The College of Central Florida Library will host a presentation on the works of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and the influence of Florida’s landscape and culture on her writing. This event will take place March 6, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., at the CF Ocala Campus Stearns Learning Resources Center, Building 3.

Join two distinguished speakers for this event, Florence M. Turcotte and Anne Pierce, as they explore how the regional characteristics of Florida inspired Rawlings’ literary imagination, contributing to her rich narratives. Attendees will gain insight into the connection between Rawlings’ environment and her creative output, and learn how her surroundings infused her writing with a sense of place and authenticity.

Turcotte, a literary manuscripts archivist and curator of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Papers at the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, brings a wealth of knowledge on Rawlings. As the executive director of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society and a board member of the Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm, Turcotte has contributed significantly to the study of Rawlings through her published works and dedication to preserving Rawlings’ legacy.

Pierce, a retired professor from Georgia Southern University, has a deep appreciation for the history and natural beauty of the region — particularly the Big Scrub, an area of the Ocala National Forest featured in Rawlings’ writings. Pierce’s exploration of Rawlings’ work has been instrumental in her role as an active member and officer in both the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society and the Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm.

Refreshments will be provided at the event and the first 25 students in attendance will receive a complimentary copy of “The Yearling,” Rawlings’ 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP via email at ruizf@cf.edu. For more information visit CF.edu/LibraryEvents.

The College of Central Florida Debra Vazquez Memorial Literary Series will host author George Singleton for two reading and signing events at the Ocala Campus. The events will take place Tuesday, Feb. 27, 7-8 p.m., at the Ewers Century Center, and Wednesday, Feb. 28, 12:30-1:45 p.m. in Building 8, Room 110.

Singleton, a novelist, short story writer and essayist, is recognized as one of America’s notable humor writers. He is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship Award and a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers.

The Debra Vazquez Memorial Literary Series honors CF English and creative writing professor Debra Vazquez, who died as a result of domestic violence in 2004.

Both readings are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Professor Sandra Cooper at coopersa@cf.edu.

The College of Central Florida will host the Vintage Farm Field Day Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the CF Vintage Farm Campus, 4020 S.E. Third Ave., Ocala. This special event marks the 20th anniversary of the college’s equine program, which began in the fall of 2003.

For two decades, CF has been at the forefront of equine studies, offering courses that have shaped the careers of numerous professionals in the industry. Vintage Farm Field Day is a showcase of student achievements, a celebration of alumni success, and a testament to the significance of the CF Vintage Farm Campus for Equine Studies and Agribusiness programs.

This year, CF will welcome back successful alumni who have made notable contributions to the equine and agriculture industries. These distinguished graduates will showcase their work, allowing prospective and current students, as well as community members, a glimpse into their various careers.

“The Vintage Farm Field Day is open to all – students, alumni, industry professionals and the local community,” said Associate Professor and Equine Studies Program Manager Marie Davidson. “Join CF in celebrating the past, present and future of this unique campus as the college continues to lead in equine and agriculture education.”

For more information about Vintage Farm Field Day please visit CF.edu/BusTechEvents.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida and Silver Springs State Park are pleased to announce the winners of the “Florida SpringsFest Photography Contest.”

Photos were juried by Dave Miller, an Ocala-based photographer and videographer, and co-owner of Maven Photo + Film.

“We are excited to partner with the Appleton Museum of Art for Florida SpringsFest 2024,” said Park Services Specialist Ruth Fletcher. “Art and nature are incredibly important to Florida residents and visitors, alike. This is a great way to bring the community together while conserving and enjoying this beautiful piece of the state.”

Entries will be displayed at Silver Springs State Park from March 2-April 30. Regular admission fees apply to see the photo display. The six winning photos will also be displayed at the Appleton Museum of Art during the same time period.

Visit Silver Springs State Park Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., for the 2024 Florida SpringsFest event. In addition to enjoying the photography display, attendees are invited to take part in a fun-filled day that is all about the springs including activities for children, live music and food vendors. Entry is $2 per person. Visit the Florida SpringsFest Facebook page to learn more: Facebook.com/FloridaSpringsfest

Admission will be free at the Appleton Museum of Art during Florida SpringsFest weekend. Open hours are Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Visitors will enjoy several exhibitions featuring artwork inspired by the springs including “Water’s Margins: Paintings of Florida’s Springs by Margaret Ross Tolbert” and “Karen Glaser: Springs and Swamps.” On Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m., author Leslie Kemp Poole will give a free talk in the Appleton auditorium on her new book, “Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now.” No reservation needed to attend.

Photography Contest Winners

Color Category

First place: Monique Kelley
Second place: Karl Smith

Flora & Fauna Category

First place: Zachary Shaul
Second place: Sharon Howard

People Category

First place: Dawn A. Campbell
Second place: Kailey Lentsch

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

The College of Central Florida Foundation will host its annual fundraising gala, “Night at the Farm,” on Saturday, March 2, from 6-8:30 p.m., at the CF Vintage Farm Campus, 4020 S.E. Third Ave., Ocala.

Presented by Ausley Construction, CAMPUS USA and HCA Florida Healthcare, this party with a purpose raises much needed funds to create scholarship opportunities for CF students. Since the inception of “Night at the Farm” in 2020, the CF Foundation has established 11 new scholarships, helping students to pursue their college education.

