Visual artists Roger Bansemer and Xavier Cortada and musicians George Clinton and Lynyrd Skynrd are the 2024 inductees to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, according to Wednesday's announcement from the Florida Department of State.
"Today, we honor the newest inductees into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, celebrating their enduring influence on our state's vibrant cultural legacy,” said Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd in an April 24, 2024, release.
“These individuals have not only left an indelible mark on our state's artistic landscape but have also woven themselves into the fabric of our collective identity," he said. "Through their creativity, passion, and dedication, they have inspired countless others and helped shape our beloved Sunshine State.”
The Florida Artists Hall of Fame was created in 1986 to recognize people, living or dead, who have made significant contributions to the arts in Florida. There are currently more than 50 inductees so honored, including musician and performer Ray Charles, actor and director Burt Reynolds, writers Zora Neale Hurston, Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway, filmmaker Victor Nunez, and visual artists Duane Hanson, Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist, the state's Division of Arts and Culture said.
Inductees receive a commemorative bronze sculpture commissioned from St. Augustine artist Enzo Torcoletti and a permanent plaque on the Florida Artists Hall of Fame wall located in the rotunda of the Florida Capitol building.
Artist Roger Bansemer of St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine resident Roger Bansemer is most known for his nationally televised independent series “Painting and Travel with Roger and Sarah Bansemer,” a staple on PBS stations and the Create Channel, the Division of Arts and Culture said. They've completed 143 half-hour programs, reaching 91% of the country in 168 markets.
An author, artist, filmmaker and balloonist, Bensemer has lived and worked in Florida since his parents moved to Clearwater when he was nine years old, 66 years ago. He pursued his passion for art at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota before serving in the U.S. Navy and using his abilities as an Illustrator/Draftsman for the “Cruiser-Destroyerman” magazine while stationed on an aircraft carrier in Mayport. Since then, his impressionist work has hung in galleries from around the country and his murals delighted the city of Clearwater where he was its first artist-in-residence.
George Clinton of Tallahassee, Florida, aka Dr. Funkenstein
George Clinton, Dr. Funkenstein himself, was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina but has made Tallahassee his home since 1994. A musical visionary since the 1970s, Clinton created two groundbreaking funk bands, the Funkadelic and The Parliaments, both famed for their flamboyant shows and their fusion of rock, soul, funk and psychedelic music.
Most recently, Clinton was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a special proclamation from Leon County, and a key to the city of Tallahassee. In 2016, Clinton was the musical guest of honor during the 20th Annual Rainbow Concert of World Music where FSU’s Balinese gamelan orchestra performed a percussive rendition of his signature hit “Atomic Dog.” He was nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year but missed the cut.
"As a musical trailblazer, George's legacy inspires artists worldwide, solidifying his place among Florida's esteemed artistic icons," the Division of Arts and Culture said.
Flaming Lips, George Clinton and more:Word of South announces lineup of artists for 2024 festival
Artist Xavier Cortada of Miami, Florida
Xavier Cortada, a Cuban American artist with a passion for engaging people with public artistic displays about climate change, rising seas, and other environmental issues, is a New York native but has lived in Miami since the year he was born.
"Cortada's work spans various disciplines," the Division of Arts and Culture said, "creating over 150 public artworks, installations, collaborative murals, and socially engaged projects on six continents."
In 2006, Cortada pioneered eco-art in Miami with his participatory mangrove reforestation initiative "Reclamation Project." He founded the "Underwater Homeowners Association" in 2018 with watercolor paintings in front of homes showing precisely how high sea levels needed to rise before each house would be underwater to raise awareness of Miami's vulnerability to rising seas. Recently, he received a Creative Capital Award in 2022 to support his latest art project, "The Underwater," which involves over 2,000 students from his alma mater, Miami Senior High School, in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.
Lynyrd Skynyrd of Jacksonville, Florida
The question is not why Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, but why it took so long.
This legendary Southern band was formed in Jacksonville in 1964 and shot up the charts with "their distinctive Southern rock sound, characterized by soulful vocals, intricate guitar work, and powerful lyrics," the Division of Arts and Culture said.
"Since their inception, Lynyrd Skynyrd has been synonymous with the spirit of the South, captivating audiences with anthems like 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Free Bird.' Despite facing adversity, including the tragic loss of band members in a plane crash in 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd's legacy has endured, inspiring generations of fans worldwide."
Loss and tragedy continued, with the deaths of longtime keyboard player Billy Powell in 2018 and founding guitarist Gary Rossington last year. But Skynyrd keeps going, with a new tour in 2024.
"With their unmistakable sound and uncompromising authenticity, Lynyrd Skynyrd has solidified their place as cultural icons," the Division of Arts and Culture said. "Their music continues to resonate with audiences of all ages, earning them a well-deserved spot in the Florida Artist Hall of Fame. As ambassadors of Southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd's contributions to music history are unparalleled, ensuring their legacy will live on for years to come."
Lighters up!Skynyrd is Jacksonville's favorite homegrown act
An induction ceremony for the 2024 inductees will be announced once details are finalized.
Alicia Devine, Tallahassee Democrat, contributed to this article.
