Fernandina Beach Library’s FLOR500 Program includes lecture, participatory art and the planting of a wildflower garden

FLOR500s a participatory art, nature, and history project created by Miami artist Xavier Cortada to commemorate Florida’s quincentennial in 2013. The project marks the importance of the moment when the history of our state changed forever and gives us a glimpse of what its landscape was like 500 years ago.

Five hundred Floridians are being invited to depict 500 native wildflowers – the same ones that grew in our state when Juan Ponce de Leon landed in 1513 and named it “La Florida”–from “flor,” the Spanish word for flower. The artwork, along with information about each flower, is being posted on the project website (www.FLOR500.com).

Fernandina Beach FLOR500 Program includes:

• Nassau County Public Library System’s exhibit of Cortada’s tiled flower drawing at the Fernandina Beach  Library (25 N. 4^th St., Fernandina Beach, FL) on Amelia Island through Thursday, May 16th, 2013 
• Planting an official FLOR500 garden at St. Michael Academy (228 N 4th St, Fernandina Beach, FL) on May 16th at 10:00 am. 
• Lecture and presentation at Bonito’s Restaurant (614 Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, FL) on May 16th at noon.

After his FLOR500 presentation at Bonito’s in Fernandina Beach, Cortada will invite participants to transform his original drawing of a Florida wildflower into 100 living gardens. His drawing was cut into 100 tiled pieces; each tile comes with a packet of Florida wildflower seeds.  Participants are asked to take the drawing and seeds home and plant a garden dedicated to a Floridian that is special to them.  In the process not only will they pay tribute to someone special in their lives, but they will also help improve Florida’s biodiversity by growing native plants.

Cortada serves as Artist-in-Residence at Florida International University’s College of Architecture and The Arts.

Fore more information, please contact:

Dawn S. Bostwick, M.A.L.S., C.P.L.A.

Library Director

Nassau County Public Library System

25 N. 4^th St.

Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

904-548-4862

904-277-7366 (fax)

dbostwick@nassaucountyfl.com