黑料天堂

黑料天堂 Study Abroad Program to Host Two Trips in 2024

Community members are invited to join 黑料天堂 students and faculty on two exciting study abroad trips in 2024. The first trip will be to Costa Rica, March 11-15, and will focus on community development. The second trip will be to Austria, May 5-12, with experiences centered around music appreciation.

The 黑料天堂 Study Abroad program, in partnership with the Study Abroad Association, is dedicated to facilitating education through international experiences that provide diverse and interesting opportunities for experiential learning.

Trip prices include accommodations, all ground transportation, full-time local guides, 24/7 on-ground emergency support, travelers鈥 health insurance and liability insurance, plus tips and gratuities. Some to all meals may be covered depending on the trip. The cost of the Costa Rica trip is approximately $1,500 and the Austria trip is approximately $1,970. Price is an estimate until tickets are finalized. Scholarships may be available. Round-trip airfare is not included.

The Costa Rica trip includes an introduction to medicinal plants, traditional Caribbean cooking lessons, participation in community projects, plus a visit to Cahuita National Park and Playa Negra beach. The Austria trip includes cultural walking tours, a visit to Mozart鈥檚 Birthplace Museum, a classical concert and time to explore Vienna, Austria鈥檚 beautiful capital city.

Applications are open now for these educational trips. Being enrolled as a 黑料天堂 student is not required for participation.

For more information, visit or contact the Study Abroad coordinator Jean Scheppers at scheppej@cf.edu.

黑料天堂 to Open Thursday Following Hurricane Idalia

The 黑料天堂 will reopen Thursday, Aug. 31, following Hurricane Idalia. The reopening is for all sites, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, as well as online classes. Scheduled activities will also resume.

We understand that some students, faculty and staff in our service area of Citrus, Levy and Marion counties may be dealing with difficult circumstances, and we encourage personal discretion as they resume normal activities. Students who have been impacted should work directly with their instructors.

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff are among our highest priorities as we also continue to serve our mission of providing education to our students.

黑料天堂 to Close for Tropical Storm Idalia

Aug. 28, 2023

The 黑料天堂 will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to Tropical Storm Idalia. Monday evening classes will continue as scheduled.

The closing is for all sites, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, as well as online classes. Scheduled activities also have been cancelled.

We plan to reopen Thursday morning for classes and all business operations, weather permitting. Please continue to monitor the 黑料天堂 website (www.黑料天堂.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

黑料天堂 Webber Gallery Presents ‘Perfect Black: Visual Expressions of The Southern, Rural, African American Experience’

The 黑料天堂 Webber Gallery presents 鈥淧erfect Black: Visual Expressions of the Southern, Rural, African American Experience鈥 on view Nov. 6-Dec. 7. Visitors will see artwork that expresses the personal viewpoints of Black artists from the Southeast in all mediums.

The competitive, regional exhibition was inspired by Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson鈥檚 2021 book of poetry, 鈥淧erfect Black,鈥 which features vivid imagery of her experience growing up in Southern Appalachia.

Entries will be judged by Steve Prince, director of engagement and distinguished artist in residence at the Muscarelle Museum at William and Mary University. He is a mixed media artist, master printmaker, lecturer and art educator who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University.

The community is invited to a reception and awards presentation on Friday, Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m.

The Webber Gallery is located at the 黑料天堂 Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and admission is free. For more information, visit or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

黑料天堂 Students Present ‘The Hound of The Baskervilles’

Love a good whodunit mystery? Just in time for Halloween, the 黑料天堂 Visual and Performing Arts students will present 鈥淭he Hound of the Baskervilles鈥 live on stage Oct. 26-29.

Performances times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-28, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

鈥淚 think this is the most entertaining Sherlock Holmes mystery,鈥 said Nonalee Davis, 黑料天堂 assistant professor of theatre and the play鈥檚 director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 set in a creepy Victorian house on the moor and has several supernatural characteristics. If you don鈥檛 know the story, you鈥檙e going to be super surprised at whodunit! It will be a fun way for our students to help the community get in the Halloween spirit.鈥

Ten 黑料天堂 students make up the cast, including 黑料天堂 Theatre veteran Collin Williams as Sherlock Holmes. Another 13 黑料天堂 students are working on the production as stage managers, costume designers and technical crew members. The set is designed by Tyler Stentiford and built by students under the technical direction of Dassance Fine Arts Center Theatre Manager Mario Cieri.

