St. Augustine Sister Cities Exhibit
SISTER CITIES OF ST. AUGUSTINE EXHIBIT CELEBRATES FRIENDSHIP + ART
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (October 22, 2024) – Throughout its 100 years, St. Augustine Art Association (STAAA) has thrived as an organization through deep community relationships built around the shared love of art. It is only fitting that its year-long centennial celebration culminates with an exhibit that is a tribute to the power of friendship. St. Augustine Sister Cities Exhibit is a multimedia show that features two artists and longtime friends from Aviles, Spain, St. Augustine’s sister city for the past 100 years. The exhibit will be displayed at the St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine Street, and online at staaa.org from November 1st - December 29th, 2024.
“We’re excited to celebrate two significant centennial milestones through art,” says Jennifer Flynt, Executive Director of STAAA. “St. Augustine, Florida and Aviles, Spain have enjoyed 100 years of shared community. We’re thrilled to welcome two Aviles’ talented artists to our city for an exhibit based on that friendship.”
Amanda “Favila” Gonzalez Hevia
The St. Augustine Sister Cities Exhibit features the works of longtime friends Amado “Favila” González Hevia and Nardo Villaboy. Favila is a renowned painter and sculptor whose works grace cities and public spaces worldwide. In 2015, he was commissioned to create a painting and statue of Pedro Menéndez by Don Felipe VI, King of Spain, to be gifted to the governor of Florida. Nardo Villaboy is a professional photographer whose photos have graced the covers of international magazines and publications. He is the author and photographer of over 30 books and contributed the photographs to 2016’s St. Augustine-Aviles: A 90-Year History of Two Sister Cities. Villaboy has exhibited his work throughout Spain and the United States.
“Sister Cities of St. Augustine (SASCA), in collaboration with STAAA, is honored to present their final project to the city, which is part of the 100-Year Celebration of Friendship with Aviles, Spain,” says Cynthia Jean Watts, board member of SASCA. “A two-month exhibition at STAAA will feature two brilliantly talented Spanish artists, both of whom will be present at a reception on November 1st for Friday Night Art Walk.”
Nardo Villaboy
St. Augustine Sister Cities Exhibit will be displayed at the St. Augustine Art Association and online from November 1st through December 29th with the gallery closing November 28th and December 23rd through 26thfor the holidays. For information and exhibit updates, visit here. The exhibit is sponsored in part by grants from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, the St. Johns County Cultural Council, the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, and the Benjamin & Jean Troemel Arts Foundation.
ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION – The St. Augustine Art Association (STAAA), located at 22 Marine Street in downtown St. Augustine, Florida, is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting excellence in the arts since 1924. STAAA supports the vibrant arts community in St. Augustine and preserves its rich artistic heritage and culture. Through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, educational programs, and outreach, STAAA fosters a creative and accessible environment for artists of all backgrounds and skill levels. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 12pm to 4pm, and admission is free. Photos can be found here. For more information, visit www.staaa.org, and follow along on Facebook @StAugArtAssoc and Instagram @staugartassoc
