Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his top 3 arts and culture picks for the weekend.
Friday & Saturday
Dreams of Unknown Islands: St. Augustine
Crisp-Ellert Art Museum | St. Augustine
An exhibit of new works by Florida-born multimedia artist Sasha Wortzel transforms Flagler College’s Crisp-Ellert Art Museum into an ecological dreamscape. Through ritual sounds, projected films, and a group of functional sculptures that Wortzel refers to as “listening islands,” Dreams of Unknown Islands: St. Augustine creates an immersive and unique way to view coastal shores, animal migrations, the shifting colors of the sky and more. The exhibit opened March 3 and runs through April 22. The gallery is open Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday from noon-4 p.m. Closed on Sundays. More info here.
Saturday
Indulgence Book Festival
James Weldon Johnson Park | Downtown Jacksonville
Romance remains the best-selling book genre. And its subgenres (contemporary, young adult, erotic, historical) are vast. No doubt, the exponential (and surprising) growth of book sales during, and after, the pandemic owes much to lovestruck bibliophiles the world over. On Saturday, a gathering of readers and authors, book-club members, industry experts and book vendors will gather in James Weldon Johnson Park for the Indulgence Book Festival, a celebration of books about love. The event is held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s free to attend. More info here.
Saturday
Studio Practice with Desirae Lee
MOCA Jacksonville | Downtown Jacksonville
Jax native and multimedia artist Desirae Lee teaches a studio course on collage art at Jacksonville’s Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday. A Blackhouse Foundation fellow, Facebook SEEN Initiative winner, and a Paul Robeson awardee, Lee will delve into the history of Black collage artists and makers, while leading students as they excavate images from magazines to create a collage that reflects their personal identity. All skill levels are welcome. Supplies provided but attendees are encouraged to bring a book or magazine they don’t mind sharing/deconstructing. The event is from noon-2 p.m. Space is limited. Register here.