Event Overview
In celebration of Black History Month, First Coast Cultural Center is hosting an exciting evening combining Florida art and history in the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville. Award-winning watercolorist Teresa Cook will showcase her exhibit “Figuratively Seen” in this one-night-only pop-up exhibit and reception. Following the pop-up exhibit, her work will be on display at First Coast Cultural Center in Jacksonville Beach.
The February 3rd reception will also feature a talk by curator and historian Dr. Cori Convertito entitled “Shaping an Island: Key West’s Black History.” She will explore how Black settlers shaped the island of Key West into what it is today, and what that has meant for the state of Florida. Convertito is Lead Historian at the Florida Keys History Center, and her presentation is made possible through a partnership with Florida Talks.
This event is free and open to the public.
About Teresa Cook and “Figuratively Seen”
Award-winning abstract architectural watercolor artist Teresa Cook was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and obtained her BFA from the University of North Florida. Her watercolor and ink paintings, often mini abstractions, are created on a smooth paper called “YUPO” and capture moments in time without the interruption of people. Over the past decade, Teresa has traveled to different countries, including attending the 2019 Urban Sketchers Symposium in Amsterdam, as well as exploring her native city. She finds pleasure in landscapes and buildings that have been created over time. Teresa is an art instructor at multiple locations in the Jacksonville area, including First Coast Cultural Center, and her workshops are now in session for 2023.
As Teresa explains, “Figuratively Seen” displays her unique form of self-expression, capturing the quick lines and loose watercolor style gained through her artistic journey. “This show is meant to display artistic multi-dimensionality by portraying my style, growth, and the path leading to now.”
About Cori Convertito, PhD and “Shaping and Island: Key West’s Black History”
Dr. Cori Convertito, Lead Historian at the Florida Keys History Center, received her doctorate in maritime history from the U.K.’s University of Exeter. Today, Convertito heads a center for stewardship, knowledge, and understanding of the historic, cultural, and ecological diversity of the Florida Keys. The center serves as a national focal point for the study, advancement, and preservation of the Keys’ cultural heritage.
Her presentation at the February 3rd event explores the contributions of Black Bahamians and Black Cubans to the maritime industries of Key West. The contributions of these skilled workers, including sailors, spongers, boat builders, cigar rollers, and fisherman, have been marginalized, when their contributions were vital, valuable, and integral. This presentation looks at the diverse industries that the Black population impacted, and how these settlers shaped the island of Key West into what it is today and what that has meant for the state of Florida.
About Florida Talks
This Florida Talks program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and First Coast Cultural Center. Funding for this program was provided by Florida Humanities and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are encouraged via online registration:
