Sun Sentinel’s Society Scene profiles Girls’ Club
Girls’ Club provides creative platform to nurture local artists
Boys allowed; but women promoted
August 7, 2013 | By Meredith Clements
Artistic women have a place to call their own in Broward County.
Girls’ Club Collection has been removing intimidation and promoting creation for artists since it opened its doors in downtown Fort Lauderdale in 2007.
The club was founded after decades of development by Francie Bishop Good and husband David Horvitz. Bishop Good, a photographer and visual artist, and Horvitz, a lawyer, both appreciated art but neither had a strong inclination to become collectors.
Though, over time, this changed as they continued accumulating pieces. Eventually their hobby transformed into a collection, tied together by a coincidental theme: The majority of pieces were by female artists. Somewhat in jest, they lightheartedly dubbed their collection the “girls’ club.”
Bishop Good met with friend and fellow artist Michelle Weinberg, and the two discussed a concept that would soon make a lasting impact on Broward County’s arts circle.
The establishment opened its doors in an industrial building between Andrews and Northeast Third avenues in downtown Fort Lauderdale, next to Bishop Good’s personal studio. The mission of the foundation is to provide exhibition and educational space, and support the local female artist community, with an environment to learn and share their work.
In 2008, Weinberg, the foundation’s creative director, and Bishop Good hired Sarah Michelle Rupert, who was finishing the first year of her master’s degree at New York University. Rupert joined the team full time as the gallery director during the summer of 2011 when she completed her master’s in visual arts administration.