CoRK Welcomes a Special Curated Show for RAP's 2012 Spring Tour of Homes

Story by Guest Blogger Anna Rodgers, House Captain for Art House (and preservationist extraordinaire)

Every year, RAP's Home Tour features one house, devoid of furniture, that serves as a space for local artists.  It is RAP's belief that artists are an essential component to a neighborhoods vitality, so the organization does what it can to foster the growth of the "creative class." This year is, by far, no exception.  Join us at CoRK for an unforgettable Art House--this weekend: Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22. 

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Cork ArtSpace, 2689 Roselle Street

Built in 1926 as wholesale supply warehouses, the developers of CoRK (Corner of Rosselle and King) Arts District have transformed these once utilitarian group of buildings into the newest in Jacksonville's art scene.  CoRK East still boasts some if its original building materials such as its original diagonal floor boards, wood beams and columns.  The buildings have been divided out to provide Jacksonville artist space to develop and create their varied works of imagination.  Both CoRK East and CoRK West have been outfitted with individual studio spaces for artists to rent and access 24 hours a day.  CoRK is currently housing 22 of Jacksonville's best known and loved artists in town.  CoRK East also features a gallery space and an exhibition hall that are regularly used to showcase local and national talents.  This collection of in-house artists, open gallery spaces and façade graffiti/mural art provides a dynamic collaboration amongst a wide variety of visual artists. 

CoRK's gallery space will be open during the tour and will feature works by resident CoRK artists, Madeleine Peck Wagner and a collection of pieces from Jen Jones Art Consulting.  Dolf James, one of the driving and sustaining forces in the development of CoRK, has an expansive studio space in CoRK West that will be available for view on Saturday only.  As a bonus, the exhibition space will showcase a multi-sensory light and sound installation piece by UNF artists.  Tour attendees will also be able to tour select CoRK East and CoRK West studio spaces. 

Refreshments will be served in the gallery space at CoRK East on both Saturday and Sunday.  Coffee will be provided by Riverside's own Bold Bean Coffee Roasters and treats come courtesy of Peace, Love and Confection bakers.

Paintdancer, Sister Feathertoe

On Saturday at 12PM and 2PM, performance painter, Sister Feathertoe, will be Paintdancing in her studio space #13, CoRK East.  This will be a truly unique opportunity to witness an encore of Sister Feathertoe's "elaborate 60's-centric Be-In/ Go-Go Paintdancing show" that was performed at MOCA for their ReFocus: Art of the 1960s exhibition.  For more information about this artist, visit: http://siennajoy.tumblr.com/