There are no ticking clocks in this exhibit.  No sand running through the hour glass to mark the passage of time.  In fact there is almost nothing of literal time keeping in this terrific exhibition from Jacksonville’s Museum of Contemporary Art.   Instead, this show is about the abstract nature of time.  About what a subjective and personal experience it can be.  The artists in this show are playing with time by speeding it up or slowing it down or sometimes stopping it completely.  The exhibition staff at MoCA understands the power in this.  Similar to the way looking at something too closely creates abstraction, so does viewing something too slowly. 

Sam Taylor-Johnson, The Last Century,2005, DVD, Duration: 7 minutes 12 seconds, © Sam Taylor-Johnson, Courtesy White Cube

Sam Taylor-Johnson, The Last Century,2005, DVD, Duration: 7 minutes 12 seconds, © Sam Taylor-Johnson, Courtesy White CubeIn SLOW, MoCA presents a dynamic exhibition more about immersion rather than passive viewership. Not only do visitors have to physically alter their pace in order to take in the work but a variety of worthwhile interpretive tools are also available to take the viewer deeper into the exhibition.  These include a phone tour where one can access the voice of the artist offering a brief explanation of the corresponding work by dialing a number on their phone.  Another tool offered that is a little more specific to the subject matter is what the museum describes as a “Left Brain/Right Brain” tour.  This is presented as a printed component associated to each artist.  On the left hand side of the sheet you have the “Left Brain” understanding of the work. The technical aspects, the process, the “how did they do it?”  On the right hand side you’re presented with the “Right Brain” understanding.  This falls closer to the “why” of art making.  “What is the artist trying to tell me and why does it matter?”   Taken together this information presents a compelling case.  Particularly because of the technical nature of the work in the show and because most of said work involves the use of video which is still a young medium in the art world.

Idris Khan,Rising Series….. After Eadweard Muybridge ‘Human and Animal Locomotion’, 2005, 5 x Platinum prints, Each print 20 × 16 inches, Courtesy: Courtesy the Artist and Victoria Miro, London, Copyright: Idris Khan

A common thread throughout the exhibition is the preoccupation with the history of art.  Both Idris Khan and James Nares reference the early years of photography in their work and both have at some point created images that are evocative of Eadweard Muybridge’s experiments with the medium.  The difference being that while Khan’s are a more literal interpretation, Nares’ are more lyrical.

Sam Taylor-Johnson goes a step beyond the others by referencing the history of painting rather than the history of photography.  In her video A Little Death 2002 we start with a scene that closely resembles Jan Weenix’s Still Life with Hare and other Hunting Booty 1697.  The video looks very much like an old master still life in the beginning but through time-lapse photography we can see the accelerated decay and ruin of the once picturesque scene.  The body of the hare falls apart as it is eaten away, taking the scene and pushing it to the logical conclusion the original couldn’t reach.

David Claerbout, Ruurlo, Boculorscheweg, 1910, 1997, single channel video projection, black & white, silent, 10 min loop, Courtesy to the artist and Yvon Lambert,                                                     Hauser & Wirth, Micheline Szwajcer

Other highlights include David Claerbout’s The Long Goodbye depicting a woman emerging onto the steps of a grand country house, recognizing the viewer and waving to us as our point of view pulls away and the scene fades to black.  This unbroken shot probably would not span even a minute in real time but in Claerbout’s vision it stretches to nearly ten.  At such a snail’s pace every tiny gesture can be examined and becomes significant.

James Nares, Still from Street, 2011, HDV, 61 minutes, Edition of 6

This idea is taken further in James Nares’ brilliant video Street 2011.  In what I felt was the most moving piece in the exhibition, we as the viewer are gliding along crowded New York streets watching the people around us move by in slow-motion. The small, mundane gestures are now multiplied by the hundreds. The video has a strange, voyeuristic quality to it.  At this slowed pace we are at leisure to examine the faces and expressions of the people in crowd.  None of which, amazingly, ever look back at the camera.  In this way, and with the addition of a stirring soundtrack, the everyday activities of these New Yorkers are elevated to cinematic levels.  And at just over an hour in length it’s not hard to imagine the work as coming close to the realm of mainstream cinema.

All in all MoCA has done a great job creating an exhibition that is not only cohesive but exciting – not an easy task.  Take the time to visit this show, and once there, take the time to slow down and watch it unfold.  SLOW: Marking Time in Photography and Film is currently installed at MoCA Jacksonville and runs through April 7^th.

Talking about it with your family.  Especially when the family member is a  child.

KTAC can help.

