A limited number of students will be accepted into the College of Central Florida Entrepreneurship Academy’s inaugural cohort, which will begin classes in Spring 2023. Interested students should plan to attend one of two information sessions in October: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 5 p.m., at the Ewers Century Center, Room 107, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala, or Wednesday, Oct. 19, 12:30 p.m., at the Ewers Century Center, Room 101.

The CF Entrepreneurship Academy is an innovative program developed in partnership with Chick-fil-A of Ocala that will give students a new option for training to become business community leaders. CF students selected for the academy will receive two semesters of instruction in entrepreneurship-focused courses, including Principles of Management, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Opportunities, and Small Business Management, which lead to a Business Entrepreneurship College Credit Certificate. Each course will be complemented with hands-on experiential activities organized by Chick-fil-A of Ocala leadership.

For more information, visit CF.edu/entrepreneurshipacademy.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, announces “BLOW UP II: Inflatable Contemporary Art,” on view Oct. 8-Dec. 11, 2022.

The larger-than-life inflatable art will transform the Edith-Marie Appleton Gallery and the museum lobby. This exhibition explores the imaginative and often whimsical ways that artists use air as a tool for creating large-scale sculpture. The eight internationally renowned artists of the supersized inflatable installations translate everyday materials into a wide array of figurative, conceptual and abstract imagery that are rich with meaning.

“BLOW UP II” was organized by Carrie Lederer, Curator of Exhibitions, Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, California.

“The first inflatable, invented in 18th-century France, was seemingly pure magic and continues to fascinate,” Lederer said. “Ever-present in our daily lives, the ubiquitous inflatables – from bouncy house to floppy tube men – provide endless amusement, whimsy and a playful sense of lift-off and levitation. Tapping into this idea with humor, scale and surprise, the artworks in “BLOW UP II” harness the power of air and our imaginations to take us on extraordinary journeys, exploring subjects as varied as anime, superheroes, history, politics and even mortality.”

What type of new viewing experiences are created when objects are blown up to an enormous scale? Los Angeles-based artist Jen Stark goes the abstract route, expanding her acclaimed neon rainbow to a massive scale in her first experiment with inflatables. Her vibrant, psychedelic visuals cover an 8-foot-tall cone, transporting the viewer to a dayglow fantasy space. Artist Susan Lee-Chun uses inflatables as a means to make unconscious or intentionally buried perceptions in our social fabric impossible to ignore. Her cheeky sculpture “Untitled (Flamingos only hang by the pool)” enlarges pink flamingos, a common symbol of Miami Beach, to an impossibly large size. Their imposing pink bodies force viewers to consider the pink flamingo with all of its flamboyant symbolism and history.

Regardless of underlying meaning, humor, playfulness and accessibility are key aspects of all of the works featured in “BLOW UP II.” This is especially important to the work of FriendsWithYou, a fine art collaboration of artists Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, who state that the sole purpose of their collective is “spreading the positive message of Magic, Luck and Friendship™.” Their whimsical, adorable anime characters prompt joyful reactions from viewers young and old.

Artists participating in “BLOW UP II” include Nicole Banowetz (Denver, Colorado), Sharon Engelstein (Houston, Texas), FriendsWithYou (Los Angeles, California), Joshua Harker (Dexter, Michigan), Susan Lee-Chun (Miami, Florida), Matt Ritchie (San Francisco, California), Lizabeth Rossof (Denver, Colorado) and Jen Stark (Los Angeles, California).

“With even the smallest works towering at over 8 feet, the renowned artists manipulate technology and air in breathtaking ways that overwhelm one’s senses while drawing you in to enjoy and learn,” said Jason Steuber, director of the Appleton Museum.

Special Events

Director’s Circle Reception
On Oct. 15, 5-7 p.m., Appleton Director’s Circle members are invited for an in-gallery meet-and-greet with Miami-based artist Susan Lee-Chun. There will be a complimentary bar and light hors d’oeuvres. RSVP is required to Colleen Harper, harperc@cf.edu, or 352-291-4455, ext. 1831.

