Bayfront eatery exhibits works of photography students, awards $8,000 in scholarships and support

Bayfront eatery exhibits works of photography students, awards $8,000 in scholarships and support

By Troy Moon, Pensacola State College

Few downtown locales offer a more perfect picture of a Pensacola sunset than Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille. Tucked into the southern tip of Palafox Pier overlooking Pensacola Bay, it’s where locals gather nightly to watch twilight fade to dusk in a kaleidoscope of wondrous, sublime color.

And all through February, Jaco’s will once again showcase Pensacola State College’s Photography Program, when students’ sunset-inspired photographs will be featured and displayed. The student who is chosen by Jaco’s patrons to have the best photograph wins a month-long exhibit in April.

It’s just part of Jaco’s support of the college’s photography department. Jaco’s has contributed nearly $8,000 to the photography department since 2018, funds used for scholarships and program support.

“Jaco’s keeps upping the ante,” said Mark Francis, PSC photography program coordinator. “They’ve been contributing throughout the years, and their support has really helped students.”

In 2019, Jaco’s made contributions of $1,400, $1,500 and $2,500 to the PSC photography program, most of which is used for student scholarships. Jaco’s has hosted the PSC Sunset Photography exhibit since 2014.

Eight PSC photography students will showcase their sunset photos this year, beginning Feb. 1. Between them, 13 sunset photographs will be displayed.

PSC photography student Erin Perez won the contest in 2015. While she’s still a PSC student, she also has her own wedding and maternity photo business. (Her two-year associate in science degree program is running longer because she is only taking two classes each semester. Though married now, she was Erin Amis when she participated in the Jaco’s PSC Sunset Photography exhibit.)

“You hang your own pictures and learn how to stage an exhibit,” Perez said. “It was really cool, and it gives you an opportunity to get your name out there.”

Student Lisa Carver won honorable mention at the 2019 PSC Sunset Photography exhibit. Still, she was awarded $700 for her work in a PSC student show, money that came from the Jaco’s scholarship contributions.

“It helped me buy a new laptop, which I really needed,” said Carver, a second-year student. “Mine was gone and I had to use one at school.”

She said the Jaco’s exhibit was a “fantastic experience” that assisted students in other aspects of photography, such as display.

“It gave us an opportunity to learn how to present in a public space,” she explained. “It’s a lot more than just taking a photograph.”

This year, Jaco’s also will fund scholarships for incoming photography students, based on their high school portfolios.

“Our relationship with Jaco’s has always been good,” Francis said. “And it’s getting better.”

Jaco’s owner David Hambrick said the exhibit fits in perfectly with the restaurant’s ongoing monthly art series, where each month a different artist displays his or her work.

Hambrick thought it would be a good idea to turn over two months – February and April – to showcase PSC student photographers.

“It’s just fun to see the kids participate,” Hambrick said. “It’s important to them and helps them. They learn how to prepare for an exhibit at PSC, and this gives them real-world experience in that aspect. And when you see their photographs, well, they’re very talented and creative.”