KTAC offers a five week workshop four times a year during the evening, 5:30- 7:30pm.  Programs are held at Riverside Presbyterian Day School and include dinner for children and families.  Each week children ages 5 to 17 attend a session focusing on a specific topic.  Art educators and clinical social workers help the children complete a project that promotes discussion of emotions and feelings.  Adults meet separately in a group led by a clinical social worker where they learn how to effectively communicate with their children.  These workshops are free and open to anyone in the community that needs these services.

The next five week session begins on Tuesday January 29th at Riverside Presbyterian Day School, 830 Oak St. Jacksonville, FL 32204.

• Week 1: Tues. January 29-RPDS
• Week 2: Tues. February 6- RPDS
• Week 3: Tues. February 12- RPDS
• Week 4: Tues. February 19- RPDS
• Week 5: Tues. February 26- The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32204

Call now to register at (904) 308-5822.

A traveling exhibit called “Lobby for the Arts,” opened at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens on January 8, 2013.  The exhibit features artwork and video performances by Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) students from participating schools across Duval County.  After its Cummer debut, Lobby for the Arts will travel into the lobbies of area businesses, museums, theatres, and hospitals over the course of Cathedral Arts Project’s 20th anniversary year, from January – December 2013.

“This exhibit focuses on the artistic talents and accomplishments of our ‘CAP kids’ and their teachers,” said the Rev. Kimberly Hyatt, executive director of Cathedral Arts Project.

Since its inception, Cathedral Arts Project has served over 15,000 students. CAP offers multi-disciplinary arts education to nearly 1,800 elementary and middle school students throughout Duval County annually, providing on-site, after-school instruction in visual arts, dance, music, and drama.

On December 8^th, the St. Augustine location of Painting with a Twist is hosting a fundraiser in partnership with VSA with 50% of proceeds going towards the organization.

Painting with a Twist provides a unique classroom experience.  In addition to being invited to bring their own bottle of wine, students in each session are provided with paint, canvas, and brushes along with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructor who leads the class step by step through the process of completing the session’s featured artwork.  At the end of the class students go home with a one of a kind creation and new skill to explore.

On Saturday the 8^th there will be a number of classes to choose from, most with a holiday theme, beginning at 10am and running on until 10pm.  Interested students can reserve spaces online here.

This is a great opportunity to create a piece of artwork either for yourself or as a gift for the holidays, and to help raise money for a worthy organization doing tremendous good in our state.

The Cultural Center will be transformed into a beautiful shopping area with 21 hand-picked boutiques from all over the country.   Brimming with unique gift ideas for the whole family, this event offers a wonderful venue to shop and browse, just in time for the holidays.  For more information, please contact the Culture Center at 904-280-0614.

The Holiday Shoppes are located at:
The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach
50 Executive Way (directly behind Al’s Pizza)
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Paperbound Conversation

Written by Ian Burr, Student at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

The problem is this.

You called yourself poet once,
But fell silent, voice stolen straight from the box
By ancient, thinking thieves
With quills quicker than your Bic.

You and I
Know rules are broken things,
Shackles on odd imaginations
That chain claustrophobia
Around the ecstasies of vertigo.
These irons will not release
Until you learn to bleed steel.

Speak now, poet,
Wordsmith in shining armor.

Attack.
Your words are swords
To slash and hack,
Subtracting abstraction from facts
In fictions, forging your tact
With proper diction, a doctor’s precision,
A scored prescription for your addiction
To exploring past the dictionary,
Straying to say the imaginary, to
Play visionary for merry fairies
That ferry thoughts like
Birds would berries, words to carry on
Until you are understood,
A rocky slate in organic wood,

Because sticks and stones
Are powerless next to a turn of the phrase,
And when you fall in an empty forest,
A sonic boom shellshocks the world for a day.

A poet’s work is like a kiss
Lost in glossed hypothesis.
The problem is
You believe this.

One Spark is a 5-day event scheduled for April 2013, where creators of all sorts will converge to share their innovations, ideas, and projects with the public – and with each other.  This is an opportunity for Downtown Jacksonville to come alive — and for artists to inspire and be inspired!  Take a look at the video below, then hop on over to the One Spark Kickstarter project and donate a couple of dollars.  The project only have 6 more day to reach its goal.  If the people of Jacksonville do not support this, it will NOT happen.

One Spark – Kickstarter Update #2 from One Spark on Vimeo.

From Elton Rivas, about the One Spark festival, April, 2013:

What we also realized was that we will be the world’s first crowdfunding festival. The first place where the public has a chance to support tomorrow’s ideas, today. In real-time, and in person.

