Page 54 - Guest Advantage Magazine - September 2015

resource of the University of North Florida with an emphasis on works created from 1960 to the present.
“MOCA Jacksonville promotes the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists and ideas of our time,” explains Jaime DeSimone, Assistant Curator of Exhibitions.
The museum’s permanent collection currently consists of nearly 1,000 works of art including painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography by artists such as Hans Hofmann, Alexander Calder, Alex Katz, Robert Longo, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Rauschenberg, Paul Jenkins and Jules Olitski.
“We pride ourselves on self-curated exhibitions,” says DeSimone. “This means that the curatorial staff spends months – even years – of research and planning to present cutting-edge trends and leading scholarship in the field of contemporary art to the community.”
One such example is MOCA’s “Project Atrium” series, which is a dynamic and ambitious exhibition program that changes three times per year. The museum also house Café Nola, an upscale bistro in a relaxed setting.
After visiting the two main art museums of “The Bold New City of the South,” head over to Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Jacksonville’s historic Springfield neighborhood. It is one of ten Karpeles Museums in the country and displays manuscripts and documents from the private collection
of David and Marsha Karpeles, the world’s largest such collection, as well as art exhibits.
Make sure to check out the museum’s antique book library, which houses rare books (many times out of print or otherwise unavailable for public use) from the late 1800s and early 1900s including medical journals and works on history and humanities.
Next, head over to the Museum of Science & History (MOSH), located on the Southbank Riverwalk. MOSH is a private, non-profit institution and the city’s most visited museum specializing in science and local history exhibits geared towards children.
“MOSH inspires the joy of lifelong learning by bringing to life the natural sciences and the history of the First Coast in a fun atmosphere that has enthralled children and adults for years,” explains Melissa Beaudry, the museum’s Marketing Manager.
“The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium awes, the signature and traveling exhibits excite and the daily programs educate.”
With a history dating back to 1941, MOSH has received numerous awards and accolades for its contribution to education and innovation. The museum’s current location includes more than 82,000-square-feet of exhibition space.
“MOSH is the only science and history institution in the area and we strive to incorporate both disciplines into our exhibits, daily programs and special events,” says Beaudry. “With our traveling exhibits and daily programs, there is always something going on to ignite the natural curiosity in us all.”
With nearly a half-dozen museums in and around Jacksonville, you’re sure to find a bit of something for everyone. From fine art to rare manuscripts to child-geared science exhibits, the city’s burgeoning museum scene is second to none.
54 GUEST ADVANTAGE • 2015 / 2016