About this Event
In Our Own Image features the work of seven contemporary Indigenous artists from Florida and Oklahoma who have come together to depict their sixteenth-century Mocama (Timucua) ancestors. These new paintings and drawings reflect years of collaborative research in Mocama language, history, and archaeology. More importantly, they reflect the deep knowledge of Seminoles, Miccosukees, and Muscogees about their ancestors. For over four hundred years, the Mocamas have been greatly misrepresented by a series of European engravings published in 1591 by Theodore De Bry, who never visited the Americas, and made up or borrowed much of what he depicted. Here, for the first time, we show Mocamas not through a European lens, but through their own.
About the Speakers
Denise Bossy
Dr. Denise Bossy is a professor of history at the University of North Florida and North American editor-in-chief of Ethnohistory journal. She holds a BA from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. Her teaching and research focus on Florida, local Indigenous history, public and digital humanities, and the Native South. Her award-winning publications include The Yamasee Indians: From Florida to South Carolina (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). Her forthcoming book, Yamasee: Indigenous Mobility and Power in the Early South, is under contract with the Omohundro Institute at the University of North Carolina Press and will be published in February. She is currently collaborating with Dr. Keith Ashley on a public-facing book and digital humanities site examining the deep history of the Mocamas, Guales, and Yamasees of Northeast Florida. The project is supported by a three-year National Endowment for the Humanities Collaborative Research grant.
Keith Ashley
Dr. Keith Ashley is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of North Florida. Raised in northern Florida, he earned his BA in Anthropology from Auburn University before returning to Florida to receive an MS from Florida State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. For more than 20 years, Ashley has conducted archaeological excavation and research throughout the southeastern United States, with field projects ranging from 4,000-year-old shell middens along the Atlantic coast to 17th-century Creek Indian villages in central Alabama. His current research focuses on the archaeology of Native American communities in northeastern Florida before and after European contact. In addition to his research and teaching, Ashley is committed to providing UNF students with hands-on archaeological experience through fieldwork and laboratory analysis, preparing them for graduate study and careers in archaeology.
Carly Treece
Carly Treece (she/her) is a citizen of the Mvskoke Nation with Cherokee ancestry and resides on the Mvskoke Nation. She is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and community advocate whose work bridges artistic practice and cultural stewardship. As an artist, Treece creates abstract paintings using oil and cold wax that explore her emotional and spiritual relationship with the land in Indian Territory. Her layered and textured compositions reflect personal and collective connections to place, memory, and ancestral knowledge. Through her work, Treece engages themes of land and body sovereignty, using abstraction as a way to honor Indigenous presence while encouraging deeper reflection and dialogue.
Alongside her studio practice, Treece has developed a strong curatorial practice focused on amplifying Indigenous voices, particularly the voices of Indigenous women artists. She has curated and co-curated exhibitions nationally that bring together emerging and established artists, creating spaces for storytelling, cultural connection, and contemporary Indigenous expression. Treece is the founder of Four Mothers Collective, an Indigenous women-led nonprofit in Tulsa dedicated to supporting artists and strengthening community through exhibitions, workshops, professional development, and collaborative programming. Through this work, she advocates for greater representation and opportunities for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals in the arts. Her artwork has been featured in FX’s Reservation Dogs and is held in institutional, private, corporate, and Tribal collections, including La Fonda on the Plaza and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she regularly speaks on Indigenous art, curatorial practice, sovereignty, representation, and community-based advocacy.
Alyssa Osceola
Alyssa Osceola is an artist from the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in South Florida. She is a multimedia illustrator, traditional seamstress, and musician, and currently serves as a Community Engagement Coordinator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida Environmental Protection Office. In 2023, Osceola graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Art History. Her artwork often incorporates elements of Seminole culture, history, botany, and horror. She specializes in high-contrast, limited-palette pen-and-ink work while also exploring mixed-media processes that combine traditional and digital techniques. Her work has been featured in museums and cultural institutions throughout Florida, including the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art as part of the Reclaiming Home exhibition of Seminole art.
