EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

CoRK Arts District Open Studios Weekend

WHEN: Saturday, November 21 to Sunday, November 22,
Noon–6 pm both days
WHERE: CoRK Arts District and neighboring studios and galleries
COST: Free admission—no tickets or RSVP needed

Our 15th Annual Fall Open Studios Weekend is almost here! More than 70 artists at CoRK and four neighboring studios and galleries will open their doors for a self-guided look inside Jacksonville’s creative community.

Meet artists where they work, see works in progress and live demonstrations, and shop for original art just in time for the holidays.

This year’s weekend also features hands-on kids’ activities with Gogh Create, UNF’s UnCoRKed juried exhibition, and a bouquet bar from Living Beauty Florals, plus dj Dr.Um, food, and drinks. Make time to explore our participating neighbors: Yellow House, Rick Weller Studios, Burn Bright Studios, Solune Coffee, and Cool Stuff Vintage.

Bring a friend, follow your curiosity, and make a day of it! Watch your inbox for a dedicated Open Studios email with the full lineup and details.

Interested in supporting CoRK? Please email us, we’d love to chat about becoming an annual sponsor for 2026–2027!

October Story Slam at BABS’LAB: Possess Theme

WHEN: Friday, October 16 | 8 pm, reception at 7:15 pm, exhibition will be displayed through November 5
WHERE: BABS’LAB, 603 King St. (Enter on the path between the fence and palm tree at the rear of the building on Phyllis St.)
COST: $18

What has a hold on you? An object you can’t throw away, a person you can’t let go of, or a memory that refuses to leave? BABS’LAB’s October Story Slam invites storytellers to share a true personal story inspired by POSSESS. Ten names are drawn from a hat, and each storyteller gets five minutes to take the audience somewhere funny, tender, unsettling, or unexpected. No notes. No props. The audience votes to choose the winner.

Running alongside the Story Slam, POSSESS: A Cabinet of Obsessions brings the theme to the walls. Curated by Barbara Colaciello and Julia Ivanisova, the pop-up art exhibition remains on view through November 5.

Extended Viewing Dates for Floribunda: Celebrating Florida’s Unique Biodiversity

WHEN: October 16 from 5–8 pm, October 17 from 1–4 pm, October 23 from 5–8 pm, and October 25 from 1–4 pm
WHERE: CoRK Arts District, East Building

Explore the beauty and biodiversity of Florida through the eyes of contemporary artists in Floribunda, an exhibition of over 120 artists celebrating the state’s native flora, fauna, landscapes, and natural history. Featuring painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and more, the exhibition highlights the wild places that make Florida so unique while supporting the preservation of its native ecosystems.

Curated by Crystal Floyd, Adam Arendell, and Betsy Harris, Floribunda benefits the Florida Native Plant Society’s Ixia Chapter, with a portion of artwork sales supporting its mission to protect and promote Florida’s native plants.

Visit the IXIA site for more info.

Farewell Studios Gallery Opening

WHEN: October 24, 2–7 pm
WHERE: CoRK Arts District, North Building (603 King St., Jacksonville, FL)
COST: Free Admission

Step inside the imaginative world of CoRK artist Farewell Studios during a special gallery opening in CoRK’s North Building. Known for creating original latex and plastic masks, Tommy Gunz brings artistry, character, and a delightfully eerie spirit to the Halloween season.

Guests can explore the studio, view the work, and enter a special Halloween mask giveaway. The mask giveaway costs $20 to enter.

Follow @farewellstudiosjaxfl on Instagram for more information and a closer look at Tommy’s work.

Icky: Body as Archive — A Solo Exhibition by Erin Kendrick

OPENING RECEPTION: Tuesday, October 27, 6–8 pm, exhibition will be on display through December 6
ARTIST TALK: Wednesday, December 2, 2 pm
WHERE: FSCJ Kent Gallery, Building E, Room 112A (3939 Roosevelt Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL)
COST: Free Admission

Explore memory, identity, and the pursuit of safety through Icky: Body as Archive, a solo exhibition by CoRK artist Erin Kendrick. Through painting, installation, and participatory imagery, Kendrick examines Icky, a recurring character in her work whose body and experiences reflect the search for physical and psychological safety. The exhibition traces Icky’s origin story, visual language, and evolving role within Kendrick’s practice.

Join Erin for the opening reception on October 27, from 6–8 pm, and an artist talk on December 2 at 2 pm.

Steven Schriber: A One-Day Photography Exhibition

WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 1–7 pm
WHERE: The CoRKshop, CoRK East Building, CoRK Arts District

Discover decades of photography at Steven Schriber’s Florida debut, a one-day-only exhibition hosted by Dan Harman of Avondale Artworks.

Following a career spanning decades in the New York photography scene, Schriber presents more than 50 framed works from his extensive catalog. The exhibition includes award-winning photographs alongside dozens of images being shown publicly for the first time.

Stop by between 1 and 7 pm to explore the collection and enjoy wine and light refreshments.

Keith Doles: Landmarks at the Cummer Museum

WHEN: November 20, 2026 – May 30, 2027
WHERE: Cummer Museum, Bank of America Concourse Gallery (829 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32204)
COST: Museum admission

Discover Northeast Florida through the memories and experiences of CoRK artist Keith Doles in Landmarks, presented in connection with the Cummer Museum’s exhibition, A State of Expression: A Look into the Art of Florida.

