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Now on view at the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida is “My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design.”

“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” highlights more than three centuries of American art and design, with works ranging from contemporary furniture to Pop Art to historical photos and documents reflecting the unique history of Marion County and Florida.

The exhibition is organized into themes inspired by the lyrics of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” This patriotic anthem was written in 1831 by Massachusetts native Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), who was a student at the Andover Theological Seminary. The song debuted in public on July 4, 1831, at a children’s Independence Day celebration at the Park Street Church in Boston.

My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!

The exhibition opens with a large-scale timeline tracing Florida’s history from the American Revolution to the present day. Beginning in 1776, when Florida served as a refuge for Loyalists, the timeline culminates with Ocala native and Olympic gold medalist Erin Jackson, who was selected by her peers as a U.S. flagbearer at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. A vibrant Pop Art installation reflecting America as the “Sweet Land of Liberty” celebrates the nation’s spirit of freedom and exploration. Sitting adjacent, “Of Thee I Sing” presents images representing American lives from the 19th century to today. Nearby is the marble sculpture, “Ambassador Molly,” by Nilda Comas, symbolizing the power of community action in Marion County, where citizens united to pass legislation protecting animals from abuse.
In the middle gallery, “Land Where My Fathers Died” brings together World War I and II posters and military-related historical objects that evoke themes of patriotic service and national ideals. Also featured in this space, “Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride” highlights longstanding American craft traditions, including quilting, woodworking and Art Deco technical designs and innovations.

Spanning the second and third galleries, “From Every Mountainside” presents distinctly American landscapes — from bustling urban environments to remote natural settings — reflecting the nation’s pride in its vast and diverse terrain stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

In the third gallery, “Let Freedom Ring” explores themes of personal expression and the ways Americans come together to embody the national motto E pluribus unum, or “Out of many, one.” Rare, previously unseen historical photographs and documents highlight Ocala’s important contributions to Florida and the United States.

“91��Ƭ is the proud home of the 91��Ƭ Patriots. As such, the Appleton team selected an array of 114 iconic American treasures from over three centuries,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton Museum director. “The curated works cover art, design, music, and dance as well as united patriotism in action through our shared actions to preserve our great democracy.”

“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” is on view now through September 13 in the Appleton’s Edith-Marie Gallery on the first floor and is supported in part by Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Special Events

“Stars, Stripes and American Art & Design”
July 1-31, 2026
Admission to the Appleton is free during the month of July 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“Picturing Paradise: From John James Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen”
A Talk by Dr. Keri Watson
Saturday, July 25, 1 p.m.
The Florida landscape has provided aesthetic inspiration to artists for centuries. Titian Ramsay Peale and John James Audubon came in search of native flora and fauna, followed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Johnson Heade, George Inness, Winslow Homer, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, who were lured by its natural beauty and warm climate. This presentation offers a succinct and engaging history of Florida’s landscape painters. Free to attend.

Film Screening: “1776” (Rated G, 2h 20m, 1972)
August 1, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This adaptation of the Broadway Tony-winning musical celebrates the founding fathers’ midwifery of the Declaration of Independence, the document that would give birth to a nation. Free to attend.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 352-291-4455, or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

The College of Central Florida Webber Gallery presents the work of local artists in the upcoming exhibition “Constellation” on display Monday, May 25, through Thursday, July 16.

This themed exhibition will explore traditional and nontraditional concepts of the term. Expanding beyond its astronomical origins, the exhibition approaches constellations as an open-ended concept that each artist will engage with in their own way. The resulting works may draw from personal, symbolic, conceptual, or traditional ideas, offering varied perspectives on how meaning is formed through connection and arrangement.

The exhibition may feature works across multiple mediums, including ink, paint, cyanotype, collage, and more. This range of materials reflects the flexibility of the theme itself, allowing artists to explore both structure and spontaneity in their processes. By bringing together multiple perspectives and mediums, the exhibition creates a larger “constellation” of its own, one formed by the collective voices of the local creative community.

The Webber Gallery is located at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Webber or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

The College of Central Florida’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences will host a lecture with author Travis Atria on Monday, April 20, at 5 p.m. at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, Building 8, 3001 S.W. College Road. Atria is the author of “Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs, Jazz Genius of Harlem, Paris, and a Nazi Prison Camp.” about the life of trumpeter Arthur Briggs. Homeric in scope, Briggs’ life story unfolds as a sweeping journey through music, migration, resilience and hope.