One Spark will bring artists, technologists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and the public together for 5 days. During One Spark 2013 each of these folks will share prototypes, experiments, and projects in a really cool way by using downtown Jacksonville as a platform. Any place can be a venue (parking lots, businesses, restaurants, parks, etc.). Anyone can enter.

We’re coming down to the wire on this Kickstarter campaign and are just under 70% of the way there for our $90,000 mark. As you know, this is a critical piece of the puzzle for One Spark. It’s about momentum over money at this point. Let’s not waste this opportunity.

I care deeply about the potential of the city, as do you – and even more about the people, like you, in our community. After traveling a lot this past year, we decided to try and do something to help the city. While the goal of One Spark is not economic development, there is no doubt that the by-product of an event with impact similar to that of something between Jazz Fest and the Superbowl will help fill space in our city.

We’re asking people to contribute via http://beonespark.com/kickstarter and contribute as little as $10 and share with this campaign with your networks. In reality, if just 1% of Jacksonville shows up and donates just $10. We’ll raise more than enough money to make this happen.

This isn’t an easy task and time is running out, but I believe that you and our collective community want to see this event happen.

–Elton Rivas

When one thinks of “The Circle of Life,” they automatically start singing the iconic Disney song. At least that’s what I do, but maybe I’m still just a kid at heart. However, to some artists, such as Sarah Crooks Flaire, it means so much more than the theme song to a movie about singing desert animals. It means the ever evolving world around us: the beauty and diversity of all living things.

In her piece entitled, “Circ de Vie” (Circle of Life), Flaire explores the idea of the circle of life by using elements from the natural world. She created this piece using mixed media. It incorporates painted maple plywood three-dimensional cutouts, colored Plexiglas pieces and figurative drawings. This monumental piece, as Crooks Flaire herself describes it, involves the use of botanical imagery and the five elements (water, fire, earth, wind and space) and is made in such a way that it leaves much of the use of elements up the imagination of the viewer. Crooks Flaire describes her piece, as “a celebration of the diversity of life.”

Located above the entrance to the Mandarin Branch Library, this piece is the last in a series of public artworks for libraries that was funded by the Better Jacksonville Plan. So if you’re ever in the Mandarin area you should go to the library and see this piece and think of what it means to you. Also while you’re there, pick up a copy of The Lion King and bring the “Circle of Life” full circle. Pun intended.

Check out the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s Art in Public Places Gallery for more great public art.

Art lies not only within the Museums in Jacksonville, but throughout the city in public places that you may or may not have already been to. Some may be in the most unexpected places that you visit on a daily basis or some may be lying around town that you just never got a chance to go visit. If given the chance, you must get out and marvel at the beauty that is right here in our own backyard, and don’t worry… there’s free admission.

My top choice for public art would be The Main Library – Laura Street Exterior called Wisdom. Washington D.C. artist Larry Kirkland created a large-scale sculpture that can be seen from both Monroe and Laura Street. The sculpture is a bronze owl, a traditional symbol of wisdom which appropriately identifies the Main Library as a place of pursuit for information, knowledge, and wisdom.  In ancient Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was able to transform herself into an owl. The sculpture was inspired by a sculpture created by Michelangelo for the Medici Chapel in Florence, Italy. The golden key, located above the owl, incorporates the Greek letters A – Z, referencing the beginning and end, while the key itself unlocks the knowledge inside the books that the owl is sitting upon. Kirkland also created cast bronze animals, toys, and trains in the Kid’s Walk, a 650 foot bridge connecting Jacksonville’s Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Clinic.

Number two on my list, The Riverside Memorial Park, Winged Victory. It has gotten much recognition in the past and many painters use it as their subject in the art. But what makes it so special? Winged Victory memorializes the 1,200 soldiers from Florida killed during the First World War. The statue depicts “the winged figure of youth,” a muscular character rising valiantly and victoriously above “the mad maelstrom of earthly passions.” Unveiled on Christmas Day in 1924, the message was overlooked by many residents of the Riverside neighborhood, more than likely because they thought the statue was too distracting and mocking the community standards of decency. Today the statue stands proud and no word is said about its’ “decency.” St. Augustine native sculptor, C. Adrian Pillars, began working on the statue in 1922, drawing inspiration from a sentimental war poem by soldier-poet Allan Seeger who lost his life in WWI. It seems to me he may have drawn inspiration from the Winged Victory of Samothrace, but that may be a coincidence.

And last on my top three list would be The Lions of San Marco Fountain.  Added in 1997 to the San Marco Area, they have become iconic to the San Marco area, reflecting the area’s association with Venice, Italy.  Angela Shiffanela and Alan Wilson designed these three lounging lions that have caught my eye every time I enter San Marco Square.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, the Museum of Science and History, and the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens invite you to attend our second annual SHZAM Camp!