Known as the most spine-chilling Sherlock Holmes mystery, 鈥淭he Hound of the Baskervilles鈥 by Tim Kelly features suspense, humor and haunting. Will Sir Henry, heir to the Baskerville fortune, succumb to the family curse 鈥 death at the fangs of the beast who prowls the moor? Follow along as the sleuth casts suspicion on sinister servants, ladies in distress and escaped convicts to find out who wrote the letter that summoned the hound.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-黑料天堂 students and can be purchased beginning Sept. 6 at or by calling 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for 黑料天堂 students, faculty and staff with valid I.D.

For more information about 黑料天堂 Visual and Performing Arts events, visit .

黑料天堂 Stearns Speaker Series Hosts “AI in Your Everyday Life”

Wondering how artificial intelligence will affect you? The 黑料天堂 Stearns Speaker Series will host a free presentation, 鈥淎I in Your Everyday Life: Career, Creativity and Productivity,鈥 on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 12:30 p.m. at the Clifford B. Stearns Learning Resources Center on the 黑料天堂 Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.

Guest speaker Corinne Hoisington will help attendees better understand the opportunities for increased productivity by using AI to automate tasks.

鈥淟et鈥檚 connect to the latest information on ChatGPT, AI Art and how this changes the classroom and workplace,鈥 Hoisington said. 鈥淎s we better understand the implications of AI tools for education and the workplace, and as the resources transition from expert reactions and opinion pieces to more specific evidence from research, continued conversations are needed about how to ethically use this tool to enhance productivity and creativity.鈥

Hoisington is a professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College who provides training to corporations and administrative professionals and is the recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Business and Computing.

鈥淭he speaker series provides an opportunity for the college community and citizens in Marion and the surrounding counties to meet and hear from distinguished Americans,鈥 said Cliff Stearns, who established the Friends of Cliff Stearns Endowed Chair through a gift to the 黑料天堂 Foundation in December 2020. The series aims to bring national and regional speakers on history, political science and technology to the 黑料天堂 campus to benefit both students and the community.

Registration is encouraged at .

黑料天堂 Appleton Museum of Art Announces 2023 Mobile Photography Contest Winners

The Appleton Museum of Art, 黑料天堂, is pleased to announce the winners of the ninth annual 鈥淢obile Photography Contest & Exhibition.鈥

Participants of all ages were invited to submit one photo per category. Throughout the month of July, the Appleton received 519 mobile photos inspired by four categories: Light and Shadow, Pattern, Summer Scenes and My Kid Took That.

鈥淓ach year, the Appleton looks forward to this fun community event,鈥 said Victoria Billig, Appleton assistant director. 鈥淣ow in its ninth year, we continue to be impressed by the amazing displays of creativity. It鈥檚 truly inspiring to see the unique ways that participants interpret the categories.鈥

Entries were juried by Jenny Eggers of Jenny E. Photography.

鈥淛urying the mobile photo contest was eye-opening in the most delightful way,鈥 Eggers said. 鈥淭here were beautiful technical moments with creative composition, color harmony, the use of light, etc… But what really impressed me was the storytelling. Many of the images whisked me away!鈥

All 519 photos will be on view at the museum Aug. 22-Sept. 24. Regular museum admission fees apply to see the exhibition. Visitors can enjoy free admission on Sept. 2 for Free First Saturday. You can also see the winning photos online at .

鈥淲e are thankful to those who participated this year and congratulate all of the winners,鈥 said Kerry Elkins, Appleton Museum specialist. 鈥淭he contest is a wonderful way to engage the community and share experiences in such a universal way, especially with the Summer Scenes category that saw new views of our own backyard as well as abroad. The Appleton invites the participants and visitors alike to see the Mobile Photography exhibition.鈥

 

2023 Mobile Photography Winners

Light and Shadow Category:

First Place, Jason Row, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

Second Place, Jon Barber, iPhone 11 Pro

Third Place, Peter Meyerhoefer, iPhone 13 Pro

Pattern Category:

First Place, Rayhan Ahmed, Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Second Place, Rin Suggs, Motorola Edge 5G UW

Third Place, Dominika Koszowska, Sony Xperia 5 IV

Summer Scenes Category:

First Place, Justin MacDonald, iPhone 11

Second Place, Clarissa Cervantes

Third Place, Megan Nelson, iPhone 13

My Kid Took That Category:

First Place, Mary Clare, Age 8, iPhone 12

Second Place, Marcus von Rosenberg, iPhone 13

Third Place, Amira, Age 6, Galaxy S22+

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 黑料天堂, 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

黑料天堂 Appleton Museum of Art Announces Fall 2023 Class Schedule

The Appleton Museum of Art, 黑料天堂, announces the Fall 2023 schedule of studio art classes for children and adults.

