Common Ground: Artists in the Everglades

News Release Date: September 15, 2014

Contact: General Park Information:, 305-242-7700

Contact: Media contacts only: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714

Contact: AIRIE Contact: Deborah Mitchell,, 305-978-5983

BOCA RATON, Fla – The University Galleries in Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters presents, “Common Ground: Artists in the Everglades” at the Schmidt Center Gallery, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. The exhibition will open on Friday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. and will be on view through Wednesday, November 5

. All events are free and open to the public.

“Common Ground” presents selected artists from Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE), a unique program that provides an extraordinary opportunity for artists to reside within Everglades National Park. Organized by Donna Marxer, this unique program was started in 2001. The program brings professional artists to reside for one month within the park to create original works from their experience of living in our nation’s most environmentally endangered ecosystem. Jill Lavetsky and Sybille Welter, co-curators of “Common Ground,” have selected a group of eight artists who have participated in AIRIE in the past few years. The exhibition aims to provide an overview of the dynamic works that have been produced by a variety of artists from this distinctive residency.

On Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m., at FAU’s University Theater, there will be a panel discussion on “Everything everGLADES,” an in-depth discussion on the ecology and sustainability, social justice and the arts in the Everglades. 

The University Galleries at FAU are open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Group and class tours are welcome during public hours as well as at other times scheduled by appointment. Gallery exhibitions are sponsored by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. For more information, call 561-297-2661, email [e-mail] or visit www.fau.edu/galleries.  

WHAT:        The University Galleries in Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters presents, “Common Ground: Artists in the Everglades.”

WHEN:        The exhibition will open on Friday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. and will be on view through Wednesday, November 5. All events are free and open to the public.

WHERE:      The Schmidt Center Gallery, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. 

More information about this and other AIRIE events can be found at www.airie.org. .

ABOUT AIRIE

South Florida is home to the only subtropical wilderness area in the country, Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) is the only program bringing artists to the Everglades.  Since 2001, AIRIE has brought over 100 artists, composers, writers and dancers to Everglades National Park for month-long residencies. AIRIE Fellows have the unique opportunity to get to know the ecology of the Everglades by being immersed in it, and then share their perspective through creative public programs.