Art & Culture Features
Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide
wsing through the following pages and soak in the tradition and sparkle of the season. Be safe, be well, and happy holidays from Arbus!
read moreA Christmas Present for Jacksonville The “LIFE” Sculpture in Memorial Park
By Wayne W. Wood ‘Twas the first day of Christmas, under skies that were dark. The people all hurried to Riverside’s new park. They unveiled the winged boy who stood on the ball, And everyone gasped, “He has no clothes at all!” Hundreds of people gathered under threatening clouds at 3:30 p.m. on Christmas Day, 1924, to see the dedication of the new Memorial Park in Riverside and the unveiling of the much-anticipated bronze statue. As the covering was drawn from the monumental sculpture by two young girls, Mary Burroughs and Mary Bedell, a...
read moreArt & Gardens As a Lifeline
The Cummer Museum’s Artful Moments Program By Kim Kuta Dring, Director of Learning and Engagement, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Art is more than a luxury; it is a lifeline—a vital tool for improving well-being, especially for older adults facing cognitive challenges. Studies show that engaging with arts and aesthetic experiences can benefit our brain health, creating new neural pathways and improving cognitive function. For older adults and individuals living with dementia, these benefits can be profound. The Cummer Museum of Art &...
read moreHealing Hearts Through Art
Angelic sculpture honors memory of young dancer By Kate A. Hallock An accomplished dancer with Village Dance Center in Ortega for 12 years, Allison performed in both the Community Nutcracker and the First Coast Nutcracker productions, was a cheerleader for the Bolles School, and served as an acolyte at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. She was a direct descendant of Columbus Drew, a founding father of the city of Jacksonville and founder of H. Drew Printing Company in 1855, a company still operating on the Southside as Wells and Drew. In April...
read moreThe Ritz at 25
Celebrating Our Past, Present, and Future By Mitch Hemann, Archivist at the Ritz Theatre and Museum On the northwest corner of Davis and State Streets in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood, there stands a marquee. A bright red sign that has become an icon in the community. It has stood there in various states of repair for nearly a century, towering above the box office of the Ritz Theatre like a beacon. A reminder of a vibrant community that once was and the promise of a bright future that lies ahead. Long ago, it was a movie...
read moreA Riverfront for All (Part 2)
By Laura Riggs It’s been demonstrated in many other markets that well-designed, maintained, and programmed public spaces strengthen the real estate market while positively impacting the local economy. Understanding that any plans must also take into account various past visioning exercises, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund convened a diverse coalition of business leaders, change makers, planners, and visionaries in 2021 to steward plans for a riverfront that best serves the needs and wants of the community. The duPont Fund partnered with DVDL, an...
read moreThe Essential Role of Parks to Jacksonville’s Well-being
Parks are more than just green spaces in a city—they are crucial components of a healthy, vibrant community. For the Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, parks play a central role in promoting well-being and longevity. Ninety percent of Americans spend most of their lives within a 20-mile radius of their home, this is known as the Life Radius model. When parks exist within that radius, communities can have access to more spaces to make healthy choices easier. Parks are integral to this mission of longevity. Promoting Physical Activity One of the...
read moreJust Face It
Bu Chris Flagg It was the early days of the pandemic, back in 2020, when professionals the world over were confronted with the stark reality of working from home for the foreseeable future. In my home office, away from the defined parameters of a regulated schedule, my workdays had become long and borderless. The soft edges between day and night contrasted with my sharp, relentless focus on a computer screen from early morning well into the evening. Fielding a carousel of virtual conference calls to stay in touch with my team began to wear on...
read moreSarah Crooks: A Circular Way of Being in the World
By Hope McMath Photos by Toni Smailagic Sarah Crooks is one of our region’s most enduring and endearing creatives, combining her experiences as a maker, healer, educator, and environmentalist. She is a multidisciplinary, ecofeminist artist. “An ecofeminist is someone who supports all of life,” Crooks explains. “It’s really breaking down hierarchies and looking at a circular way of being in the world. That expresses itself through my work and in the materials I choose, the way that I live.” Her latest creations combine with long-evolving...
read more“Gateway to Himalayan Art” at the Harn Museum of Art
A traveling exhibition that introduces the main forms, concepts, meanings, and traditions of Himalayan art and cultures organized by the Rubin Museum of Art, New York will be on view through July 28 at the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida in Gainesville. “Gateway to Himalayan Art,” features 110 objects from the Rubin Museum’s collection as well as multimedia elements—audio, videos, essays, maps, and more. “The Harn is the only Southeastern US venue for the exhibition,” says Harn Museum of Art Director Lee Anne...
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