by Bailey White
Staff Write
The Jacksonville Consortium of African-American Artists will celebrate its first anniversary with an exhibition and reception Thursday at 9th and Main in Springfield.
The group formed a year ago to give exposure to the local African-American and ethnic arts community.
“We’re an arts advocacy group,” said co-founder Suzanne Pickett. “We started as a way to promote arts education and African-American art in the community, as well as general arts awareness.”
Pickett, a graphic artist and former gallery owner, and co-founder Daniel Winn, a working artist, formed the group by talking to their contacts in the arts community.
“We felt there was a need in Jacksonville,” said Pickett. “There was a need for more cultural diversity.”
JCAAA has 30-plus members, including visual artists, dancers, poets, musicians, art patrons and supporters. And it isn’t limited only to African-American artists.
“We don’t want to limit ourselves,” said Pickett. “We’re open to anyone who is interested in supporting or getting involved in the arts.”
They host monthly membership meetings, which include workshops and community projects.
“Most of the workshops have to do with the business side of the arts and what it takes to work as a professional artist,” she said.
Pickett, who is from Jacksonville, graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. She sees Jacksonville’s burgeoning arts community continuing to move forward.
“I think it’s up-and-coming,” she said. “It’s a little slow compared to other cities of this size, but we’re getting there.”
Thursday’s opening reception, which runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m., includes performances by keyboardist Brian Harris and poet Linda Harper, and performances by dancers and a soloist.
Sixteen artists are part of the exhibition, working in a range of media including painting, sculpture and bas relief. The exhibition is scheduled to run until Sept. 30.
The group is planning its next event for February at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum.