The Seaside Sculpture Park
When Seaside
Sculpture Park first opened in Jacksonville Beach in the summer of 2016, it was
the start of what has become a great public art program that has now spread to
other communities. Its success has sparked interest in other
neighborhoods that realize that large sculptures can help define and “center” a
neighborhood, offering a place for fellowship and fun. Professor Jenny Hagar
and her students have placed more than 30 large-scale outdoor sculptures in
Jacksonville—at the Beach, in Springfield, and on Amelia Island. Springfield
calls it a “Museum Without Walls.”
THE OPENING OF THE PARK
That first warm
summer morning, UNF’s President, John Delaney and Jacksonville Beach Mayor
Charlie Latham both spoke to highlight the importance of this new partnership
between UNF’s Department of Art and Design and MountainStar Capital and the
Lazzara family. MountainStar Capital
donated the land and under the guidance of Dr. Jenny Hager, students designed
five large scale student sculptures.
WHY PUBLIC ART MATTERS
The Sculpture
Park, located in a commercial area of Jacksonville Beach, adds artistic creativity to the beauty of a beach
neighborhood. Contemporary sculpture is interdisciplinary in nature; materials
and process follow concept. Faculty teach students from initial concept through
fruition. Students integrate technical and conceptual skill to create work that
is engaging and well-crafted. Passionate, hard-working students create juried
art that inspires the community and brings vibrancy to neighborhoods.
RECIPROCITY AT ITS BEST
The idea for the project inspired Councilwoman Christine Hoffman to spearhead
a change in zoning to make SSP possible; this was important public policy as it
changed land usage, which had formerly prevented private parks. This is a
reciprocal relationship because without UNF’s sculpture program and the funding
from the Lazarra family, Jacksonville Beach would not have this remarkable
park. This project is a model for what UNF and local neighborhoods have tried
to do, in terms of creating sculpture parks in Jacksonville by means of public-private
partnerships.
IMPACT ON STUDENTS
It is rare that undergraduates get this experience. For several years now
additional students have the opportunity to work in metal, crafting huge
sculptures. Sculptor
student Oliva Warro said it is “very empowering to build something bigger than
you are. She created a “Jumbo Shrimp”—honoring the Shrimp Festival on Amelia
Island and Jacksonville’s baseball team. Students
are going to graduate school with paid scholarships and working within the
field of art post-graduation.