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The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, will open two new solo exhibitions on July 1: “The Unscene South: Charles Eady Revisits History” and “Caught Up in History and Captured on Film: Randy Batista’s Photographs of �������� and Cuba.” Both shows will remain on view through Jan. 28, 2024.

In the second-floor Modern & Contemporary Galleries, “The Unscene South” will feature 25 paintings and mixed-media works by Ocala-based artist Charles Eady. Eady was born in South Carolina, and following his graduation from Claflin University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, he has gone on to be an award-winning artist, author and educator who has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Eady was one of only five recipients of the 2022 State Teaching Artist Residency (STAR) — a program that honors �������� public school art educators.

The work featured in “The Unscene South” is inspired by the history of free Blacks in the South prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. The term “free Blacks” was used pre-Civil War as a designation identifying those who were free — free to live, work and own businesses and property.

Several of Eady’s works are dedicated to the sport of horse racing, introduced to America during colonial times (1492-1763). It is the longest running sport in America, and Eady’s work highlights the lesser-known fact that many of the first jockeys were Black Americans.

“In 1773, free people of color were able to petition for, and receive, land grants,” Eady wrote. “The amount of land they acquired was dependent on how many people resided within the household. I imagined how a pre-Revolutionary War jockey might envision horse racing as their ‘grant.’ Many were able to take advantage of the freedom horse racing ‘granted.’”

Eady will be at the Appleton Museum of Art on Aug. 5 for Free First Saturday to give two free tours of “The Unscene South.” Tours are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will meet inside the exhibition.

In the Appleton’s Balcony Gallery for �������� Artists, see Gainesville-based photographer Randy Batista’s solo exhibition, “Caught Up in History and Captured on Film.” Batista uses his lens to document his life and travel adventures. Comprised of silver-gelatin prints developed from film, the images in this show focus on �������� and Cuba — two places that have had a profound impact on the artist. Having lived in both locations, the artist’s awareness of place, time and cultural heritage are evident in his quiet but alluring street photography, landscapes and portraits.

With a Leica 24 mm lens, Batista captured club members of Centro Espanol de Tampa (The Spanish Center of Tampa) and their daily lives that Batista says highlights “communal times together smoking, drinking, newspaper reading, enjoying ice cream and socializing via dominoes and card games.” The photographer notes that he purposefully shot at low angles, such as table level, to capture being at the tables with these men. Some of the men didn’t react, while others either did quick poses or held newspapers up to cover their faces.

Batista’s photographs in Cuba were taken during various trips to places including Havana and the ancestral countryside of his youth. During these travels, Batista explained, he was a street photographer either walking about or riding his bicycle while shooting. He would stop and chat with people while taking their portraits, capturing images of cityscapes and rural landscapes, as well.

Visit our special exhibitions with no admission fee on the first Saturday of each month. Check our website for other special programming planned on Free First Saturdays.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. 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

On June 21, Dr. Jim Henningsen, president of the ��������, presented Ocala Police Department Chief Mike Balken with a check for $7,070.16 to help support the police department in accordance with the Open Door Grant Program.

The Open Door Grant Program was created by the �������� Legislature in 2021 to create and sustain a demand-driven supply of credentialed workers for high-demand occupations and expand the affordability of workforce training and credentialing.

CF was the recipient of $267,453 in Open Door funding and has disbursed funds by partnering with law enforcement agencies including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, which are experiencing an increased need for qualified, well-trained law enforcement personnel. The grant funds support law enforcement recruits attaining certification through the Criminal Justice Institute at CF by helping to reduce expenses and barriers to completion and increase the number of qualified graduates to fill open law enforcement jobs.

“The Ocala Police Department is a valued partner in CF’s endeavor to train future law enforcement officers,” said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, associate vice president of career and professional programs. “We are thrilled to have been awarded funding to help offset the expense of that training and to further strengthen that partnership.”

To learn more about CF, visit

The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, will open a new exhibition of works curated from the world-class permanent collection. “Eternal Summer,” on view June 10-Sept. 24, features paintings, prints, photographs and more that celebrate the theme of summer in ��������.

Through the sunny perspectives of nature, leisure and sports, travel, and more, this multimedia exhibition will showcase modern and contemporary art with a few familiar favorites plus new works that have never been displayed at the Appleton.

Visitors will remember “The Hunt,” a 2014 photograph by award-winning, Gainesville-based Mac Stone, documenting an Everglades snail kite at the moment before it swoops down to grab its prey. A selection of black-and-white photographs by local legend Bruce Mozert (1916-2015) will be on display, highlighting vintage imagery of Marion County outdoor attractions and natural wonders. Other ��������-focused works by artists from the Sunshine State that are new to the collection include photographs by Martha Strawn and a large-scale painting by Margaret Tolbert.

Another exciting and recent addition to the collection on display in “Eternal Summer” is a detailed watercolor by noted American realist Janet Fish that evokes feelings of warm temperatures and summer travels. A print by Austrian artist Kiki Kogelnik (1935-1997), called “Sunkist,” adds a colorful Pop aesthetic to the exhibition.