Free Admission Days
See “BLOW UP II” with no admission fee on Arthur I. Appleton’s Birthday Weekend (Oct. 14-16), Free First Saturdays (Nov. 5 and Dec. 3) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

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 State Road 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.

Motivational speaker Dr. Michael A. Cadore Sr. will deliver an inspirational message at the College of Central Florida on Monday, Sept. 26. The public is invited to this free event from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the CF Webber Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

Cadore, a former NFL recruit, law enforcement officer and city councilman, says his life motto is, “If you don’t serve your community now, don’t expect your community to serve you later.”

Now the executive director of community engagement for external affairs at Eastern Florida State College, Cadore has served his community for more than three decades through education, public safety, civic engagement and mentoring. He was honored with EFSC’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from Eastern Kentucky University.

Light refreshments and event giveaways will be provided. The lecture is funded by the Mr. and Mrs. Seymour B. Robinson Memorial Endowed Chair.

For more information, visit CF.edu.

This 1 to 10-billion scale model of the solar system is being permanently installed along a 2,000-foot path across the CF Ocala Campus. It is a replica of the display located in front of the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the public is invited to an opening reception from 10:30 am.-12:30 p.m. at Building 20, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the 13 stanchions that represent planets from the sun all the way to the dwarf planet Pluto.

“It has been a long time coming, but we can finally say that the Voyage project is placed on the Ocala Campus,” said Brian Holloway, a CF student and president of the Kappa Nu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. “Our goal with this project is to instill enthusiasm and awareness of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) programs while also providing an opportunity for our students and the community to walk a 1 to 10-billion scale model of our solar system. Each of the 13 stanchions contains information pertaining to where you are in the solar system at that point of your walk.”

This model was brought to the College of Central Florida for permanent display by the Kappa Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa with assistance from the CF Foundation in honor of Mrs. Charlotte Rosenberg, Ocala Municipal Art Commission, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Renaissance Printing.

For more information about CF, visit CF.edu.

The College of Central Florida Ira Holmes International Film Series continues with the award-winning Chilean thriller “Tony Manero” on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The 2008 film follows a middle-aged criminal who’s obsessed with impersonating John Travolta’s “Saturday Night Fever” character. His dancing and showbiz aspirations turn dark and lead to theft, crime and even murder set against the backdrop of Chile’s Augusto Pinochet military dictatorship. This film is unrated and contains graphic violence and adult themes.

The film will be shown at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and at 7 p.m., at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110. 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.

For more details, visit CF.edu/filmseries.

The Friday Talks Business Advancement Series, a program of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership and the College of Central Florida, will feature Amy Osborne on Sept. 30, presenting “AI, IOT and Other Tech Trends in Business and Beyond.”

“The rapid pace of technology continues to change how we work, live and play,” Osborne said. “Staying ahead of the curve is essential for today’s businesses and tomorrow’s workforce.” She will discuss applications for artificial intelligence and will give attendees a sneak peek into the fascinating growth of new technology and implications for the future.

Attend in person at the CF Hampton Center, 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, or virtually at Facebook.com/OcalaCEP. The in-person event will begin with a continental breakfast at 8:15 a.m. and the presentation will begin at 8:30 a.m. RSVP to andrea@ocalacep.com.

For more information about CF, visit CF.edu. For more information about the Ocala CEP, visit ocalacep.com.

The former Newton Perry Aquatic Center, which will soon house athletics administration, will be named the Bob Zelinski Athletics Building.

“The board and college leadership are proud to recognize Bob for his years of service and commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “His expectations of hard work in the classroom as well as on the field ensured that his student-athletes were prepared for life after graduation.”

Zelinski retired from CF in June after 23 years of service to the college and 51 years in the Florida College System. Accomplishments while at the College of Central Florida include:

• 772 student-athletes named to All-Academic teams
• 78.5% graduation rate for student-athletes
• 39% of all student-athletes achieved a 3.00 GPA or higher
• 15 State Scholar-Athletes of the Year, more than any other college in Florida
• Two national championships (Tennis and Men’s Basketball)
• 11 national championship qualifying teams
• Six state championships
• 30 conference championships
• 46 All-Americans and 16 State Players of the Year
• In addition, CF student-athletes have been named National Junior College male athlete of the year, National Junior College female athlete of the year and National Junior College Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a combination of three awards that no other college in the nation has won.

