Architect Mario Cartaya Talk on Cuban Architecture at CF Appleton Oct. 8

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month with the popular Free First Saturday series.

The next Free First Saturday is Oct. 7. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors can enjoy the permanent collection and several special exhibitions, including “The Unscene South: Charles Eady Revisits History” and “Caught Up in History and Captured on Film: Randy Batista’s Photographs of Florida and Cuba.”

At 1 p.m., architect and author Mario Cartaya will give a free presentation in the Appleton auditorium called, “Across the Florida Straits to Cuba: A Living History of the Buildings Left Behind.” Cuba is a historical laboratory of buildings, streets and artifacts that have been mostly untouched since 1960 — allowing visitors to transport themselves into a time and space that has not evolved into modern times. In this historical presentation, Cartaya retraces and recalls six decades of friendly and cooperative Cuban-American relations and history.

Free First Saturday visitors can also visit the Appleton Artspace for art activities for all ages. The Smoked Biscuit Company food truck will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

CF to Host Groundbreaking For Center For Nursing

The College of Central Florida invites the community to a groundbreaking for the CF Center for Nursing at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m. The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership will join college officials to break ground for the new building.

Infrastructure is in place and construction will soon begin on the $20 million capital expansion project, with funding provided by the Florida Legislature, Marion County Hospital District and Marion County Commission. The first classes are expected to be offered in the building in January 2025.

In spring 2023, CF received a $6.7 million Linking Industry to Nursing Education grant from the Florida Legislature to expand its nursing program. CF’s Associate Degree Nursing program was named the 2023 Best RN Program in Florida by Registered Nursing.org.

RSVP for the groundbreaking here. To learn more about the CF Debbie Ressler Nursing program, visit www.CF.edu/nursing.

CF Study Abroad Program to Host Two Trips in 2024

Community members are invited to join College of Central Florida students and faculty on two exciting study abroad trips in 2024. The first trip will be to Costa Rica, March 11-15, and will focus on community development. The second trip will be to Austria, May 5-12, with experiences centered around music appreciation.

The CF Study Abroad program, in partnership with the Study Abroad Association, is dedicated to facilitating education through international experiences that provide diverse and interesting opportunities for experiential learning.

Trip prices include accommodations, all ground transportation, full-time local guides, 24/7 on-ground emergency support, travelers’ health insurance and liability insurance, plus tips and gratuities. Some to all meals may be covered depending on the trip. The cost of the Costa Rica trip is approximately $1,500 and the Austria trip is approximately $1,970. Price is an estimate until tickets are finalized. Scholarships may be available. Round-trip airfare is not included.

The Costa Rica trip includes an introduction to medicinal plants, traditional Caribbean cooking lessons, participation in community projects, plus a visit to Cahuita National Park and Playa Negra beach. The Austria trip includes cultural walking tours, a visit to Mozart’s Birthplace Museum, a classical concert and time to explore Vienna, Austria’s beautiful capital city.

Applications are open now for these educational trips. Being enrolled as a CF student is not required for participation.

For more information, visit www.CF.edu/StudyAbroad or contact the Study Abroad coordinator Jean Scheppers at scheppej@cf.edu.

CF to Open Thursday Following Hurricane Idalia

The College of Central Florida will reopen Thursday, Aug. 31, following Hurricane Idalia. The reopening is for all sites, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, as well as online classes. Scheduled activities will also resume.

We understand that some students, faculty and staff in our service area of Citrus, Levy and Marion counties may be dealing with difficult circumstances, and we encourage personal discretion as they resume normal activities. Students who have been impacted should work directly with their instructors.

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff are among our highest priorities as we also continue to serve our mission of providing education to our students.

CF to Close for Tropical Storm Idalia

Aug. 28, 2023

The College of Central Florida will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to Tropical Storm Idalia. Monday evening classes will continue as scheduled.

The closing is for all sites, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, as well as online classes. Scheduled activities also have been cancelled.

We plan to reopen Thursday morning for classes and all business operations, weather permitting. Please continue to monitor the CF website (www.CF.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

CF Webber Gallery Presents ‘Perfect Black: Visual Expressions of The Southern, Rural, African American Experience’

The College of Central Florida Webber Gallery presents “Perfect Black: Visual Expressions of the Southern, Rural, African American Experience” on view Nov. 6-Dec. 7. Visitors will see artwork that expresses the personal viewpoints of Black artists from the Southeast in all mediums.

The competitive, regional exhibition was inspired by Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson’s 2021 book of poetry, “Perfect Black,” which features vivid imagery of her experience growing up in Southern Appalachia.

Entries will be judged by Steve Prince, director of engagement and distinguished artist in residence at the Muscarelle Museum at William and Mary University. He is a mixed media artist, master printmaker, lecturer and art educator who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University.

The community is invited to a reception and awards presentation on Friday, Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m.

The Webber Gallery is located at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and admission is free. For more information, visit www.CF.edu/Webber or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

CF Students Present ‘The Hound of The Baskervilles’

Love a good whodunit mystery? Just in time for Halloween, the College of Central Florida Visual and Performing Arts students will present “The Hound of the Baskervilles” live on stage Oct. 26-29.

