Brevard County Artist Shares Her Artwork of Civil Rights Pioneers

MIMS, Fla. — As Black History Month celebrations continue, a Brevard County artist is getting a chance to share her artwork of two slain civil rights pioneers.

• Brenda Bolding’s art on display on Moore Cultural Center
• She made artwork of Harry and Harriette Moore, civil rights pioneers
• More of Bolding’s paintings will be at the center starting March 1

“The story of two beautiful people, and their lives being ended, just moved me,” says Brenda Bolding, an artist who doesn’t have to dig deep for inspiration.

A few years ago, she found out about the story behind the Moore Cultural Center in Mims.

“I was shocked that it’s not known that we have civil rights martyrs here locally,” she told Spectrum News.

Harry and Harriette Moore were early pioneers in the movement. Christmas night, 1951, their Mims home was firebombed, killing them both on their 25th wedding anniversary.

Bolding took to the canvas some 15 years ago to pay tribute to the Moores, plus other civil rights era figures. But instead of putting them up, they went into storage.

“Three years ago we came here, and she just fell in love with this place,” said Bolding’s husband Ron.

A light bulb went off in Ron’s head, and this past holiday season he brushed up his own plan.

“This would be a good time to ask if we can display her artwork,” Ron said.

The Moore Center welcomed the idea with open arms, so Ron surprised his wife with a Christmas present — now her paintings of the Moores went up with the other historical figures she created.

“The paintings are happy, and bright. Hopefully they are seen in that light,” Bolding said.

She will be bringing in more of her paintings to the Moore Cultural Center for a display beginning March 1.

Strategies of Successful Women Event

Brenda will be joining these women March 8th at the Harry T. Moore Cultural Center.