Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the Labor Day weekend.
Saturday
Marcus Williams: Un-American Gods
The Jessie Ball duPont Center | Downtown Jacksonville
The latest Moving the Margins’ Artist-in-Residence, Jacksonville-bred acrylics specialist Marcus Williams unveils Un-American Gods, a site-specific exhibition of new works examining European colonization on African development and its repercussions on Black people in America. The exhibit is on view through Feb. 12 at the Corner Gallery inside The Jessie in Downtown Jax. An opening reception is held on Saturday from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. It’s free to attend. More info.
Saturday
River Blossom Jamboree
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens | Riverside
Jacksonville’s bluegrass roots run deep. The bluegrass festival standard “Orange Blossom Special,” also known as the “fiddle player’s national anthem” was, according to disputed lore, written while a train of the same name sat idle in the Jacksonville railway terminal. (This has been disputed, but let’s not let the truth get in the way of a good story.) Bluegrass takes center stage at the Cummer’s River Blossom Jamboree, a garden concert of performances by renowned pickers, including Jake Eddy & Band, Larry & Joe and Low Ground. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. Tickets and more info.
Saturday & Sunday
Flawda Water
CoRK Arts District | Riverside
Featuring works by three local artists – painter Jarrett Walker and photographers Ebonique McKnight and Michael Rakim – Flawda Water explores the healing power of the Sunshine State’s most abundant natural resource. The exhibit is on view at the CoRK Arts District in Riverside on both Saturday (6 p.m.-9 p.m.) and Sunday (7 p.m.-9 p.m.) It’s free to attend. More info.
Sunday
Florida Chamber Music Project: Joseph Haydn and Bela Bartok
Beaches Museum | Jacksonville Beach
The Florida Chamber Music Project opens its 12th season on Sunday with a performance of works by Austrian composer Joseph Haydn and Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. Florida Chamber Music Project Founder Susan Pardue leads a quartet that includes violinists Patrice Evans and Ann Hertler and cellist Laurie Casseday. Season and single concert tickets are available. Show starts at 3 p.m. Tickets and more info.