The Sage Project Phase III opens September 19 at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center
- Alastair Mac
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
This new exhibition features powerful portraits and living legacies from Winter Park’s historic African American Community.
The Sage Project Phase III: Hannibal Square Elders Tell Their Stories opens Friday, September 19, 2025, with a community reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, 642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park.
Free and open to the public, this compelling exhibition marks the latest chapter in a 13-year project
honoring the long-standing residents of Winter Park’s historic African American west side.
Now in its third installment, the exhibition adds newly created portraits to a collection of 42
powerful environmental photographs captured between 2012 and 2025. Each portrait
preserves the face and story of a community pillar, building a living archive of the people
who helped shape Hannibal Square across generations.
This year’s milestone includes the first-ever portraits of Chief Historian Fairolyn H.
Livingston and Docent Historian Mary R. Daniels. These two women have spent decades
documenting the stories of others. Their inclusion marks a poignant moment in the project’s
arc—recognizing not only those who have shaped the neighborhood but also those who
have tirelessly preserved its history.
Award-winning documentary photographer Peter Schreyer created the portraits using
vintage film cameras and traditional darkroom techniques. Each image is taken with natural
light and printed by hand using archival processes, making every portrait a lasting and
deeply personal tribute.
Launched in 2007 and first exhibited in 2012, the Sage Project is a collaborative effort of
the Hannibal Square Heritage Center team—Livingston, Daniels, and Schreyer—whose
decades of oral history collection, community leadership, and storytelling continue to bring
to life the cultural fabric of Winter Park’s African American heritage.
Check out the latest museum and gallery news from Central Florida, including Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando Science Center, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, The Mennello Museum of American Art, and more.
“I grew up with a profound love and respect for the wise members of my west side
community. I still stand on their shoulders.”
Fairolyn H. Livingston, Chief Historian, Hannibal Square Heritage Center
“As a long time resident in a community I love and being a member of the Sage Project
team, it has been so rewarding to hear the wisdom of our Sage residents while allowing
them to share their true story. It is absolutely educational and priceless.”
Mary R. Daniels, Chief Docent & Field Assistant, Hannibal Square Heritage Center
“The Sage Project is one of Crealdé’s most meaningful exhibitions—an act of preservation
and love. It brings forward the lived histories of Hannibal Square’s elders, whose strength
and service helped shape Winter Park. These portraits are more than images; they are
bridges between generations, ensuring that future community members will remember
these legacies and be inspired to build upon them.”
Emily Bourmas-Fry, Executive Director, Crealdé School of Art
This year’s featured Sages:
1. Fairolyn H. Livingston, Chief Historian
2. Mary R. Daniels, Chief Docent & Field Assistant
3. Albert T. Anderson
4. Martha Bryant Hall
5. Otelia Banks
6. Jane Lee Turner
7. Ernest Manning
8. Ernestine Manning Ingram
9. Phylis Moore, First Manager of the Hannibal Square Heritage Center
10. Mrs. Minnie B. Davis, Second Principal of Hannibal Square Elementary
The Sage Project Phase III: Hannibal Square Elders Tell Their Stories
Exhibition Dates: September 19, 2025 – January 24, 2026
Location: Hannibal Square Heritage Center
642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
Opening Reception: Friday, September 19 | 7–9 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments and light bites will be served.
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