Art – Jacksonville Blogger

The First Protestant Prayer, Fort Caroline Monument and Lee Adams

Lee Adams, as he was known, was a botanical artist, painting birds, fruit, flora and fauna. He is known for his opportunity to paint four large murals for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. His home was in Jacksonville, Florida where he attended West Riverside Elementary and graduated from high school in Duval County. For a time he and family lived in Mandarin as indicated in the 1940 census.

Early Years

For much of his life he painted birds, flora and fauna. His work is colourful and rich with detail to the intricacy of body parts including the beak, wings, legs and more. His paintings can be found in the St Vincent’s hospital, West Riverside, elementary school auditorium, the Beaches library, and a remarkable refurbished 12’ x 30’ mural of Ribault’s Landing on the fourth floor of the downtown Jacksonville library.

Lee Adams was the youngest of three children with two elder brothers, Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. and Alexander Hamilton Adams. His elder brother was a real estate developer turned politician. He was a member of the Florida Senate from 1956-1960, Florida State Secretary from 1961-1971 and the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 1971-1975.

Adam’s father, Thomas Burton Adams and mother, Carolyn Sykes Hamilton Adams are buried in the same cemetery as he and Lee’s wife, Mimi.

Making the Past Come Alive

My grandson, Ramey and I spent a day following leads to the life of Lee Adams, as he was called. It was at Oaklawn Cemetery that we met Nicole Ruff, one of Oaklawn’s consultants. It was great discussing the life of Adams, his influence on Florida, life in Mandarin and artwork that is now world-wide. Her help in our finding his grave and realizing that his family also had a family plot.

Adam’s wife, Mimi, was known for her environmental passion and headed up the Jacksonville Air Pollution Control Board. She was the first chairperson of the board formed in 1968. The two of them were interested in environmental issues. The Avondale park in Duval County is named in their honor and there are some plaques in various parts of the city given for their work on the environment.

This entire week, time was spent visiting each place where his work can be seen and it was found highly insightful. At the Beaches library, the mural work is colorful and beachy. At West Riverside Elementary School, Data entry clerk, Jeanine Mann, a seeming authority on the history of the school, gave the tour of the auditorium where three large paintings sponsored by large corporations hung high and grandeur. One painting was themed of NASA and space, another of Florida and transportation, including airplanes, trains, with communication ties, and the third of the cowboy and cattle segment of the Sunshine State. In that auditorium is also where the music class with Mr. Warren is held. While we were viewing paintings, he could be heard literally, singing to the children’s they entered the class. He also has stories to tell of the history of the school built in 1911.

Researching this artist, the most favourite in our minds was finding that of the 12 x 30 colourful mural of “Ribault’s Landing”, celebrating Christian Huguenots landing along the St. John’s River and the first Protestant prayer “within the limits of the present-day United States”. This painting, now hangs on the South wall of the 4th floor in the downtown Jacksonville library. In May of 2021 the city of Jacksonville announced the mural would be “installed in the Florida Collection” area after having been revived from years of neglect.

The scene, painted by Lee Adams and refurbished by artist Jim Draper, represents the story of Huguenot, Jean Ribault, his crew and Timuquan Indians at the landing in Fort Caroline in 1562. It was the place where the French “knelt in prayer, beseeching God’s guidance and commending the natives to His care”. The marker on Fort George Island says, “This was the first protestant prayer in North America.”

First Protestant Prayer Marker, Fort George Island, Jacksonville, Fl. This marker was erected by the Jacksonville Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, on March 11, 1938. The text on the marker reads as : ” Jean Ribaut and a party of Huguenots landed the morning of May1, 1562 on this island. Here they knelt in prayer, beseeching God’s guidance and commending the natives to his care. This was the first Protestant Prayer in North America.”

Incredible Surprises

According to the Florida Times Union story by John Carter, the large mural was found rolled up in the basement at Robert E. Lee High School. It was originally created in 1959 and hung at the downtown 2nd floor dining area in the Sears building on Bay Street, not too far from the Main street bridge. In 1981, the store relocated moving to Regency Square and the building was demolished making way for the Omni hotel. The art piece was rolled up and taken to Lee High school. Although it has been said the artwork was stored in a box which was even nailed shut, the rolled up artwork was nested by rats, roaches and took a toll on the beautiful oil work. It would need a full restoration.

In the newspaper article, Jim Draper, Pedestrian Gallery owner helped with the restoration promoted by City Council President Jim Overton. Through a turn of events, and special project of the school principal, Jane Condon, the painting was displayed at the LaVilla School of the Arts for a time.

According to The Daily Record, the Fort Caroline refurbished painting was “officially unveiled on the fourth floor of the library” on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in celebration of the 450th landing.