Performances times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-28, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

“I think this is the most entertaining Sherlock Holmes mystery,” said Nonalee Davis, CF assistant professor of theatre and the play’s director. “It’s set in a creepy Victorian house on the moor and has several supernatural characteristics. If you don’t know the story, you’re going to be super surprised at whodunit! It will be a fun way for our students to help the community get in the Halloween spirit.”

Ten CF students make up the cast, including CF Theatre veteran Collin Williams as Sherlock Holmes. Another 13 CF students are working on the production as stage managers, costume designers and technical crew members. The set is designed by Tyler Stentiford and built by students under the technical direction of Dassance Fine Arts Center Theatre Manager Mario Cieri.

Known as the most spine-chilling Sherlock Holmes mystery, “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Tim Kelly features suspense, humor and haunting. Will Sir Henry, heir to the Baskerville fortune, succumb to the family curse – death at the fangs of the beast who prowls the moor? Follow along as the sleuth casts suspicion on sinister servants, ladies in distress and escaped convicts to find out who wrote the letter that summoned the hound.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students and can be purchased beginning Sept. 6 at cf.universitytickets.com or by calling 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for CF students, faculty and staff with valid I.D.

For more information about CF Visual and Performing Arts events, visit CF.edu/VPAEvents.

CF Stearns Speaker Series Hosts “AI in Your Everyday Life”

Wondering how artificial intelligence will affect you? The College of Central Florida Stearns Speaker Series will host a free presentation, “AI in Your Everyday Life: Career, Creativity and Productivity,” on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 12:30 p.m. at the Clifford B. Stearns Learning Resources Center on the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.

Guest speaker Corinne Hoisington will help attendees better understand the opportunities for increased productivity by using AI to automate tasks.

“Let’s connect to the latest information on ChatGPT, AI Art and how this changes the classroom and workplace,” Hoisington said. “As we better understand the implications of AI tools for education and the workplace, and as the resources transition from expert reactions and opinion pieces to more specific evidence from research, continued conversations are needed about how to ethically use this tool to enhance productivity and creativity.”

Hoisington is a professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College who provides training to corporations and administrative professionals and is the recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Business and Computing.

“The speaker series provides an opportunity for the college community and citizens in Marion and the surrounding counties to meet and hear from distinguished Americans,” said Cliff Stearns, who established the Friends of Cliff Stearns Endowed Chair through a gift to the CF Foundation in December 2020. The series aims to bring national and regional speakers on history, political science and technology to the CF campus to benefit both students and the community.

Registration is encouraged at CF.edu/Stearns.

CF Appleton Museum of Art Announces 2023 Mobile Photography Contest Winners

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is pleased to announce the winners of the ninth annual “Mobile Photography Contest & Exhibition.”

Participants of all ages were invited to submit one photo per category. Throughout the month of July, the Appleton received 519 mobile photos inspired by four categories: Light and Shadow, Pattern, Summer Scenes and My Kid Took That.

“Each year, the Appleton looks forward to this fun community event,” said Victoria Billig, Appleton assistant director. “Now in its ninth year, we continue to be impressed by the amazing displays of creativity. It’s truly inspiring to see the unique ways that participants interpret the categories.”

Entries were juried by Jenny Eggers of Jenny E. Photography.

“Jurying the mobile photo contest was eye-opening in the most delightful way,” Eggers said. “There were beautiful technical moments with creative composition, color harmony, the use of light, etc… But what really impressed me was the storytelling. Many of the images whisked me away!”

All 519 photos will be on view at the museum Aug. 22-Sept. 24. Regular museum admission fees apply to see the exhibition. Visitors can enjoy free admission on Sept. 2 for Free First Saturday. You can also see the winning photos online at AppletonMuseum.org/2023-mobile-photography-exhibition.

“We are thankful to those who participated this year and congratulate all of the winners,” said Kerry Elkins, Appleton Museum specialist. “The contest is a wonderful way to engage the community and share experiences in such a universal way, especially with the Summer Scenes category that saw new views of our own backyard as well as abroad. The Appleton invites the participants and visitors alike to see the Mobile Photography exhibition.”

 

2023 Mobile Photography Winners

Light and Shadow Category:

First Place, Jason Row, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

Second Place, Jon Barber, iPhone 11 Pro

Third Place, Peter Meyerhoefer, iPhone 13 Pro

Pattern Category:

First Place, Rayhan Ahmed, Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Second Place, Rin Suggs, Motorola Edge 5G UW

Third Place, Dominika Koszowska, Sony Xperia 5 IV

Summer Scenes Category:

First Place, Justin MacDonald, iPhone 11

Second Place, Clarissa Cervantes

Third Place, Megan Nelson, iPhone 13

My Kid Took That Category:

First Place, Mary Clare, Age 8, iPhone 12

Second Place, Marcus von Rosenberg, iPhone 13

Third Place, Amira, Age 6, Galaxy S22+

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

CF Appleton Museum of Art Announces Fall 2023 Class Schedule

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, announces the Fall 2023 schedule of studio art classes for children and adults.

