- December 5, 2025
Lauren LaBeur of St. John's River Water Management District, with her interactive water use and pollution display, assisted by volunteer Sophia Dempsey. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Larry Green, Linda Epps and Imani Kinshasa enjoy the exhibition. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Volunteer Sophia Markynova, 11, and AACS Board of Directors member Sybil Dodson-Lucas greet visitors to the exhibit. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibit: Rob Whiting, AACS Curator Meshella Woods, Richard Barnes, Ed S, Ed Pinto, Sybil Dodson-Lucas, Jean Tanner and Blanche Valentine. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Meshella Woods, curator for AACS, addresses guests to the exhibit. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Artist Weldon Ryan's art is on display at the gallery. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Fine art photographer Robyn Cowlan's work is included in the gallery. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Lauren LaBeur of the St. John's River Water Management District and her interactive water use and pollution display. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Photography on display at the exhibition. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Dave Bowers, president of the Flagler Beach Photography Club. The club hosts monthly meetings for photographers of all levels. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Stephen Fitzgerald, fine art photographer and printer, has printed some of the art on display in the exhibition. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Exhibition guests watch a display produced by Lauren LaBeur of St. John's River Water Management District. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Russell 'Coozie,' Flowers of Coozies Catering. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Exhibition guest Sonia White interacts with a display. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Artist Larry Lee Tinsley, whose art is featured on the walls, greets guests to the exhibit. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Lynda Baten, member of the AACS Board of Directors. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Professional Artist Bettie Eubanks addresses the exhibit's guests. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Master Deputy Jeff Turner with his Brunswick 250 Justice, a Boston Whaler kitted with twin 250 horse power environmentally conscious four-stroke outboards. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office's Brunswick 250 Justice. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Coozies catering: Thais Flowers, Russell Flowers (the original Coozie), Jacqueline Bishop and Beverly Parsley. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Local artist Bettie Eubanks' original artwork. All art on display at the event is for sale. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Master Deputy (Marine Unit) Jeff Turner addresses the guests. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Artist Bettie Eubanks has been painting since she was 10. She attended the Newark School of Fine Art. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Mary Freeman with Cindy Dalecki, of Marketing2Go, enjoy the presentations. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Water/Ways — the exhibit. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Water/Ways — the exhibit. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Water/Ways — the exhibit. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Exhibition guests Elle Berry and Mario Wagner. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Guests view some of the art on display. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
"It is a community event, and is intended to bring people out in our community, and hopefully we get people out of town as well," said Meshella Woods, curator for the AACS. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Flagler County Historical Society President Ed Siarkowicz addresses guests attending the ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Water/Ways guests Beverly Chandler and Carol Jones enjoy the show. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
The African American Museum and Cultural Society of Florida is hosting Water/Ways, a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution's Museum on Main Street program, though Sept. 3.
The exhibition is presented in partnership with Florida Humanities and opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the AACS Cultural Center Founders Gallery on July 9.
A museum docent will give tours and answer questions, according to a news release.
Group tours will be held hourly. Lectures, including the one-hour tour, will be two hours.
Admission is free with a ticket, and advance registration is required.
The Smithsonian exhibition highlights the significance of water as an environmental necessity and an important cultural element, according to the news release.
"With all the things that we do, all of the other exhibits and activities that we have, water is an integral part of everything," said Sybil Dodson-Lucas, AACS board member and cultural director. "It flows through all that we do."
She added, "Bringing this exhibit, I think it is going to put a keener focus on what we all have, but what we may not all appreciate."
Art by local professional artists is included with the exhibition, which also showcases images from the Flagler Beach Photography Club and art by students from Matanzas High School. Matanzas' history, science, English and art classes have also created projects for display.
"There are a lot of pieces that go with this," said AACS Curator Meshella Woods. "It is a community event, and is intended to bring people out in our community, and hopefully we get people out of town as well."
The Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program brings traveling exhibitions and public programs to small towns across the country, according to the news release.
The Water/Ways exhibition will include weekly themes as well as special events.
For a detailed exhibition description and free tickets, visit aacsmuseum.org/waterways.
