A Celebration of Identity, Resilience and Community Through Creative Expression
Each of us has a story. And our stories define us — as individuals, as groups, and as a community.
The Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) is proud to present “Telling Our
Stories,” -- a compelling art exhibit that brings together voices from across
Seminole County and the Central Florida region. Hosted in the Temporary Exhibit Gallery at the Museum of Seminole County History, this exhibit will run through June 14 and is part of SCAC’s Art in Public Places Program.
Admission is free and open to the public during regular museum hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, at 300 Eslinger Way, Sanford.
The exhibit is part of the Art in Public Places Program, an initiative by SCAC designed to make art more accessible to the public in non-traditional venues and everyday spaces. By bringing visual art into locations such as libraries, government buildings, community centers, and museums, the program helps foster a deeper connection between artists and the broader community. Engaging the public with art in new and exciting ways is essential not only for expanding access to culture, but also for enriching individual lives - sparking curiosity, inspiring dialogue, and offering moments of beauty and reflection in shared spaces. Public art enhances the sense of place and belonging within a community, making it more vibrant, thoughtful, and inclusive.
This unique and heartfelt showcase features over two dozen works by seven local artists working in watercolor, acrylic, mixed media and textiles. Each piece reflects deeply personal and cultural narratives, offering a rich mosaic of experiences that connect us all through the universal power of storytelling.
Featured Artists Include:
Monica Diaz – A Venezuelan-born artist living in Orlando, Diaz is a former
architect and cancer survivor whose journey led her to intuitive abstract art. Her
vibrant acrylic mixed media paintings on canvas and paper reflect transformation, emotion, and healing. Through spontaneity and color, Diaz captures the beauty of life’s evolution and the powerful role creativity plays in recovery and self-discovery.
Paz Lopez – At just 9 years old, Lopez is the youngest artist in the show. She began exploring art at age five and has already exhibited in several venues, including the First Children Exhibition at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers.
Her work provides a fresh, imaginative, and sincere lens on the world, reminding us that storytelling begins early and knows no age limits.
Julie Mainor – A fiber artist and long-time quilter, Mainor creates beautiful, nature-inspired textile works grounded in her lifelong love of sewing. Having learned to sew at age five, Mainor became an accomplished seamstress and quilter in her youth and later turned her skills into expressive fabric art. She spent over a decade presenting trunk shows and teaching throughout the South, with her work featured in national exhibits. Now semi-retired and living in Sanford, Mainor continues to quilt in her home studio, volunteers for Project Linus, and contributes to local charity quilt efforts. Her pieces in Telling Our Stories are rich in texture and rooted in tradition, reflecting a deep connection to community, creativity, and care.
Pilar Vargas – A Colombian-American artist from Winter Springs, Vargas has exhibited across Florida, Tennessee, Washington D.C., Colombia, and Spain. Her work in Telling Our Stories explores the idea that faces and symbols carry emotional and cultural resonance, offering viewers insight into the familiar moments that shape our lives.
