Visit the Appleton on June 1 for Free First Saturday! Enjoy free admission all day to see our permanent collection, special exhibitions, or to make art in the Artspace.

At 11 a.m., artist Margaret Ross Tolbert will give a free talk in the auditorium, “Canvassing Florida Springs.”

At 2 p.m., see a free screening of the documentary, “Lost Springs” with a brief intro by filmmaker Matt Keene.

The Donut Express and Brick & Ember food trucks will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Join us for the opening reception of our annual Art of Aging exhibit, in partnership with Marion Senior Services. Complimentary light refreshments will be served for registered guests, and attendees will have the chance to meet & mingle with the participating artists.

This annual exhibit features art in various mediums created by MCA Artist members ages 55+. Now in our 9th year, our 2024 theme/prompt is “A Moment in Time”. MCA artists ages 55 and over can submit art for this exhibit at https://artofaging24.artcall.org. Deadline to enter and participate is July 21 at midnight.

Complimentary Lunch & Learn workshops and other events on topics of interest to Senior health and their caregivers, will be held during the month of August (stay tuned for a list of dates).

Art of Aging is an annual collaborative partnership of Marion Senior Services and MCA that celebrates aging through art, stories, and education. Thank you to our presenting sponsors; the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute & Urology Institute of Central Florida.

The Art of Aging exhibit will be on view #atTheBrick from August 2 – 31, 2024. Admission is free to the event, RSVP is required at the door. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturday 11am to 4pm. Questions? Please visit mcaocala.org or contact us at 352-369-1500.

Join artist Charlita Rae Whitehead in the auditorium for a talk on the work in her solo exhibition, “Every Fiber of My Being.”

Whitehead, a self-taught artist, has been working in the tufting medium since 2022. Tufting is an electric version of punch needle embroidery, which uses a needle to push yarn through material to form a continuous loop stitch. In addition to tufting, Whitehead uses a variety of tools and materials to create her dreamy tapestries. She incorporates tufting with traditional punch needle methods, different types of yarn and varying pile heights to create topographical hills and valleys.

This event is free; no registration needed to attend

Visit the Appleton on June 1 for Free First Saturday! Enjoy free admission all day to see our permanent collection, special exhibitions, or to make art in the Artspace.

At 11 a.m., artist Margaret Ross Tolbert will give a free talk in the auditorium, “Canvassing Florida Springs.”

At 2 p.m., see a free screening of the documentary, “Lost Springs” with a brief intro by filmmaker Matt Keene.

The Donut Express and Brick & Ember food trucks will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

You’re Invited!

Celebrate a Night of Vibrant Creativity and Milestone Moments

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: 8th Ave Gallery, Ocala, Florida

Join me for a special evening as I celebrate the opening night reception of my first solo art show and my 50th birthday!

Event Highlights:

Art Exhibition: Immerse yourself in my latest collection of bold and colorful abstract expressionist paintings.

Live Music: Enjoy live performances by the talented Shelby Lauren.

Delicious Hors d’Oeuvres: Savor a selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening.

Birthday Celebration: Share in the joy of this milestone birthday celebration with friends, family and fellow art enthusiasts.

Come experience an evening where colors will dance, stories will unfold, and memories will be created. This event is a celebration of art, life, and shared happiness, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Warm regards,

Heather Dawn Batchelor

SAVE THE DATE!! Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) is thrilled to announce that this year’s annual auction will be a hybrid event, kicking off with an online auction on Friday, September 6 during MCA’s September member’s reception. The excitement will build up to a grand finale on Friday, September 13 from 6-8pm at The Brick (23 SW Broadway Street), with an in-person party held two hours prior to the conclusion of the auction. Throughout September, the exhibit “COLOR POP!” will brighten the MCA Gallery, offering guests a vibrant atmosphere surrounded by colorful art. To complement the theme, the party will feature pop-related refreshments such as popcorn, popcyles, cake pops, poptarts and bubbles!

During the in-person event, all auction items and experiences will be on display, providing guests with the opportunity to see what they are bidding on firsthand. MCA will enhance the festive atmosphere with complimentary beer, wine and a signature cocktail, topped with a selection of pop-themed snacks available throughout the event. MCA’s online platform (OneCause) will continue to engage donors, providing real-time prompts and status updates on their bids, ensuring a seamless and interactive bidding experience.

In a special collaboration, MCA is partnering with Gray Realty to feature a live auction as part of the evening’s festivities. The highlight of the live auction will be a custom-painted “Horse Fever” life-size horse statue, along with a few other exclusive items that the committee will be curating. Excitingly, 100% of the proceeds from the auction will contribute to MCA’s Give4Marion Campaign.

POP into The Brick and join MCA for an unforgettable evening of art, community, and generosity! Get your tickets today at onecau.se/_5zpzs1

Interested in donating items to MCA for this auction? Contact us at 352-369-1500 or send an email to Jaye.Baillie@mcaocala.com. We appreciate your support!

Visit the Appleton on June 1 for Free First Saturday! Enjoy free admission all day to see our permanent collection, special exhibitions, or to make art in the Artspace.

At 11 a.m., artist Margaret Ross Tolbert will give a free talk in the auditorium, “Canvassing Florida Springs.”

At 2 p.m., see a free screening of the documentary, “Lost Springs” with a brief intro by filmmaker Matt Keene.

The Donut Express and Brick & Ember food trucks will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Visit the Appleton on June 1 for Free First Saturday! Enjoy free admission all day to see our permanent collection, special exhibitions, or to make art in the Artspace.

At 11 a.m., artist Margaret Ross Tolbert will give a free talk in the auditorium, “Canvassing Florida Springs.”

At 2 p.m., see a free screening of the documentary, “Lost Springs” with a brief intro by filmmaker Matt Keene.

The Donut Express and Brick & Ember food trucks will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.