New art exhibit planned at Clay County Courthouse

Works by a local artists group will return to Clay County’s halls of justice for the second year in a row as part of the “Art in the Courthouse” series in Green Cove Springs.

The First Coast Plein Air Painters’ outdoor-themed art will premiere at an opening reception from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the fourth floor of the courthouse on North Orange Avenue.

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County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Tara Green created the art program after working with community outreach director Mary Justino. Green came up with the idea after seeing public galleries set up through the 44-year-old Florida’s Art in State Buildings Program, many held in state office buildings, plus university and college campuses.

Its first show premiered about a year and a half ago. Displays rotate through the gallery every one to three months. The fourth floor art gallery is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. All visitors must go through courthouse security to get inside.

The First Coast Plein Air Painters members focus on painting outdoors, with the subjects in full view and the works incorporating natural light, color and movement.