Every Friday, Tony Allegretti records a segment titled "Hot Ticket" for WJCT.  The segment features weekend events pertaining to art and culture. Tune in to 89.9 FM on Friday mornings to hear the "Hot Ticket" when it airs, or read the transcription here.

James Reka is an English-born, Australian-raised contemporary painter and artist currently based in Berlin, Germany.  Reka was raised with an appreciation of the arts.  His mother was a ballerina, dancing with both the Russian Ballet and the Australian Ballet, and his father was a graphic designer.  Reka's passion for visual art was apparent at an early age, and during class he was often instructed by primary school teachers to stop drawing and pay attention. 

Reka's art education originally led him to pursue a freelance career in graphic design.  As time progressed, however, he found himself designing less and painting more.  His focus shifted from creating logos and marketing layouts to creating figure-based murals that pushed beyond graffiti's traditional lettering. 

Reka credits hip-hop and skateboarding for exposing him to street art.  He started to paint graffiti in 1999, at a time when Melbourne's street art scene was in its infancy stages.  Reka has spent more than a decade refining his aesthetic.  He executes his work with a clean and unique style, illustrating a combination of surrealism and abstract fantasy.  Reka's dedication to his craft has established him as a prominent street artist.  His work is now not only in the streets but can also be found on exhibition in fine art galleries across the world and in magazines such as Juxtapoz.

Chamblin's has been a staple in Jacksonville's literary scene since 1976. Patrons can lose themselves in row after row of new and used books at either of Chamblin's two locations, Chamblin's Bookmine, located on Roosevelt Blvd, and Chamblin's Uptown, located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.  If you're familiar with Chamblin's then there is a strong possibility that you're also familiar with one of their employees, Jennifer O'Donnell.  

The Art in Public Places Committee met on November 9, 2016 at 12:00 PM at the office of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.  All Committee meetings are public noticed in advance and the general public is encouraged to attend. ​

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​​Dave Engdahl grew up in York, Pennsylvania.  He graduated from Penn State University (PSU) in 1963 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.  After graduating college in ’63, just shy of his 26th birthday, Dave was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  While many of his peers were sent to Southeast Asia, Dave was fortunate enough to serve his country domestically in the American South until 1965.  During that time he gained valuable experience related to the field of architecture and engineering.

​In 1971 Dave attended The Art of the State, a statewide juried competition for Pennsylvania artists.  Because of his background in architecture, Dave was drawn to the sculptures on exhibit.  While viewing the sculptures in a state of awe, Dave was struck with the notion that he had it within himself to create similarly.