January 31 – March 28
Ali Cultural Arts Center | www.PompanoBeachArts.org
By Savannah Whaley
In the 1930s, Florence Major Poitier and her new husband, Frank Ali, opened a successful barbershop and beauty salon as two of many ventures they operated in what became the first Black-owned building in Pompano.
Now the Ali Cultural Arts Center, the building will once again be home to a celebration of Black hair in Crowns and Trophies, an exhibition of works by visual artist Chris Clark.
“Growing up Rastafarian, I was constantly immersed in the culture and symbolism of dreadlocks, perceiving them as natural crowns that represent resilience, wisdom, and strength,” Clark wrote about the exhibition. “Yet, in a society where Black hair is often misunderstood and discriminated against, these crowns can simultaneously be targets.”
Open January 31 through March 28, 2025, Crowns and Trophies will feature approximately 17 paintings on canvas or works on paper in a variety of media.
“My current series is a reflection of my younger self—an emotional dialogue reassuring that it’s okay to stand out,” Clark wrote. “This exhibition seeks to evoke a sense of pride and affirmation among those who see themselves reflected in the work.”
That vision led Pompano Beach Cultural Programming Manager Adriane Clarke to reach out to the artist after she found him on social media, where his handles are cooli_ras_art.
“I do this pretty frequently if I find an artist that I like,” Clarke said. “I’m always keeping my eye out for compelling work. When we spoke, he mentioned that he was working on ‘Crowns and Trophies.’”
She decided it would make a valuable addition to this season’s slate for Pompano Beach Arts.
“This exhibition in particular gives us the opportunity to showcase and focus on African American men in a positive light,” she added. “For people of color in general, to be able to see themselves reflected in this manner is very important.”
“My art practice is like writing in a diary,” Clark said in a phone call from Jacksonville, Florida where he is based. “In telling my own story, I’m also telling the stories of others. We share similar life experiences so, even though I’m just telling my own story, other people can relate to it.”
In addition to shows in South Florida, his works have been featured in exhibitions around the United States and abroad, including his recent solo exhibition “New Growth” at Kent Gallery FSCJ in Jacksonville and “Through Our Eyes: Journey to South Africa” at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Clark said he is inspired by one of his favorite artists, Kerry James Marshall.
“I was watching him speak about representation and the importance of seeing oneself,” he recalled. “He said going into one of these big institutions of art and not seeing a reflection of oneself is psychologically damaging. He meant it makes you feel like you’re not worthy or that you don’t belong.”
That has made a lasting impression on Clark.
“For me, it’s important to create images that reflect people in the community that I live in or people who look like me because you don’t see images like that often,” Clark said. “I always wonder where I would be today if I had seen images like that when I was growing up.”
Crowns and Trophies at the Ali Cultural Arts Center, 353 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard in Pompano, is open by appointment Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. The cost is free. To learn more visit: www.PompanoBeachArts.org/events/crowns-and-trophies-art-exhibition.
