An exclusive preview of a new,
yet ancient Miami cultural center
En español: Un adelanto exclusivo de un nuevo, aunque antiguo centro cultural de Miami
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By Miguel Pérez
On my Great Hispanic American History Tour, searching for our hidden Hispanic heritage, I have seen many precious buildings that have been recreated as replicas of ancient landmarks. Of course, they were already finished and flourishing when I saw them. But in the Allapattah section of northwest Miami recently, I had and exclusive opportunity to view an antiquity in the making! It's a new, and yet ancient cultural center! And this one is not a replica, it's an original! Not too many people may be watching, not yet, but the not-for-profit Florida Cultural Heritage Center is a beautiful dream becoming an amazing reality. |
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When finished, the center will include the "Chapel of Our Lady of La Merced," which is close to complete, and a Spanish plaza surrounded by an amazing museum of Spanish colonial art from the Americas. And how do I know this museum will be amazing? Because I saw the colonial paintings, furniture, sculptures, original New World maps, tapestries, church vestments, artifacts, historic photos, documents and books that are waiting to go in it!
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The entire dream!
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I saw collections of stamps, tabaco box art, Spanish-American War memorabilia, and even chachetes. And I saw volunteers cataloguing everything that will go in the museum!
It's all housed in "La Casa," a former nun's convent and now the center's temporary and very cramped museum/warehouse, until the permanent museum is built. It is open to the public only by appointment. But wow! This is a great landmark waiting to happen! "La Casa" houses small and crowded display areas, offices, meeting rooms and a studio for art restoration and conservation. I went there with my friend Santiago Oms, a fellow journalist who lives in Miami and arranged our visit, and we were greeted by Ray Zamora, the center's executive director, who gave us a very detailed tour of the precious art and significant historical documents he has been accumulating for many years. |
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We were surprised and impressed!
Zamora envisions “a plaza like the ones we see in Latin America,” headed by a church and surrounded by a village square of shops and restaurants, “a plaza that is alive.” He sees the chapel as a great wedding venue and the plaza, with parking for 800 vehicles, as a perfect site for all kinds of fiestas. “This is a legacy that we want to leave for future generations,” Zamora says. |
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The center is on the grounds of Miami's Corpus Christi Catholic Church and the dream of its pastor, Rev. José Luis Menéndez, who recruited Zamora, a prominent art dealer, to join him in his mission to make Spanish colonial art and culture available to Hispanic community residents who may no longer find it accessible, although their heritage is based on that culture.
According to the center's website, Rev. Menéndez also envisioned the center as a place “to give back something to the United States for what it has given us, its immigrant population. It accepts us and gives us a chance to build a new life. We in turn give the gift of our culture.” |
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But they had practically no budget to get started. What they had was patience and faith. “If God wants this to happen, He will provide,” Zamora says. “I’m a believer.”
After some 20 years of fund-raising and accumulating enough colonial art and history to fill a museum, Zamora and Rev. Menéndez are close to realizing the first phase of their dream: La Merced, the chapel which will be centerpiece of the 10-acre complex beside Corpus Christi Catholic Church. |
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Modeled after the 18th century baroque architecture churches of Peru and other Andean countries, the entire chapel is a hand-made work of art!
It has been built slowly, especially the interior, "because we wanted to build it like churches were built 300 years ago," Zamora says. "Everything is hand-carved." Aside from the cedar-carved architecture, the altar is mostly covered with 23.5 karat gold-leaf decoration. The work has involved artisans from Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, reflecting the ample diversity of Hispanic American artistic resources in South Florida. |
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"The design of La Merced retains its Peruvian colonial soul, while the artisans and materials reflect the world that has come to South Florida over the centuries," says the center's website (colonialflorida.org).
But the progress of this project also depends on funding, mostly from private art collectors who have been willing to donate some of their treasured pieces for the museum, or to sell and raise cash for the center's construction. |
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"When visitors come here for the first time, they are in owe of what they find," Zamora said proudly as he led us into the chapel. "They can't believe this is happening here in Allapattah."
While parts of the chapel are still under construction, it already holds a significant collection of original Spanish colonial art from the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as art brought by European settlers during the colonial period. When you hear Zamora talking about this project, you can understand how he has raised support. In "La Casa," he walked from room to room showing us so much fascinating stuff — relics with amazing histories — that it was hard to keep up with him. He showed us original letters by the Spanish monarchy written even before America was discovered, documents from the Spanish conquest of Florida, and letters by huge Hispanic American historic figures, from the conquistadores and Bartolome de las Casas to José Martí. Zamora says they already have more that 160 Spanish colonial art pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries, and furniture from as far back as the 15h century. “Some have been purchased with a lot of sacrifice," he says, "and others have been donated, as people learn about our project.” The project was initially driven by members of Corpus Christi Peruvian community, but its support has grown with time. "As construction has continued, and donors of time, talent and treasure have come forward," says the center's website." |
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Their mission to acquire art from private collections and make it accessible to the public is nearly accomplished. All they need now is a much bigger place to show it!
But when will the chapel be totally finished? When will the new museum be built? When will the Spanish plaza become a Miami attraction? Zamora and Rev. Menéndez would answer those questions with two words: patience and faith! |
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