‘Connections Project’ Art and Music Events to Showcase Florida Keys Creativity

FLORIDA KEYS — Visual art and music by top Florida Keys talents are to take center stage during the Connections Project: A Mosaic of the Keys 2025, a vibrant series of popup events for cultural enthusiasts that begins Wednesday, Jan. 8, and continues through April.

Each multi-creativity event is to feature a mosaic mural made up of nearly 100 small canvases decorated by Florida Keys artists, paired with performances by outstanding local musicians. Presented annually by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the Connections Project is designed as an experiential way to connect people with members of the Keys’ dynamic arts community.

“The Connections Project 2025 will be a fabulous blend of what we’ve done in past years with some fresh ideas for this season,” said Elizabeth Young, executive director of the Arts Council. “Attendees can expect the usual high quality of creative expression, along with a surprise or two that adds to the fun.” 

The series’ Jan. 8 grand opening reception is set for 5:30 p.m. at Berkshire Hathaway in Marathon, located at 9141 Overseas Highway, in conjunction with a Marathon Chamber of Commerce gathering. Subsequent popup events are planned from Key Largo to Key West at venues including galleries and cultural spaces, open-air art shows and other locations that support local creativity. 

A unique mosaic mural is to be unveiled at every event, with each featuring a collection of colorful 6-by-8-inch canvases. The small canvases typically include works in oils, watercolor, photography, collage, mixed media, quilting, beadwork and more, depending on the individual artist’s whim and talent. 

At each event, attendees who donate $100 to the Arts Council can select and take home a small canvas of their choice. As well as making a permanent connection to the Keys’ arts community, those who purchase a canvas benefit the council’s grants for artists living and working in the island chain.

A calendar of Connections Project showcases, times and locations can be found at keysarts.com/artist_connections/Mosaic/Mosaic3.html. 

Connections Project information: keysarts.com