Drawing from groundbreaking research and unprecedented access to Briggs’ oral memoir, Atria traces Briggs’ remarkable journey from the Harlem Renaissance to Europe, where he was among the first pioneers to introduce jazz music to the world. During the legendary Jazz Age in Paris, Briggs was called “the Louis Armstrong of Paris” and was a peer of musical greats including Josephine Baker and Django Reinhardt. Attendees will learn what happened when Briggs was sent to France’s Saint-Denis internment camp in this epic tale of survival.

This free Introduction to Humanities event is sponsored by Bank of America and more information is available at 91��Ƭ.edu/Events.

Topics and concepts presented at this event are for discussion purposes only and are not intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel individuals to believe the topics or concepts presented therein. Nor do they constitute endorsement of such topics or concepts by the College of Central Florida, its Board of Trustees, or any of their officers, employees, or agents.

College of Central Florida invites the community to an evening of poetry and music with the Cornelius Eady Trio on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. This free event in the Debra Vazquez Memorial Poetry Series will be at the Webber Center on the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.

Eady, the recent winner of the Academy of American Poets’ prestigious Wallace Stevens Award, will read his original poems backed by two musicians playing jazz and blues. The National Book Award finalist and Pulitzer Prize nominee is the author of eight published volumes including “The Gathering of My Name” and “Brutal Imagination” and is the co-founder of Cave Canem, a nonprofit organization that supports emerging African American poets. He is known for works exploring music, family, and the challenges unique to the African American experience, with many poem titles paying homage to traditional blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll songs. Eady is a professor of English at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

For more information about this event, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Events.

Registration is now open for the Appleton’s highly anticipated Summer Art Camp — Ocala’s biggest art camp program, offering a full schedule of one- and two-week, half-day camps for ages 5-17.

Beginning the week of June 1, campers can choose from 29 themed camps designed to build real artistic skills while exploring a wide variety of media, like drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media. From celebrating the USA’s 250th birthday to fairytale-inspired adventures, clay creations, and glow-in-the-dark fun, each camp combines imagination with hands-on techniques in a supportive studio environment. It’s never too early to start planning for an art-filled summer!

New this year, early care is available from 8-9 a.m., beginning the week of July 6. Due to popular demand, additional camps have also been added for ages 5-7.

Need-based scholarships for campers are available. Scholarship application can be found at AppletonMuseum.org and submitted beginning Monday, Apr. 13.

“The Appleton provides a world-class museum environment for summer art camps,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton director. “With more than a century of combined teaching experience, our instructors offer exceptional guidance, and camps fill quickly each year. Students work with high-quality art materials as they build real skills and create their own masterpieces. It’s the perfect balance of summer learning and fun.”

Summer Art Camp is appropriate for all skill levels; no experience is necessary. Register now at AppletonMuseum.org. Discounts are available for current Appleton members at the Family/Dual Level or above. For questions about Summer Art Camp, contact AppletonEducation@cf.edu.

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2026 Summer Art Camp Schedule

June 1-5

• Once Upon a Time (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  It’s a fairytale week — think queens and kings, castles, dragons, mythical forests and magical quests. $150 for Appleton members; $180 for nonmembers. Instructor: Vanessa Zumba Gonzalez.
• Paints and Prints – (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m. Dive into the world of painting and printmaking! Experiment with paints while learning color mixing, brush control, texture and layering. On the printmaking side, explore fun processes such as stamping, relief prints, form or cardboard printing and simple mono-prints. $150 for Appleton members; $180 for nonmembers. Instructor: Maritzabel Jauregui-Rodriguez

June 8-12

• Art Detective – A (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Become an art detective at camp this week. Learn to spot clues in artwork to uncover the secrets of how artists pull off artistic magic tricks on canvas. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Kio Weber-Lee
• Art Detective – B (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Become an art detective at camp this week. Learn to spot clues in artwork to uncover the secrets of how artists pull off artistic magic tricks on canvas. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Tasha Strigle
• People, Places and Things (Ages 13-17), 1-4 p.m.
  Learn to observe the world around you and transform what you see into art. Explore drawing, painting and design as you create artwork inspired by people, places and everyday objects. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Lisa Russo

June 15-19

• Groovy and Glowing – A (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Experiment with fluorescent paints and markers as you create bold, eye-catching designs. Focus on color, pattern, and creativity, then watch your artwork come to life as it glows under black light. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Kio Weber-Lee
• Groovy and Glowing – B (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Experiment with fluorescent paints and markers as you create bold, eye-catching designs. Focus on color, pattern, and creativity, then watch your artwork come to life as it glows under black light. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Melle Broaderick
• Painting Possibilities (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Spend a week discovering new painting techniques while creating with acrylics, watercolor and mixed media. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Elisa Adelman-Rodriguez

