Over the past 30 years, John Henry has become an internationally known sculptor. Characteristically his work is made of massive steel beams arranged in dynamic abstract compositions sometimes ranging from 50 to 100 feet high.

Drawing in Space: The Peninsula Project will present seven monumental works of sculpture by John Henry in seven cities across the state of Florida. In Orlando, one sculpture will be displayed in Loch Haven Park’s lawn and a second in OMA’s plaza. Other selected cities in Florida are Miami, Boca Raton, Naples, Sarasota, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

Inside OMA will be models of each large-scale sculpture, additional small sculptures, drawings, photographs and a documentary-style film about the project.

Stories of the New World will feature custom art installations by Therman Statom, a major figure in the Studio Glass movement. Throughout his career, he has pushed the boundaries of his medium – challenging his audience to look at glass in new and interesting ways. His interest in studio glass began as a student in the 1970s at the Rhode Island School of Design. He studied under Dale Chihuly, who has remained a lifelong friend and mentor. In 1971, Statom participated in the inaugural season of the Pilchuck Glass School and has been known as an innovator and a force in the Studio Glass movement ever since.

Statom is a pioneer in the use of glass as a material for sculpture and room-size installation art. His work is distinguished from other glass artists of his generation in that he works with a wide variety of materials in addition to blown glass. His works are assembled from an inventory of objects he makes in the studio such as glass ladders, mirrored chairs, exotic blown glass vessels and fragmentary painted images. These forms, which seem to possess underlying symbolic meanings, are brought together in compositions imbued with mystery.

Stories of the New World will be a gallery size, multi-part glass installation. Statom will use Juan Ponce de Leon’s 1513 search for the fabled Fountain of Youth as a point of departure to explore both historic and contemporary themes of hope, discovery, ambition and destiny. Ponce de Leon intrigues Statom in part because of his historic association with Florida, but more so because of the broader implications, symbolic and real, societal and personal, of the explorer’s quest for this elusive goal.

“I want the gallery to have the atmosphere of having arrived at a place or destination that reflects the search, discovery and mysticism inherent to these ideas. In essence, this installation will function as a conceptual Fountain of Youth.” - Therman Statom.

This exhibition will transform 5,600 square feet of the Museum’s galleries into a visually dazzling environment of light and color. Visitors will take a journey, which will include a walk through a mirrored maze, panoramic murals, video projections, blown glass sculptures and finally ending with a room-size glass building filled with art works, the artist’s conception of a Fountain of Youth.

Jerry Pinkney: Aesop’s Fables and Other Tails features more than 65 original watercolor illustrations by award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney. The exhibition focuses on Pinkney’s delightful portrayals of animals from such well-known Aesop’s fables as The Tortoise and the Hare, The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing and The Goose and the Golden Egg, as well as a number of favorite children’s stories including The Ugly Duckling, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Little Red Hen and Uncle Remus Tales.

A native of Philadelphia, Pinkney attended the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts). He has taught and conducted workshops at universities across the country and created art for the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage stamps. Since the early 1960s, he has illustrated more than 80 children’s books and received numerous awards, including five Caldecott Honor Medals and five Coretta Scott King Awards.

An illustrated catalogue that includes commentary by the artist on his art and career accompanies this exhibition.