The Jacksonville Historical Society is sponsoring a day-long event on June 11, 2022 to celebrate Jacksonville’s Bicentennial. The day will be filled with art exhibits, vendors, music and fireworks. Detailed event information can be found at jax200.org.
Art tells the history.
Annelies Dykgraaf, President,
Jacksonville Artist Guild
Founded in 1822, the city of Jacksonville, Florida, is brimming with history and the stories of those that have influenced its vibrant culture over the past 200 years.
Just walk down its streets and you will be inspired and influenced by its art.
Art Community Involvement
Seven years ago, Artist Ron Episcopo relocated from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville with his husband and two dogs. Now, he is immersed in the local art community. As the Chair of JAX Art 200, he has been working tirelessly with different art groups, museums and local businesses to plan various art exhibits, historical commemorations and to raise the awareness of the bicentennial events on June 11th.
Jacksonville has so much to offer, especially to the arts. when I saw the murals downtown, when I visited the Cummer, MOSH… MOCA really floored me.
Ron Episcopo, artist and Chair of JAX Art 200
On June 11th, the art community will converge on Laura Street downtown both exhibiting their works and presenting live art demonstrations. Vystar Credit Union, Erick Wahl Art, Wells Fargo and Farah & Farah are sponsors of the Arts of Jacksonville for the bicentennial.
The collection of art by local children in Duval county, entitled the Vystar Kids’ Wall of Art, will be located in front of the Jacksonville Public Library. The library will also host a local artist exhibition during the entire month of June 2022. There will be a second exhibition location to be named at a later date.
The Imposters, a group of character actors, will be dressed in 1822 attire and mingling with the crowds as representations of influential figures in Jacksonville history. And many more exciting things are yet to be announced.
Get Involved
The Jacksonville Artist Guild and the Art Center Cooperative are coordinating the artist calls for the bicentennial exhibitions to include the Vystar Kid’s Wall of Art. These organizations recently exhibited at the Jacksonville International Airport. According to Lisa Lofton, the art exhibit was all about Jacksonville from the parks and bridges to the zoo and the Florida Theater.
do things. work with your hands. be creative. It doesn’t matter what you’re creating. just create!
Lisa Lofton, President of The Art Center Cooperative
The theme of the Bicentennial Call to Artist is Illustrate your Jacksonville with a current or past event, place, person, etc. Screening fee for local artists is $30. Submission deadline for local artists is May 18, 2022. Submission deadline for children is June 1, 2022. Check out these links for more information on children art submissions and local artist submissions.
This promotion video and its original music were sponsored and produced by Mix Theory Studios.