I grew up in Havana, Florida, a small town sixteen miles northwest of Tallahassee, where the delicate hospitality of Emily Post and the brutal injustices of Jim Crow mingled into a gothic amalgamation of Southern culture deeply embedded in my heart and mind. My desire to expose the complexities and the multiplicities of Southern culture has manifested in an oral history+arts-based research project investigating porch culture in Quincy, Florida. In this study I am conducting semi-structured, narrative interviews with residents of Quincy, Florida on their porches. I am also collecting memories and stories about their porches, their culture, and their community and documenting this process using arts-based research methodologies. I hope this research produces a polyphonic portrait of porch culture in and around Quincy, Florida which will help the town reflect more inclusively on its diverse community. More information on this project may be found at quincyporches.wordpress.com.

Angela Quintero

Quintero stated the following in response to her award and the event:

I’m so grateful for this recognition and to be a recipient of this award, it was such beautiful surprise when I was first told about the award. I was also nervous to have to talk in public about what I’m passionate about, at the same time that passion allowed me to communicate to others the type of work we do in the field of art therapy.  I’m very thankful for the acknowledgement from my professors, Dr. Van Lith, Dr. Gussak, and Dr. Parker-Bell on presenting me with this wonderful opportunity. I’m also grateful to the College of Fine Arts and Dr. Shamp for developing such an incredible space that allows different people to come together and learn about the amazing work being developed, in which all connected by starting conversations, acknowledging others, and exploring the environment that surrounds us. Once again, thank you so much!

Below is more information about Quintero’s work with migrant populations:

Working with migrant populations began through the opportunity of Dr. Van Lith’s project La Escuelita, the little school, and the partnership with Dr. Grzywacz.  The project aimed to address the emotional and behavioral health needs of underserved Latino children in farm-worker families through the use of art therapy activities.  Running for a six-week period, the art therapy sessions were implemented by Dr. Van Lith and two graduate students within the art therapy program, Elissa Pizzutto and Angela P. Quintero, and the support of four Promotores, developers from the department of family and child sciences.  After developing a relationship with the community and the art therapy students took part in La Feria Latina, The Latin Fair.  Providing individuals of any age, gender, or socioeconomic background the space to express themselves through the use of art media, and to come together to contribute in a community mural project, which spelled the word Unidos! United!

The Department is proud  to celebrate both students’ work and accomplishments. Congratulations!