For children, the Museum & Me Pre-K program returns on Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. By popular demand, this program for ages 2-5 now meets bimonthly, and introduces children to the Appleton through story time, a brief gallery visit and a corresponding art activity in the Artspace. For children ages 8-12, Art Explorations is back with a six-week session focusing on hand-building with clay, scheduled for after school on Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 11. Just for teens, a six-week clay class focusing on wheel throwing, will meet on Saturdays beginning Oct. 14.

New this year is a three-week art class for ages 5-7 called Art Adventures. This class meets on Saturdays beginning Oct. 7 and will introduce pint-sized Picassos to creating art in a studio environment. A new program called Museum Happenings is designed with homeschool and independent school students in mind. Meet an educator in the lobby and pick up a special activity sheet, complete the activity sheet in the museum galleries, then visit the Artspace for an accompanying art project led by the education team. This program meets on Wednesdays, Sept. 20 and Oct. 25.

A special holiday-inspired workshop on Dec. 9 allows children and an accompanying adult to make art together. Create a clay horse ornament inspired by the colorful wooden Dala horses of Sweden.

For adults, the Art 101 workshop series returns with Paper Quilling on Sept. 12, Abstract Mood Painting on Oct. 10 and Fall Leaves Colored Pencil and Watercolor workshop on Nov. 14. All materials are provided for these single-day, three-hour workshops. A Reduction Printmaking class on Sept. 30 will have participants creating multicolored, layered prints using a single print block during one four-hour session with E. Marie Fielding. Other single-day workshops include a charcoal drawing class led by Christina Szakonyi that meets on Oct. 14, and an Art Deco Mandala Painting workshop with Lisa Russo that meets on Dec. 9.

Multiweek classes for adults include Dig Into Clay Wheel Throwing that begins Sept. 30. The six-week session is offered on Saturdays and is open to potters of all skill levels.

鈥淭he Appleton Clay Lab features 11 pottery wheels and is the only one of its kind in the area,鈥 said Hollis Mutch, museum educator. 鈥淲e welcome all students, from beginner to advanced.鈥

Also this fall, the Master Class Series welcomes acclaimed visiting artist Anthony Ackrill. Focused on teaching the basics of figure drawing from life with charcoal or pencil, participants will learn the steps of establishing a solid rendition of the model. Ackrill trained as a student at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy for five years, where he then taught anatomy, figure painting and figure drawing. Ackrill’s painting, “Reaper,” is part of the Appleton’s permanent collection.

鈥淏y adding several new programs this year, we are pleased to meet the increased need in our community for arts and education,鈥 said Jason Steuber, Appleton director.

Advance registration is required for all classes and programs. Visit AppletonMuseum.org for full class details and to register.

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 黑料天堂, 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

黑料天堂 Ira Holmes International Film Series Launches Sept. 12

The Ira Holmes International Film Series at the 黑料天堂 returns in September with a full season of 12 films from across the globe 鈥 plus special events including a live filmmaker Q&A at Ocala鈥檚 historic Marion Theatre, a sci-fi Halloween costume contest, a kid-friendly Japanese anime feature and bonus performances by the Southwest Florida dance team made famous in a recent documentary.

The series kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 12, with the 2022 Polish film 鈥淓O,鈥 which follows the journey of an adorable nomadic donkey named EO, removed from a circus, who experiences both cruelty and kindness from a cast of human characters. With stunning cinematography and a resonant musical score, the drama road movie directed by Jerzy Skolimowski earned the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and an Academy Award nomination. Screenings will be held at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art and 7 p.m. at the 黑料天堂 Ocala Campus, Building 8, Room 110, 3001 S.W. College Road.

鈥淭his season features an exciting slate of films representing a diverse range of cultural topics and locations across the globe, with special features for Hispanic Heritage Month and Women鈥檚 History Month,鈥 said series coordinator and 黑料天堂 Professor Wendy Adams. 鈥淲hether you like action, anime, comedy, documentary, drama or science fiction, we鈥檝e got something you鈥檒l enjoy.鈥

Series Schedule:

Sept. 12 鈥 鈥淓O鈥

Sept. 26 鈥 鈥淟ong Flat Balls: Broken Promises鈥

Oct. 10 鈥 鈥淯tama鈥

Oct. 24 鈥撀 鈥淪tewart Udall and the Politics of Beauty鈥 special event at the Marion Theatre. One screening only at 7 p.m. Filmmaker John de Graaf will introduce his latest documentary and host a Q&A following the film. The 黑料天堂 Student Activities Board will provide a free popcorn and drink for 黑料天堂 students and film series members.

Oct. 31 鈥 鈥淔antastic Planet鈥 special Halloween event: wear a sci-fi-inspired costume to the 7 p.m. screening and win a prize. The 黑料天堂 Student Activities Board will provide refreshments and giveaways.

