Mural by Shaun Thurston in TIAA Bank Field. @shaunthurston
Author: Alexa Andino, Downtown Vision Marketing and Events Intern
Looking for something fun to do today in DTJax? Visit these museums, walk through the bustling streets and see jaw-dropping murals by outstanding artists.
Why Art? Art is impactful in many ways. Taking a break from your busy schedule to go look at a mural or stroll through an art gallery can actually drop stress levels in your body. A study showed a decrease in self-reported stress after a gallery visit when compared with immediately before the visit. This was then backed up by the decrease in cortisol (stress hormone) levels after visiting a gallery. Check out these local spots to de-stress and soak in incredible local culture!
Museums and Galleries:
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
333 N Laura St
Tues – Sat: 11 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Sun: 12 – 5 P.M.
Mon: Closed
Currently visits are by appointment only.
MOCA is an educational and cultural institution with the University of North Florida (UNF). It was founded in 1924.
The Ritz Theatre and Museum
829 N Davis St
Tues – Fri: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.
weekends by appointment only.
Self Guided Tour tickets must be paid online.
Docent-led tours are by appointment only.
The Ritz Theatre and Museum was constructed in 1999 on the site of the 1929 Ritz Theater movie house in Jacksonville’s historic African American community of La Villa.
What’s new? An exhibit entitled “Art With a Heart: Behind the Mask” will be available from September 11, 2021 – January 2, 2022. The exhibit features work from patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic, St. Vincent’s, Mayo Clinic, and Baptist Medical Center.
The Southlight Gallery
1 Independent Dr #113
Tues – Fri: 11 A.M. – 3 P.M.
Monthly First Wednesday Art Walk: 5 PM.-8 P.M.
Southlight Gallery provides a community-involved art space where local artists can show and sell their works with limited gallery fees. Currently, they feature 24 local artists.
What’s new? Check out their juried exhibition at King Maker Brewery, 720 King St., Jacksonville, FL, 32204 from July 1st to September 30th.
The Corner Gallery
40 E Adams S in the Jessie Ball duPont Center
Mon – Fri: 9:30 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Sat – Sun: Closed
Moving the Margins: Artist in Residence utilizes The Corner Gallery to provide opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) artists.
What’s new? The current exhibit is Oversteet Ducasse’s Triggered: Catalyst to Activist and runs from August 12th to October 29th. Ducasse dubs his style as Deepressionist. According to Ducasse, the word Deepressionist expresses the depth of thought and imagination an artist must obtain to create.
“The number one rule in art,” says Ducasse. “Is that there are no rules.”
The Lark Gallery
229 N Hogan St
The Lark is a place for artists to create and share their work. George Saoud, the owner, has plans to establish The Lark as a reason for people to come to DTJax by hosting events and exhibitions for the community. The team at The Lark believed a lark would be the perfect symbol for the space in order to express the happiness, creativity, and freedom offered in this revitalized downtown treasure of a space.
Book The Lark: events@thelarkjax.com
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Mon: Closed
Tues & Fri: 11 A.M.– 9 P.M.
Wed, Thurs & Sat : 11 A.M.– 4 P.M.
Sun: 12–4 P.M.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has more than 5,000 works of art dating from 2100 B.C. through the 21st century. The museum was built on the site of the home of Ninah and Arthur Cummer and opened its doors on November 10, 1961. Currently, it is largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida.
What’s new to see? One of the current exhibits is Rebecca Louise Law: The Journey in which British artist Rebecca Louise Law designed and created an installation using both dried and fresh plant materials to form an immersive visitor experience that explores the relationship between humanity and nature. The exhibit is in the museum from July 30, 2021, to January 9, 2022.
Public Art:
Downtown Jacksonville is decked out in internationally acclaimed art thanks to amazing local businesses and organizations such as Art Republic and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.
- Art Republic Global empowers artists by giving them access to resources and public spaces. Downtown Jacksonville is a part of Art Republic’s Community Cultural Development program due to its potential to change and grow.
- In 1997, the Art in Public Places Program (APP) was created in behalf of the City by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. The program strives to bring art in accessible spaces throughout the city and has procured 115 artworks in Duval County. Visit their Public Art Map.
Here are a few examples of murals you can see while exploring Downtown Jacksonville!
Untitled by Bik Ismo
This mural is located at 115 N Davis Street. Puerto Rican artist, Bik Ismo, specializes in chrome paintings which is why he is well known as the “Chrome Master”. He created this mural for Art Republic Global.
Multiple Murals by Shaun Thurston
The Earth Gods mural (above) is located at 112 E Adams Street. This spray-painted mural was created in 2014. Earth Gods was brought by the Art in Public Places Program. Shaun Thurston has artwork all over Jacksonville including the mural at the MOSH (Museum of Science and History) and the Floating Land mural at Chamblin’s Uptown shown below.
The Dance of the Seven Sins Muses by Okuda San Miguel
The Dance of the Seven Sin Muses mural is located at 927 W Forsyth Street. Okuda is a Spanish painter that specializes in the use of bright colors and geometric shapes. His artwork touches on existentialism, the universe, the infinite, the meaning of life, and the false freedom of capitalism. This mural is part of the Art in Public Places Program.
Looking for more?
Check out Visit Jacksonville’s Neighborhood Mural Maps and Hidden Jacksonville’s Mural Map to discover more art around Jacksonville!
Art Events:
First Wednesday Art Walk
Downtown Vision has proudly hosted the First Wednesday Art Walk since 2003 to encourage people to visit #DTJax and celebrate the community’s diverse creative talent. There are three major hubs of the Art Walk: James Weldon Johnson Park, The Jessie (duPont Center), and Vagabond Flea at the Vystar Breezeway, and all the businesses and public art between.
Art Walk is on October 6th! Don’t miss out on this chance to support #DTJax’s artists and businesses.
Riverside Arts Market
The Riverside Arts Market (RAM) happens every Saturday 10 A.M. – 3 P.M. Check it out and support local businesses, artists and farmers. There are a variety of different types of vendors at RAM and definitely something for everyone!
belloboopie. Photo Source.