MOCA Jacksonville has announced its newest exhibition, “Contemporary Cartographies.” The exhibition is on view at MOCA Jacksonville now through Oct. 15.
Exploring the differing ways each of us maps our world based on our unique experiences, “Contemporary Cartographies” includes works from MOCA’s permanent collection, complemented by works on loan from local and national artists, including Lisa Alvarado, Jessica Borusky, Keith Doles, Doug Eng and Kenny Nguyen.
“I was interested in highlighting artists who are charting their surrounding landscape both literally and figuratively,” said Shana Dickler, assistant curator, MOCA Jacksonville. “While exploring the museum’s permanent collection, I noticed a thematic thread linking artists who have drawn upon mapmaking and placemaking to explore how our way of mapping is conceptually layered with historical, social and political meaning, all of which are filtered through our unique experiences.”
A map is commonly defined as a graphic representation, drawn to scale, that concretely depicts features of an area. However, exhibit organizers say, the way in which each of us maps our world is abstract and individualistic.
The exhibition features a section dedicated to Jacksonville, and in particular to mapping in relation to the concepts of redlining, segregation and the continued economic disparities of the city as reflected in the work of the artists.
“Contemporary Cartographies” was curated by Dickler. Support for MOCA Jacksonville is provided by the City of Jacksonville, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts and the University of North Florida.