If you have a disability and require an accommodation for this occasion, please contact MOCA Jacksonville at 904-620-1214 or [email protected] five days before the event to enable us to provide you with a reasonable accommodation for the event.
Non-Members FREE | MOCA Members FREE* | UNF Students, Faculty, and Staff FREE
If you would like to claim the MOCA Member discount on programs, and additional perks such as complimentary parking and invites to exclusive events, become a MOCA Member today!
*The MOCA Member price does not include NARM and SEMC reciprocal members. Reciprocal members receive free general admission at MOCA Jacksonville.
SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Questions? Contact [email protected].
About MOCA
Located in the heart of historic Downtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville is one of the city’s most significant cultural assets. As the oldest art museum in Northeast Florida and one of the first contemporary art museums to be established in the United States, MOCA is focused on promoting the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists, and ideas of our time.
Among the most prominent contemporary art museums in the Southeast, MOCA’s exhibitions and programs set the pace for arts and art-integrated programming on a regional and national stage. Renowned in this community, MOCA casts the spotlight on Jacksonville as a burgeoning, vital arts destination.
The museum is also a cornerstone of Jacksonville’s multibillion-dollar downtown revitalization plan with exhibitions and programs that bring new visitors to the civic core during the day, at night, and on weekends.
MOCA JACKSONVILLE PROGRAM CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
At MOCA Jacksonville, we understand that plans can change. We strive to accommodate the needs of our guests while ensuring that our events and programs continue to run smoothly for everyone involved.
Cancellation by the Guest:
- More than 2 days before the program: Full refund available minus Eventbrite ticketing fee.
- 1-2 days before the program: Refund requests must be sent to museum contact.
- Less than 24 hours before the program: Refunds are not available.
Rescheduling:
- Guests may request to be rescheduled to a later program, subject to availability, with no penalty if done more than 2 days in advance of their program.
Cancellation by MOCA Jacksonville:
- MOCA Jacksonville reserves the right to cancel any event due to unforeseen circumstances or events beyond our control. In such cases, a full refund or rescheduling option will be offered.
Notification:
- All cancellations or rescheduling requests must be made in writing to our Education Department at [email protected]. Please include your event details and contact information for prompt processing.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with our cancellation policy. Our goal is to provide a seamless experience for all our guests and patrons.
MOCA JACKSONVILLE MEMBERSHIP TICKET POLICY
Ticket Allocation:
- Individual Members: Individual members are entitled to reserve or purchase one (1) member ticket for each event or program in which a member level ticket is offered.
- Dual Members and above: Dual level memberships and above are entitled to reserve or purchase two (2) member tickets per event for each event or program in which a member level ticket is offered.
- Avant Garde Circle Members and above: Members at this level and above are entitled two (2) free tickets to one program of their choice per year. Contact Development at [email protected] to reserve.
Membership Level Association
- Your membership level is directly associated with your ticket privileges. We encourage you to explore the various levels of membership to find the one that best suits your cultural interests and event attendance desires.
- Donor Circle Members may request additional event and program tickets by contacting the Development Department at [email protected].
- Your membership number may be required to complete certain reservations. This can be found printed on your membership card. Please contact [email protected] if you need assistance locating your membership number.
Policy Adherence:
- We kindly ask that all members adhere to the ticket allocation policy. This ensures fairness and opportunity for all members to participate in our exclusive events.
Ticket Transfer:
- Tickets are non-transferable and are intended for use by the member(s) registered under the membership account. Identification may be required at the event entrance to match our membership records.
Enjoyment for All:
- Our policy is designed to maximize enjoyment for all our members. We believe in the power of art to connect, inspire, and engage our community.
We thank you for your understanding and for being an integral part of MOCA Jacksonville. Your support as a member allows us to continue offering a diverse range of events and programs.
Please feel free to reach out to our membership services team at [email protected] if you have any questions or need further clarification on your membership benefits.
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MOCA Jacksonville, 333 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, United States
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