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Meet Steve Williams, artist, designer, influencer, gallerist, real estate developer and “artreprenuer”

Murray Hill in the 90s; Preston Haskell’s Fire Ants performance piece, Steve spills tea about when Pedestrian rocked the house, starting a cult called Brooklyn Art Center, and where the galleries went. His origin story, mentoring, and exploring dumb business moves. The New Mall Culture and Jacksonville’s growing portfolio of artist-run spaces.

Art, Business, and Real Estatery

Steve talks about the journey from commercial design for the family business to gallerist and painter to business executive to real estate developer. Alleyways of chaos, schizophrenic puzzle pieces, and discovering the DNA bricks of old neighborhoods.

"Everything is art, even business."

The Toilet Gallery and Harbinger

The toilet showroom Steve transformed into Florida Mining gallery. He’s identified on prospecting sheets as the weird one. How selling the family business freed him to pursue his passions unfettered. He’s invested in new spaces in Springfield. The building he and his husband, Fitz, just purchased on Walnut Street which will be the future home of The Inventory Room HQ and the next era of Florida Mining. Their plans to enter the hospitality space, open a maker’s market, and build out more Springfield connectors to support this new creative hub.

The Era of Artist-Run Spaces

How artists are building communities to last with a little less adherence to capitalist success. Although Steve’s hot take is ”don't get mad, grow!” He believes in a world where Austin wasn’t always cool and discusses new developments on the north end of downtown, including the new “Homerdome” Publix, the Gateway project, Pearl Square and the emergent restaurant concept: “Flo-Yoda Frozen Yogurt Taco Shop”.

Interesting Things Emerge From Artist Culture

Steve aces his test, misses The Landing, great clubs of the past, and One Spark most of all (spoiler alert - Willis killed One Spark). His assessment is that Jacksonville needs connectivity and creative leadership in the form of bigger, better group chats. It’s time to push for art and get together. Buy art. Go to museums.

Season 2 of Floridation discusses art and culture in Northeast Florida with a different artist or culture maker each episode.

Young Buck Coffee locally roasts coffee fresh every week and delivers it to your door. Order today at youngbuckcoffee.com

For more check out The Floridation Papers at Floridation.substack.com. Thanks for putting a little a Florida in you. Y'all come back now, hear?

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The DA kid that got a D, $20 and premiered at Cummer (spoiler alert: it wasn't Autrelle).

Art levels - Master Cho vs Timmy 🥋 Belt-divisions among artists.

Origin story - Cleveland to Riverside, found art to steer clear of bullies at John Gorrie Middle. Continued at DA.

Martial Arts - Pak’s Karate to Aikido to Wing Chun (an infamous dojo in Riverside led by Sifu Arnett).

Done with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle work, time to think about the Splinter work. “It’s all art to me.” DJing, martial arts, making music, and visual art. It’s not a hobby. It’s central to identity and real work. "Seeking peace and refinement."

“Can I join your dojo?” The return to visual art, private craft and connecting with people. Jim Draper’s influence (put the poop in a delicious cake).

Art League Jax in Murray Hill, drawing and portrait classes, the value of being around artists. “In a different era they’d break your hand to take your kung fu from you.” Drawing is thinking.

“I love what you do, ever thought of taking an art class?” DA in the 90s. Different treatment for different students. Do more than work and sleep and party to feel good about yourself. Activities put you around people.

What Autrelle misses about jax - every weeknight there was something to do. Old wave night, art bar dance night, art show Thursdays, everyone showed up to the weekly thing. Old 5 points. Pop culture vs counter-culture.

What we’re missing that’s happening now? - It’s hard to not drink in Jax. You age out of the scene, we need places people can gather without getting shit-hammered. Autrelle dwells at Casbah in Avondale where he can smoke a hookah and work on art.

Autrelle’s house art show “Four”. People wanted snacks. Mactruque complained. How much art is enough? Next show: no art, just snacks. You break it with your Cheetoh’s fingers, you buy it.

Read the companion article at Floridation.substack.com for more.

Season 2 of Floridation discusses art and culture in Northeast Florida with a different artist or culture maker each episode.

Young Buck Coffee locally roasts coffee fresh every week and delivers it to your door. Order today at youngbuckcoffee.com

For more check out The Floridation Papers at Floridation.substack.com. Thanks for putting a little a Florida in you. Y'all come back now, hear?

Send us Fan Mail

Interview with artist Mark George. We talk about the subject matters that compel him, his struggle with the trend of impermanence, an early obsession with line quality, how humans are emotional and plastic and isn't. The relationship between real people and advertising, human imperfection against the demands of design, and the evolution of his artistic process over time as well as his contribution to pop art in general. We discuss everything from his early assemblage work to his no-signature-required fine artwork to surviving capitalism by enjoying sunsets. We also specifically talk about his figurative work, black and white series, landscapes series, and collaborations with Tony Rodrigues.

Season 2 of Floridation discusses art and culture in Northeast Florida with a different artist or culture maker each episode.

Young Buck Coffee locally roasts coffee fresh every week and delivers it to your door. Order today at youngbuckcoffee.com

For more check out The Floridation Papers at Floridation.substack.com. Thanks for putting a little a Florida in you. Y'all come back now, hear?