visit Museum as Part of U.S. Tour"
Geshe Lobsang Yowten, leader of the group of Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India currently touring the country, looked on dispassionately even as attendees, awe written on their faces, walked around the intricate and colorful sand mandala they were working on at Coral Springs Museum of Art.
The eight-member group wrapped up their South Florida visit on January 22 as part of a U.S. tour, which also stopped at the Coral Springs museum last year.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Barbara Corbellini| Published: January 20, 2017
"Monks Bring Flavor of Tibet to South Florida Family"
Last January, Carrie Berman took her two daughters to watch Tibetan Buddhist monks carefully build a sand mandala on the floor of the Coral Springs Museum of Art. Fascinated with their precise work, she returned every day for a week to watch as the monks scraped colorful grains of sand out of metal funnels to create complicated designs.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Arun Sivasankaran | Published: December 18, 2016
"Museum Opens Three New Exhibitions"
With works by five artists on display and the return of Family FunDays, Coral Springs Museum of Art has a lot to offer for art lovers in the community during the holiday season and beyond.
Earlier this month, the museum unveiled three exhibitions and also provided a chance for people in the community to meet the artists. The exhibitions feature the works of Steven Manolis, Ricardo Garcia, Carlos Zerpabzueta, Martha Rodriguez and Isabel Perez Salazar.
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale Angel Tree Project // WSVN from CC team on Vimeo.
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale's annual Angel Tree Project was featured on WSVN Channel 7, which aired on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 10:00 p.m.
Focus On South Florida 2016 Turkey Trot with Mayor Seiler 11-20-16 from CC team on Vimeo.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Seiler talks about the 2016 Fort Lauderdale Turkey Trot on CBS Focus on South Florida, which aired on Sunday, November 20, 2016.
Source: Sun Sentinel Society Scene Section | Published: October 27, 2016
Scene + Be Seen
More than 100 guests attended the "Hip to Jive" transportation celebration. This event kicked off the 25th anniversary celebration of Sun Trolley and included a panel discussion about the future of transportation and economic growth in broward in Broward County.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Wayne K. Roustan | Published: September 21, 2016
"Sun Trolley Still Makes Its Rounds After 25 Years"
Fort Lauderdale's Sun Trolley is celebrating its 25th year of service with a Roaring '20s silver anniversary party.
The red and yellow, trolley-styled, gas-powered vehicles have been moving locals and tourists between Fort Lauderdale's airport, beaches, malls and downtown destinations since the service was launched in 1992. It turns 25 with the start of the fiscal year Oct. 1.
Source: Sun Sentinel Society Scene Section | Published: September 1, 2016
"Roaring 20's Eventing Pays Tribute to Erté"
Get dolled up and travel back in time. Coral Springs Museum of Art will host its annual "Masterpiece Event" Sept. 17 from 7 to 10 p.m.
This year's Roaring 20's theme pays tribute to Erté's notoriety designing sets and costumes for MGM Studios' productions including "Ben-Hur" and "The Mystic."
Our very own Stacy Ritter, President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, discussed the future of tourism in Broward County on CBS Focus on South Florida.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Larry Barszewski | Published: July 1, 2016
"Fort Lauderdale Extends Trolley Service For Holiday"
Visitors heading out to catch the 4th of July Spectacular on the beach will be able to avoid traffic by taking the Sun Trolley downtown and on the beach. The trolley is running extended service on Monday, from 9:30 a.m. to midnight, along its beach and Las Olas lines. The cost is $1 for each ride or $3 for an all-day pass.
Source: CP Opinion - Christian Post | Author: Christopher Benek|Published: June 11, 2016
"What If Everything We Call 'Natural' Is Actually Technological"
For a good while now I have had the privilege of helping to shape the global discussion about the future of Christianity as it perhaps to technological futurism. I have met and spoken with numerous tech-davy Christians from various parts of the world, all of which have articulated that they believe that the quickly emerging technological future has radical implications for their faith. In the midst of those discussions, I have heard many perspectives and through them I have come to understand one very valuable fact. Christianity is desperately in need of an updated technological hermeneutic
Source: SFGN Wilton Manors Gazette | Author: Sal Torre|Published: July, 2016
"And they're off"
With only a few weeks to go before the Republican Convention in Cleveland, followed by the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, thought I would take the opportunity to talk politics on a more local level, right here in good ol' Wilton Manors. This year we have a local election for Mayor and two City Commission seats. For those accustomed seeing my name on the ballot , I am not running in this election, nut remain involved in our city as President of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors, Chair of the day's Budget Review Advisory Committee, and secretary of The Friends of The Wilton Manors Library.
Source: Sun Sentinel | Author: Arlene Satchell |Published: June 10, 2016
There's competition for Fort Lauderdale's waterways, as a new shuttle service is giving tourists and residents more choices for getting around and exploring.
Armed with a fleet of flamingo-pink boats, Water Shuttle Fort Lauderdale invites passengers to hop on and hop off along eight scheduled stops and one "whistle" call stop along the New River and Intracoastal Waterway.
