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

The Legacy Project is an invaluable collection that explores the history of Osceola County and its people, and connects the community to its past.

Formed on May 12, 1887, from portions of Orange and Brevard County, Osceola County became Florida’s 40th county. Osceola was named after the famed Seminole leader and this county was a transportation hub in the late 19th century for riverboats and railroad. The county rapidly began a cattle, sugar, and lumber-based economy. As of the 2020 census, the population of Osceola County is 388,656 and includes the cities of Kissimmee, St. Cloud, as well as other numerous communities.

The exhibit includes materials from different areas of Osceola County history, including: the city of Narcoossee, Osceola County courthouse, Osceola High School, and much more!

Items in the exhibit are kindly loaned from Osceola History.

This exhibit is on display until Saturday, November 30, 2024.

From June to July, Summer campers, ages 13 to 15, were encouraged to explore who they are through the process of “creative expression.”

These were not drawing or painting classes, but rather, an exploration of the Inner Self through imagination and creativity, mostly in the abstract, which can be both cathartic and comforting.

With the facilitation of the Coordinator and three student interns, the youths were encouraged to explore their strengths; their weaknesses; facing their fears; and aspiring to better things by expressing it all through the strokes of a paintbrush.

They first worked with watercolor markers. By the second week, they transitioned to acrylic paints, which provided the experience of a complete “freedom of movement” through the brushstroke and vibrancy of the paint colors.

The Student Interns, Kaitlynn Torres (lead), Jessica Ridenhour and Sarah Martin, contributed to the creative process in assisting the students. All three interns are also regular volunteers of the St. Cloud Boys & Girls Club.

REFLECTIONS: Portraits of Who I Am is excerpted from the larger Exploring The ME Youth Workshops Project scaled to fit the specific needs of the Boys & Girls Club’s Summer Camp Program.

Funding for these workshops was provided to The WYE Project through a grant from the City of St. Cloud Community Support Grant Program. 

This exhibit is on display Saturday, October 12 – Monday, December 30, 2024.

Deivi Sanchez, originally from Venezuela and now based in Central Florida, is both a Computer Science graduate and a “painter of the spirit.” His artistic journey began in 2017 with a 24-hour drawing course at “La Madeja de las Ideas” in Cancún, followed by a hyper-realistic painting workshop led by Omar Ortiz in Mexico City in 2020. Since then, Sanchez has spent countless hours in solitude, accompanied by his dogs, cat, brushes, and colors from various mediums.

“My work is born from the soul and lives in constant change. At first, it was something incomprehensible. It was as if suddenly a silent stranger raised his voice. He seemed familiar to me, but he was still a stranger. My paintings are a representation of life itself, colors are a representative of my culture and identity. Nostalgia is my ally in my loneliness, silence guides my path.” says Sanchez.

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

Questions or to purchase art contact Deivi at zahord@gmail.com.

This exhibit is on display Monday, November 11 – Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

For Rebeca Marrero, art has always been a deep passion. Like many, after having children, her focus shifted. With a background in fashion design and costuming, she spent nearly two decades working on a wide range of projects for clients worldwide.

In time, Marrero rediscovered the significant role that creating art plays in her life. “My work is heavily influenced by my personal journey, lifestyle, and interests. Through Surrealism, I explore my love for symbolism, my connection to my true self, and my continued growth into my higher self. Art has been a vital tool for my mental health, guiding me through life challenges. I believe creative expression through art is one of the best forms of healing. The contrast between the vibrant colors of my work and the dark backgrounds symbolizes the desire to break free from the darkness we sometimes face,” says Marrero.

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

This exhibit is on display from Monday, October 7 – Monday, December 30, 2024.

Mariano is a self-taught artist who emigrated to the United States in the 1960s. In his youth, Mariano Herrera was influenced by several notable artists, including Salvador Dali, Wilfredo Lam, and Max Ernst. These artists are known for their contributions to surrealism and abstraction and shaped Herrera’s artistic style and techniques.

Today his artwork is inspired by his memories of the Isla de Pinos, his childhood home. He recalls the intense blue skies, the aquamarine colors of the sea, and the lush green colors of the island. These memories have translated into the brilliant colors and biomorphic shapes on his canvases. Mariano Herrera’s art is deeply rooted in his personal experiences, his Cuban heritage, and the artistic influences he has encountered throughout his life. His art is a joyful reflection of his memories and the beauty of the natural world, as seen through the lens of his unique abstract perspective.

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