Salvatore Ambrosino
After two years of hiatus, Child of the Sun, the distinguished lecture series at Florida Southern College makes its return.
The series debuted in 2016 and has hosted notable speakers such as former White House press secretary Josh Earnest, as well as world-renowned civil rights poet Nikki Giovanni.
The event held 3 speakers annually until the Spring semester of 2020 when the normal activities of the college were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“3 speakers annually until the Spring 2020 semester when disruption and concern due to the pandemic emerged in the United States,” Dean of Fine Arts Sara Harding said. “There were three speakers scheduled for the 2020 series, but only Rebecca Skloot gave her lecture that year. The speakers in that series were canceled.”
The series did not run at all in 2021 due to further complications with Covid-19.
However, in October of 2021, a faculty committee planned for the series to begin exploring the theme of the next installment, called “Understanding One Another: Storytelling and the Human Experience.”
This installment would be what revived the series in February 2022 with critically acclaimed photographer John Pinderhughes, whose lecture was called “A Photographic Journey.” His artwork was on display at the Polk Museum of Art (PMA) during the week of his lecture.
“Not too long after [October], Dr. Alexander Rich and I were talking about John Pinderhughes’ show at the PMA and thought he would be the perfect speaker for this year’s Child of the Sun theme,” Harding said. “His talk in February was not only about the story of his amazing work, both artistic and commercial, but also the stories of his life behind the lens.”
In the midst of fairly random Covid-19 surges in Florida, the committee is looking to secure a second speaker for this year’s distinguished speaker theme.
“However, planning has been a challenge in the midst of Covid surges and variants along with the uncertainty that they bring,” Harding said. “Either way, planning for the 2023 installment of the series will begin in May.”
Although, there are no clues as to who the next speaker might be.
“We are looking forward with possibility,” Harding said.
