Publisher’s Note

By the time this issue comes out the school year will have begun. As we are all aware, there continues to be an ongoing struggle in the area of art and education. But I’ve always believed that there are three A’s of accomplishment: academics, athletics and arts. When one hears the words arts and education in Jacksonville, the first thing to spring to mind is most likely our vibrant and nationally renowned high school arts magnet, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (DASoTA, or DA for short). Yes, they are one of the top schools in the nation, and on Saturday, February 18 you’ll have an opportunity to see just how special their students really are: it’s DA’s annual Extravaganza held at the Times-Union Performing Arts Center.
Besides DA there are several other private and public Duval County schools that offer a visual and performing arts path that our local kids can follow; schools whose programs are specifically geared toward integrating arts instruction and creative approaches to learning. In the next few issues, starting with this one, we will highlight some of these schools and the programs they offer. And we’ll look at summer camps they‘re planning as well.
Melting clocks and zany Surrealism within the art history movement are synonymous with Salvador Dalí. Now that’s an artist that even those not familiar with the art world can smile about. Salvador Dalí: The Argillet Collection will be on exhibit and available for acquisition Jan. 27th–Feb. 4th. at Avondale Artworks, 3562 St. Johns Avenue in the Shoppes of Avondale. There will also be a special guest...long time personal and professional friend of the artist, Madame Christine Argillet. Running January 28 to April 8, ReFocus: Art of the ’60s will delve into one of the seminal periods of contemporary art. The arts—literature, art, dance, and theater—went through a fascinating period of growth and change during the 1960s. MOCA Jacksonville will revisit three decades of contemporary art—the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s—and its relevancy in the 21st century with a series of accessible and scholarly exhibitions that will be perfect for newcomers and aficionados alike. On February 3, the Lonnie Schlein photography show opens at the Thrasher- Horne Center for the Arts in Orange Park. Lonnie Schlein is the former national photo editor for the The New York Times and his travel photgraphy is spectacular.
There’s so much to do and see…check it all out.
Sincerely,
Cinda Sherman, publisher