Searching For Identity
Presents

CULTURAL ARTS SERIES
with
Cindy Edelman and Stacey Goldring

Oct. 22, Feb. 11, Apr. 8, and May 13

LiterARTure is an entertaining 90-minute art and literature program

  • Explore how the visual arts and literature reflect our community, culture and humankind

  • Enjoy learning how books and artwork present endless opportunities to connect with one another

  • Discover how artists and authors present endless opportunities to better understand ourselves and society

All Proceeds Benefit Searching For Identity

2026 Breaking the Mold Series

This season Cindy and Stacey will explore “Breaking the Mold: Influencers in Art and Literature” with the spotlight on rebel and rapscallion artists and authors and their remarkable works. LiterARTure is underwritten by Julia and John Taylor and Jacksonville University. 

Terry Concert Hall

Dolphin Dr

2800 University Blvd N

Jacksonville, FL 32211

10-11:30 pm

2026 Breaking the Mold Season Subscription
Oct
22
to May 13

2026 Breaking the Mold Season Subscription

  • Terry Concert Hall | Dolphin Drive | Jacksonville University (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Register Here | 2026 Season Membership (4 Programs)
Oct. 22, Feb. 11, Apr. 8, May 13
10:00 AM EST
Season Ticket $180

Your Full Season Membership reserves your spot
for the complete 2026 LiterARTure Series. 

This season Cindy and Stacey will explore “Breaking the Mold: Influencers in Art and Literature” with the spotlight on rebel rapscallion artists and authors and their revolutionary works.

Series Includes:
1. Oct. 22—Darkness Lurks: Could there be a bigger influencer than Caravaggio?  We think not.  Let’s dig into the infamous criminal artist and look at those who interpreted his innovations, including his use of chiaroscuro, and over-the-top theatricality. So much to see! Baroque artists Artemisia Gentileschi and Georges de la Tour, 20th century painters Lucien Freud, Peter Doig and Cecily Brown. Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows, we’ll reveal the plotting brilliant darkness of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. This incredible author and her virtuoso counterpart and criminal mastermind, Tom, still influencing writers on page and screen. Reader beware! 


2. Feb. 11—Love Crush: Lovers, rivalry and the possessed have nothing on the greatest enmity of the 20th century that of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. As a love letter to two giants who changed the way we look at art, we will analyze these icons and their fascination with the female form in paintings and sculptures. Speaking of Possession, we’ll turn the page on Love Crush and learn about the entanglement of desire bound in letters, books and hidden in archives with A. S. Byatt’s 1990 Booker Prize winner of the same name. Gripping. Intense. How much more can you handle?


3. Apr. 8—Anne Remembered: Why pair contemporary artists Felix Droese, Jack Lahav, Keith Mayersohn, Gerhard Richter, Rebecca Horn and Maya Lin? Each have been inspired by the profound writing of Anne Frank’s diary. With the latest book, Ruth Franklin’s The Many Lives of Anne Frank, we take a new look at the young Jewish girl whose diary has captivated millions, and the different ways that artists have been inspired by her story. Its themes of memory, resilience and hope continue to elevate her special legacy.


4. May 13—American Stars: The stars are shining brightly in the American artistic firmament under the leadership of 19th century influencer Winslow Homer, painter and water colorist extraordinaire. Included in his galaxy are Robert Henri, Frederick Remington, N.C. Wyeth, and Bo Bartlett. We will analyze Homer’s works and see how his style paved the way for new avenues of interpretation and storytelling in painting. Mark Twain’s Innocence Abroad will provide his iconoclastic perspectives of world travel, prepping us for summer adventure. His writing and wit still imprinting the success of best seller’s today. Homer and Twain, truly American Stars. How glorious is that?

Doors will open at 9:15 am for you to enjoy a coffee with friends. At 10 am we shall start.

You'll receive a reminder two weeks prior to each program. Your membership benefit also includes preferred seating at each program.   

View Event →

Our History

LiterARTure was born in 2016, when we were sitting outside the San Marco Starbucks in Jacksonville, Florida, bemoaning the lack of civil discourse in our world. 

Not the type to bemoan too, too much, we came up with an idea. “What if we married books and art, showing what we, as Americans, have in common?” Since then, using that template, we’ve presented numerous examples based on different themes in our annual LiterARTure series. 

LiterARTure is always packed with information and peppered with a healthy dose of wit! We’ll see you soon!

Check out a video from last season

We thank our generous LiterARTure underwriters

Julia and John Taylor

  • Cindy and Stacey consistently provide discussions that are not only entertaining but expand my knowledge of literature and art. I appreciate the amount of time that they devote to creating their lectures.

  • This has been SO wonderful - what a fantastic lecture! Thank you both!!!

  • Thank you both so much. Very interesting! Always learn for you all! This series and the lecturers have been engaging. I appreciate the popular culture connections and other text-to-text connections.

  • References to basketball AND aphrodisiacs! You’ve outdone yourself!

  • Thank you both for the enlightening lesson. I was alternately gob smacked with your knowledge and amused by your humorous comments. I will never again look at Whistler's "Arrangement in Grey and Black" in the same way.

  • Thank you both for the enlightening lesson. I was alternately gob smacked with your knowledge and amused by your humorous comments. I will never again look at Whistler's "Arrangement in Grey and Black" in the same way.

  • The quality of this presentation was excellent! The lecturers were both interesting and connected well with the audience. It's one of the best executed museum online talks I've seen.

  • These ladies are fabulous.