Our three institutions have partnered again this year to offer a unique Camp experience for children ages 8-11. This year’s shared theme is Passport to Florida: students will explore the unique history and culture, and learn about the plants and animals that call Florida home. Students will spend each day at a different location: Monday at The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Tuesday at The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, and Wednesday at The Museum of Science and History.

Camps meet from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Extended Care is available from 8:00-5:00 at each location.

$105 for Family Members of any of the three institutions; $120 for non-members.
$10 fee per child/per day for before or after care
For more information, please contact us at (904) 757-4463, ext. 122.

Register ONLINE.

Zoo Campers have the opportunity to go behind the scenes to learn more about the exotic animals in our collection. In order to participate, shoes must completely cover the feet; sandals, heelies, crocs and all other shoes that expose the bare skin of feet or interfere with walking are not permitted during behind the scene tours. Children who do not follow the behavior policies and safety directions or wear the prescribed shoes will not be permitted in behind the scene areas.

First Wednesday Art Walk provides the opportunity for artists and artisans to display their work, musicians to fill the air with wonderful sounds, and local businesses to flourish.  The people of Jacksonville, in turn, have the opportunity to experience the life of the city in a much more exciting way than the typical stroll down Laura Street.

Photos by Amber Sesnick

Last night, Hemming Plaza was filled with vendors, painted pianos were being played, mustaches being worn, and there was even the odd Star Wars character roaming the sidewalks.  This month Art Walk celebrated Movember, a worldwide movement aimed at raising both funds and awareness to change the face of men’s health, in particular prostate cancer.  Throughout the streets you could, for a donation, design your own mustache, sample local brewer Intuition Ale Work’s new special Movembrew, or take home some yummy baked goods.  If you have not yet experienced the excitement that is Art Walk, I strongly encourage you to mark your calendar for the first Wednesday in December and join in on the fun.  Not only is it a great way to support the arts and culture in Jacksonville, but also to see all that downtown has to offer.

By the time the fire was put out and the smoke subdued, the devastation had destroyed 146 city blocks, over 2,300 buildings, left 10,000 Jacksonville residents homeless and it took the lives of seven. Yet one week after the devastation of the fire, an outstanding reconstruction of the city started taking place, setting the path for modern day Jacksonville.

In 2003, Bruce White’s sculpture, Memorial to the Great Fire of Jacksonville, was erected along the Northbank river walk. His was the first work created after the City of Jacksonville adopted the Art in Public Placed Ordinance. Standing at 40’ high, this sculpture symbolizes all the buildings that were destroyed by this horrific fire so many years ago.

It truly is a splendid work of art. Absolutely breathtaking when you look it and think about what it stands for, not just the fire, but life in general. So, next time you’re down in that area of town, I recommend you check it out and revel in the history of our city. If you want to learn more information about the history of the fire, check out The Jacksonville Fire Museum while you’re at it.

By Bianca Askevold, Marketing Intern

5 Points Theatre is having an encore presentation of Classic Silent Comedy on September 22, 2011 at 7:00 PM. The show will begin with Fatty and Buster’s “The Bell Boy,” (1918). “Norman’s Shorts” will follow, which features clips from some of Richard E. Norman’s silent films. Lastly, “Fatty’s Plucky Pub” will bring the night to a close. Traditionally, silent films were accompanied by live music and sound effects, and this night will be no different. Bob Moore and Tony Steve will perform along with the films. There will also be special guest appearance by Richard E. Norman, portrayed by local actor An-thony Hodge and Fatty Arbuckle, portrayed by Bobb Robinson.

The Cummer is host to Jacksonville’s Norman Studios: Movie Posters from the Permanent Collection until October 30, 2011. The exhibit features movie posters from many of Norman Studio productions, including “The Flying Ace” (1926), which is featured in the event at 5 Points.

Tickets are $10 (Seniors $8), and can be ordered online from the 5 Points Theater.

For more information check out The Jacksonville Jazz Festival on Facebook or on Twitter @JaxJazzFest

Have you ever been to the Veterans Memorial Arena and looked up to the sky? If you have, then you’ve probably seen the “Talking Continents.” But if you haven’t, you might want to keep reading.

The Talking Continents are six, 6’ tall statues made from fiberglass, steel and LED lights. Each figure is in a kneeling position and perched atop a 30’ high pole happily greeting the guests arriving to the arena. The six figures symbolize the six inhabited continents of the world and the LED lights located inside regularly change colors, making it seem as though the figures are communicating with each other. All six figures can be seen by each other, helping their silent communication be fulfilled.