“This exhibition celebrates summer as a season, and how it has served as inspiration to artists,” said Jason Steuber, museum director. “From flowers, sunrises and sunsets to bodies of water and bold fashion photography, it all comes together to honor the Sunshine State.”

Summer Shindig – Appleton Members Party
Friday, June 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Appleton members are invited to a seasonal shindig in honor of “Eternal Summer,” an exhibition that celebrates summer in ��������. Beat the heat and dress in your summer linens (but we’re keeping it casual, and there is no dress code) while enjoying elevated picnic fare and live music from Left on Broadway in the courtyard. Appleton Director’s Circle members will receive a summer-themed gift bag. An RSVP for all guests is required by June 1 to Colleen Harper, harperc@cf.edu, or 352-291-4455, ext. 1831.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. 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 �������� has earned Tree Campus Higher Education recognition for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. This is the 14th year that CF has been recognized.

Tree Campus Higher Education is a national program of the Arbor Day Foundation that honors colleges, universities and their leaders for promoting healthy management of their campus forests and for engaging the community in environmental stewardship.

“Trees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and faculty’s overall well-being.”

CF met the five core standards of tree care and community engagement: establishing a campus tree advisory committee; providing a campus tree-care plan; dedicating annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; participating in an Arbor Day observance; and instituting a service-learning project to engage students.

“Trees on campus provide shaded green areas for studying and gathering, improving students’ mental and cognitive health and creating an appealing aesthetic,” said Elena Amesbury, CF associate professor of biological sciences. “Trees help lower energy costs and provide cleaner air and water.”

The Arbor Day Foundation launched the Tree Campus Higher Education program in 2008 and continues to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging students and staff in conservation goals. Currently, there are 411 campuses across the United States with this recognition.

To learn more about the Tree Campus Higher Education program, visit .

Located outside the Dassance Fine Arts Center, the mural depicts the different visual and performing arts courses offered at CF.

Carla Gonzalez, the mural’s artist, is a 2022 CF Associate in Arts graduate who has been painting for more than 12 years. She won Best in Show in the 2021 CF Student Art Exhibition and two Honorable Mentions in the 2022 CF Student Art Exhibition. After “growing up in Cuba but surrounded by Mexican culture,” Gonzalez said her work is influenced by many Latin American artists.

“While it may not be accurate to say artists rule the world, it is certainly true that art and artists have the power to shape our perception, challenge our assumptions and inspire us to think and act differently,” Gonzalez said. “With this mural, I wanted to celebrate the power of art, bring people together and create a sense of community.”

The mural was funded by a �������� Foundation New Initiative Grant submitted by Rachel Cote, manager of web communications and new media. The grant’s purpose was to create an art installation that would permanently enhance the beauty of a CF campus and become a part of CF’s brand identity, providing a new way for students and campus visitors to engage.

The new initiative grant started with an open call to artists for mural proposals. All proposals were reviewed by a committee made up of CF faculty and staff, and Gonzalez’s art proposal was selected as the winning piece.

“We had a fantastic selection of art submissions, which is a testament to the great talent of our local artists,” said Cote. “The committee unanimously agreed that Carla’s piece best represented CF’s mission, vision and commitment to the arts. We’re so pleased with the mural’s vibrancy and creativity.”

The mural is open to the public and is located on the exterior wall of the Dassance Fine Arts Center east stairwell. For more information about CF’s Visual and Performing Arts Department, visit . To learn more about the CF Foundation’s New Initiative Grant, visit CF.edu/Foundation.

The �������� has renamed its award-winning nursing program the CF Debbie Ressler Nursing Program. The name was announced at the CF District Board of Trustees meeting on April 26.

Ressler, a retired registered nurse, served for many years as a leader on the Citrus County Hospital Board and Citrus County Community Charitable Foundation board and has been actively dedicated to community service in Citrus County.

The CF nursing program offers Associate Degree Nursing (RN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs as well as bridge programs for LPNs and paramedics to become nurses. The CF Associate Degree Nursing program was recognized as the 2023 Best RN Program in �������� by RegisteredNursing.org, reflecting the top exam pass rates in the region on the national licensure exam.

To learn more about CF Nursing, visit

On April 21, Dr. Jim Henningsen, president of the ��������, presented Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods with a check for $38,557.84 to help support Marion County Sheriff’s Office in accordance with the Open Door Grant Program.

The Open Door Grant Program was created by the �������� Legislature in 2021 to create and sustain a demand-driven supply of credentialed workers for high-demand occupations and expand the affordability of workforce training and credentialing.

CF was the recipient of $267,453 in Open Door funding and has disbursed funds by partnering with law enforcement agencies including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, which are experiencing an increased need for qualified, well-trained law enforcement personnel. The grant funds support law enforcement recruits attaining certification through the Criminal Justice Institute at CF by helping to reduce expenses and barriers to completion and increase the number of qualified graduates to fill open law enforcement jobs.

“We strive to do our best to support our local agencies in the important mission of public safety,” said Dr. Charles McIntosh, CF dean of Criminal Justice. “I am extremely proud that we were able to support some of them through the Open Door initiative.”