New Year starts at the Cummer Museum – 2022

It’s a New Year and time to get out and appreciate some glorious artwork. Don’t miss the happenings at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Although the Cummer collectively faced significant challenges in 2021, they were so happy to connect with you and offer meaningful opportunities throughout the year. Please take a moment to experience Rebecca Louise Law: The Journey one last time before it closes on January 9, 2022. Another slate of exciting exhibitions and programs are on the horizon for 2022. Here’s to a safe, healthy, and artful New Year. They can’t wait to see you.

Events & Programs for January 2022:

Lecture Series with Scott Brown, Ph.D. – Hosted by Cummer Beaches & Sponsored by Diane Jacobsen Ph.D. Jan. 6, The Cummer Gardens: Natural Beauty and Beautiful Cities in the American Landscape from 7 to 8 p.m. Free.

Culture & Conversation: Gordon Yellowman Sponsored by Wells Fargo Jan. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. | Free.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Sponsored by The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free.

Dried Flower Arrangement with Found Objects, With Julie Feldman, ages 18+ Jan. 23 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Members $55, Non-Members $70 | Registration required.

Offsite Experiences: The Works and Life of Vincent Van Gogh; Tribulations and Triumphs Jan. 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. Per lecture $10, For series $25 + Offsite at Story and Song Bookstore Bistro.

Education:

Get Your Learn On: Highlights Tour, Every Tuesday in Januarythrough March from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Free with Admission.

Artful Explorations, Hands on Activities Jan. 9, The Stories of Flowers from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free with Admission.

Look at That! Virtual event Jan. 12, The Sitter; Jan. 26, Not Me from Noon to 1 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Friday Night Draw With William McMahan, ages 16+ Jan. 14, Drawing in the Galleries Jan. 28, Portrait Drawing with Model from 6 to 8 p.m. Members $25, Non-Members $35 Registration required.

Storyteller Mornings With Jacksonville Public Library Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. to Noon, Free | Registration required.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Christmas time 2021 at the Cummer Museum

Do you hear the sound of reindeer on the roof? Well, if you don’t, then you need to know that it’s almost time for the jolly old man to make his presence known. Come to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens as you experience a little holiday cheer.

Events & Programs for December 2021:

Illuminating Nature: Dec. 3, 7, 10, 14, & 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. Free

Pressed Flower Workshop With Cassidy Ramos Dec. 11 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. | Members $45, Non-Members $60.

Look at That! Discover the joys of close looking. Dec. 8, Momentous Movement from Noon to 1 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Friday Night Drawing, with William McMahan: Dec. 10 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. | Members $50, Non-Members $75.

Make & Take Tuesday: Ages 12 to adult: Dec. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. Members $50, Non-Members $60 | Registration required.

Artful Explorations: Activities for all ages: Dec. 12 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Artist Demonstrations, With Allison Watson: Dec. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Cummer Museum celebrates 60 Years in JAX

Despite hurricanes and a pandemic, the "Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens" kicks off its 60th anniversary celebration this Veterans Day weekend with free admission, live music, arts activities and more. Admission is free thanks to support from VyStar Credit Union and PNC Bank.

Since its founding on November 11, 1961, the Museum has served as a dynamic cultural resource bringing the community of Northeast Florida together through the arts, education and its beautiful riverfront gardens. The Cummer Museum’s 60th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration begins on Thursday, November 11 and continues through Sunday, November 14, 2021; the Museum will also offer programming throughout the year in honor of this special occasion.

“For 60 years, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has served as a vital source of inspiration and a place of reflection for our community — a role that has taken on even greater significance during the pandemic,” said Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and CEO of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. “We are excited to celebrate this important moment and welcome everyone to the Museum for a vibrant weekend of art, music and fun.”

Ninah Cummer, the Museum’s namesake, bequeathed her collection of works to create “a center of beauty and culture” for the benefit of all the people of Northeast Florida. Today, the Museum holds over 5,000 works of art in its collection, spanning from 2100 B.C. through the 21st century, and includes 2.5 acres of historic gardens overlooking the St. Johns River. Its robust educational programming provides multigenerational learning through classes, lectures and camps, as well as a series of impactful programs focused on accessibility and inclusivity, including Women of Vision, a unique initiative that brings visual arts to women with blindness or low vision; the Arts4All Festival, an arts festival at the Museum for students with differing abilities living in Northeast Florida; and initiatives like Cummer in the Community, which serves students, staff and families in high priority areas through strategic partnerships with schools and community-based program providers.