The artist, Jaume Plensa from Barcelona, Spain, said “The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is a meeting place for people. ‘Talking Continents’ is based on a desire to unite and complement the complex group of elements that make up the area. The seated figures are talking in colors. Their silent conversation is directed to us as a universal language of rhythms and colors and serves as a way to invite people to enjoy the area.”

So next time you’re going to watch your favorite artist perform, or watch a great Jacksonville Sharks game, look to the sky for the Talking Continents, you won’t be disappointed.

Check out the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s Art in Public Places Gallery for more great public art.

One of the central components of the River Friendly Campaign is the Rain Barrel Project. Partnering businesses, schools, and organizations in northeast Florida are displaying artistically-designed rain barrels to help raise awareness about conserving water and how to be river friendly.    The Cummer has placed a rain barrel in front of our beautiful historical gardens, which are situated on the St. Johns River.  Come view our rain barrel and take the pledge to protect the St. Johns River.

Second through fourth grade artists collaborated to create the rain barrel, “Rain That Shines” for the St. John’s Riverkeeper project.  The young artists gather each Tuesday afternoon at the studio of Tayloe White where they use various art mediums to explore the intersection of art and science.  “My goal is to encourage exploration and innovative thinking through experimentation with art,” said painter Tayloe White.  “This project provided an opportunity for these innovative thinkers to learn that making art is more than painting a pretty picture. Their creative work has the power to inform, inspire, and invite curiosity.”

Find out more about how you can help YOUR river.

On Saturday, April 10 the Cummer educational staff had the pleasure to host an art making activity for the participants of the annual HEAL Walk at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens.  The HEAL foundation is dedicated to assisting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders living in the greater Jacksonville area.

Participants at the walk spent the morning walking through the Zoo in support of family and friends with Autistism Spectrum Disorder.  After winding their way through the Zoo pathways participants ended at a family fun area.  Here the families enjoyed music, food, and art making activities provided by the Cummer as well as MOCA.

A great time was had by all.  If you missed this year’s event we hope to see you next year at the HEAL Zoo Walk 2012.

Jacksonville Arts League at Creativity Corner

We began by stopping in at the Creativity Corner to make a masterpiece for my son to take home.  The Art League of Jacksonville was facilitating the art project that day.  We made scribble drawings where we closed our eyes, made a scribble, then added details to make it look like something else.

We visited a number of vendors including AlaArt, JC’s Daily Bread, Mom and Pop Crafts, and the farmer’s market.

We loved watching the girls with day-glow hair hula hooping…

…and the amazing feats of juggler Bruce Sarafin were out of this world!  He juggled fire while on a 3-tiered unicycle!

We also had the chance to listen to live music, watch a portraitist in action, get our faces painted, and balloon animals made!

Our Museum Educators will be out at RAM this Saturday at the Creativity Corner, facilitating a crayon resist watercolor project based on the St. Johns River.  Stop by to get your FREE admission coupon to use any time in the next three months!

This weekend, my family and I went to explore the museum.  Myself, my husband, my four-year-old son, and my two-year-old niece enjoyed a full two hours of fun at the Museum.  We started off our experience in the galleries, talking with the kids about which pieces of art they liked best, and the colors, shapes, and subjects in some of their favorite pieces.

After making our way through all of the gallery spaces, we hopped on the elevator and went up to the 5th floor, which houses the Art Explorium Loft, studio classrooms, and educational department gallery space.  We began by entering the studio classroom and exploring the fundamentals of paint.  The actual project was to try to paint the negative (or empty) space around a chair that was set up on a table in the center of the room.  Though the specifics of this project were a bit too technical for my little ones, they were encouraged to explore the medium of paint, which is a great first step in the learning process.  They both LOVED the chance to get a little messy, learn about colors, and make a masterpiece of their own.

While our creations were left to dry on the racks in the studio, we took a walk through the educational gallery space on our way to the Art Explorium Loft.  They have something for kids of all ages (even just kids at heart) in this truly engaging area. We made light sensitive images, built found object sculptures, and  explored colors, shapes, and textures at the texture table, mobile building, and kaleidescope centers.  The kids could have entertained themselves all day, but mom and dad were exhausted after about an hour.

We picked up our artwork from the studio and made our way downstairs to peruse the Museum store.  We found local art, handcrafted jewelry, a plethora of books, and engaging and creative toys.

Even leaving the Museum was fun as the kids ran around “in the art” as my son put it.  The iconic _____ sculpture outside the front entrance of the Museum is a beautiful addition to the Downtown landscape and a favorite for kids of all ages!