Art & Culture
Celebrating Ten Seasons of Magic in the Chair
By Susan D. Brandenburg Deck the Chairs (DTC) is a unique concept born in the mind of graphic designer and long-time Beaches resident Kurtis Loftus while on an early morning run along the Jacksonville Beach shoreline back in early 2013. Concerned about the local lack of budget or interest during the winter holidays, Loftus was fondly remembering St. Augustine’s Night of Lights celebration as he ran and mused about creating possible family-friendly holiday events in Jacksonville Beach. Suddenly, his eyes were riveted on the red lifeguard...
read moreThe Age of Armor
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens’ Newest Exhibition from The Higgins Armory Collection at The Worcester Art Museum The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens’ newest exhibition, “The Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum,” developed from a single question: Kulah Khud (helmet), 1600s with later modifications, Northern Indian, iron, brass, silver and gold, The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.88. The image of the knightin shining armor is familiar...
read moreFive Years of Hope
By Laura Riggs When Hope McMath founded the Yellow House in 2017, it was with the intention to create a space for artists to connect with the community, where empathy is inspired and civic engagement is sparked. Five years later, that mission remains very much the same, but how it has manifested has been full of surprises. Although connecting wellness and the arts has been a part of Hope’s lifelong practice, this was not necessarily at the center of Yellow House’s mission. Yet, community care is very much an integral part of Yellow House’s...
read moreWhat Lifts You Up?
Art With a Heart in Healthcare’s annual patient exhibition: Thru Jan. 8, 2023 My Meredith Mathews Quinalia Williams, 12 “Never Give Up” What helps you feel happy when you are having a bad day or going through a difficult time? In other words, “What Lifts You Up?” This is the question Art with a Heart in Healthcare (AWAHIH) presented to 16 Wolfson Children’s Hospital pediatric patients. Under the guidance of AWAHIH artists-in-residence, the participating patients created artwork conveying what brings them joy. Each work of art...
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 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 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 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 moreFemArt Gallery
FemArt Gallery Executive Director and founder Kim Miller was inspired to create a space for women artists while she was finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Her art education had made her acutely aware of the strong bias toward male artists throughout history. She sent out a call to local women artists she knew and two of them joined her in creating a nonprofit that would support women artists through exhibition opportunities, educational programs, and community outreach designed to elevate their work.
read moreForging a Bold City One Sculpture at a Time
Probably most famous for the photograph that appeared in national news during Hurricane Matthew, “Spiritualized Life” was created by Charles Adrian Pillars to honor those lost during World War I. The piece was privately commissioned by the Citizens Committee in 1920 and unveiled in Memorial Park on Christmas Day, 1924. It is one of the first pieces of public art in the city and still stands as one of the most iconic sculptures in Jacksonville.
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