City Shapers & World Builders
How Architecture Makes or Breaks Our Built Environment By Sheri Webber The Florida Association of Architects was founded in Jacksonville in 1912 by a group of 42 architects who together laid the groundwork for professional regulation in the state. Three years later, with the association’s backing, Florida established the State Board of Architecture to oversee the profession, and by 1916 the state had administered its first official...
Emerald Trail LaVilla Connection
By Susan D. Brandenburg Artist Overstreet Ducasse and his collaborative team, Grace Bio, Dustin Harewood, and Alexi McMonigle, met at their LaVilla Emerald Trail Mural on an overcast Saturday morning recently. Their pride in their work was palpable. “We are honored to have been chosen to portray the vibrant African American history of LaVilla and Brooklyn in this mural,” says Ducasse. “It has been a labor of love that has enriched...
Silver Linings
The Spelman Art Collection at the Harn in Gainesville By Dulce Roman, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern Art When Spelman College, a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta, Georgia, announced the first-ever national tour of its art collection, the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it to Gainesville from February 4 to July 6 this year. The Harn...
Resilient Luxury: The New Coastal Reality
By Marsha Faulkner, President of ICAA Florida Chapter and Founder of Studio M Interior Design As Florida’s coastal communities confront increasingly volatile climate patterns, the conversation around waterfront development is shifting dramatically from “keep me close” to “keep me safe.” Insights from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Florida Chapter’s (ICAA-FL) recent symposium reveal how the pursuit of coastal luxury...
Creative Heroes behind the ‘Save Our Parks’ Response
By Sheri L. Webber On December 4th, while many Floridians were focused on the holidays and all that comes with the season of giving, Senator Gayle Harrell filed Senate Bill 80, the State Park Preservation Act, to halt the present and future possibility of constructing golf courses, pickleball courts, ball fields, and more in Florida state parks. Harrell’s legislation, if enacted, would ensure prioritization of “conservation-based...
1000 Friends of Florida Wants to Befriend You
An advocacy organization that holds the government accountable while educating citizens about a better future for all Floridians. By Kayla Byrd Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that educates Floridians on government planning for land management and conservation projects. By working at the legislative level and providing input on proposed bills, 1000 Friends of Florida keeps...