Don’t Blame it on ZEN
The Way of John Cage AND Friends By Amber Sesnick (1912-1992), a leading voice of the post-war avant-garde, is widely regarded as one of the most provocative and influential American composers of the 20th century. But his influence reaches far beyond the world of music. A composer, philosopher, poet, visual artist, amateur mycologist, and longtime Buddhist devotee, Cage has had an enormous impact on generations of artists, from those...
What makes an education excellent?
By the Reverend Kimberly L. Hyatt, President & CEO, Cathedral Arts Project No doubt everyone can agree that an excellent education is one that equips students to be a good citizen and to succeed in college and/or a career. If we really want to provide an excellent education, we have to start taking the arts seriously again. If we want to equip today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow, we’ve got to do more to cultivate...
The Art of Noticing and Talking
Language and Literacy are Everywhere. By Kim Kuta Dring, Director of Learning and Engagement at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Who doesn’t love a great story, especially those with interesting scenes that span time frames and cultures to bring far-off places and modern-day perspectives to life? Stories surround us everywhere, and we can experience them not just through the written word, but through the places we go and...
Historic Holiday Shopping.
A look at downtown Jacksonville’s iconic department stores. By Kate A. Hallock and Emily Cottrell. Jacksonville Historical Society Five years after the Civil War in America ended, December 25th was declared a national holiday and, by the late-19th century, the marketing of goods specifically for that holiday was in force. The holiday was celebrated with Christmas cards, stockings filled with nuts, fruit, and candies and handmade...
FIFTYYears of Artists, Education, and Impact
As the University of North Florida (UNF) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville, “FIFTY: An Alumni Exhibition,” showcases the work of 50 practicing professional artists who graduated from UNF’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design. The exhibition is the first of its kind, highlighting UNF alumni in a comprehensive way and showcasing the strength...
The Power of Stories
Weaving Tales to Show the Truth By Laura Bennett In 2010 Basma and her family were forced to flee their home in Iraq as the American occupation wound down. Her husband Ali’s life had been threatened for providing assistance to the United States following the invasion of Iraq. The goal of his work: to limit the overwhelming collateral damage to innocent civilians as a result of our poor understanding of Iraqi culture and Iraqi...