‘By Heart and By Hand’ opens at the History Center

The new exhibit honors the heritage and traditions of Black craft artists.

How do family tradition, oral history and ancestral knowledge affect crafted works of art? That’s the question behind a new exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center. “By Heart and By Hand” not only shares the work of local Black craft artists, it also dives into the inspiration and historical context of each piece. 

(COURTESY OF THE ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER)

“History lives not only in documents and archives, but also in the skills, traditions, and memories that people share across generations,” said Azela Santana, executive director of the History Center, in a press release. “By Heart and By Hand gives us an opportunity to honor artists who keep those stories alive and to recognize their work as an important part of Central Florida’s history.”

The exhibition is a collaborative project between the History Center, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s African American Craft Initiative, and the Craft Emergency Relief Fund. 

(COURTESY OF THE ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER)

“By Heart and By Hand” opens September 5 and will be on exhibit through March 28, 2027. Access is included with museum admission.