The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts. Issue 23: Florida Theme Issue

The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts, founded in 1986 and now published by The Wolfsonian-Florida International University, explores themes relating to The Wolfsonian collection and to the visual language of objects. It conveys to readers the power of design and shows how design shapes and reflects human values and experience.

What is Florida? Where does its image come from, and what is involved in the selling of that image? The myths and realities of Florida unfold in these seventeen essays documenting the history and culture of the Sunshine State from 1875 to 1945. Since the time of Ponce de Leon, who sought the fountain of youth there, explorers, entrepreneurs, inventors, and visionaries have viewed Florida as a place where dreams come true. Florida's restorative powers were perhaps best expressed through the orange, which, though not native to the state, seduced myriad investors and served as a promotional icon. No other state mastered the art of propaganda—the ability to invent and promote itself—so well. Networks of trains, ships, and luxury hotels spawned a real estate boom and, with it, a distinctive architecture as fanciful as Araby, as classical as Mediterranean, and as enlightened as Modernist.

Published by The Wolfsonian-Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Beth Dunlop is the architecture critic of the Miami Herald.