The 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...
A 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...
The 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...
Sarah 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...
“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....
Frank Stella Jacksonville Stacked Stars
Frank Stella has produced an extraordinary body of work over the past six decades and continues to explore the expressive possibilities of visual space. “Jacksonville Stacked Stars” is a brand-new work of art created by Stella for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville’s Project Atrium and is a beautiful response to the museum’s 100th anniversary year. Throughout his career, Stella has returned to the star as motif,...