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Gainesville residents don't have to travel far to get an intimate look at American cities.

Santa Fe College's newest art exhibit, "Cities," opened Tuesday and is on display at the President's Exhibition Hall on SFC's Northwest Campus.

The exhibit features acrylic paintings by SFC graphic design coordinator Jorge Ibáñez.

The illustrations display city life as portrayed in poems by his daughter, Rebeca Ibáñez, who publishes under the pseudonym "Johnny Rocket." Excerpts from her poems accompany each painting.

"What I portrayed was the state the poems put me in," he said. "It's all about the feeling of the city."

He said his daughter's poems inspired him to recreate what he said was one of the most exciting cities in the world - New York City.

Although Rebeca Ibáñez's words were prompted by experiences in Gainesville and Asheville, N.C., she said they can reach anyone, anywhere.

"My poems can be read universally," she said. "I write in such a way that the reader can see their own experiences."

She said she wants to share her inspiration with her readers.

"I want these poems to connect people," she said.

Jayne Grant, SFC's exhibit director, said viewers will enjoy the exhibit's one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

"It's different from anything we've had in a while," Grant said.