Lilly Pulitzer store honors Woman's Club named for Delray Beach's first Black Teacher Frances J. Bright

 

On March 15, 2025, Lilly Pulitzer’s Downtown Delray Beach, Florida shop hosted a fundraiser that benefitted the Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club.  Proceeds from purchases were donated to the woman’s club for their debutante program and scholarships. Sweet treats from Palermo’s Bakery were served at the shopping party.   Delray Beach native and real estate agent Lori J. Durante served as one of the volunteer co-hosts of the fundraiser that benefitted the historically Black woman’s club that raises scholarship monies for aspiring high school girls. In 2010, Durante had the honor of curating an exhibition about the history of the Lilly Pulitzer brand, the iconic prints and met the company’s namesake founder.

Although an oil heiress, the free-spirited Lilly McKim Pulitzer joined the Frontier Nurse Service and eventually eloped with Peter Pulitzer, son of the newspaper magnate. From an orange juice shop in Via Mizner, Palm Beach, Lilly Pulitzer launched her brand in 1959 with the iconic shift dress that appealed to her network of high society debutantes that included First Lady Jackie Kennedy.

1959 was a good year as it also marked the establishment of the historically African American Frances J. Bright Woman's Club (FJBWC) established in Delray Beach, Florida. Their debutante cotillion raises monies for scholarships.  The FJBWC is named in honor of Frances J. Bright, a Black educator who came to Delray Beach, Florida in year 1899 to teach at 'colored' school #4 that was established in year 1895 located on historic NW 5^th Avenue in Delray Beach and it was the first public school in Delray Beach. The first principal at Colored School #4 in year 1895 was Mr. BF James of Miami (Lemon City). Mrs. Bright was the first Black teacher in Delray Beach.  The school was a part of the Dade County Public School System at that time because Palm Beach County was not incorporated as a separate county until year 1909.  The leaders of this prestigious organization of the FJBWC are esteemed African American educators, professionals, and business owners which are the same composition type as those who established the FJBWC organization.  The mission of FJBWC debutante program is to provide mentorship and help provide etiquette training and cultural experiences for high school girls who are invited into the program based on their academics and good character status.  The debutante program also raises educational scholarship monies for young ladies to pursue career goals.   https://fjbwc.org/

 

Lori J. Durante’s family support for the Frances J. Bright Woman’s club debutante program dates to 1970 when her mother served as a board member of the club and chairperson of the debutante program.  Since 2012, in a volunteer capacity, Lori J. Durante has hosted the non-profit Taste History tour for the debutante program that highlights Florida’s multicultural history, architecture, early settlers and ethnic cuisines.  The tour is designed to be a curriculum-based live lab, out-of-classroom, and on the road experience.   https://tastehistoryculinarytours.blogspot.com/

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Art Basel Miami 2024: My Photo Journal

 The cultural stimuli of Art Basel.

The art sculpture that I'm perched upon at the Miami Design District is entitled Pearl Jam by Zimbabwean artist Nicole Nomsa Moyo. The sculptures represent a contemporary take on the beads used by the Ndebele tribal women of South Africa.

My Art Basel Style.

 @miamibeach @themiamibeachcc was on the world stage hosting @artbasel. The attire was stylish comfort, so I did my best to dress the part.

The art sculpture that I'm perched upon is entitled Pearl Jam by Zimbabwean artist Nicole Nomsa Moyo. The sculptures represent a contemporary take on the beads used by the Ndebele tribal women of South Africa.

Dress: @ralphlauren Cotton-Blend New Sapphire Shirtdress
Earrings: @ralphlauren Gold Metal Studs
Necklace: @ralphlauren Vintage White Glass Rock Necklace
Sunglasses: @ralphlauren 1990s Vintage Jackie O Sunglasses
Shoes: @colehaan Black Stitch lite Zerogrand Meritt Loafers
Bracelets: 1990s vintage Lucite Bracelets from @saks #atl
Handbag: Year 2000 Vintage Black Bag designed by Yalanda Lang of Inde (Black American designer, handbag manufactured in Milan, Italy)

#artbaselmiami #artbaselmiami2024 #Florida. #artbaselstyle #artbaselmiamiwhattowear

 #whattowearartbasel

Miami Design District. Pearl Jam by Zimbabwean artist Nicole Nomsa Moyo. The sculptures represent a contemporary take on the beads used by the Ndebele tribal women of South Africa.

My Art Basel Trip to Miami Design District (first stop).

@lvmh Culture House was first stop for my daytrip to Miami for Art Basel. The cool multimedia exhibition featured multicultural emerging artists. Co-curators were @mrcoreysmith & @steadyfloh

There was some art that pulled you in, and I just wanted to reach out and touch (but I didn't).

@artbasel @miamidesigndistrict #emergingartists #multimediaartists #miami #florida #louisvuitton #lvmh @jpmorgan @miamiartweek

@yukiandoceramic
@beardenfoundation_official
@kandyglopez
@davidnott
 @l0sartwork @gustavobarroso.eth @willyramosartist @cashiesh @_kourtneyiman

My Artists Pick at @artbasel: @februaryjames

The painting Somebody's Auntie captured my attention because I thought of the poignant presence of aunties within the Black family.

What are your fond memories of your auntie?

February James is a native of Washington, D.C. and she earned a BFA from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

@themiamibeachcc @ubsglobalart #miamibeach #artbaselmiami2024 #blackartist #Florida @miamiartweek

My Artist Highlight from @artbasel

Madalena Santos Reinbolt (1919-1977) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was self-taught and began working in art in the mid-1950s while working as a cook.

@artbasel #miamibeach #brazilianartist #florida #afrobrazilianartist @miamiartweek

It was an honor to have met the esteemed Dr. Deborah Willis at @artbasel Miami 

at the Conversations Lecture.

Dr. Willis is the University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She has authored numerous photography books and has made a curatorial impact with exhibitions.

@miamibeachnews @themiamibeachcc @ubsglobalart #artbaselmiami2024 #artbasel #miamibeach #miami @nyutisch @debwillisphoto

At Art Basel Miami Beach, leading galleries from five continents show significant works by masters of Modern and contemporary art, as well as the new generation of emerging stars.