Nov. 14 鈥 鈥淗oneyland鈥

Jan. 30 鈥 鈥淧ather Panchali鈥

Feb. 4 鈥 鈥淪pirited Away鈥 special event at the Marion Theatre. One Sunday 2 p.m. screening of the Academy Award-winning animated fantasy, rated PG. The 黑料天堂 Student Activities Board will provide a free popcorn and drink for 黑料天堂 students and film series members.

Feb. 13 鈥 鈥淧etite Maman鈥

Feb. 27 鈥 鈥淐alendar Girls鈥 (2022) plus an additional special event at the Appleton Museum: on Saturday, March 2, meet the Southwest Florida dance team featured in the film and watch them perform at 11 a.m. and noon. Free as part of Free First Saturday.

March 26 鈥 鈥淧olite Society鈥

April 9 鈥 鈥淟unana: A Yak in the Classroom鈥

All films will be shown Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, and at 7 p.m. at the 黑料天堂, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110, unless otherwise noted. Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public. Films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.

 

黑料天堂 Selected by Amazon as an Education Partner For Career Choice Program

The 黑料天堂 has been selected as an education partner for Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice program, providing Amazon鈥檚 hourly employees access to all 170 of 黑料天堂鈥檚 degree and certificate programs.

Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice program is an education benefit that empowers employees to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere. The program meets individual learners where they are on their education journey through a variety of education and upskilling opportunities including prepaid college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs, and foundational skills such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas and GED diplomas. In the U.S., the company is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher paying, in-demand jobs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to preparing students for success in their careers, and this partnership is going to make that process more affordable and accessible for even more students in our community,鈥 said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, 黑料天堂 vice president for Workforce Development and Innovation. 鈥淲hether students are interested in logistics, marketing, engineering or another field altogether, there are opportunities for them here.鈥

At 黑料天堂, students can upskill with a short-term certificate, earn an Associate in Arts degree for university transfer, learn specialized workplace skills with a two-year Associate in Science degree, or pursue a four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree. 黑料天堂鈥檚 Associate in Science in Supply Chain Management is expressly designed for logistics and supply chain employers such as Amazon. Night, weekend and online classes are offered to provide class options for students needing flexible schedules. With a wealth of student services, small class sizes and award-winning faculty, students at 黑料天堂 are supported every step of their education and beyond.

Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice program has a rigorous selection process for third-party partner educators, choosing partners that are focused on helping employees through their education programs, assisting them with job placements, and overall offering education that leads to career success.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to 黑料天堂 coming on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,鈥 said Tammy Thieman, director of Career Development Programs at Amazon. 鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that鈥檚 with us or elsewhere. We have intentionally created a partner network of third-party educators and employers committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and continuous improvements to the experience. Today, over 130,000 Amazon employees around the world have participated in Career Choice and we鈥檝e seen firsthand how it can transform their lives.鈥

For more information on Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice, visit: or .

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth鈥檚 Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth鈥檚 Best Employer, and Earth鈥檚 Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit and follow .

 

黑料天堂 Webber Gallery Presents The “52nd Annual Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition

The 黑料天堂 Webber Gallery presents the 鈥52nd Annual Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition鈥 on view Sept. 25-Oct. 26. Visitors will see a diverse array of both traditional and experimental designs created with water-soluble media on materials from paper to clay-coated surfaces to illustration board.

More than 500 works were submitted by skilled artists affiliated with the Florida Watercolor Society, and 79 were selected and will be judged by Andy Evansen, a watercolor painter and signature member of the American Watercolor Society since 2015. Evansen was featured on the cover of American Artist Magazine in 2005 after winning its international watercolor competition. He has taught national and international workshops and is a longtime signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Red River Watercolor Society, Northwest Watercolor Society and Plein Art Painters of America, as well as a member of the Salmagundi Club and California Art Club.

鈥淛urying a large watercolor society鈥檚 annual exhibition is always enjoyable because of the variety and skill level, and this year鈥檚 Florida Watercolor Society entrants didn鈥檛 disappoint,鈥 Evansen said. 鈥淲atercolor is an incredibly diverse medium, and I want the public to see that when viewing the exhibition. I love original, thought-provoking works, and I often find myself asking, 鈥楬ow did the artist do that?鈥 or 鈥榃hat was this artist trying to say?鈥 and I hope the paintings selected elicit the same response from viewers.鈥

The community is invited to an opening reception on Friday, Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m. Webber Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and admission is free. The Webber Gallery is located at the 黑料天堂 Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. For more information, visit or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.