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The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month with the popular Free First Saturday series.

The next Free First Saturday is Oct. 7. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors can enjoy the permanent collection and several special exhibitions, including “The Unscene South: Charles Eady Revisits History” and “Caught Up in History and Captured on Film: Randy Batista’s Photographs of �������� and Cuba.”

At 1 p.m., architect and author Mario Cartaya will give a free presentation in the Appleton auditorium called, “Across the �������� Straits to Cuba: A Living History of the Buildings Left Behind.” Cuba is a historical laboratory of buildings, streets and artifacts that have been mostly untouched since 1960 — allowing visitors to transport themselves into a time and space that has not evolved into modern times. In this historical presentation, Cartaya retraces and recalls six decades of friendly and cooperative Cuban-American relations and history.

Free First Saturday visitors can also visit the Appleton Artspace for art activities for all ages. The Smoked Biscuit Company food truck will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the ��������, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit

Community members are invited to join �������� students and faculty on two exciting study abroad trips in 2024. The first trip will be to Costa Rica, March 11-15, and will focus on community development. The second trip will be to Austria, May 5-12, with experiences centered around music appreciation.

The CF Study Abroad program, in partnership with the Study Abroad Association, is dedicated to facilitating education through international experiences that provide diverse and interesting opportunities for experiential learning.

Trip prices include accommodations, all ground transportation, full-time local guides, 24/7 on-ground emergency support, travelers’ health insurance and liability insurance, plus tips and gratuities. Some to all meals may be covered depending on the trip. The cost of the Costa Rica trip is approximately $1,500 and the Austria trip is approximately $1,970. Price is an estimate until tickets are finalized. Scholarships may be available. Round-trip airfare is not included.

The Costa Rica trip includes an introduction to medicinal plants, traditional Caribbean cooking lessons, participation in community projects, plus a visit to Cahuita National Park and Playa Negra beach. The Austria trip includes cultural walking tours, a visit to Mozart’s Birthplace Museum, a classical concert and time to explore Vienna, Austria’s beautiful capital city.

Applications are open now for these educational trips. Being enrolled as a CF student is not required for participation.

For more information, visit or contact the Study Abroad coordinator Jean Scheppers at scheppej@cf.edu.

The �������� Webber Gallery presents “Perfect Black: Visual Expressions of the Southern, Rural, African American Experience” on view Nov. 6-Dec. 7. Visitors will see artwork that expresses the personal viewpoints of Black artists from the Southeast in all mediums.

The competitive, regional exhibition was inspired by Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson’s 2021 book of poetry, “Perfect Black,” which features vivid imagery of her experience growing up in Southern Appalachia.

Entries will be judged by Steve Prince, director of engagement and distinguished artist in residence at the Muscarelle Museum at William and Mary University. He is a mixed media artist, master printmaker, lecturer and art educator who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University.

The community is invited to a reception and awards presentation on Friday, Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m.

The Webber Gallery is located at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and admission is free. For more information, visit or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

Love a good whodunit mystery? Just in time for Halloween, the �������� Visual and Performing Arts students will present “The Hound of the Baskervilles” live on stage Oct. 26-29.

Performances times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-28, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

“I think this is the most entertaining Sherlock Holmes mystery,” said Nonalee Davis, CF assistant professor of theatre and the play’s director. “It’s set in a creepy Victorian house on the moor and has several supernatural characteristics. If you don’t know the story, you’re going to be super surprised at whodunit! It will be a fun way for our students to help the community get in the Halloween spirit.”

Ten CF students make up the cast, including CF Theatre veteran Collin Williams as Sherlock Holmes. Another 13 CF students are working on the production as stage managers, costume designers and technical crew members. The set is designed by Tyler Stentiford and built by students under the technical direction of Dassance Fine Arts Center Theatre Manager Mario Cieri.

Known as the most spine-chilling Sherlock Holmes mystery, “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Tim Kelly features suspense, humor and haunting. Will Sir Henry, heir to the Baskerville fortune, succumb to the family curse – death at the fangs of the beast who prowls the moor? Follow along as the sleuth casts suspicion on sinister servants, ladies in distress and escaped convicts to find out who wrote the letter that summoned the hound.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students and can be purchased beginning Sept. 6 at or by calling 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for CF students, faculty and staff with valid I.D.

For more information about CF Visual and Performing Arts events, visit .

The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, is pleased to announce the winners of the ninth annual “Mobile Photography Contest & Exhibition.”

Participants of all ages were invited to submit one photo per category. Throughout the month of July, the Appleton received 519 mobile photos inspired by four categories: Light and Shadow, Pattern, Summer Scenes and My Kid Took That.

