John Leduc, Night Flight, 2025.
Breaking Barriers: Gathering Light
May 22 – July 25, 2026
USF Contemporary Art Museum, West Gallery
Admission: Exhibition and events are free and open to all.
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Thu 10am-8pm; Sat 1-4pm
Closed: Sundays and USF Holidays (May 25 Memorial Day holiday; June 19 Juneteenth holiday; July 3 & 4 Independence Day holiday observed)
Questions? Call 813-974-4133 or email caminfo@usf.edu
The USF Contemporary Art Museum is honored to present Breaking Barriers: Gathering Light, a curated selection of photographs created through the 2025 Breaking Barriers workshops. These intensive online photography workshops—offered free of charge to veterans and their families in the USF community, Tampa Bay, and beyond—were led by artist and educator Kristen Roles, with assistance from US Air Force veteran Derek Hopkins.
Gathering Light reflects the many ways participants encountered, shaped, and gathered light, revealing it as both a physical phenomenon and a metaphor for perception, resilience, and connection. Through these images, Gathering Light honors the creative labor of all participants and invites visitors to slow down, look closely, and consider how the simple act of seeing and sharing what we see can help us better understand ourselves and one another.
Exhibiting artists include: Christopher Algarin, Manfredo Bobadilla, David Bryant, Luis E. Carrasco Jr., Patricia A. Colbert, Diana Colon, Gail Cross, Bernadette Dunn, Michael E. Dunson Jr., Sha’na Folks, Evan Fountain, Paul Hall, Editha Perez Heberlein, Roger C. Heberlein, Valerie Larson, John Leduc, Kevin Guy Lipton, Mikko Maki, Tanya O’Brien, Kenya Selmon, Chris Smith, Kimberlee Nicole Smith, RJ Smith, Sharon Stentz, Roger St Julian, Monika Sutton, RaeAnne Swanson, Viana Taveres Fischer, Melisa Vélez, and Michael D. Webb.
Gathering Light Catalogue
A 74pp catalogue documenting Gathering Light is available as a free PDF (13MB) or as a print on demand publication for purchase on lulu.com for $20 plus tax and shipping.
Breaking Barriers is a program by USF Contemporary Art Museum in collaboration with the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, and supported by the USF Office of Veterans Success, the USF College of Design, Art & Performance, the USF School of Art & Art History, and a Community Arts Impact Grant of the Hillsborough Arts Council, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.
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Visitor Information
Graphicstudio Hours:
Graphicstudio is open to visitors by appointment. Please contact gsoffice@usf.edu or (813) 974-3503.
USFCAM Hours:
Monday - Friday 10am–5pm; Thursday 10am–8pm; Saturday 1–4pm; Closed Sundays and all university holidays. Visitors to the museum are expected to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Tours + Field Trips :
Groups and organizations interested in tours of the exhibition should contact CAM to schedule at least two weeks in advance at (813) 974-4133.
Field Trip Guide:
Download our field trip guide for everything you need to know before bringing your students to CAM!
Accessibility:
The University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum (USFCAM) is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. There are disabled parking spaces outsde of the museum, an accessible entrance, good lighting and accessible restrooms.
The museum follows the
USF guidelines regarding service animals.
USFCAM faculty and staff are pleased to work with organizations that provide cultural opportunities for disabled clients to tour the Museum. Please call (813) 974-4133 two weeks in advance to request specific tour information. For more accessibility information please call (813) 974-4133.
Copyright + Reproduction
The electronic images available on this site are subject to copyright and may be covered by other restrictions as well. The images are made available to the general public for the sole purpose of representing the USF Contemporary Art Museum’s programs and collection. Copying or redistribution of the images in any manner without the express written permission of the University of South Florida Institute for Research in Art is strictly prohibited.
Contact
caminfo@usf.edu
(813) 974-4133