Source: HotSpot Magazine - Discover| Author: Ian Malloney|Published: July 7, 2016
In 2010, the US Census identified Wilton Manors as the 2nd gayest city in the United States, and trust us, it's only gotten GAYER since then. From bars to nature preserves. Wilton Manors really has it all for the gay traveler or resident. The city's embrace of the LGBT community makes it a unique place in the Sunshine State, only Tampa's Gaybor district can compare to the concentration of gay life. If you live here, hopefully Hotspots can help you find something new to do, and if you are visiting South Florida, this article will help steer you in the right direction to have a "gay old time" in the Island City.
Source: Deerfield/Pompano Forum - Society Access| Author: Phyllis Steinberg|Published: July 6, 2016
Supporters of Victory Living recently gathered at the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale for the organization's annual Black and Blue Dine Around event that began with cocktails at the Blue Maritni and concluded with dinner at Capital grille. The event raised more than $6,500, which assists individuals with disabilities in Broward County. Steve and Deby Day, and the Angels for Victories a group of individuals who plan fundraising events throughout the year to benefit Victory Living Programs.
Source: City & Shore Magazine| Author: Mark Gauert|Published: July 8, 2016
No one said anything about the spinach between my teeth at the party. No one until I saw the photos, a few days after the party.
“Is that spinach between my teeth?” I ask the photographer.
“Yes,” she says.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I say.
“You can Photoshop it,” she says.
And that’s the difference, I thought, between the way we once used photos and the way we use them today.
Before the digital revolution, if somebody took a photo of you with spinach between your teeth, that’s pretty much the photo you had the rest of your life…
Source: Sun Sentinel Showtime Section|Published: July 1, 2016
4th of July Village Street Festival. Located just one block west of Fort Lauderdale Beach and just south of the Bonnet House, North Beach North Beach Village Resort’s Plaza Bistros steps from Fort Lauderdale beach. From 5 to 9 p.m., this free event will feature family-friendly entertainment, activities and a DJ. American food favorites will be available for purchase. The Fort Lauderdale Beach fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. 2900 Belmar St., Fort Lauderdale. 754-229-3870.
Oscar Soden, a new employee on the water shuttle played a crucial role in rescuing a man in the water. Sun Sentinel article published on June 8, 2016.
Church earns NatureScape award Article published in the community section of the Sun Sentinel on April 3, 2016. " First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale transformed a utilitarian courtyard into an inviting retreat space. the project caught the attention of Broward County, winning a 2016 NatureScape Emerald Award. The honor highlights Florida-friendly landscapes that conserve water, attract wildlife and reduce storm water contamination."
By: Helen Wolt
"Coral Springs Museum of Art hosts caricature artists Jota Leal and Angie Jordan from 6 to 8 p.m. at a special artist reception. Along with the work from these master caricaturists, artwork from award-winning animator Jim Jinkins, creator of "Doug," is also on display. The reception is free to the public and will include a meet and greet with the artists, caricature demonstrations, raffles, and hors d' oeuvres, wine and music. The artworks will be on display at the museum, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs until May 27. Call 954-340-5000"
Published in the Pelican Newspaper April 15, 2016
A two page feature in the Palette Magazine of life in Wilton Manors. Published on April 1, 2016
"It was an evening of elegance and mystery at the 'Victory Victorian Ball.' The turn-of-the-century themed masquerade ball took place at Villa de Palma and benefited Victory Living Programs."
Published in the Society Scene Section in the Sun Sentinel on April 28, 2016.
Victory Living Program's Cheeseburger in Paradise event. Event raising fund for people with disabilities. Published Article in the GOODNEWS Newspaper on April 20, 2016.
Journalist Phillip Valys with SouthFlorida.com covers C3: Comics Caricatures Cartoons taking place April 22-24, 2016, featuring internationally-renowned caricature artist and speaker Jota Leal during his first-ever U.S. museum exhibition.
SOURCE: Southflorida.com
By: Phillip Valys
Published: APRIL 20, 2016
Mick Jagger is fat-lipped. The Rolling Stones singer's neck is too scrawny, his body bent into an
impossible "S" shape. Actor Christopher Walken looks like E.T., his eyeballs stretched too far apart,
tucked into alienlike oval sockets. His cheeks, which are missing, make his mouth appear thin and puckered,
as if he's sucking the world's sourest Warhead.
Impish, grotesque, broad-nosed and gangly legged, Jota Leal's surreal caricatures of movie stars and
musicians hang at the Coral Springs Museum of Art for the Venezuelan painter's new exhibit, "About Face."
For Leal, who grew up in the lakeside city of Maracaibo obsessed with American films and music, his warped
visions of Jack Nicholson, Salvador Dali, David Bowie and other A-list luminaries come from a place of
nostalgia and homage, not parody.
