The Winter Park History Museum (Website) will host a lecture examining how historic murals have shaped the city’s visual identity and sense of place. Titled “Shaping a Sense of Place: Historic Murals and the Aesthetic Character of Winter Park,” the presentation will explore the stories behind several significant murals, why they matter, and the challenges involved in preserving them as the city continues to grow.
The talk will focus on four historic murals and the artists who created them: Joe Testa-Secca’s murals at the Winter Park Post Office, Joy Postle’s Casa Iberia mural at Rollins College, Don Sill’s mosaic at the Winter Park Day Nursery, and a recently uncovered fresco by Sam Stoltz located in a private home.
The lecture is presented in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition, “Echoes of Expression: The History of Arts & Culture in Winter Park,” which traces the development of artistic and cultural life in the city. The program places murals within that broader context, linking individual artworks to shared memory, civic values, and local identity.
The presentation will be led by Rick Kilby (Instagram | Website), an award-winning author known for Florida’s Healing Waters and a recipient of the Rhea Marsh and Dorothy Lockhart Smith Winter Park History Research Grant. The grant is administered by Olin Library at Rollins College and the Winter Park Library and supports original research into the city’s history.
The event is taking place at 6 p.m. on February 26. Click HERE for more information.
