Ocala Cultural Arts

Check out the latest public art in West Ocala!

Art exhibit now open! Explore "Spiky Truths, Sweet Solutions: Pineapple Allegories for Healing Justice" a solo exhibition by April Fitzpatrick of PineappleswithPurpose () located at Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place (📍1821 NW 21st Ave). Exhibit is FREE and open to the public seven days a week!

"Spiky Truths, Sweet Solutions: Pineapple Allegories for Healing Justice" brings together a collection of muti-media artworks from Fitzpatrick’s most recent artist residency in South Carolina. Utilizing color, textures, composition, and the pineapple, Fitzpatrick addresses sustained consequences and traumas of slavery along with the stress caused by inequity and racial disparities especially within the healthcare system. Fitpatrick states, “my work builds a community that uses art as a catalyst for therapy, empathy, and awareness. I take viewers on a journey from pain into purpose.”

This exhibit is on display until December 2nd. Some artworks are available for purchase.

Only one week left to see art exhibit “Wanderlust" by Maven Photo and Film () at the Ocala International Airport (📍1770 SW 60 Ave. Suite 600, Ocala, FL 34474)!

This exhibit is free and open to the public every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until July 2, 2024.

📷:"Heart of Ocala" | Photograph on aluminum. | 30"x40"

To purchase this artwork or any other on display, please contact the artist directly at: [email protected].

Congratulations to Juliana Henningsen for winning 3rd Place in the High School Division in "Community" 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, for her photograph "The Weekly Walk." 🎨🥉

Come visit this piece and the rest of the artwork in "Community" at City Hall (📍110 SE Watula Ave). This exhibition is free and open to the public until October 14. City Hall is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Are you a fine artist looking to showcase your visual artwork in Ocala? Why not apply to participate in Ocala's First Friday Art Walk events that run from September to May?

Visit our website today at www.ocalafl.gov/artwalk to apply! Select Visual Artist for the application and additional rules and regulations. 🎨✨

To participate in the entire First Friday Art Walk season, the deadline for submission is August 1st at 11:59 p.m.

First Friday Art Walk | City of Ocala Looking for places to park downtown? The city parking garage is now open with 402 available spaces. View a map of all downtown parking locations.

Only one week left to view "Celebrating Resiliency: An Exploration of Mental Health," a group exhibition by Arts4All Florida () members located at Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place (📍1821 NW 21st Ave). Exhibition is FREE and open to the public 7 days a week. It is on display until June 27th.

Resiliency describes how one can withstand and recover from challenges; it provides strength to cope with stress and hardships. Participating exhibition artists with disabilities celebrate personal recoveries, growth, grit, and overcoming adversity in this visual exploration of mental health and wellness alongside the healing potential of community.

📷: "Having Fun with the Wind" | Mr. B | Puffy paint & mixed media

Mr. B was a well-known Florida folk artist who recently passed away. The artworks selected for the exhibition were chosen by his family to express his journey towards healing his mental health.

Reminder that Ocala Cultural Arts is closed today in honor of Juneteenth. Today we celebrate freedom and commemorate the end of slavery in America that occurred on June 19, 1985.

We will resume normal business hours tomorrow, Thursday, June 20th.

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Stop by the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center (📍1510 NW 4th St, Ocala, FL 34475) this week to check out our mural, “Quilted Memories” by Cosby Painter Hayes (), completed in 2022.

The overall design of the mural was conceived through the guidance of the local community to incorporate seven decades of the community’s history and spirit. “Quilted Memories” is meant to embody the steady work of the West Ocala community and their dedication to come together to create, and it speaks to the greater history of the City and the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center itself.

The E.D. Croskey Recreation Center used to go by another name when it was first built in 1952. Construction began in 1951 with the help of the Works Project Administration (WPA) and the City of Ocala and doors opened in West Ocala in 1952 at what was once called the War Memorial Auditorium. It served as a space to provide Black citizens with sports, recreation and academic experiences and it was the only recreational facility accessible to the Black community due to segregation restrictions that lasted almost a century under Jim Crow Law. During integration in the 1960s, the War Memorial Auditorium continued to service the community.

In 2000, Ire J. Bethea Sr., former Recreation Division Head for the City of Ocala, and current Ocala City Councilmember, applied to rename the auditorium to honor the legacy of the late Edward Daniel Croskey, who developed much of the auditorium’s recreation programs. The changed was approved by City Council and the War Memorial Auditorium was changed to the E.D. Croskey Center.

