Art News

Words by Tysen Romeo   Did you know the person they named St. Augustine after was actually an atheist, a thief and a playboy? Turns out “Saint” Augustine of Hippo was anything but a saint.   Born in 354 A.D., Augustine was the son of Patricius, a pagan who worked and saved to give him a good education, and Monica, a committed Christian who prayed endlessly for him. Too bad her prayers didn’t work very well as Augustine grew up atheist and treaded down a scandalous path in his youth.   His first dabble into his acts of sin was …

Where does the comedian-actor-rapper-writer-TV host-producer go from here? Words By Ambar Ramirez   Discovered and thrown into the spotlight right out of high school, Nick Cannon never felt like he missed out on any experiences. He even mentioned not even really having put much thought into how becoming famous while still relatively young may have affected him. Neither defined by his past nor definitive in his future, Cannon just knew he was meant to entertain—through any talent necessary.    “It was just something that was a part of my life, and it wasn’t about, you know, being discovered, it was …

    CITIZEN 1: KENT STERMON WAS THE FLORIDA POLITICIAN’S ‘BESTIE’ In the evening hours of Tuesday, Dec. 6, Jacksonville, Florida’s mayor, Lenny Curry, watched the election returns for the Georgia U.S. Senate race with frustration as the crackpot he supported lost. To the majority, Herschel Walker was a hypocrite who couldn’t be trusted, lying about having law enforcement credentials, an abuser and cheater even to his own family members. To others, he was the perfect candidate. He played football. He had bravado. He pretended to be Republican. He’d pose for photos and tell stories of a renowned past. Did …

Jacksonville’s Visual Vigilante  Words By Ambar Ramirez   On the door to his studio, in red lettering, it reads, “No police beyond this point without a warrant.” Somewhat of an odd welcoming sign, but if you know anything about artist and Jacksonville native Chip Southworth, it makes perfect sense.    While often referred to as “Keith Haring’s Ghost” (more on that in a minute), Southworth’s art does not consist of empty figures like Haring’s, though, he does take inspiration from the late artist’s message and activism. Through portraits, words and paintings of buildings and structures, Southworth’s work speaks volumes of …

Words By Carmen Macri and Ambar Ramirez Even if you say you don’t, we all love fast food. The question is: how much do you really know about these fast food giants?    With Thanksgiving coming around the corner, we know cooking a feast for a family of 10 can be a drag. Luckily we live in America where there is a Mcdonald’s around every corner. And a Wendys, and a Taco Bell, and a Burger King, and a KFC… You get the point.     But as times change, these companies change with us (or at least they try to). …

Words by Courtney Thomassen   At 4AM on Thursday, October 27th, while most of us were still asleep, the first general admission ticket holders were arriving outside of Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina to line up for Greta Van Fleet’s Dreams in Gold tour. Waiting in line at 4AM for a 7PM show may seem excessive, but that’s just the half of it – literally. This show wasn’t set to begin at 7PM October 27th, it was scheduled for 7PM October 28th. When these fans arrived, armed with sleeping bags, blankets, and folding chairs, they were signing up for …

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And MOCA Jacksonville marks the occasion by going back to the drawing board. Literally. In 2010, artists Christina Foard and Dolf James conceived of Imagination Squared, an exhibition featuring works by local artists of all ages, walks of life and skill levels.The concept was a huge hit, attracting 5,000 visitors for its opening and inspiring the creation of Project Atrium, a 40-foot-tall gallery space showcasing site-specific and site-sensitive installations on the museum’s first floor. The idea to revisit Imagination Squared was sparked by MOCA Executive Director Caitlín Doherty and Senior Curator Ylva Rouse who wanted to engage the public in expressing …