“Each year, the Appleton looks forward to this fun community event,” said Victoria Billig, Appleton assistant director. “Now in its ninth year, we continue to be impressed by the amazing displays of creativity. It’s truly inspiring to see the unique ways that participants interpret the categories.”

Entries were juried by Jenny Eggers of Jenny E. Photography.

“Jurying the mobile photo contest was eye-opening in the most delightful way,” Eggers said. “There were beautiful technical moments with creative composition, color harmony, the use of light, etc… But what really impressed me was the storytelling. Many of the images whisked me away!”

All 519 photos will be on view at the museum Aug. 22-Sept. 24. Regular museum admission fees apply to see the exhibition. Visitors can enjoy free admission on Sept. 2 for Free First Saturday. You can also see the winning photos online at .

“We are thankful to those who participated this year and congratulate all of the winners,” said Kerry Elkins, Appleton Museum specialist. “The contest is a wonderful way to engage the community and share experiences in such a universal way, especially with the Summer Scenes category that saw new views of our own backyard as well as abroad. The Appleton invites the participants and visitors alike to see the Mobile Photography exhibition.”

 

2023 Mobile Photography Winners

Light and Shadow Category:

First Place, Jason Row, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

Second Place, Jon Barber, iPhone 11 Pro

Third Place, Peter Meyerhoefer, iPhone 13 Pro

Pattern Category:

First Place, Rayhan Ahmed, Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Second Place, Rin Suggs, Motorola Edge 5G UW

Third Place, Dominika Koszowska, Sony Xperia 5 IV

Summer Scenes Category:

First Place, Justin MacDonald, iPhone 11

Second Place, Clarissa Cervantes

Third Place, Megan Nelson, iPhone 13

My Kid Took That Category:

First Place, Mary Clare, Age 8, iPhone 12

Second Place, Marcus von Rosenberg, iPhone 13

Third Place, Amira, Age 6, Galaxy S22+

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the ��������, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit

The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, announces the Fall 2023 schedule of studio art classes for children and adults.

For children, the Museum & Me Pre-K program returns on Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. By popular demand, this program for ages 2-5 now meets bimonthly, and introduces children to the Appleton through story time, a brief gallery visit and a corresponding art activity in the Artspace. For children ages 8-12, Art Explorations is back with a six-week session focusing on hand-building with clay, scheduled for after school on Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 11. Just for teens, a six-week clay class focusing on wheel throwing, will meet on Saturdays beginning Oct. 14.

New this year is a three-week art class for ages 5-7 called Art Adventures. This class meets on Saturdays beginning Oct. 7 and will introduce pint-sized Picassos to creating art in a studio environment. A new program called Museum Happenings is designed with homeschool and independent school students in mind. Meet an educator in the lobby and pick up a special activity sheet, complete the activity sheet in the museum galleries, then visit the Artspace for an accompanying art project led by the education team. This program meets on Wednesdays, Sept. 20 and Oct. 25.

A special holiday-inspired workshop on Dec. 9 allows children and an accompanying adult to make art together. Create a clay horse ornament inspired by the colorful wooden Dala horses of Sweden.

For adults, the Art 101 workshop series returns with Paper Quilling on Sept. 12, Abstract Mood Painting on Oct. 10 and Fall Leaves Colored Pencil and Watercolor workshop on Nov. 14. All materials are provided for these single-day, three-hour workshops. A Reduction Printmaking class on Sept. 30 will have participants creating multicolored, layered prints using a single print block during one four-hour session with E. Marie Fielding. Other single-day workshops include a charcoal drawing class led by Christina Szakonyi that meets on Oct. 14, and an Art Deco Mandala Painting workshop with Lisa Russo that meets on Dec. 9.

Multiweek classes for adults include Dig Into Clay Wheel Throwing that begins Sept. 30. The six-week session is offered on Saturdays and is open to potters of all skill levels.

“The Appleton Clay Lab features 11 pottery wheels and is the only one of its kind in the area,” said Hollis Mutch, museum educator. “We welcome all students, from beginner to advanced.”

Also this fall, the Master Class Series welcomes acclaimed visiting artist Anthony Ackrill. Focused on teaching the basics of figure drawing from life with charcoal or pencil, participants will learn the steps of establishing a solid rendition of the model. Ackrill trained as a student at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy for five years, where he then taught anatomy, figure painting and figure drawing. Ackrill’s painting, “Reaper,” is part of the Appleton’s permanent collection.

“By adding several new programs this year, we are pleased to meet the increased need in our community for arts and education,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton director.

Advance registration is required for all classes and programs. Visit AppletonMuseum.org for full class details and to register.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the ��������, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit