This exhibit will be on display starting in January at the Hart Memorial Library.

Osceola County Cuisine is a collection that reflects Osceola County’s culture – past, present, and future. One taste of a family recipe handed down through generations immediately connects us to our past and brings us together!

Preserving family recipes is so much more than just preserving food – it’s about preserving your family’s identity, history, traditions, and culture. From hearty meals that brought the family together to sweet treats made for special occasions, these recipes are more than just instructions—they are a window into the lives and legacies of those who came before us. We invite you to explore these culinary treasures, recreate these dishes, and celebrate the rich tapestry of family, food, and history that binds us all.

The exhibit includes invaluable recipes from residents of Osceola County and treasured cookbooks, Stove Pilot and Favorite Recipes.

Items in the exhibit are kindly loaned from Osceola History.

This exhibit is on display Friday, Janaury 3 – Friday, February 28, 2025.

Laura Garza, born in Mexico, has lived and worked in Orlando, FL for the past 30 years. Before dedicating herself to practicing photography, Garza founded a business in the travel industry. It was through her peregrinations around the globe that she became interested in capturing people, culture, and nature.

Garza aims to freeze magnificent and intimate moments in nature, using them to express their beauty and fragility. She seeks to evoke urgency and a need to protect the natural world and its creatures. Through capturing these ephemeral moments, Garza is an environmental activist, reminding viewers of their responsibility as contributors of this delicate harmony.

For more information contact diana@osceolaarts.org 

This exhibit is on display Friday, January 3 – Friday, February 28, 2025.

Ms. Negron has a compelling story that reflects her dedication to both art and community healing. Born into a working-class family in Puerto Rico, she initially pursued a career as an elementary teacher, with a minor in fine art. Seeking further education, she moved to Boston to study Expressive Therapies at the graduate level. However, she found that the college curriculum often didn’t resonate with the marginalized communities she was passionate about serving.

This realization led her to shift her focus towards the therapeutic and joyous aspects of art-making. Negron found a deep connection with clay, a malleable medium that she uses to convey her narrative. She describes clay as offering endless possibilities for expression: “Clay as an earthy medium that can be handled, constructed, and deconstructed, it gives options for conveying my story. I can visually show, communicate feelings, make statements, fight stereotypes, educate, and empower. I see myself using clay/art as a tool to build a more sound, colorful, and inclusive environment.” Through her work, Negron continues to advocate for art as a powerful tool for education, empowerment, and fostering inclusivity.

For more information contact diana@osceolaarts.org 

This exhibit is on display Saturday, January 4 – Friday, February 28, 2025.

This exhibit is on display Friday, November 22 – Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

For more information on the Arts in Public Places Program contact diana@osceolaarts.org

This exhibit is on display from Tuesday, January 7 – Friday, February 7, 2025.

This selection of student art was organized by Jenny Mohess, teacher and founder of the graphic design course. Mohess hails from Trinidad and Tobago and has lived in Osceola County for over 24 years. She stepped onto Valencia College’s campus in 2000 as an international student and earned her Associate of Science in Graphics from Valencia College, a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of South Florida, and a master’s degree in art education from Boston University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership. These experiences led to a career at Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp and allowed her to own a design studio. Jenny has also taught at Valencia College for over 15 years and has found a genuine purpose for mentoring future graphic/web designers through the Valencia Graphics Program.

In 2018, she worked on a project to take the graphics program into the Osceola School District and build the program at Tohopekaliga High School — a new STEAM high school with a focus on arts and career and technical education. The program is now the #1 program in the district (TKHS GRAPHIC DESIGN AGENCY) and won an Adobe World Champion Design Competition in 2022 after four short years of being active. In 2024 Jenny was named Educator of the Year by Global Certiport – A Pearson Vue Business.

For more information on the Arts in Public Places Program contact Marilyn@osceolaarts.org