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Summer is finally here! Enjoy the nice weather by taking a stroll around Tuscawilla Park (📍829 NE Sanchez Ave). There you can find the new sculptures from the 2024-2025 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition including “Beckon.” This sculpture, created by Jeffrey Repko, won the Honorable Mention award for this year’s competition.

Repko’s style combines traditional sculpting methods with modern fabrication techniques to explore notions of deindustrialization and the transition to contemporary digital technologies. His practice also evokes a sense of play as the sculptures and paintings use color to reinvigorate and turn analog tools and machinery into playful toy-like assemblages.

Join us and Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Commission for Ocala's annual Juneteenth Celebration tomorrow at Webb Field (📍1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd) from 10 AM until 4 PM! Stop by to see what art opportunities are happening in the City and enjoy some free art activities!

See you there!

Art exhibit now open! Explore "Reflections of My World" by artist Janice Tindall () open now at the City Hall Clerk's Office (📍110 SE Watula Ave).

Janice Tindall specializes in watercolor paintings and has shown her work at Leesburg Second Saturday Art Walk, Brick City Center for the Arts, and Fine Arts For Ocala (FAFO) Art Festival. Reflections of My World represents the beauty and calmness Tindall sees around herself, especially in nature. This exhibition includes fourteen watercolor paintings created from Tindall’s own photography and imagination. Just as Tindall has an emotional connection with her art, the viewers are invited establish their own emotional response and connection with her art based on their own life experiences.

This exhibit is free and on display Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM until December 3, 2024. Artworks are available for purchase!

Congratulations to Carla Gonzalez () for winning 2nd Place in the Four to Six Years Active Art Experience Division in "Community," the 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, for her painting "Esquina de Abuela." 🎨🥈

Come visit this painting and the rest of the artwork in "Community" at City Hall (📍110 SE Watula Ave). This exhibition is free and open to the public until October 14. City Hall is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Congratulations to Nick Conzone () for winning 2nd Place in the One to Three Years Active Art Experience Division in "Community," the 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, for his photograph titled "Emerging Manatee." 🎨🥈

Come visit this photograph and the rest of the artwork in "Community" at City Hall (📍110 SE Watula Ave). This exhibition is free and open to the public until October 14. City Hall is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last week to view exhibition "Bodies of Water" by artist Rebecca Pujals-Jones () at the City Hall Clerk's Office (📍110 SE Watula Ave).

This exhibit is free and open to the public Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until June 11th.

📷: "Crystal River" | Collodion ambrotype print. | 36" x 36"

To purchase this artwork or any other on display, please contact the artist directly at: [email protected].

It's official! Our 2024-25 First Friday Art Walk season applications are now open! Artists, art organizations, businesses, and other sponsors are welcome to register.

To apply visit our website at: www.ocalafl.gov/artwalk 🎨✨

Deadline to participate in all First Friday Art Walks (September to May) is: August 1, 2024.

First Friday Art Walk | City of Ocala Looking for places to park downtown? The city parking garage is now open with 402 available spaces. View a map of all downtown parking locations.

While our 2024 Ocala Music Series is done for the year, be sure to post your photos from our concerts on Instagram with the hashtag for a chance to win cool prizes! You can also check out photos from Levitt concerts across the country at http://levitt.org/musicmoves. Thank you to the Levitt Foundation for sponsoring this contest and supporting the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series!

Congratulations to Levi Cole for winning 2nd Place in the High School Division in "Community," the 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, for his digital art "When You Need a Hand." 🎨🥈

Come visit this piece and the rest of the artwork in "Community" at City Hall (📍110 SE Watula Ave). This exhibition is free and open to the public until October 14. City Hall is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reminder that Ocala Cultural Arts is closed today in honor of Memorial Day. Today we honor and remember those heroes who courageously gave their lives in service to the United States of America.

We will resume normal business hours tomorrow, Tuesday, May 28th.

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If you haven’t had a chance, stop by Tuscawilla Park (829 NE Sanchez Ave) to see our lovely abstract blue heron, Fernando, created by sculptor Lee Bell. Fernando, along with 9 other new sculptures were installed for the 2024-2025 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition. Fernando blew away the public with its beauty and excellent craftsmanship and received the People’s Choice award.