Jota Leal and his caricature of Salvador Dali. The painter's new exhibition of portraits, "About Face," is on display now at the Coral
Springs Museum of Art.
"I don't draw caricatures to mock the artists, but to celebrate them," Leal, 39, says. "I want to feel connected
to them through documentaries, music, films. I need to honor that person. My dad passed away five years ago, and every year, on the day he died, I paint a portrait of him. I do the same with celebrities. I only paint the people I love."
If the collection of 30 paintings on display inside the museum's side gallery are evidence, Leal is celebritycrazy.
The painter's caricatures are less hasty sidewalk sketches than bizarre, photorealistic portraits, in which iconic faces are distorted and misshapen as if by funhouse mirrors. There is "The Good, the Bad," Leal's tribute to Clint Eastwood's nameless spaghetti-western character, depicting the gunslinger, a hand cupped around his holstered pistol, staring down the viewer with furrowed eyes and an ultra-thin jaw line.
"He's the good. The person he's looking at is the bad. And the artist who painted him is the ugly," Leal says.
In conversations with Leal this week at the museum, the Houston-based painter is quick to crack wise about
himself and his caricatures. That self-deprecating behavior is what endeared him to Alisa Grodsky, a cocurator for "About Face," who discovered him three years ago at a caricature-artists' convention. Leal, who describes himself as "antisocial," says he was painting a portrait of musician Leonard Cohen ("one of my
favorites") for hundreds of onlookers but ignored the gathered crowd, and instead wore headphones and listened to Cohen's "Hallelujah."
"I usually paint in isolation, so when I'm in a public place, I put on my headphones and forget all the people
there," Leal says. "I always describe painting without music as like dancing without music. You just can't do
it without rhythm."
Leal started drawing at age 8, entranced by the caricaturelike depictions of Humphrey Bogart and Tony
Curtis appearing opposite Bugs Bunny and the Flintstones on Saturday morning cartoons. His first
professional caricature came in 2003, depicting Louis Armstrong blowing a trumpet, his nose flattened, his
puffed-out cheeks resembling a frog's bulging throat.
His caricatures have grown more fantastical. For "Hugo Glass," Leal depicts the titular fur trapper, whose
heroic survival was the subject of the Oscar-winning drama "The Revenant," posing "American Gothic"-style
next to a bear wearing a housedress.
"Some people say caricature is not really art, and that's not true. It's surrealism, and I recognize myself in
that world," Leal says. "Everything is surrealism in caricature, anyway. When I do one, I'm working off a
memory deep in my subconscious. I look at a picture and let it marinate for weeks, until I'm lying in my bed going, 'Oh, my God, I need to paint this now!"
Leal's "About Face" is accompanied by two other comic-themed exhibitions: "Jim Jenkins: The World
According to Jim," a showcase of the illustrator's comic-book illustrations, notably of Doug Funnie, the
beloved character from the 1990s Nickelodeon cartoon "Doug." Angie Jordan will also display her digital caricatures, which are made entirely with iPad drawing apps.
"Jota Leal: About Face" and two other exhibitions will open with a reception 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the
Coral Springs Museum of Art, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. A related comic festival, C3: Comics Caricatures
Cartoons, runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Admission costs $3-$6, $10 for the festival and $200 for a Jota Leal workshop at 1-4 p.m. April 22 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 23. Call 954-340-5000 or go to
CoralSpringsMuseum.org.
Front page coverage of North Beach Village's Cafe. Showtime section in the Sun Sentinel promoted their location as well as gave insider tips and best bets on April 1, 2016.
Front page cover and full page executive profile on CEO Miguel Pilgram, South Florida Business Journal, February 2016
Front page cover and full page executive profile on CEO Miguel Pilgram, South Florida Business Journal, February 2016
Fort Lauderdale Magazine feature & cover, December 2014.
Fort Lauderdale Magazine feature, December 2014.
Fort Lauderdale Magazine feature, December 2014.
Village Design's first artist, Andy Royston appears on Focus on South Florida on My 33 to promote gallery grand opening.
Sun Sentinel Society Scene feature, July 2014.
South Florida Business & Wealth magazine feature on Pilgrim Group founder, Miguel Pilgram, October 2015.
Dirt Pros CEO appears on CBS 4's "CEO Corner."
Sun Sentinel Society Scene article, July 2014.
Sun Sentinel article, February 2014.
ARC of Broward recycling event featured on Local 10/WPLG news.
Sun Sentinel Society Scene feature, December 2013.
South Florida Business Journal online article, April 2015.
Sundy House brunch service featured in Palette magazine, Summer 2015.
Sun Sentinel online article, June 2015.
Sun Sentinel feature, May 2014.
Digital Summer Camp Guide mention, June 2015.
Stonewall 2016 featured on CBS Miami's Focus on South Florida on June 5, 2016. Watch the video to see Mayor Gary Resnick of Wilton Manors and Michael Wohl discuss all of the details about this year's upcoming Stonewall Street Festival in Wilton Manors.