June 22-26

• Space Cadet – A (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Calling all intergalactic explorers — prepare for lift off! You’re headed to a galaxy of your own creation in a miniature space vehicle you design. Your artwork will be out of this world! $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Maritzabel Jauregui-Rodriguez
• Space Cadet – B (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Calling all intergalactic explorers — prepare for lift off! You’re headed to a galaxy of your own creation in a miniature space vehicle you design. Your artwork will be out of this world! $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Kio Weber-Lee
• Mini Art (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Big creativity comes in tiny sizes! Explore the world of miniature art by creating small-scale paintings, sculptures, and tiny mixed-media projects. Using detail-focused techniques and imaginative materials, young artists learn that even the smallest artwork can tell a big story. Perfect for artists who love precision, imagination, and hands-on fun. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Tasha Strigle

June 29-July 3

• Color Carnival (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  What’s your favorite color? Celebrate color and creativity this week as you explore fun, hands-on art projects using a variety of materials and plenty of vibrant color! $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Vanessa Zumba-Gonzalez
• Star-Spangled Art (Ages 8-12), 9 a.m.-noon
  Join us for a fun, creativity-packed art camp that celebrates imagination through a red, white and blue lens. Campers will explore a variety of art forms — drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media — while being inspired by American symbols, history, landmarks and heroes. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Jeanne Baines
• America the Beautiful (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Celebrate the landscapes, symbols and stories of the United States. Through drawing, painting, collage, and mixed media, campers will explore what makes America unique. Projects may be inspired by famous American artists, wildlife, and the natural beauty found across the country. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Jeanne Baines

July 6-10

• Meet the Artist (Ages 8-12), 9 a.m.-noon
  Through art and stories, pint-sized Picassos will be introduced to a new artist each day and experience a variety of materials while making art. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Ashley Condie
• Funky Sculpture (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Do you like to make 3D art? Work with an assortment of fun and unconventional materials this week to make sculptures. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: E. Marie Fielding

July 6-17 (Two-Week Camp)

• Dig Into Clay (Ages 8-12), 9 a.m.-noon
  In this two-week camp, learn the basics of hand building with clay and the art of glazing. Pinch pot, coil pot and slab construction will be used to make fun pieces to take home. $300 Appleton members; $360 nonmembers. Instructor: Jamie Roche

July 13-17

• Glow Up (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Unleash your creativity as you craft art that pops and glows under black light. Watch your artwork light up the dark! $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Ashley Condie
• Outdoor Painting (Ages 13-17), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Off-site at 91��Ƭ Vintage Farm
  Leave the classroom behind and explore 91��Ƭ’s Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm as your painting studio. We’ll take portable easels and paints outside to practice your painting skills “en plein air,” or, in the open air. Please note, the class also may work indoors, depending upon the weather. $170 Appleton members; $200 nonmembers. Instructor: Jordan Shapot
• Imagine Asia (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Get inspired by the world’s largest continent and create art influenced by a variety of Asian cultures. Paint a fan with ink, print decorative tile designs, and more. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: E. Marie Fielding

July 20-24

• Critter Fun (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Cute, cuddly, and even creepy animals are the focus this week. Using a variety of materials to make art you’ll go home with your own zoo collection. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Melle Broaderick
• Magic Makers (Ages 8-12), 9 a.m.-noon
  Journey into the world of mythical and magical creatures. Make imaginative works of art based on stories and tales, creating your own artistic versions of the Kraken, mermaids, and phoenixes. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Hillary Ovalle
• Artsy Science (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Creative and curious about your world? Engage in hands-on activities that combine creative art with scientific concepts like color, motion and pattern. Learn about Escher’s tessellations, Calder’s mobiles and the science of color. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Deborah Horvath

July 27-31

• Shells and Sandcastles (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  This week, create art influenced by the secrets of the sea. Imagine yourself snorkeling through the beautiful water — what treasures would you discover? Make a sandcastle, fish prints and create art with shells. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Melle Broaderick
• Animal-topia (Ages 8-12), 9 a.m.-noon
  Run wild in this colorful adventure where creativity meets the animal kingdom! Each day focuses on a different habitat of Animal-topia (jungle, ocean, savanna, arctic, or fantasy land). $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Michelle Wetz
• Fantastic Voyages (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Blast off into outer space and dive deep beneath the waves in this imagination-packed art camp! Young artists become explorers as they create dazzling artwork inspired by distant galaxies and mysterious ocean worlds. No passport required, just creativity. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Michel Yeuell

