Calida Rawles envisions water as a space for Black healing and reimagines the African American community beyond the stories we already know as a part of the United States’ collective history. Merging hyperrealism, poetic abstraction, and the cultural and historical symbolisms of water, Rawles creates unique portraits of Black bodies submerged in and interacting with bright and mysterious bodies of water. The water, itself a sort of character within the paintings, functions as an element that signifies both physical and spiritual healing, as well as historical trauma and racial exclusion. Rawles creates a bridge between her signature style and a story within Miami’s history that is often ignored and obscured.
Rawles delves into the particular experience of Black people in Overtown, a Miami neighborhood that went from a thriving cultural and commercial hub for Black people to a community dismantled by gentrification, systemic racism, and mass displacement. The figures in Rawles’s paintings are residents of the Overtown community—from young children to senior citizens. The exhibition’s focus is on the stories and experiences of those who live in this historic neighborhood. Rawles takes her practice a step further by photographing some of her subjects in natural waters for the very first time, at the historic Virginia Key Beach, which was once racially segregated. By photographing Black subjects in the ocean for the first time, Rawles is able to probe the Atlantic’s history as the site of the supremely exploitative transatlantic slave trade. The finished work critically engages with Miami’s water-entwined climate and mines the history of beauty, oppression, and resilience in the neighboring community of Overtown.
Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides is organized by Maritza M. Lacayo, Associate Curator, with the support of Fabiana Sotillo, Curatorial Assistant. Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides is presented with lead individual support from Allison and Larry Berg and supporting sponsorship from Goldman Sachs. Additional support from PAMM’s International Women’s Committee, Leslie and Greg Ferrero, and Rebkah and Desmond Howard is gratefully acknowledged.
Calida Rawles (American, b. 1976), Towner for Life, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 72 x 102 in., Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Seoul, and London.
Ponce de León Reception and Exhibition Previews: Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides
Thursday, October 23
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Ponce de León Membership required for entry
Ponce de León Society donors are invited to join us for an evening celebrating the opening of these two extraordinary exhibitions. Enjoy cocktails, small bites, and your exclusive opportunity to preview the exhibitions.
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Opening Weekend Activities: Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides
Saturday, October 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, Noon to 4 p.m.
Free with Admission | All Ages
Drop in for self-guided explorations and family-friendly activities related to our latest special exhibitions, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides.
Vibes & Views Member Night
Tuesday, October 28
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Membership required for entry
Join fellow Cummer Museum members to explore our two newest exhibitions, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides.
Tour the exhibitions, then enjoy live music, a complimentary beverage, light refreshments for purchase, swag giveaway drawings, and double discounts in the Cummer Shop.
This is a member-exclusive program; no pre-registration is required.
Tides of Transformation: Water, Memory, and the Shaping of Jacksonville
Tuesday, January 13
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Members $25, Future Members $40
Registration Required
Join us for a powerful evening of dialogue inspired by Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides, a compelling exhibition exploring water as both a site of trauma and a source of healing. Local artists, historians, and community leaders will reflect on Jacksonville’s history, drawing parallels between various local narratives and Miami’s displaced Overtown community featured in the exhibition. One such example we’ll explore is the once-thriving Sugar Hill neighborhood, disrupted by the construction of I-95 in the 1950s and 1960s. Together, we’ll examine how water, land, and infrastructure have shaped the social and environmental fabric of our city, and how Black communities are reclaiming their stories to heal, rebuild, and thrive.
This program is presented in partnership with the St. Johns Riverkeeper’s Resilient Ribault project and is part of the Museum’s commitment to connecting arts and gardens to contemporary issues and celebrating the power of community.
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Museums, Community, and the Work Ahead: A Talk with Dr. Russ Wigginton, National Civil Rights Museum
Tuesday, February 17
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Members $25, Future Members $40
Registration Required
Dr. Russ Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum, explores how cultural institutions help shape our collective future by preserving and interpreting stories that define us. Drawing from his personal and professional journey – from a family steeped in civic activism to leading a nationally significant museum – Dr. Wigginton reflects on the shared responsibilities of museums and communities to safeguard memory, foster dialogue, and inspire meaningful engagement.
Presented in conjunction with Black History Month and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides, this program invites us to consider the roles we play – as individuals and institutions – in carrying forward stories and actions with intention and care.
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Boat Tours with St. Johns Riverkeeper
Saturday, November 8 | 1 to 2 p.m.
Thursday, November 13 | 1 to 2 p.m.
Members $40, Future Members $55
Set sail on a St. Johns Riverkeeper boat tour that explores Jacksonville’s evolving connection to its waterways, blending environmental insights with reflections on the exhibition, Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides. Discover how the river has shaped – and been shaped by – the city’s history, culture, and ecology, while drawing parallels to Rawles’ powerful themes of water, memory, and resilience. This immersive journey invites you to see the St. Johns River through both an environmental and artistic lens, deepening your appreciation for its role in our shared story.
Events and Placemaking – Ticketed Events
Boat Tour Ticket
Artful Storytime
Third Thursdays
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Members $10 per child, Future Members $15 per child
Ages 2 to 6 with an Adult | Registration Required
Join us for a fun-filled adventure of storytelling, singing, and laughter in our galleries and gardens. Each session includes enchanting tales, art, music, and nature, followed by a creative artmaking activity in the studio.
Ripples and Waves
Thursday, December 18
Dive into the enchanting world of water. From gentle ripples to crashing waves, discover watery wonders through stories, then make a splash creating your own water-inspired art.
Black History Month
Thursday, February 19
Celebrate Black History Month with us. Enjoy a special storytime honoring Black culture, history, and achievements, followed by an inspiring artmaking activity.
Register Now for December 18
Register Now for February 19
Make & Take: Water Scenes – Slow-Stitched Quilting, with Jacksonville Modern Quilt Guild
Tuesday, November 4
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Members $35, Future Members $50
Ages 12+ | Materials Included
Ticket includes admission to Museum
Mindfully create your own water-inspired postcard-sized quilt with the Jacksonville Modern Quilt Guild. Learn beginner–friendly slow stitching techniques in this relaxing workshop.
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Ecologies of Color: Indigo Dye workshop Indigo Dye Workshop with Artist Elsie Lopez – inspired by Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides
Three-part workshop
Sundays, October 26, November 2, November 9
12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Members $180, Future Members $270
Ages 18+ | Materials Included
Explore the history, culture, and process of indigo dyeing with artist Elsie Lopez. In this three-part workshop, learn to build dye vats and create with indigo, connecting with the themes from the exhibition Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides.
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