South Lake Tablet

The fireworks may be over, but the celebration is just getting started. The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) invites visitors to keep marking America’s Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence – with USA 250: 250 Years on the Road to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

While July 4 kicked off a year of national reflection, USA 250 gives Central Floridians months more to explore what 250 years of American life has looked like, through photography, painting, printmaking, collage, etching, and weaving that map the country’s landscapes, labor, movements, and ideals.

Envisioned as a road trip across the United States, USA 250 trails significant historical points of view where artists have recognized, responded to, or documented changing human experiences. The earliest painting on view hails from the late 19th-century Hudson River School and is displayed alongside works across media, extending into the contemporary era.

Each wall in the exhibition corresponds to one of five geographical regions, beginning with the Southeast and moving counterclockwise through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, the North and Northwest, and concluding with the Southwest. Visitors can take the wheel and choose their own route – from photographs of the National Parks and Depression-era landscapes to paintings of American labor and Pop Art prints commissioned for the 1976 Bicentennial.

The exhibition features works by some of the most recognized names in American art, including Fritz Scholder, Grant Wood, Ansel Adams, Thomas Moran, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Indiana, and Alfred Stieglitz, among others.

“In curating this exhibition, I wanted to share a breadth of experiences across the vast landscape that is the United States. Working with images and objects from our collection that recall the latter half of the 250 years since the American Revolution, a picture emerged of a nation that progressed through the Second Industrial Revolution and ushered in scientific, technological, social, urban, rural and environmental transformations,” said Katherine Page, associate curator at OMA. “Artists have been at the forefront of visualizing and recording those changes. As we honor the 250th anniversary of an ever-evolving country, I want visitors to dream and celebrate what the next 250 years of our future could hold.”

Also on view is an extension of the museum’s Echoes of the Ancient in Contemporary Voices exhibition: Mateo Blanco’s Arhuaco Flag (2025), a naturally dyed, handwoven cotton flag created in collaboration with the Arhuaco Indigenous people of Colombia and courtesy of the artist. The American flag represents Blanco’s journey, commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary, and reflects on the enduring spirit of a country built on freedom, resilience, and the belief that everyone’s story matters. 

USA 250 is on view at OMA through October 4.

For more information about the Orlando Museum of Art and upcoming events, please visit www.omart.org.

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About the Orlando Museum of Art: Founded in 1924, the Orlando Museum of Art is a leading cultural institution in the Southeast, dedicated to stimulating creativity and intellectual curiosity by connecting people from all backgrounds and experiences with compelling art and new ideas.

Clermont Waterfront parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5K held every Saturday at 7:30 AM at Lake Hiawatha Preserve (450 N. Lake Minneola Shores, Clermont, FL 34711). The course follows paved paths along the scenic shores of Lake Minneola and is open to everyone — walkers, joggers, runners, kids, and dogs on leads are all welcome.
parkrun is a worldwide movement of free community events organized entirely by volunteers. There is no cost to participate, ever. First-timers simply register once at parkrun.us to receive a free barcode for timing.
After each event, participants gather for coffee at Cheeser’s Palace café. Whether you’re looking for a new fitness routine, a way to meet neighbors, or a family-friendly Saturday morning activity, parkrun has a place for you.
Volunteers are always needed and no running is required to help. Visit www.parkrun.us/clermontwaterfront for more information.

Discover the Art of the Monarch Butterfly at Trout Lake Nature Center
EUSTIS, Fla. — Trout Lake Nature Center (TLNC) invites adults to explore the connection between art and nature during Drawing with Nature: Monarch Butterfly on Saturday, Aug. 29. This first drawing class at TLNC was created in response to community interest in new ways to connect with the natural world.
Graphic designer and artist Shelley Kays will guide participants through drawing a Monarch butterfly, sharing techniques and encouragement in a relaxed, hands-on setting. Designed for beginners and experienced artists alike, the class offers an opportunity to slow down, observe, and appreciate the intricate details of one of Florida’s most recognizable butterflies.
Class size is limited to 15 participants to provide individual attention. The $45 registration fee includes all art supplies and facility entry.
Event Details
Drawing with Nature: Monarch Butterfly
Date: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: Trout Lake Nature Center
Cost: $45 per person (includes supplies and entry fee)
Registration Required: Visit TroutLakeNatureCenter.com or register at https://tinyurl.com/39xmcums
About Trout Lake Nature Center
Trout Lake Nature Center is a nonprofit environmental education and conservation organization on 230 acres in Eustis, Florida, connecting people with Florida’s unique ecosystems through hands-on learning and nature experiences.