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Capturing St. Augustine: The Hard Work of Lenny Foster

By: Tristan Larrabee

St. Augustine, one of the oldest cities in the nation, has a long history dating all the way back to the 1565. During the 1960s it became a hotbed of racial injustice during the American Civil Rights Movement which was history largely unknown to the public until storytellers, like artist Lenny Foster, began to uncover it. 

Foster’s career has taken him all over the United States. For over 20 years, he maintained a gallery in Taos, New Mexico, and his work has been displayed in permanent collections across the country, including Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Indiana. Now based in St. Augustine, where he owns and operates Gallery One Forty-Four. He relocated to North Florida to be closer to family and the alure of St. Augustine’s rich civil rights history captured his photographic eye. 

Through his series, Where We Stand, he tells the city’s story one shoe at a time. He drew inspiration after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling before football games in protest of the national anthem. Shoes act as reoccurring imagery, representing both the individuals and the places tied to African American experiences in the area. As an African American himself, Foster feels a personal connection to the city’s past.

“This history is vast and rich, and we have stood, sat, and knelt for many a high and honorable cause, not to mention, the struggle for everyday existence,” Foster said.

Foster’s work is often featured at the Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center, which curates a collection of historic civil rights artifacts and artwork that are central to St. Augustine’s role in the movement. The museum serves as both a testament to local history and a space to continue the dialogue- highlighting the importance of preserving the stories that might otherwise be overlooked.  

Together, monuments like the Lincolnville Museum and artists like Foster are ensuring the history of the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine stays relevant and accessible for everyone.