Lee Adams and his wife were killed in a tragic automobile accident on Roosevelt Blvd in 1971. We looked on Findagrave.com for the location of his internment but we had to search further. Soon, we found that he was buried at Oaklawn Cemetery along with family members.

Regarding Adams’ work

Finding Adams’ artwork is sketchy and quite expensive in most venues. On eBay, his art is going for $450. and up. On the “Invaluable” auction site, his “Parrots” piece is estimated between $800- $1,500. On Facebook Marketplace, there are two prints going for $50. I have purchased them along with World’s Fair tickets and the official guide. The paintings now hang on my wall. Pleasure.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources:

Wikipedia, The Daily Record, Family Search, Jacksonville Library, Oaklawn Cemetery, Florida Times Union, Oaklawn Cemetery, Personal visits. 2-29-24

Photos: Wikipedia, US. Senate .gov, Ramey

Category: Animals, Art, History, Mandarin, Parks, People, Visit This | Comments Off

January 19

Cell Phone Rings at the Symphony and She Answers! (From the Front Row)!

Did a Woman Answer Her Phone on the First Row of the Symphony Hall During the Concert? GASP! Yes! Today, a friend and I went to the Jacoby Center Concert Hall to hear the magnificent Jacksonville Symphony. In a deep voice from an announcer cell phones were to be turned off and no flash photography taken. We had the very first two seats on the center-front row right there in the front. How did that happen? Talking about some of the best seats in the house. We were right there! Literally, we had “front row seats”.

The concert began in usual fashion with the lights being brought down a bit, the announcer giving the 5 minute start alert and then everyone was seated and ready. The orchestra members were in place and the Conductor came out with a round of applause. Excitement was certainly in the air.

After the conductor told a bit about the pieces to ne heard, the music began and before long a cell phone on the front aisle went off. I noticed the woman fumbling in her purse to find it, I thought to turn it off but “NO”, she answered it. In the middle of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air from Orchestral Suite No 3 in D major BWV 1068, the woman began speaking to a person on the cell phone! Thankfully, the call was short but not without the front-seated violinist raising his eyebrows twice as he stroked his bow onto his violin.

Gasp! She answered the call. I’m still flabbergasted.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Art, History, Things to Do, Visit This | Comments Off

January 19

The Jacksonville Symphony

The Jacksonville Symphony performed today in the Jacoby Symphony Hall where the majority of the over concerts are held by the group. Upcoming performances are listed on their website and include those such as Mozart, Vivaldi & Handel, Florida Blue Classical Series, The King, Queen & Prince of Rock and Roll, Brass, Organ & Percussion and more.

The Jacoby Symphony Hall opened in 1997 at the Performing Arts building. It was fashioned after the Wiener Musikverein in Vienna. It was designed by KBJ Architects, Rothman, Rothman and Heineman architects. According to the group’s website the hall is in the shape of a shoebox seating 1,800 people. Dressed in all black, the beautiful music performed was stunning for all to hear.

The organ used in the symphony is a Bryan Concert Organ. The JS had this organ rebuilt and installed in the new concert hall. It was originally constructed in 1914 and was known as the Casavant Opus 553. After being rebuilt is has 6,215 pipes weighing 20 tons. It was named in honor of the Bryan family, long standing Jacksonville Symphony lovers.

The Symphony roots date back to 1949. According to Wikipedia, it is “one of the longest-standing orchestras”. While the Jacoby Symphony Hall is greatly used, the group also performs in schools, senior citizen centers while also appearing on NPR and Performance Today.

The Jacksonville Symphony is known to have a great many listeners exceeding some 200,000 in which many are young people. The concert today lasted one hour from start to finish and the music was from Bach to Mozart and beyond. Today, I wore all black but according to their own acknowledgement, wearing “diamonds or denim” suits you just fine. The major request is that “shoes and shirt” is work at all times.

The hall was named in honor of Robert E. Jacoby, a philanthropist of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida. To order tickets to the Jacksonville Symphony, visit http:/ /jaxsymphony .org. You won’t be sorry and, take a friend or the whole family! Hey, get a whole group going!

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Art, History, Visit This | Comments Off

May 2

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley is such a great friend! You can take him anywhere and it makes you so happy to do so. Flat Stanley, the book was written by Jeff Brown and published in 1964. It’s interesting to note that until Flat Stanley became a classroom star, Brown did not publish any further works until some 2 decades later, he published a series of books and by mention from Wikipedia had sold over a million copies by 2003.

In the first edition published by Harper and Row(1964-1985), the story tells about the adventures of Stanley as he is pressed flat by a bulletin board. He does the best that he can being flat by traveling and having great fun.

Flat Stanley in London-2009 ( Ramey Collection).