For children, the Museum & Me Pre-K program returns on Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. By popular demand, this program for ages 2-5 now meets bimonthly, and introduces children to the Appleton through story time, a brief gallery visit and a corresponding art activity in the Artspace. For children ages 8-12, Art Explorations is back with a six-week session focusing on hand-building with clay, scheduled for after school on Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 11. Just for teens, a six-week clay class focusing on wheel throwing, will meet on Saturdays beginning Oct. 14.

New this year is a three-week art class for ages 5-7 called Art Adventures. This class meets on Saturdays beginning Oct. 7 and will introduce pint-sized Picassos to creating art in a studio environment. A new program called Museum Happenings is designed with homeschool and independent school students in mind. Meet an educator in the lobby and pick up a special activity sheet, complete the activity sheet in the museum galleries, then visit the Artspace for an accompanying art project led by the education team. This program meets on Wednesdays, Sept. 20 and Oct. 25.

A special holiday-inspired workshop on Dec. 9 allows children and an accompanying adult to make art together. Create a clay horse ornament inspired by the colorful wooden Dala horses of Sweden.

For adults, the Art 101 workshop series returns with Paper Quilling on Sept. 12, Abstract Mood Painting on Oct. 10 and Fall Leaves Colored Pencil and Watercolor workshop on Nov. 14. All materials are provided for these single-day, three-hour workshops. A Reduction Printmaking class on Sept. 30 will have participants creating multicolored, layered prints using a single print block during one four-hour session with E. Marie Fielding. Other single-day workshops include a charcoal drawing class led by Christina Szakonyi that meets on Oct. 14, and an Art Deco Mandala Painting workshop with Lisa Russo that meets on Dec. 9.

Multiweek classes for adults include Dig Into Clay Wheel Throwing that begins Sept. 30. The six-week session is offered on Saturdays and is open to potters of all skill levels.

“The Appleton Clay Lab features 11 pottery wheels and is the only one of its kind in the area,” said Hollis Mutch, museum educator. “We welcome all students, from beginner to advanced.”

Also this fall, the Master Class Series welcomes acclaimed visiting artist Anthony Ackrill. Focused on teaching the basics of figure drawing from life with charcoal or pencil, participants will learn the steps of establishing a solid rendition of the model. Ackrill trained as a student at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy for five years, where he then taught anatomy, figure painting and figure drawing. Ackrill’s painting, “Reaper,” is part of the Appleton’s permanent collection.

“By adding several new programs this year, we are pleased to meet the increased need in our community for arts and education,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton director.

Advance registration is required for all classes and programs. Visit AppletonMuseum.org for full class details and to register.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

CF Ira Holmes International Film Series Launches Sept. 12

The Ira Holmes International Film Series at the College of Central Florida returns in September with a full season of 12 films from across the globe – plus special events including a live filmmaker Q&A at Ocala’s historic Marion Theatre, a sci-fi Halloween costume contest, a kid-friendly Japanese anime feature and bonus performances by the Southwest Florida dance team made famous in a recent documentary.

The series kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 12, with the 2022 Polish film “EO,” which follows the journey of an adorable nomadic donkey named EO, removed from a circus, who experiences both cruelty and kindness from a cast of human characters. With stunning cinematography and a resonant musical score, the drama road movie directed by Jerzy Skolimowski earned the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and an Academy Award nomination. Screenings will be held at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art and 7 p.m. at the CF Ocala Campus, Building 8, Room 110, 3001 S.W. College Road.

“This season features an exciting slate of films representing a diverse range of cultural topics and locations across the globe, with special features for Hispanic Heritage Month and Women’s History Month,” said series coordinator and CF Professor Wendy Adams. “Whether you like action, anime, comedy, documentary, drama or science fiction, we’ve got something you’ll enjoy.”

Series Schedule:

Sept. 12 – “EO”

Sept. 26 – “Long Flat Balls: Broken Promises”

Oct. 10 – “Utama”

Oct. 24 –  “Stewart Udall and the Politics of Beauty” special event at the Marion Theatre. One screening only at 7 p.m. Filmmaker John de Graaf will introduce his latest documentary and host a Q&A following the film. The CF Student Activities Board will provide a free popcorn and drink for CF students and film series members.

Oct. 31 – “Fantastic Planet” special Halloween event: wear a sci-fi-inspired costume to the 7 p.m. screening and win a prize. The CF Student Activities Board will provide refreshments and giveaways.

Nov. 14 – “Honeyland”

Jan. 30 – “Pather Panchali”

Feb. 4 – “Spirited Away” special event at the Marion Theatre. One Sunday 2 p.m. screening of the Academy Award-winning animated fantasy, rated PG. The CF Student Activities Board will provide a free popcorn and drink for CF students and film series members.

Feb. 13 – “Petite Maman”

Feb. 27 – “Calendar Girls” (2022) plus an additional special event at the Appleton Museum: on Saturday, March 2, meet the Southwest Florida dance team featured in the film and watch them perform at 11 a.m. and noon. Free as part of Free First Saturday.

March 26 – “Polite Society”

April 9 – “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

All films will be shown Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, and at 7 p.m. at the College of Central Florida, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110, unless otherwise noted. Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public. Films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.