The event will feature live music and gourmet bites from Eaton’s Beach to align with this year’s theme, “Strings, Wine and Bites.” Attendees are encouraged to don cocktail attire as they enjoy the ambiance of the CF Vintage Farm Campus. For ticket purchases or inquiries, please visit Nightatthefarm.org or call the CF Foundation office at 352-873-5808.

About the College of Central Florida Foundation:
The College of Central Florida Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing support for the College of Central Florida through fundraising initiatives. The Foundation’s efforts are focused on enhancing the educational opportunities and resources available to students and faculty.

The College of Central Florida Ira Holmes International Film Series will continue Tuesday, Feb. 13, featuring the award-winning film “Petite Maman.”

Director Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” transcends time and space to weave a delicate fable about grief, family and connection across generations. In the wake of her grandmother’s death, 8-year-old Nelly accompanies her distraught mother to her childhood home. There, Nelly’s encounter with another young girl brings mother and daughter together in a way neither could have ever imagined. Evoking childhood’s perpetual state of wonder through luminous, richly textured images, “Petite Maman” takes viewers on a journey inward for a quietly miraculous tale of emotional time travel.
A screening will begin at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and is free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. A second screening will begin at 7 p.m. at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110. The screening at the CF Ocala Campus is free and open to the public.

For a full series list and more information on the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, contact Wendy Adams at 352-873-5800, ext. 1546, or visit www.CF.edu/filmseries.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, presents “Outsider Aviary: Robert W. Smeltzer’s Birds of America,” on view through Aug. 4.

Many are familiar with the Appleton’s 19th century European collection and the exquisite pre-Columbian objects, but visitors can now appreciate a lesser-known part of the world-class permanent collection that celebrates a Florida artist and veteran. “Outsider Aviary” features a selection of hand-carved birds by Robert W. Smeltzer (1906-1997), all inspired by John James Audubon’s (1785-1851) “Birds of America.”

After serving in the U.S. military and working as an electrical engineer, Smeltzer began his artistic hobby in 1966 after discovering Audubon’s renowned tome of bird illustrations, “Birds of America.” Smeltzer then spent over two decades creating 242 bird carvings, along with a handful of snakes, each sculpture reproducing the colors and markings of their real-life counterparts. Smeltzer crafted each piece using an array of woods including mahogany, cypress, cedar and redwood. “Notably, he never purchased any wood for his creations,” said Appleton intern Luke Craig, who provided research on the artist and helped organize the show. “The materials were either gifted to him by friends or sourced through scavenging.”

These carved creatures, rendered in an endearingly crude and expressive style, signal Smeltzer’s status as an outsider artist. His unorthodox approach, unburdened by formal training, yielded art that is both imaginative and deeply personal. In his own words, “I take scraps and leftovers and make birds out of them.” This resourcefulness and ingenuity underscore the essence of Smeltzer’s art. His unshackled creativity, coupled with his lack of a formal art education, impart a slightly primitive appearance to his carvings. As Smeltzer once expressed, “The birds are not meant to be pretty, but instructive.”

In 1993, Smeltzer gifted his complete collection of carved birds to the Appleton Museum of Art. On view alongside 36 of his sculptures are the tools that shaped them and his well-worn copy of “Birds of America,” marked with handwritten margin notes that attest to the depth of his study. Several Audubon prints from the Appleton’s collection are paired with their corresponding carving.

“Bird lovers and art appreciators alike will very much enjoy Smeltzer’s whimsy and attention to detail,” said Appleton Assistant Director Victoria Billig. “We’re pleased to display this donation to the collection, which you can find ‘nesting’ in the first-floor Preview Gallery.”

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

The College of Central Florida will receive $4,973,503 to establish a Center for Advanced Manufacturing from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program, which aims to enhance semiconductor-related educational programs across the state. The college will utilize the substantial funding to revolutionize its technology and engineering education offerings.

The new facility at the Ocala Campus will expand access to the Associate in Science in Engineering Technology program, its three specializations and related College Credit Certificates. New programs will include the Rapid Prototyping College Credit Certificate at both Ocala and Citrus campuses, and expansion of the Mechanical Designer and Programmer College Credit Certificate to the Citrus campus. This expansion will also increase the number of dual enrollment students.

“This project represents a massive step forward in CF’s strategic and ongoing efforts to offer technology programs that are expressly linked to emerging markets and high-skill, high-wage jobs,” said CF President Dr. James Henningsen. “It also helps ensure our graduates will go to work in our local manufacturing economy as technology leaders for those employers.”

This ambitious project involves a comprehensive remodel of 17,000 gross square feet of Building 9 at the Ocala Campus. The renovation will create new classroom and laboratory spaces, significantly enhancing the college’s Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Technology and CF Corporate College services. The entire project will cost an estimated $5 million, with approximately $4 million allocated for the renovation, $853,000 for equipment and trainers, and $15,000 for credential-related expenses.

The CAP Grant highlights the state’s commitment to nurturing a highly skilled workforce in Florida, particularly in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. It will provide a total of $35 million to Florida school districts and Florida College System institutions. The initiative is a testament to Gov. DeSantis’ dedication to fostering educational excellence and economic growth through strategic investments in technology and engineering education.

About the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant:
The Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Program was created in s. 1011.801, F.S. Its purpose is to provide grants to school districts and Florida College System institutions to fund some or all of the costs associated with the creation or expansion of career and technical education workforce development programs that serve lead to industry certifications included on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.