About O’Connor Art

oconnorartLLC combines the talents of artist John A. O’Connor and art historian/writer Mallory M. O’Connor to offer you a variety of art and art related services. Read More…

Services

Curatorial, Exhibitions Curated, Natural History Exhibitions, Historical Exhibitions, Natural History Exhibitions, Writing, Books and Articles.

John

Graphic Design

John A. O’Connor’s graphic design work includes many brochures and covers for local and traveling art exhibitions in the United States. One of John’s most recent designs of the exhibition brochure for Gainesville’s Historic Evergreen Cemetary: This Wondrous Place is part of a collection of promotional materials that have been nominated for an award from the American Advertising Federation ADDY awards in the Arts and Sciences category.

The Quest for the Fountain of Youth

The Quest for the Fountain of Youth Brochure

The Doris Bardon Community Cultural Center Feasibility Statement

 Mallory

If you are looking for exhibition ideas or need help in organizing an exhibit, Mallory O’Connor has over twenty years experience in organizing and curating a variety of exhibits.

Art Exhibitions

As director of the City of Gainesville Thomas Center Galleries (1984-1995) and Santa Fe College Art Gallery (1995-2002) she oversaw or personally organized more than 150 exhibitions. Topics ranged from shows by contemporary artists (“Made in Gainesville,” paintings, prints and photographs by 20 Gainesville artists; “Katharine T. Carter: Recent Paintings” the Neo-Geo works of New York artist KTC) to exhibits that emphasized social issues (“Expatriates: Paintings by Fifteen Young Latin American Artists”; “Loss, Memory and Identity: Picturing the Holocaust,” paintings by new York artist Diana Kurz; “Looking Back/Looking Ahead: Florida Artists Respond to AIDS”) to exhibits by local art organizations and shows of children’s art.

Exhibitions Curated

Art Exhibitions
Natural History Exhibitions
Historical Exhibitions
Natural History Exhibitions

Mallory O’Connor has created exhibitions and installations for the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Florida Park Service. These exhibits included “Orangutan Orphans: Rehabilitating Indonesia’s Red Apes,” a traveling exhibition of photographs by Mike Turco; “Opening the Door to a New World: Mark Catesby in La Florida”; and “The Great Alachua Savannah: A Visual History of Paynes Prairie.” Many of the exhibitions she organized have had an environmental or scientific theme.

Historical Exhibitions

Mallory O’Connor holds an M.A. in American History from Ohio University and has a special interest in exhibits that feature historically significant material. Examples include “Drums and Shadows,” photographs of African-Americans from the Georgia Coastal region taken in the 1930s; “The Golden Age of Syndicated Comic Art,” original drawings of America’s best-loved comic strips; and “Memoirs of a Clown,” drawings and paintings documenting thirty years of circus life by Sarasota artist Bill Ballentine.

In addition to curating exhibits, Mallory has also produced exhibition scripts and interpretive panels, catalogue essays and other support materials that have added scope and content to her exhibits. She also has hands-on knowledge of exhibition design and installation including lighting, placement and display techniques. The difference is in the details!

Books and Articles

Florida’s American Heritage River: Images from the St. Johns Region
Lost Cities of the Ancient Southeast
“The Art of Hope” Forum Magazine, Fall 2005 pp.16-20
“The Art and Soul of Florida” Forum Magazine, Fall 2010, pp 2-28

At a loss for words? Mallory can help. The author of two books as well as numerous magazine articles, critical essays and newspaper stories, Mallory has abundant writing experience. Her books, Florida’s American Heritage River: Images from the St. Johns Region, co-authored with author/photographer Gary Monroe and Lost Cities of the Ancient Southeast, were published by the University Press of Florida. She was also a feature writer for Business to Business Magazine, a Tallahassee –based periodical (1983-84) and did post-graduate work in Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida (1982-83). Mallory will be happy to work with you to create:

Catalogue Essays
Critical essays, reviews and critiques
Interpretive text for exhibitions and displays
Cell-phone tours of exhibits
Magazine feature articles
Grants
Public or private collection descriptions/brochures
Artist statements

Professionally produced support materials are essential to the success of artistic endeavors. Whether you need a beautifully organized exhibition or help with your individual artist’s career, Mallory can offer years of experience and professional know-how.

John and Mallory

Jurying Art Shows

John and Mallory O’Connor have frequently been asked to jury art exhibits and art festivals. Their discerning eyes and impartial mind-set have made them  popular jurors. Artists have been pleased with the thoroughness of their evaluations and the time that they have spent talking to artists about their work.

Transitional Administration

If you have an unexpected change in your organization’s leadership–a director falls ill or suddenly resigns for example–John and Mallory are ready to provide temporary administrative oversight (one month to one year) of your organization’s programs and facilities until your crisis is resolved. We have years of experience directing art galleries, craft facilities and municipal art centers. Let us help you keep your programs running smoothly while you work through the hiring process. Contract with us individually or as a team. Discounts available for small non-profit organizations.

Public Lectures

With twenty-five years of teaching and lecturing experience, Mallory O’Connor is a popular and polished speaker. Her illustrated lectures have received statewide acclaim and her audiences have ranged from scholarly societies to community organizations to residents of retirement communities. Recruited by the Florida Humanities Council for their Road Scholars speakers program, Mallory has presented talks at museums and libraries, nature centers and teacher’s workshops. Mallory’s illustrated 50 minute lectures cover a wide variety of art-related topics including:

Florida Series

“Peceptions of Paradise” How art has helped shape the image of Florida as Eden
“Liquid Muse: Contemporary Paintings from the St. Johns Region”
“Billy’s Wonderful Performances” The art and science of William Bartram
“Bobcats and Egrets and Gators, Oh My!” Artist-naturalists in the Colonial Southeast
“Before Bartram: Mark Catesby in La Florida”
“The Art of Hope” WPA murals in Florida
“Strangers in a Strange Land” Picturing Florida’s history through art.
Indian Art Series

“Artifact as Art” The beauty and skill of Native American art work
“Treasures of the Lost Cities” Pre-conquest art of the Southeastern Indians

Other Lectures

“Understanding Modern Art”
“The Healing Brush” Where art and medicine meet.
If you would like to have an engaging and qualified speaker for your group, Mallory O’Connor will be pleased to share her love and art and history with you.

Contact Mallory at oconnormall@bellsouth.net for more information.