Teachers far and wide have had their students create Flat Stanley’s and have gone on field trips, had them go on trips and take their Flat Stanley and more.

My Flat Stanley has been many places including Buckingham Palace where I’ll take him again during the coronation.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Art, Books/Documents, Things to Do, Travel, Visit This, World Wide | LEAVE A COMMENT

April 25

Personalized Watercolor Prints and Cards-Handmade Kitchen Items

You MUST visit the Great AmericanAntique Mall at 9365 Philips Highway Suite 114 to see in person the handmade items in Heather Hills space in the store. She actually has at least two separate areas in the store where you can view and select her artwork(watercolors and kitchen cloths) to find the exact gift for your loved one or treat yourself.

Photo from Great American Antique Store

Originally from Ohio, Heather has shops there and in several other shops in the United States. In Jacksonville, she has at least three areas where her work can be found plus her online Facebook page. She began her business Hill and Co. back when she began helping her young five year-old, now a young adult to watercolor. She said, “It all came back to me” and she’s been producing art work since. She needed an outlet to share all of her pieces and now it’s a thriving work of art in several shop locally and elsewhere.

You can also check her out on the Great American Antique Store Facbook page. If you go and see her, tell her I sent you.

Don’t miss out on checking our her work. It will not disappoint.

As you know, Mother’s Day is up and coming but you can use these items for many occasions.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Art, Business, Mandarin | 1 Comment

April 20

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts # 107

2445 San Diego Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Douglas Anderson School # 107. Douglas Anderson School, once called South Jacksonville Grammar School opened in 1922. It provided education during a segregated period for Black students grades 1-9.

Douglas Anderson original entrance. Photo- Duval County Schools

The school was later named in honor of Douglas Anderson(1884-1936) for his service to the community. Douglas was born in Jacksonville and became a carpenter and businessman. His parents were Samuel and Charlotte Anderson. His father served in the Florida House of Representatives for South Jacksonville.

The young Anderson studied at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. There he married Ethel Stevens. And the two had a daughter, Mary Gwendolyn. He retired to Jacksonville and as reported in the Florida Times Union “developed a farm on 22 acres on Old St. Augustine Road”. Anderson served as PTA president for a number of years and sometime after 1913, worked in an effort to get proper bussing for Black students. According to a You Tube video by Carla Michelle, Anderson was a bus driver and awarded the first bus contract to a Black person.

Anderson and Walter Thorpe were at least two who assisted in grants, funds and finances in securing the land that would become school # 107. It was renamed Douglas Anderson in his honor. ( Florida Times Union, Douglas Anderson’s Grandaughter, February 21, 2022).

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: You Tube by Carla Michelle, Florida Times Union article, personal visit to the school.

This information including Ramey photos may be used with credit to Ramey Collection. Photos may be 3rd party for which may be secured by copyrighted owner.

If you believe you are a copyright owner or can help with information regarding this article, including to clarify rights or information issues, please contact me. We are willing to remove any item from public view if there is any concern regarding ownership.

Category: Art, Schools | LEAVE A COMMENT

March 26

Lake Forest Elementary School Elementary School #74

Shuttered-School of Visual Arts-K-5

901 Kennard Street

Lake Forest Elementary School was built in 1949 and served the neighborhood until its closing in 2021. Students from the closed school were transferred to North Shore Elementary School. The abandoned school still has beautiful artwork on its exterior.

Mona Lisa @ lake Forest Elem (Ramey Collection)

When visiting, the school the arts are clearly defined with the Mona Lisa prominently painted on the front of the school, a Van Gogh Starry, Starry night portrayal and all around the building pieces of yard-art including an angel can be seen. The angels that once trekked in, out and around the building have been transferred to North Shore Elementary School. Lake Forest is on the demotion list to become affordable housing. The artist of the paintings is unknown. (Such a shame).

Lake Forest Artwork on the Bldg. (Ramey Collection)

The PTA website for Lake Forest Elementary School was “dreams begin here” but according to the latest information, the school will be demolished and affordable housing will take its place. The dreams of those approximately 325 children are at North Shore Elementary School, where they have been transferred.

Lake Forest has had many principals over the years such as Cassandra Thomas and others. Some teachers serving there have been S. Amoy, L. Elam, L. Miller, A. Wood and more. Margaret Sweat attended there and said she “got a great education”. Another student commenting on Facebook was Jason Boddie.

Lake Forest Elementary School (Ramey Collection).

We are looking for information about this school. If you would like to be included, please message me.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Public School Review, List of Schools and Year Built, Facebook, Duval Public School news information.