Much of Bell’s work is “rooted in themes of nature, feminine beauty and animals” and she hopes to elevate the image of upcycled materials, stating “all works made from recycled material do not have to look like the recycled parts they were crafted from.” She aims to create “an intuitive manner of conversation between upcycled/recycled materials mixed with compound cement, steel and a strong affinity: appreciation for all things nature.”

Missing the music from our 2024 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series?

Don't worry, you can still listen to our lineup tunes 🎼 from the series performing headliners! Follow "Levitt AMP Ocala" on Spotify (www.spotify.com) and click the "2024 Levitt Listens" playlist. Be sure to click the ❤ icon to save it to your favorites and listen throughout the summer!

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Congratulations to Westley Kessler () for winning 1st Place in the Four to Six Years Active Art Experience Division in "Community," the 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, for his wood and epoxy artwork "Face to Face." 🎨🥇

Come visit this painting and the rest of the artwork in "Community" at City Hall (📍110 SE Watula Ave). This exhibition is free and open to the public until October 14. City Hall is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate "Bike to Work Day" today by cycling on our local OTrak!

OTrak is short for Osceola Trak, a pedestrian friendly pathway that links downtown Ocala to Tuscawilla Art Park. At the end of the OTrak directly across from the Art Park you'll find a colorful mural called “The Great Race” by artist Skip ()! This 200-foot mural is located on the north façade of the Seminole Feed Building along NE 5th St. The racing figures in the mural may just encourage you to get out there on your own bicycle!

Thank you for providing funding for this public art mural!

Thank you to all our partners and sponsors for this 2024 Levitt AMP Ocala season! Thank you all for a wonderful season of free music and keeping going in Ocala!

Levitt Foundation ()
City of Ocala Municipal Government ()
Marion Cultural Alliance ()
Ocala Electric Utility
Kona Ice Ocala ()
Downtown Billiards, Ocala, FL ()
Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Commission
Commemorative MarionCo MlkCommission ()
98.5 KTK ()
TJM Promos, Inc. ()
Angie Lewis - State Farm Agent ()
Fat Boys BBQ Ocala ()

Congratulations to Jess Arcila () for winning 1st Place in the One to Three Years Active Art Experience Division in "Community," the 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, for her mixed media artwork "Comunitron 3000." 🎨🥇

Come visit this painting and the rest of the artwork in "Community" at City Hall (📍110 SE Watula Ave). This exhibition is free and open to the public until October 14. City Hall is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us for our last FREE concert of the year with opening performance by CFCArts Big Band () taking the stage at 7 p.m. this Friday, May 17 at Webb Field, MLK Recreation Complex!

Central Florida Community Arts is a non-profit organization that focuses on building community through the arts throughout Central Florida. Their Big Band is a non-auditioned ensemble of more than 30 musicians with diverse backgrounds. They perform a variety of music spanning traditional swing to funk to rock to Latin to jazz.

Join us for our last concert of the 2024 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series this Friday, May 17 with headliner The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. (.official) taking the stage at 8PM!

Featuring seven Grammy-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band – it’s an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture. Composed of Second Chief Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O’Neal, the group fuses iconic New Orleans funk with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.

Also enjoy food trucks, non-profit organizations, games, artists live painting, and more, 7-9 p.m. at Webb Field at the MLK, Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St.

Art exhibit now open! Explore "The Great Outdoors" a group exhibition by Ocala Camera Club and Friends open now at the Recreation and Parks Administration Building and the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center (📍828 NE Eighth Ave.). Exhibit is FREE and open to the public Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

"The Great Outdoors" celebrates Ocala Camera Club’s final group exhibition, while including some non-member photographers. This exhibition focuses on nature as the overall theme. Each photographer demonstrates their own interpretation of this theme through multiple photographs. From scenic landscapes to insect macro photography, "The Great Outdoors" features different aspects of the natural world’s flora and fauna.

Participating artists include: Shara Abel, Judy Boyd, Joan Diaz, Bill Down, Tom Murray, Rachelle Vance, Judy Vaughn, and Robert Wester.

This exhibit is on display until December 16th. Some artworks are available for purchase.

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Today we’d like to remember a mural no longer a part of our public collection due to building refurbishments. In 2016, artist Mel Fiorentino () painted this beautiful “Feel Downtown” mural on the Stone Petroleum Building along the s-curve in downtown Ocala. Fiorentino’s inspiration was “…something that our community would be proud of and what would make future newcomers feel welcome to our area.”

📷: Ocala StarBanner ()