The Museum recently launched 60 & 60 in 60, a year-end campaign to welcome 60 new and renewing members to its core membership, and 60 new and renewing donors to the Ponce de León Society (donors who give $1,250 or more per year) by December 31, 2021. This year-end initiative invites the entire community to support ongoing efforts to ensure that the Museum is an inspiring and accessible place for art, beauty and reflection. To join, visit their website.

Over the course of the next year, the Museum will honor its 60th anniversary with a variety of programs and events designed to celebrate its legacy of community impact and signal its future growth.

60th Anniversary Kick-Off Weekend activities will include:

Thurs., Nov. 11 | Veterans Day | Museum Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | FREE. Admission sponsored by VyStar Credit Union.
Let’s Ride Brass Band: Sets every hour at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.; Permanent Collection Highlight Tours: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; “Ninah Cummer’s Museum: On Women and Art in American Society”: A virtual lecture with Scott Brown, Ph.D., Ninah Cummer’s Museum: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
All day: Lawn games in the Gardens; Drop-in papermaking activity; 60th anniversary scavenger hunt.

Fri., Nov. 12 | Museum Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | FREE. Admission sponsored by PNC Bank
Streams of Sound: Playing on the Upper Tier Colonnade from 1 to 4 p.m.; Groov Band: Playing in the Cummer Café from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; Jeremy Prince Jazz Trio: Playing on the Upper Tier Colonnade from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; Permanent Collection Highlight Tours: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Food & Fun: 5 to 8 p.m.; Food station with gourmet hot dogs, homemade gelato and bar in the Upper Tier; Balloon animals; Face painting in the Gardens by Debra Heuskin-Adloff.
All day: Lawn games in the Gardens; Drop-in papermaking activity; 60th anniversary scavenger hunt.

Sat., Nov. 13 | Museum Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | FREE. Let’s Ride Brass Band: Playing sets every hour at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.; Permanent Collection Highlight Tours: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Food & Fun: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Food station with gourmet hot dogs, homemade gelato and bar in the Upper Tier; Face painting in the Gardens with Debra Heuskin-Adloff; Balloon animals.
All day: Lawn games in the Gardens; Drop-in papermaking activity; 60th anniversary scavenger hunt.

Sun., Nov. 14 | Museum Hours: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. | FREE. The Band Be Easy: Playing sets from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., and 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.; Permanent Collection Highlight Tours: 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Food & Fun: 12 to 3 p.m.; Food station with gourmet hot dogs, homemade gelato and bar in the Upper Tier; Face painting in the Gardens with Debra Heuskin-Adloff.
All day: Lawn games in the Gardens; Drop-in papermaking activity; 60th anniversary scavenger hunt.

**All events are rain or shine and moved indoors if inclement weather arises.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Cummer exhibition honors Cheyenne Warrior Artists

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens presents ‟Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists at Fort Marion,” an ongoing exhibition that is on view to the public through February 27, 2022.

Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists at Fort Marion features deeply personal works by three Cheyenne artists who were taken from their homes by the United States government in 1875 and imprisoned at Fort Marion (officially known as the Castillo de San Marcos) in St. Augustine for three years. The humanity of these POW artists inspired their jailor, Richard Pratt, to experiment with assimilating the Plains warriors into quasi-soldiers. The missionary ladies of St. Augustine, including Harriett Beecher Stowe, convinced Pratt to allow them to create an ad hoc school in the fort, laying the foundation for Carlisle and Indian boarding schools.

Also included is a work by Gordon Yellowman, the exhibition’s lead curator and Director of Language and Cultural Programs, Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes — demonstrating a powerful link between past and present-day Cheyenne artists. Together, these 52 drawings offer a window into the hearts and minds of men who were exiled for defending their families, cultures and territories.

‟The significance of this exhibition is a powerful culture’s way of life, based on personal experiences of the exiled warrior artist. Each ledger drawing depicts and captures a Polaroid moment of history,” said Yellowman.

Though considered some of the most valuable Native American art ever created, these drawings have never been exhibited within a Cheyenne world view — until now. Over a period of two years, the Museum’s curatorial team worked with Dr. Eric Singleton, curator at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which holds the esteemed Arthur and Shifra Silberman Collection — the primary source for this exhibition.

‟The Museum is humbled to be able to share this important chapter in our regional and national history with the Northeast Florida community. Working with the project’s curators to bring this exhibition to fruition has been a powerful experience, and I hope our visitors can feel that authenticity when experiencing these works of art,” said Holly Keris, the Museum’s J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Chief Curator. ‟It is easy for history to reimagine the Cheyenne warriors imprisoned at Fort Marion as an anonymous collective. However, they were individuals, with lives, experiences, families and voices, and we are proud to honor their perspectives.”

