News & Blog

As previously posted, Dr. Robert Cassanello’s podcast project “A History of Central Florida” is a 50-episode podcast that examines the history of central Florida through local area objects found in museums, historical organizations, and other places. Today, we want to direct you specifically to Episode 45 Diploma Plate. The diploma plate featured is from UCF Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives department. (more…)

Florida artist Joy Postle Blackstone pioneered the art of depicting Florida wildlife like no other. She was deeply inspired by the sights, sounds, and scents of nature from an early age and this greatly influenced her as both an artist and as a writer. She developed her talent for capturing the world around her through mediums such as oil paints, watercolors, pencil sketches, pen and ink, as well as the written word though her writings and poetry. Joy’s dedication to her art propelled her through the hardships of the Great Depression, and she persevered. Her passion and devotion to her work has earned Joy a special place in the history of Central Florida. (more…)

The UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives is pleased to announce the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit. Each year since 2005, Special Collections & University Archives invites UCF students to submit one of a kind books called artist’s books. Unlike traditional books, artist’s books are handmade to reflect personal artistic visions of their creators ranging from narrative storytelling through but not limited to drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and/or personal text. The UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit is a showcase of all entries created during the 2015 academic calendar year including past winners.

We are pleased to announce our winner is Nikki Navaille for her artist’s book “Stitched”. The winner was selected with the highest scores from our two judges – Brooklyn-based multimedia book artist Miriam Schaer, and UCF Head of Special Collections & University Archives David Benjamin, based on creativity, craftsmanship, content, and design. “Stitched” elegantly narrates the artist’s struggle of sewing clothing and costumes. Using multiple pattern pieces and fabric scraps from major sewing projects in her life as pages in her book, Navaille skillfully crafted these personal materials together while incorporating detailed text sewn with a sewing machine. Nikki Navaille won a purchase award for her artist’s book to be part of the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collection at Special Collections & University Archives. To celebrate the innovative work of all the participants, the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit will be on display during the month of February 2016 in the exhibition area on the 5th Floor of the John C. Hitt Library.

The UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives is pleased to announce the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit. Each year since 2005, Special Collections & University Archives invites UCF students to submit one of a kind books called artist’s books. Unlike traditional books, artist’s books are handmade to reflect personal artistic visions of their creators ranging from narrative storytelling through drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and/or personal text. The UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit is a showcase of all entries submitted for the 2015 competition including past winners. A panel of jurors selects the best entry and the winner receives a purchase award and has their work added to the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collection in Special Collections & University Archives. The UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit will be on display during the month of February 2016 in the exhibition area on the 5th Floor of the John C. Hitt Library.

Joy Postle’s Rhapsody in Rose number 7.

Joy was a rare bird. She rather resembled the long-legged, wading birds found near Florida’s seacoast, lakes, marshes, and glades. A plein air artist, Postle patiently painted wildlife, enduring harsh environmental conditions, using watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink. To see Florida through the eyes of Joy Postle is to see breathtaking landscapes of a vivid, natural era. Detail, light, color, and even a sense of humor mixed with fantasy capture the imagination of viewers, reminding us of nature in its early, unblemished form.

The Joy Postle collection is located at the University of Central Florida in Special Collections and University Archives at the John C. Hitt Library. This collection of her life’s work includes artwork from the 1920’s to the 1980’s as well as ephemera highlighting aspects of her personal and professional life. Joy Postle was not only a self-supporting artist, she was also an entertainer, a writer, and an environmentalist.

The Joy Postle exhibit will be on display on the main floor of the John C. Hitt Library from November 1^st – November 30^th.