Accomplishments at the state and national level include:

• Service as state commissioner for athletics for 18 years
• Service on the National Junior College Athletic Association Executive Committee and chair of the NJCAA Eligibility Committee for 10 years
• Two Distinguished Service Awards: Florida College System Activities Association and NJCAA
• Induction into six Halls of Fame

To learn more about CF, visit CF.edu.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, announces its fall 2022 schedule of one-of-a-kind studio art offerings for children and adults. From art teacher-led, one-day workshops to multiweek classes, there’s something for everyone.

For children, the Art Explorations program begins the week of Sept. 7 with six-week painting and drawing classes for ages 7-12. Two options are offered: after school on Wednesdays, and Saturday mornings. In October, six-week sessions focusing on clay will begin. All materials are provided for drawing, painting and clay. The popular Museum & Me Pre-K Program returns on the first Tuesday of each month. Children ages 2-5 with an accompanying adult are invited for story time, a quick tour of an art gallery, and an art activity in the Artspace. This program is free and registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Just for teens and tweens, a two-hour AppleTeens workshop is scheduled for Nov. 12 and will focus on making ceramic mugs with faces. All materials are provided.

For adults, the Art 101 workshop series returns with Pen & Ink Barn Drawing on Sept. 13 and Fall Pastels on Nov. 15. All materials are provided for these three-hour workshops. Potters of all skill levels can join the Dig Into Clay Wheel Throwing class that begins Oct. 15. The six-week session is offered on Saturdays; registration fee includes 25 pounds of clay, glazes and firing. Fashion workshops on Saturday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 29, will give participants the opportunity to turn their own clothing into uniquely upcycled wearable art.

“The Appleton’s fall art classes are for all skill levels, and with options for pre-K through adult, there’s something for every age and ability,” said Museum Educator Hollis Mutch.

For adults and teens, the Appleton Book Club continues meeting on Zoom. Read at your own pace, then join in an informative and fun online group discussion. At the next meeting on Nov. 8, the group will discuss “The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” by Anne-Marie O’Connor. Book club meetings are free.

Advance registration is required for all classes, workshops and book club meetings. 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.

College of Central Florida invites the community to join our students for an innovative educational series focused on the American colonial period. Through the “Patriot Project: Bringing History to Life,” CF instructors and guest speakers will take a deep dive into the history of the 17th and 18th centuries.

“The Patriot Project is particularly timely and relevant given the new state civics initiative,” said Dr. Sarah Satterfield, the CF professor of music who received a CF Foundation New Initiative Grant to develop the series. “The state now requires all incoming students to learn about American government including the colonial period. We invite the community to join us to learn more about colonial-era religion, literature, music, art, theatre, math and science.”

The series will kick off with “Art During the Colonial Period” on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tyrus Clutter, CF professor of art, will discuss significant painters of the period as well as the folk art movement, including crafts like needlepoint.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Dr. Sarah Satterfield, CF senior professor of music and humanities, will present “Music in the Colonial Period.” She will discuss indigenous music, music of African slaves, religious music, folk music, concert music and the musical scene in Florida.

The Patriot Project lectures are free and open to the public. Light refreshments and event giveaways will be provided. Lectures will be held on Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the CF Webber Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala, unless otherwise indicated.

Series Schedule:
Aug. 31 – “Art in the Colonial Period” presented by Tyrus Clutter
Sept. 7 – “Music in the Colonial Period” presented by Dr. Sarah Satterfield
Oct. 5 – “Latin American History for Dummies” film screening facilitated by Wendy Adams, Building 8, Room 110
Nov. 2 – “Literature in the Colonial Period” presented by Sandra Cooper
Jan. 11, 2023 – “Theatre in the Colonial Period” presented by Nonalee Davis
Feb. 6, 2023 – “Math in the Colonial Period” presented by Mark Taylor
March 1, 2023 – “History of the Colonial Period” presented by Jay Thompson
April 5, 2023 – “Religion in the Colonial Period” presented by Dr. Ron Cooper

For more details, visit CF.edu/PatriotProject.