MOCA Jacksonville Continues Mission of Community Enrichment
The Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art is the place to be this Winter. With exhibits of varying mediums, the MOCA has something for anyone wanting exposure to art.
MOCA entrance in Jacksonville Florida on Nov. 26th, 2016. (Photo: Mal Carney)
On Saturday, November 26th, the MOCA hosted #IStandWithMOCA day. This event was free to the public and allowed patrons to not only view art, but to also create it. On the first floor one could take part in activities with Cathedral Arts Project and Jacksonville Public Library’s Makerspace. On the second floor there was a collection of pieces donated by Donald and Maria Cox, as well as a collection of pieces created by Flagler College professor, Donald Martin.
The third floor hosted photography pieces. The fifth floor was home to Inside the Outline: Art with a Heart in Healthcare as well as the workspace of UNF student-in-residence, Mary Ratcliff. Patrons could also take part in a collaborative piece by painting a puzzle piece for a wall in the Art Explorium.
The MOCA has been a staple of Jacksonville since 1924 and was the first organization in the community devoted to the visual arts.
Kelso Clermont, 24, is an artist and alumnus of Flagler College. At Flagler, she was a student of Donald Martin. Clermont believes that it is important for communities to have access to art.
“Art moves people. It makes us think outside of the cycle of our daily lives. It makes us pause, and realize that there’s more to the world than our small bubble. Communities need that gentle reminder, we need to have something that makes us reconnect with the rest of humanity, to think ‘Hey, there’s a world outside of my own,’” Clermont said.
As the artistic center of Jacksonville, the MOCA has always played a large role in the community. Now, the MOCA is trying to draw in more guests through multiple events. Children 3-12 received free admission throughout November. The museum also offers free scheduled tours every third Thursday and free tours from 1:30-4 Tuesday through Friday, with advance reservation for college students. UNF students get admitted for free with a current student ID. And since one of the MOCA’s missions is to educate the community, the museum offers resources to teachers as well. The MOCA has made it easy for people to view and learn about art.
Clermont believes that people should take the time to engage with art and to view it when possible.
“Find art that speaks to you, even if you’re not sure what it’s saying. If something makes you do a double-take or pause, stop and appreciate it. If you see the art that makes you pause, I mean really take the time to see it, you’ll start hearing the conversation art is trying to have with you. You’ll hear that conversation in dance, in visual art, in music, even in the decor in Target. Don’t undermine what art--any art--is trying to say to you. Just listen.”
The MOCA’s mission is to support Jacksonville and it’s doing so now more than ever by bringing new visitors to the city. Jacksonville is in the process of a multibillion dollar revitalization plan which will bring more tourism and money to the downtown area. The MOCA, as a cultural institute of the University of North Florida and the artistic core of Jacksonville brings in much of that tourism. By bringing art to Jacksonville, the MOCA is bringing in more than just tourism; it’s bringing in culture and experiences for those who choose to visit the museum.
“The primary function of art is to share human experiences. Ever since we were painting the walls of Lascaux, art has been about human experience. It’s about what we fear, what we love, and what we see or feel every day. More than that, art is taking these very complex things that we as individuals experience, and casting them out into the world, to find the other people who have felt what we’ve felt, and to connect with people like us,” Clermont said.
The MOCA has brought art to Jacksonville for 90 years. It’s a cornerstone of the community with a goal to enrich the city and its residents. Visit the MOCA’s event page for information on future events and exhibits. Visit soon, because some exhibits are there for a limited engagement
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