The front landscape of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens welcomes Lost in Paradise, an exhibition by artist Carlos
Rolon. The exhibition features
sculptures that weave together nature and humankind found in both Florida and
Puerto Rico and will be on display from November
3, 2018 to October 20, 2019. Park
across the street and view the collection before you enter the building.
In September 2017 two catastrophic hurricanes (Irma
and Maria) made landfall in Florida and Puerto Rico, leaving a trail of
devastation in their wakes, and linked Jacksonville and Puerto Rico together
again in their relief efforts beyond the Jones Act. In Jacksonville, the Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens sits on the St. Johns River. The Museum was not spared from hurricane
Irma’s storm surge, and the Cummer Gardens were left heavily damaged. Within the same week, Puerto Rico was hit
head-on by hurricane Maria, leaving the entire island without power, supplies,
or infrastructure.
Rolón’s new works draw inspirations from the architecture and natural
landscapes that both Florida and Puerto Rico share. In Lost in
Paradise, Rolón seeks to bring attention to nature’s unbridled ability to
change its own landscape, but also humankind’s ability to overcome catastrophe
and rebuild stronger than ever. Rolon’s “losa isleño” (island tile) pieces
break from the traditional repetitive decorative design, departing from the
typical rug or carpet style layouts to create new sculptural paintings that
reference homes in Puerto Rico. Looking to his mirrored mosaic floral works,
the artist has created indestructible plant life in an effort to memorialize
and create monuments to the native plants of Florida and Puerto Rico.
Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation & Admission
 |
| Artist: Carlos Rolon |
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens welcomes Lost in Paradise, an
exhibition by artist Carlos Rolon and curated by Guest Curator Aaron Levi
Garvey, to the Museum from November 3,
2018 to October 20, 2019. The
exhibition features sculptures that weave together nature and humankind found
in both Florida and Puerto Rico.
The parallel histories of Florida and Puerto Rico have been hand in hand since
the first landings of the same Spanish explorer: Juan Ponce de León. De León, on a quest for
gold in Puerto Rico and searching for the Fountain of Youth in Florida, had no
idea that in a few hundred years his landings would have a direct impact on
life as we know it. The Jones Act of
1920, a Merchant Marine Act, entangled Florida and Puerto Rico further,
allowing for nearly 90 percent of all goods that move to and from Puerto Rico
to be passed through Jacksonville’s port. More recently, the Jones Act has come back
into headlines during relief efforts after hurricanes Irma and Maria made
landfall in Florida and Puerto Rico within a week of each other.
Rolón’s Lost in Paradise exhibition examines
regrowth post industrialization and catastrophic events. In the early 20th century and after the Great
Depression, both Florida and Puerto Rico saw a rapid spike in
industrialization, migrations, and tourism. While there was a rise in these industries,
the natural landscape took the brunt of the abuse. The expansions of attractions and high-rise
complexes deteriorated the beaches, drained wetlands, and cleared wooded areas,
making both the island of Puerto Rico and the Florida peninsula more
susceptible to flooding and coastline erosion.
In September 2017 two catastrophic hurricanes (Irma and Maria) made landfall in
Florida and Puerto Rico, leaving a trail of devastation in their wakes, and
linked Jacksonville and Puerto Rico together again in their relief efforts
beyond the Jones Act. In Jacksonville, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
sits on the St. Johns River. The Museum
was not spared from hurricane Irma’s storm surge, and the Cummer Gardens were
left heavily damaged. Within the same
week, Puerto Rico was hit head-on by hurricane Maria, leaving the entire island
without power, supplies, or infrastructure.
Rolón’s new works draw inspirations from the architecture and natural
landscapes that both Florida and Puerto Rico share. In Lost in
Paradise, Rolón seeks to bring attention to nature’s unbridled ability to
change its own landscape, but also humankind’s ability to overcome catastrophe
and rebuild stronger than ever. Rolon’s “losa isleño” (island tile) pieces
break from the traditional repetitive decorative design, departing from the
typical rug or carpet style layouts to create new sculptural paintings that
reference homes in Puerto Rico. Looking to his mirrored mosaic floral works,
the artist has created indestructible plant life in an effort to memorialize
and create monuments to the native plants of Florida and Puerto Rico.
Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation & Admission
The front landscape of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens welcomes Lost in Paradise, an exhibition by artist Carlos
Rolon. The exhibition features
sculptures that weave together nature and humankind found in both Florida and
Puerto Rico and will be on display from November
3, 2018 to October 20, 2019. Park
across the street and view the collection before you enter the building.