August 3-7

• Cats and Dogs (Ages 5-7), 9 a.m.-noon
  Calling all animal lovers! Celebrate your favorite furry friends through playful, hands-on art projects. Campers will explore drawing, painting and mixed media while creating adorable cats, goofy dogs, paw prints, pet portraits and imaginative animal scenes. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Veronica Eason
• Pharaohs and Pyramids (Ages 8-12), 9 a.m.-noon
  Imagine sailing down the Nile River and discovering Egyptian art from the time of the pharaohs! What might you find inside the pyramids — mummies, masks, or even a sarcophagus? Create your own ancient-inspired treasures as you explore history and art this week. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Michel Yeuell
• Pixels and Blocks (Ages 8-12), 1-4 p.m.
  Grab inspiration from your favorite block-based video game in a world of pixels, blocks, creativity and imagination! Build your own universe while exploring new art techniques with like-minded enthusiasts. $150 Appleton members; $180 nonmembers. Instructor: Deborah Horvath

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

Two College of Central Florida honor students have been awarded scholarships from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Yongxing Lin was named a 2026 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and will receive a $2,750 scholarship. Lisette Koehner was chosen as a 2026 Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

Lin was selected as the only student from Florida among more than 2,300 national nominees, and he received the highest score in the state in the Phi Theta Kappa fall scholarship competition. He will be recognized at the Phi Theta Kappa Catalyst 2026 annual convention in Baltimore, Maryland on March 27. His award was based on academic accomplishments, leadership, activities, and extension of intellectual talents beyond the classroom. The New Century Transfer Pathway program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, with additional support provided by Phi Theta Kappa.

Koehner’s scholarship is designed to help hardworking, high-achieving students complete an associate degree. Named after benefactors Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf, the Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion scholarship helps Phi Theta Kappa members overcome unanticipated financial barriers preventing completion of their first college certificate or associate degree. Lou Oberndorf is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation board of trustees.

Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and is made up of more than 4 million members in 11 countries. To learn more about the College of Central Florida chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Honors.

College of Central Florida invites current middle and high school students to learn how to earn college credits through the 91��Ƭ Dual Enrollment program. Students and parents can get details about this opportunity to earn college credits and even complete a college degree while in high school and will hear from a panel of current students. Attendees are invited to come early for a campus tour and pizza.

The Dual Enrollment Discovery Night on Tuesday, March 10, 5-7 p.m. at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus Ewers Century Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, will feature: welcome and pizza, 5-5:30 p.m.; opening presentation and parent Q&A, 5:30-6 p.m.; program presentations, 6-6:20 p.m.; and student panel discussion, 6:20-6:50 p.m. Registration is requested at 91��Ƭ.edu/DESessions.

About the College of Central Florida:
The College of Central Florida is committed to providing a full range of educational programs, offering high-quality, affordable education across three counties and online. 91��Ƭ offers more than 170 academic pathways in a variety of fields to prepare students for meaningful careers and successful futures.

The College of Central Florida invites the community to the fiercely hilarious live musical production of “Mean Girls,” on stage April 9-12 at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 S.W. College Road.

91��Ƭ is one of the first colleges to stage the Tony Award-nominated musical adapted from Tina Fey’s hit 2004 film that takes a deep dive into the popularity pecking order of suburban high school.

“It’s exciting for our students to take on a show this advanced,” said RJ Magee, 91��Ƭ associate professor of theatre and the musical’s director. “There’s tons of singing and dancing, set and scene changes. We’re really proud of this very professional effort, and it’s truly an interdisciplinary project, with participants and faculty from the entire visual and performing arts department and students from all different academic pathways.”

The cast of 24 students on stage will be supported by many other students in technical and backstage roles. Dr. Jason Longtin, professor of music and department chair for visual and performing arts, is the show’s music director; dance instructor Justine McDaniel is the choreographer; Abigail Stallings, assistant professor of digital media, is the costume designer; and Allen Venezio, associate professor of music, directs the orchestra.

Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 9-11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-91��Ƭ students and can be purchased at cf.universitytickets.com or by calling 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for 91��Ƭ students, faculty and staff with valid I.D. For more information about 91��Ƭ Visual and Performing Arts events, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Arts.