CONTACT:
Amber Sesnick, Director of Communications & Marketing
amber.sesnick@unf.edu // 904.620.3224
From Veteran to Dynamic Emerging Artist
Just one month left to see Dustin Sims incredible kinetic sculpture exhibition at MOCA Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There is just one month left to see Dustin Sims: Nature ReWired at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA), a cultural institute of the University of North Florida (UNF). The exhibition closes August 3, 2025.
In Nature Re:Wired, sculptor Dustin Sims reimagines discarded technology, transforming it into captivating animal sculptures that celebrate the brilliance of nature's design. While evolution has led to remarkable achievements in the natural world, humanity has often sought to mimic these functions through technology. Sims’ kinetic sculptures honor the inspiration found in natural evolution by representing technological artifacts as dynamic animal forms built from found elements. Through their interactive components, the works invite viewers to think about the connections between nature and technology, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment and encouraging responsible stewardship for our planet's future.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dustin Sims, a retired military veteran with 20 years of service in the Air Force, found his true calling after hanging up his uniform. Throughout his military career, Dustin specialized in constructing metal communication towers and working with communication equipment, all while seizing every opportunity to immerse himself in different cultures and indulge his passion for art.
Upon retiring from the military, he embarked on a new chapter of his life dedicated to pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming an artist. Enrolling at the University of North Florida (UNF), Dustin is currently focused on refining his skills in fabrication, MIG and TIG welding techniques, laying the groundwork for his future endeavors in metal artistry.
Looking ahead, Dustin has a clear vision for his artistic journey. He plans to establish his own LLC by the end of the year and establish a studio in Jacksonville, where he can fully explore his creativity and bring his artistic visions to life. Sims states, “This studio will be more than just a workspace; it will be a sanctuary where I can channel my creativity freely and bring my artistic visions to life.”
Through his transition from military service to the world of art, Dustin has discovered the profound impact of self-expression. Each weld, each stroke of the brush, is an opportunity for him to share his story and connect with others on a deeper level through his art.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA STUDENT ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Nature Re:Wired is part of the University of North Florida (UNF) Student Artist-in-Residence program at MOCA Jacksonville, a highly-competitive artist residency program. Sims is the 11th artist to participate in this annual residency, from which artists have gone on to prestigious international residencies, highly sought-after graduate programs, and exhibitions around the world.
open to exhibition, created by MOCA Jacksonville’s 2024 UNF Student Artist-in-Residence, Dustin Sims, is the culmination of the sculptor’s semester-long residency at MOCA.
MOCA Jacksonville’s UNF Student Artist-in-Residence program is a competitive opportunity that awards access to a MOCA Jacksonville studio and exhibition space to complete a new body of work and hone skills over a final semester. The program was established in 2015 and has showcased the work of students from the College of Arts and Sciences in photography, sculpture, painting, printmaking, and ceramics. This residency was supported, in part, by the Jax Fine Arts Forum.
Support for all MOCA programming and mission-based work comes from the City of Jacksonville, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the Donald and Maria Cox Endowment, the Haskell Endowment, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the Director’s Circle at MOCA Jacksonville, and the University of North Florida.
MEDIA PORTAL
Press release and images are available at the link below for use by the media. For questions or to schedule interviews, please contact Amber Sesnick at amber.sesnick@unf.edu.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/8pnd94xn7vbmshfrk3w6q/ABRHJwDTaaHk9IA3Z9OjDJM?rlkey=we32kk6rtgp4kir1o13tnmsyo&st=9fhq7124&dl=0
ABOUT MOCA JACKSONVILLE
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.
In 1924, a group of visionary local women artists came together to imagine the kind of city they wanted Jacksonville to be — the kind of community they wanted to live in and be a part of. At the core of their vision for a rich, vital, dynamic city were art, culture, and education. Thus, what we now call MOCA Jacksonville was born — first as a series of exhibitions by artists of the day, used as a fundraising tool to support public school education; then as a guild; and later as an art museum and educational leader. In 2009, MOCA became a cultural institute of the University of North Florida and in 2025 the museum became one of only three percent of museums to achieve accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to American museums. More than century later, MOCA’s mission remains focused on the art, artists, and ideas of our time, with a vision that unites education, creativity, and community building in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.
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, with an emphasis on works created from 1960 to the present. Renowned in this community, MOCA casts the spotlight on Jacksonville as a burgeoning, vital arts destination.
For more information including hours of operation, admission prices and upcoming exhibitions and programs, call 904.366.6911 or visit mocajacksonville.unf.edu.