Oakland debuts roads, transportation in joint history, art exhibition

A total of 23 Florida artists, including a number from West Orange County, are part of the town of Oakland’s latest double exhibition at the Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center.

“We are always striving to find a balance between art and history that will appeal to the public,” said Elisha Pappacoda, administrative services and communications director with the town of Oakland. “We've had a lot of interest in the people behind Oakland's street names, so we are telling their stories in ‘Old Town Road.’ The works in ‘Land, Water, Air’ seamlessly complement the history exhibit and feature works by local artists focusing on movement … and transportation.”

“Land, Water, Air” features artwork that celebrates motion on roads and waterways, including trains, vehicles, bikes, boats, planes and other modes of transportation.

Artists in the exhibition are Kelley Batson-Howard, Kathleen Bell, Carolyn Bellino, Sara Gillen Burr, Racheal Cortez-Foley, Tom Eder, Anne Fanelli, Aaron Gombar, Bridget Hanley, Carissa Imel, Adrienne H. Lee, Heather Lorenz, Julio Milanes, Violeta Militaru, Dave Minichiello, Mark Mitchell, Elizabeth Parrish, Kelly Vick Pounds, Jambvant Ramoutar, Peter Spence, Joe Warren, Lori Warren and Lyla Wright.

Their artwork runs the gamut from pottery, paintings and photography to hand-blown glass and digital art. Most of the pieces are for sale.

“Old Town Road” gives guests an opportunity to learn about the folks for whom many of the town’s historic streets are named. Explore Oakland’s history of thriving citrus groves, industrial center and social hub through the lens of the major players of Oakland’s past, featuring historic photographs and artifacts.

In 1886, the town officially was platted in a uniform square of roughly 10 blocks. First through Eighth avenues were the east-west roads, and First through 10th streets were north-south. These numbered names remained the same for 86 years, until 1972, when town leaders rename them to honor those who put the town on the map.

The exhibition will run through Aug. 26. The center, located at 126 W. Petris Ave., is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It remains open until 6 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month and on select Saturdays.

For information, visit oaklandfl.gov/artsandheritage