Artist Reception for “Marlon Tobias: We Live on Old Dixie HWY Too”

Callahan is a small town in northern Florida, and multidisciplinary artist Marlon Tobias has generations of relatives who have lived there from the mid-1800s up to the present. Located about 15 miles north of Jacksonville, Callahan is a rural community of around 1000 residents, and over the years Tobias’ ancestors built a community on the northwest side of town. Tobias has researched a wealth of material passed down from the maternal side of his family, including family photos, detailed documentation of family history, and legal documents, all related to this community within Callahan, a town within a town, that began with his great-great-grandfather Cubby Wardlaw.

Using these archival materials as the basis for this body of work, Tobias’ paintings, installations, collected objects, and sculptures tell stories that give us an intimate view of the people and places that have impacted his life, and played a pivotal role in the development of this community in Callahan. Tobias’ work allows us to meet these people from the past, and to learn from and relate to how they lived. We Live on Old Dixie HWY Too is a testament to the meaning and enduring legacy of their lives.

Complimentary food and drinks. Admission and parking is free.