Through landscape paintings and mixed media, Doles reflects on significant moments in his personal and professional life, exploring love, creativity, struggle, and relationships. His work invites viewers to connect with places often overlooked in familiar impressions of Jacksonville.

Museum hours: Tuesday–Friday, 11 am–4 pm; Saturday, 10 am–4 pm; Sunday, noon–4 pm. Closed Mondays.

Visit the Cummer Museum website or call (904) 356-6857 for admission information and exhibition details.

Talkin’ Pitchers: A New Book by Jeff Whipple

AVAILABLE: Now at local bookstores and on Amazon
COST: $25

Take a look inside 50 years of artmaking with Talkin’ Pitchers: The Visual Metaphors in Jeff Whipple’s Artwork, a new book by CoRK artist Jeff Whipple. Featuring 100 artworks from 1976–2026, the book pairs each piece with a brief essay exploring its visual metaphors and creative process. Whipple’s casual, humorous writing makes it feel like a conversation with the artist at an exhibition.

Forget reading in order—this book invites you to flip through and follow your curiosity. Many of the featured works appeared in Whipple’s two 50-year museum retrospectives in 2025 and 2026.

The 189-page book is available at local bookstores or through Jeff’s Amazon author page. As Jeff puts it: “Just spin the pages and swing when you see an interesting pitch!”

FORGE Expands Production at CoRK

FORGE is expanding its production capacity at CoRK Arts District, bringing digital fabrication tools and technical expertise to Jacksonville’s creative community.

Through on-site 3D scanning, CAD modeling, and production support, FORGE helps artists and makers turn ideas into tangible works that can be shared, preserved, and passed forward. The team is also the exclusive production home for new Duval Dino products, debuting during CoRK Open Studios this year.

Working alongside CoRK’s artists and makers, FORGE connects technology with creative practice to support local talent and help bring new projects to life. Stay tuned for more details about FORGE’s Open Studios activities!

Evidence of Life: An Exhibition by Crystal Floyd

WHEN: On display through mid-November
WHERE: Fort Caroline Visitor Center (12713 Fort Caroline Road
Jacksonville, FL)
COST: Free Admission

Explore the interconnected ecosystems of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve through Evidence of Life, a new exhibition by CoRK artist Crystal Floyd. Created during her residency as the Preserve's Artist in Residence, the exhibition features batik textiles, natural specimens, and mixed-media works inspired by the plants, animals, fungi, and landscapes that sustain this unique environment.

The Fort Caroline Visitor Center is open Wednesday–Sunday, 9 am – 4:30 pm. Follow Crystal on Instagram or visit her website for any updates about the exhibition.

Reciprocal: An Exhibition of Art, Mentorship & Mutual Influence

WHEN: Wednesdays from Noon to 7 pm | Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm
WHERE: Yellow House
PRICE: Free & Open to the Public

Celebrate the connections that shape our creative community in Reciprocal: An Exhibition of Art, Mentorship & Mutual Influence. This exhibition honors the relationships between teaching artists and the students they've inspired, highlighting mentorship as a two-way exchange rooted in care, respect, and shared growth.

Featuring work by a dozen of our community’s accomplished educators alongside artists they have influenced, the exhibition explores creative partnerships formed in public schools, universities, and community classrooms. Together, these pairings illuminate the lasting impact of arts education and the bonds that continue to shape Jacksonville’s cultural landscape.

Visitors are invited to reflect on the teachers and mentors who have influenced their own journeys and the vital role arts education plays in building a more vibrant, beautiful, and connected community.

For a full list of participating artists and upcoming programs, visit yellowhouseart.org or follow @yellowhouseart.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS / CLASSES

CreatED 2027: The Intelligent Classroom

WHEN: January 29–30, 2027
WHERE: Jacksonville Arts & Music School (3315 N. Liberty Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206)
COST: $65 per person; $315 for a group of five

What if education became an experience? CreatED 2027 brings creative arts educators, leaders, and innovators together for two days of professional learning. This year’s theme, The Intelligent Classroom, explores how students, educators, technology, and community can form a connected creative ecosystem.

Featuring keynote speaker Kedgar Volta, the conference includes breakout sessions, panels, and labs designed to spark collaboration and offer practical ideas for teaching and learning. CoRK artist Erin Kendrick, JAMS Director of Education, is among the featured speakers.

Registration includes both conference days, the Compass Mixer, lunch, free on-site parking, and a certificate of attendance. Space is limited.

Sunday Comix at CoRK Studios

Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your comic storytelling to the next level, Sunday Comix offers a welcoming studio environment to create, learn, and grow alongside fellow artists.

Led by James Greene, this twice-monthly sequential art studio focuses on developing concepts, building stronger narratives, receiving meaningful feedback, and turning your pages into a finished publication. Artists of all experience levels are encouraged to join.

WHEN: Select Sundays, 2 – 4:30 pm
WHERE: CoRK Studios, 2689 Rosselle St., Jacksonville, FL 32204
COST: $20 per session

Upcoming Dates:
October 11 & 25
November 8 & 29
December 13 & 27

Space is limited—register here today!

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