Art & Culture Features
Improving Inclusivity in the Arts
There have always been talented artists of color in Jacksonville. But their ability to access opportunity and recognition has often been challenging. Few things are more affirming than access to support, so a barometer of the ascension of local BIPOC artists over the years could be one of the city’s oldest continuous arts philanthropies: Art Ventures, an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. While this year’s initiative saw the largest and most diverse pool of applicants in Art Ventures history, The Community Foundation decided to review Arts Ventures grantmaking over time to see just how BIPOC artists had fared since the program began in 1990.
read moreSculptures Near the Sand
Driving through the five-way intersection of Seminole, Plaza, and Sherry Roads in Atlantic Beach, one sees artwork at every turn. A large, concrete arc sculpture sits near the picturesque city government buildings and next to Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Station 55. Created as a site-specific piece by Brad Tallery, “Elements” is described by Atlantic Beach City Manager Kevin Hogencamp as “interactive and interpretive—lay the arc down, it represents sand; stand it up, it represents wind; flip it over, it’s a wave.”
read moreDeborah Roberts: I’m
Deborah Roberts (b. 1962) is internationally regarded for her mixed-media collages, which critique beauty, the body, race, gender, identity, and other contemporary social constructs through the lens of Black children. This season the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will present “Deborah Roberts: I’m,” the nationally touring exhibition featuring more than 30 works by this critically acclaimed artist. Inspired by personal and lived experiences that informed her upbringing in Austin, Texas, Roberts harnesses the struggles associated with being a Black girl as the underpinnings of her work. She is a keen observer who is guided by a rich knowledge of history and informed by contemporary events that directly impact African Americans.
read moreParks That Endure … Parks With a Purpose
Jacksonville has a lot of parks. Four hundred and thirty-seven to be exact, but the term park is a loose definition, as those public areas range from beloved neighborhood pocket parks to ballparks and skate parks, fishing piers and boat ramps, to magnificent, large-scale spaces that include a range of amenities or provide a selfie-worthy photo op, such as in front of the “Life” sculpture in historic Memorial Park.
read moreStand for Something, Communicate It
The pandemic upended everything about our daily lives, from how we learn to how we shop; how we dine to how we work; and how we communicate and receive information to how we think about the world. As consumer demand inundated the supply chain, a labor force flush with stimulus cash contracted. Businesses and organizations fundamentally changed their operational models to adapt to this increasingly complex marketplace. With more consumers getting information from their digital devices than ever, many companies have been forced to make a digital transformation long embraced by larger brands.
read moreFinding Wellness at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Nestled up against the St. Johns River in Riverside, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens provides a respite for those who want to stroll through the galleries or meander through the exquisite gardens to be inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Did you know that visiting the Cummer—one of the community’s top attractions—can also positively impact your health and well-being? After the past two years of pandemic struggles, there is no better time to take advantage of the documented benefits of immersing yourself in art and nature.
read moreA Life in Art
From bright and colorful abstract works to photography of the rivers of Northern Michigan, there’s a little bit of everything in Jesse “Jay” Wright’s “A Retrospective Exhibition” at Jacksonville University’s (JU) Alexander Brest Gallery until July 20th.
read moreJacksonville Quilt Show—Artful Fabric Creations
Today’s quilts are works of art, as appropriate on the wall as on a bed or as a pop of intrigue in the living room. Contemporary fabric artists have embraced the traditions of the past, created new patterns, found new techniques to express themselves in diverse ways, and incorporated a full spectrum of options to yield stunning outcomes.
read moreKara Walker: Cut to the Quick
Kara Walker (b. 1969) is an American contemporary artist, best known for her massive installations of cut paper silhouette tableaux. Her striking silhouette cutouts fill entire walls with imagery that is at first beautiful, then on closer inspection tell a story of deep trauma, hurt, and exploitation. She employs a medium that has traditionally been used by the white elite to depict docile, pleasant scenes and turns it on its head to depict the other side of history—a side that is less palatable, often painful, and frequently left out.
read moreThe Florida Art Collection Spans Two Florida Museums
The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida (UF) is presenting a new exhibition, “Painting St. Augustine: Selections from the Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers Collection,” at the Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum in St. Augustine, Florida. The exhibition, featuring works by more than 20 artists who captured vibrant landscapes and city views of St. Augustine opened May 13, 2022, and will be on view through May of 2023.
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