We are open for artists.
We are open for poets.
We are open for zinesters.
We are open for readers.
#We are open for Art Walk
Celebrate our community's deep pool of creative talent on the first Wednesday of each month in Downtown Jacksonville! The Main Library is directly across from James Weldon Johnson Park, from one of Art Walk's three major hubs of activity, and plays host to student art shows, Author's Roundtables, teen open mic nights and more! Plus, it's the perfect time to take a self-guided tour of murals, maps and public art found throughout your library headquarters.
Don't forget to pick up a Map & Guide to the Main Library on your way in!
#Three Local Art Exhibits
Best of Elementary Art Show
The Best of Elementary Art Show is open now (through April 16) at the Main Library. Showcasing the work of DCPS students from around the city, it's made up of hundreds of pieces from students in schools around the county. The Best of Elementary Art Show also runs through April 25 at select library locations across Jacksonville. These 15 local exhibits feature the work of students from the Elementary Schools closest to the participating library.
For more information, visit bit.ly/ElemArtJax.
VPK Art Showcase: Presented by the Early Learning Coalition
Stop by the glass cases in the Children's Room (next to the Children's Theatre) for a mini-exhibit featuring the exuberant and very colorful artwork of local four-year-old children. Research shows that children who graduate from a quality Voluntary Prekindergarten program arrive at kindergarten prepared to learn.
Wildlife & Nature Photography by Michael Cenci
Jacksonville Public Library welcomes local photographer Michael Cenci for a special two-month exhibition of his wildlife and nature photography, on display from March 16 through May 12 at the Main Library, in second and third-floor galleries. The exhibit is presented by The Art Center Cooperative, Inc., a local organization designed to kindle, support, and celebrate the artist, cultural and creative spirit of the Jacksonville community.
Poetry Writing for Teens
Join us for an Ekphrastic Poetry Writing Exercise in the Teen Room from 5 - 6 p.m. with Élan literary magazine.
Ekphrastic poetry is a poem inspired by a work of visual art. In the workshop, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Creative Writing majors and Élan staff members will guide participants through the creative process as they use visual art published in recent and past issues of Élan to inspire poetic writing.
Open Mic Night X 2
Our partners at Hope at Hand, Inc. will be hosting two Open Mic Night events in the Library during Art Walk.
Teens: share your skill or latest poetry at an Open Mic in Teen Room from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. with the one and only Suni Storm.
Adults: Rock the Open Mic on the third-floor atrium from 7 - 8:30 p.m., emceed by the incomparable Taryn "LoveReigns" Wharwood. Those interested in participating can sign up using this link or at the tent set up outside the main entrance.
Zinester Meetup
Make, trade, read and discuss zines with local zinesters and comic makers. The group meets in the Main Library "Zine Zone" from 6 - 8:30 p.m., next to the Zine Collection and across from the first-floor gallery.
It's the perfect time to check out the Zine Collection or submit your zine or self-published comic to the library!
