Author: Jenny K Hager

Artist. Sculptor. Collaborator.

Lately: Scenes from Downtown Jacksonville

Sitting by the Riverside

Food, beer and Downtown Jacksonville. As soon as Joel and I heard about Gastrofest, held in Hemming Park on March 21, we knew we’d be heading over to eat and drink the best of our city.

Gastrofest itself was pretty good. We enjoyed some delicious food from M Shack, Ovinte, Bistro Aix and more, and sampled what seemed like every brewery in the city. There are definitely some kinks to be worked on for the future, but it was a nice addition to the local festival scene. My favorite part of the day though was admiring the gorgeous architecture and scenery in Jacksonville’s core. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

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Sculpture Walk Jax Set to Boost Downtown’s Art Scene

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Come September, an eight-foot-tall jellyfish will soon leave its home at the University of North Florida for the urban life of Downtown Jacksonville.

The sculpture, by artist and UNF sculpture professor Jenny Hager, is one of 13 pieces that make up Sculpture Walk Jax. This one-year outdoor sculpture exhibition – and Spark Grant recipient – is set to open in Main Street Park Sept. 12 and run through September 2015.

“I can’t wait to see the sculptures in the park and around Downtown,” said Hager, the visionary behind Sculpture Walk Jax. “I think it will bring the space more to life. I’ve been working on this project for over a year, and it will be wonderful to see it become ‘real.’”

Juried by Brooklyn, N.Y., artist Marsha Pels, 10 sculptures will occupy in Main Street Park, and three more will be installed around Downtown, including at the JAX Chamber. There will also be two sculptural benches and a sculptural bike rack at the park.

“Public art has the ability to breathe new life into an underutilized environment,” Hager said. “It creates a sense of place and serves as a visual landmark. The sculptures attract people, and the people make the place more friendly.”

Local, regional and international art will be featured in the exhibition. Listed alphabetically, the following artists’ work will be displayed in Main Street Park:

"Intersection Aluminum" by Robert Coon

  • Robert Coon (Vero Beach)
  • Jenny Hager (Jacksonville)
  • Sherry Hill (Jacksonville)
  • Hanna Jubran (Grimesville, N.C.)
  • Jason Lake (Orlando)
  • Aisling Millar (Jacksonville)
  • Susanne Roewer (Germany)
  • Melissa Russell (Jacksonville)
  • Andrew Smith (Oxford, Miss.)
  • Durant Thompson (Oxford, Miss.)
  • Lance Vickery (Jacksonville)
  • Brett Waller (Jacksonville)
  • Joni Younkins-Herzog (Sarasota)

The sculptural benches and bike racks were made by the following artists:

  • Jenny Hager – sculptural bench (Jacksonville)
  • David Main – sculptural bench (Jacksonville)
  • Lance Vickery – sculptural bike rack (Jacksonville)

“I modeled this program on Knoxville’s Art in Public Places program,” Hager said. “They have a beautiful park, great restaurants and great market days. It is in an area of their Downtown that was once blighted and is now very energetic and fun to visit. I’m hoping this will be great for Jacksonville’s Spark District, igniting the same kind of energy.”

"Opposing Forces" by Hanna Jubran

Sculpture Walk Jax will celebrate its grand opening the entire weekend of Sept. 12, kicking off with a guided tour beginning at 6 p.m. that Friday. The opening coincides with the Connection Festival, which will have live music, yoga sessions, food trucks and art.

“My hope is that Jacksonville will really embrace these sculptures,” Hager said. “I hope people will picnic in the park, do yoga alongside the sculptures or walk their dogs at Main Street Park.”

For more information on Sculpture Walk Jax, visit sculpturewalkjax.com or ‘like’ Sculpture Walk Jax on Facebook. Following the exhibition, the works of art will be available for purchase. The project is sponsored by A & K Machine and Fabrication, Atlantic Powder Coating, Auld and White, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Pedroni Cast Stone and Concrete, and Preston H. Haskell.

– See more at: http://downtownjacksonville.org/blog/2014/07/23/sculpture-walk-jax-set-to-boost-downtowns-art-scene/#sthash.VubsPiRe.dpuf

Sculpture Walk Jax – It just got REAL!

Sculpture Walk Jax (www.sculpturewalkjax.com) is a one-year outdoor sculpture exhibition in Main Street Park (325 North Main Street), which will be open Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015. The exhibition will have a Grand Opening the weekend of Sept. 12 – 14, kicking off with a guided tour that begins at 6 pm on Friday, September 12. The Grand Opening will coincide with the Connection Festival (www.connectionfestival.com) that weekend, which will have live music, yoga sessions, food trucks, and art.

This is an Intl. exhibition, juried by Brooklyn artist, Marsha Pels. There will be thirteen pieces in the outdoor exhibition (ten in Main Street Park and three in locations around downtown, including the Chamber of Commerce). There is also going to be a sculptural bench and two sculptural bike racks at the park. Six local artists will have large scale work in the exhibition; the rest are from the surrounding region and one work from Germany.

Artists in the Exhibition
  • Robert Coon (Vero Beach, FL)
  • Jenny Hager (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Sherry Hill (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Hanna Jubran (Grimesville, NC)
  • Jason Lake (Orlando, FL)
  • Aisling Millar (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Susanne Roewer (Germany)
  • Melissa Russell (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Andrew Smith (Oxford, MS)
  • Durant Thompson (Oxford, MS)
  • Lance Vickery (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Brett Waller (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Joni Younkins-Herzog (Sarasota, FL)
 
Sculptural Benches/Bike Racks
  • Jenny Hager – Sculptural Bench (Jacksonville, FL)
  • David Main – Sculptural Bench (Jacksonville, FL)
  • Lance Vickery – Sculptural Bike Rack (Jacksonville, FL)
The project is sponsored by:
A & K Machine and Fabrication
Atlantic Powder Coating, Auld and White
the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
Pedroni Cast Stone and Concrete
Preston H. Haskell
Special Note:
This is a startup project and I want to make the impact large. Still looking for funding/support for signage, awards and bringing the juror to Jax for a lecture. Please let me know if you’re able to help.
sculpturewalkjax@gmail.com
Thanks! Jenny
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Dance of the Jellyfish by Jenny K. Hager

Call to Artists – Sculpture Walk Jax

Things just got even more exciting for Sculpture Walk Jax!!! Follow our progress on http://www.sculpturewalkjax.com
 
We’ve set the date for the Grand Opening for Sculpture Walk in Main Street Park as Friday, September 12 at 6 pm, beginning with a Sculpture Tour. The kickoff event will be in conjunction with the Connection Festival (http://www.connectionfestival.com) –  live music, art, technology, dance and workshops.
 
Please mark your calendars!

Sculpture Walk Jacksonville

 Jenny K. Hager and D. Lance Vickery Jenny K. Hager and D. Lance Vickery

Sculpture Walk_CalltoArtists

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