University of Florida Homepage
Rear view of Audience over the speakers on the stage in the conference hall or seminar meeting, business and education concept

Artists & Scholars in Public Life at the University of Florida and Beyond

UF is proud to be a member-institution of Imagining America (IA), a national consortium committed to using the arts, humanities, and design to enact a more just and liberatory world. Faculty, staff, students, and community partners are invited to join the UF Imagining America Working Group and advance public scholarship through IA gatherings, collaborative projects, and resources.

Announcements:

Recent Projects

The Vodou Archive: Curating and Sharing the Sources of Vodou Religion and Culture

2012

Ben Hebblethwaite has created one of the nation’s largest online resources for teaching the Creole language, and educates students on the social and political consequences of language policy in Haiti. This three-year project will create a freely accessible multimedia digital library that uses audiovisual technologies to curate, elucidate and facilitate the advanced search of the rich primary materials of a central Haitian and Haitian-American spiritual tradition in order to promote discovery and educate a broad public.

“Haitian Labor Enslaved: From Haiti to Florida”

2012

The Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice organized a panel discussion concerning a problem of forced labor in Florida and Haitian immigrants. The panel consisted of Gerald Murray, Sherry Kitchens, and Kenneth Nunn, and was moderated by Anita Spring. The event was held at the Alachua Public Library in Gainesville, Florida, on March 30, 2011.
A public panel examining the continuing crisis of human trafficking in Florida.

UF Celebrates National Arts & Humanities Month

2012

National Arts and Humanities Month is a coast-to-coast collective recognition of the importance of culture in America. It is designed to encourage all Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of active participation in the arts and humanities. By joining in this national celebration and initiative, we echo the importance of arts and humanities in our community. We remain committed to providing cultural opportunities for students across all disciplines. We celebrate our belief that creativity and innovation are nurtured by the artistic environment through collaboration, participation and education.

LAE students, alumni team up to help Gainesville Fisher House

2012

Wonderful things can happen when DCP alumni team up with students.

Last spring, 16 landscape architecture students got an opportunity to compete for the ultimate design of the Fisher House Gardens, a therapy garden for the Gainesville Fisher House Foundation.

Jackie Owens, MLAE 1995, landscape architect for the planned Fisher House therapy garden, got the ball rolling on the project after contacting the department with the idea to work with students.

The project, the design for which will be located at the future North Florida/South Georgia Fisher House on Malcom Randall VA Medical Center property, was a combined effort between the Planting Design Studio, taught by adjunct instructor Amy Morie, MLAE 2007, and Kay Williams, associate professor of landscape architecture, and the spring Landscape Construction class, taught by Bob Grist, associate professor of landscape architecture.

The student proposals aimed to balance both occupational therapy opportunities and provide an inviting outdoor atmosphere.

The proposals included sensory elements in the form of water, artwork, an herb and vegetable garden and a soundproof barrier from the adjacent urban area. One of the most important elements The Fisher House aims to provide is the feeling of a “home away from home” for veterans and their families while a loved one is receiving care at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center.

UF School of Theatre and Dance Faculty Uses Improvisational Theatre to Heal Veterans

2012

Charlie Mitchell is using improvisational theater to heal, one “Zip Zap Zop” at a time.

Mitchell, a theater professor, leads weekly improv sessions at the HONOR Center in Gainesville, a Veterans Affairs facility that serves as a transitional residence for once-homeless veterans.

He and retired classics professor Karelisa Hartigan created the program last year to help veterans to improve their social skills.

School of Art + Art History alumnus honored with Lifetime Art Achievement Award

2012

Local artists recognized with Lifetime Art Achievement awards.

Using their creativity to bring about civic awareness and change, two local artists are being jointly recognized for their efforts with Lifetime Art Achievement awards from the Gainesville-Alachua Cultural Affairs Board.

View More Projects