Category: Art, Buildings, Schools | LEAVE A COMMENT

March 8

Beyond Van Gogh- Brilliant but Tragic

There is no way to tell the Spiritual condition of a person except for by their life. It is by our heart and true faith that we live and die. The story of Vincent Van Gogh is brilliant yet tragic.

The scripture says in 1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Only God knows if Van Gogh found the peace he needed.

His artwork lives on world-wide and now in Jacksonville, Florida in a magnificent display of color, movement and art. The “Beyond Van Gogh” project is a display of over 300 pieces of his work put together using basically a light show.

It is the first showing of any kind in the newly purchased First Baptist Church auditorium located on Beaver Street, which was sold in 2022. The company who bought it is using it as an “event center” and will be bringing in other programs such as King Tut and more. For now, it is hosting Van Gogh’s work and due to the success of its showing, it has been extended twice.

When you walk in, there is a bar where liquor can be purchased and a cashier who will take your money or scan your electronic ticket on your phone. ( God must be crying about his Church but that’s a story for another day).

They take walk-in’s however, encourage reservations. There were eight of us.

Right away, there are at least 10 foot lit up panels telling of Van Gogh’s life which amounts to highs and lows of him trying to find success. His father was a protestant preacher and Van Gogh even thought he might follow in his father’s footsteps and preach but he did not find that to be successful for him.

Through many trials and even business dealings with this brother Theo, he came to the realisation that he was indeed an artist.

This show provides the proof. Only God knows of Van Gogh’s relationship with Him. I pray he found that.

This event seems a bit pricy but if you go with a great group of people or the one you love, you’ll find it worth the cost.

Go with the one that you love… You’ll love all the more.

Go Here-NoCo Center-712 N Hogan St, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Contact here-

1-800-441-0819
Hello@VanGoghJacksonville.com

See you tomorrow.

Nan

Category: Art, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 27

Jacksonville’s Photographic History

DaVinci’s theory of the camera was documented in his sketch books along with other famous inventions. Some 270 drawings of the camera idea were in his sketchbooks.

One of the oldest camera photos of all time his of a view from a window in Le Gras, France in 1826. The portrait is now in public domain. One of the first documented photos in the United States of America was a self portrait of Robert Cornelias in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1839. This photo is also in public domain.

Just as an aside of information, the first uploaded photograph was by the founder of the internet, Tim Berners Lee on July 18, 1992.

It appears that the first President of the United States to be photographed was that of John Quincy Adams in 1843 in his Massachusetts’ home. This was taken only 4 year after the daguerreotype method was invented. There have been only 3 photographs of him known and one was reported by the Associated Press as being found in an antique shop which was believed to be taken in 1843 as his diary entry said on August 1, 1843, The photos themselves, however, he deemed “hideous” and “too true to the original.”) This is also the photo known to be found in an antique shop and bought for .50 cents. The photo below was believed to be taken around the same time.

Interestingly, it was John Quincy Adams to whom a letter for Jacksonville’s territorial request was sent but the petition denied. In August of 1822 however, Duval County was established and William Duval placed a ferry crossing the St. Johns River which led to the town charter for Jacksonville in 1832. I guess that photo found had not even been taken at that time.

Cooley photographed in the South as well

Based on documentation at the Library of Congress, photographs in Jacksonville, Florida seem to appear first in 1864 when photographer, Sam A. Cooley from the 10th Army Corps was in town to photograph the Civil War situation.

Noted film actor, Robert Vignola was a part of film history in a photograph documented in Jacksonville and in acting as well. According to the JHS, he came to Jacksonville in 1908.

Through the years, Jacksonville has had many historic photographs documenting the lives of its people, places and things. Are you a photographer? Do you have any interesting photos to share?

See you tomorrow,

Sources: Library of Congress, Wikipedia, Wikicommons, Jacksonville Historical Society, Florida Memory

Category: Art, People, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 14

Jacksonville Fair Frills

Every year, our family enters something into the Jacksonville Fair arts contest. It’s fun and free and you might even win a dollar or so. This year, I entered a cabinet door painted with chickens and won the $10 prize for “Best in Class”. How fun! Also entered was a drawing of the Jacksonville clock which received a blue ribbon. Yay.

As a “wanna-be” artist and being named “Nan”, I paint by the name of “Nan Gogh”. My cousin, Phyllis once teased me in that way and from then, Nan Gogh has been my assigned painting name.

Kathy, my sister has won multiple first place ribbons at the fair over the years and this year was no different, she received a first place for her drawing of Mollie, the family dog.

Ramey, my 9 year old grandson is now in his 2nd year of winnings with a first place this year for his photo of our family old Dr. wagon which was recently restored on our parent’s Homestead property.

Ah…What to do for next year…

See you tomorrow,

2022

Category: Art, Family, People | LEAVE A COMMENT