JAXPORT & The Arts - Exhibiting Artists
River Art Mentorship Exhibit
On display at JAXPORT Gallery: May 16 - June 22, 2012
Opening Reception May 24, 2012 from 5-7 p.m.
The Art Center Cooperative, the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), the Cathedral Arts Project, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Duval County Public Schools and Comcast have developed and sponsored the River Art Mentorship Program — educationally based, maritime-themed art workshops for select Duval County Public School (DCPS) middle school students. After eligible students submitted samples of artwork, 15 finalists were chosen by a panel of professional artists.
The program’s purpose is to provide creatively gifted students the opportunity to continue practicing art, while expanding their knowledge of the region’s greatest asset, the St. Johns River. The program partners agree it is important to foster the growth of young artists through imagination and discovery.
Mary Atwood of The Art Center Cooperative explains the organization’s interest in creating the River Art Mentorship Program. “As part of The Art Center’s ongoing mission to bring art opportunities to underserved children, it is our pleasure to team up with these outstanding organizations to host the River Art Mentorship program. We hope by combining academic and artistic experiences, we can help motivate the participating students to reach for success in the classroom as well as inspire them to further explore and expand their own creative abilities.”
Sessions began with a river tour and continued with workshops focusing on painting, print making. These workshops, held at The Art Center at 229 North Hogan Street, were offered at no charge to the students. Funding is received through a grant from Target and in-kind donations from supporters.
The students were encouraged to produce works of art which reflect both the industrial and natural beauty of the St. Johns River.
For additional information and/or images, please contact Meredith Fordham Hughes by email or by phone at (904) 357-3052.
About JAXPORT Gallery
Located on the first floor of JAXPORT Headquarters, the Gallery features local artists rotating on a bi-monthly basis. JAXPORT Gallery is open during normal JAXPORT Headquarters hours and admission is free. Learn more about JAXPORT and the Arts.