Veronica Pasfield, Ph.D., Journalist, Independent Curator & Museum Decolonizer, Bay Mills Indian Community Member, provided additional curatorial insight for this exhibition. ‟The Cheyenne artists in this exhibition are among the most celebrated and valued in Native American art,” said Pasfield. ‟These imprisoned artists understood the high communicative value of their drawings. They used a visual language — colors, symbols, composition — to communicate so much about themselves and Cheyenne people. Today's Cheyenne can readily decode what their relatives communicated. Why? Because the very same traditions are still practiced — from warrior Society colorways to protocols for setting up a tipi encampment. It is an honor and privilege to amplify the voice of the Cheyenne people via this exhibition at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.”

About the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: For 60 years, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has been committed to engaging and inspiring through the arts, gardens, and education. A permanent collection of more than 5,000 objects and historic gardens on a riverfront campus offers nearly 150,000 annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Autumn has come to the Cummer this Oct 2021

Yes, it has gotten a little cooler and the Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens is the perfect place to spend the day with family, out of town guests, friends and anyone you’d like to spend some time with. Call today and make your appointment to relax in a socially distant, masked, sanitized, friendly and educational atmosphere. Come to the Cummer!

Events & Programs:
A More Sustainable Life – A virtual panel discussion on ways to live sustainably. October 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Creepin’ it Real Halloween Art Tour – Tuesday, October 26 | Time: drop in 6 - 8pm | Cost: FREE! — This Halloween, experience the Museum as you never have before! Your spooky art experience begins when you pick up your Halloween scavenger hunt clues from the ghost of Ninah Cummer herself! As you put your sleuthing skills to work, you’ll discover Visitor Experience staff throughout the museum dressed as pieces from our collection and ready to deliver all its spine-chilling secrets, along with free trunk-or-treat style prizes! You’d have to be undead to miss it!

The Shop's Autumn Artisan Market in the Cummer Gardens Features exceptional products by women makers and designers. October 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gallery Walk: with the Chief Curator — An inside look at The Journey October 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Members $50, Non-Members $60. Registration required.

Friday Night Picnics — October through December from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Prices and menu items vary.

Education:
Artful Explorations — Drop-in activities for all ages October 10 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Free.

Look at That! — Discover the joys of close looking. October 13 Proper Proportion; October 27, Perceiving Perspective from Noon to 1 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Exploring Color, Acrylic Painting: with Allison Watson — Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360. Registration required.

Basic Drawing: with William McMahan — Oct. 14, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18; Dec. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360. Registration required.

Teachers' Lounge — October 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Pressed Flower Virtual Workshop: with Cassidy Ramos — October 24. 12:30 to 2 p.m. Members $45, Non-Members $60. Registration required.

The Art of Nature” Glamping Dinner Party – Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m.: Where nature meets luxury, and the perfect spot to glamp is the Cummer Gardens! Connect with the outdoors in style during this fancy, bohemian fête amidst the Cummer Oak and historic gardens. Wander and experience a unique culinary feature at every turn, whether in one of our garden tents or charming outdoor lounges. This will be a garden party like no other – a true celebration of glamour entwined with nature! Pricing varies.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Safe Summer at the Cummer Museum and Gardens for August

Check out these thrilling events that only the Cummer could make happen during the pandemic. As the children get ready to return to school, don’t forget the safe haven of the Museum that awaits you this month.

NB: To help ensure our community’s safety, the Museum will admit a reduced number of visitors each day. Please note, walk-up capacity is limited, so it’s strongly recommended you reserve your tickets in advance. Masks are required inside the Museum, when not eating or drinking. In order to prioritize the health of our guests and our staff, and to minimize touch points and onsite capacity, all visitors must reserve a timed ticket for entry. Timed tickets are available Tuesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 4 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Reserve Your Admission Ticket Now!

Rebecca Louise Law in Conversation: Join artist Rebecca Louise Law and Holly Keris (the Cummer’s Chief Curator), as they discuss Law's inspiration, process and recent projects, including the site-specific installation for the Cummer Museum. Tuesday, August 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. Members $10, Non-Members $15. In-person program at the Museum. Registration required | Space is limited.

Free Friday Nights: Now through Sept. 3, 2021 from 4 to 9 p.m. Come take a moment in the beautiful backyard (aka the Cummer Gardens), and enjoy live music, art experiences, lawn games and more. Visitors will be able to purchase food and beverages, including beer, wine, and cocktails. Pre-order a picnic from the Cummer Café and have dinner and dessert ready for pick up when you arrive. Click here to select your picnic date. Presented by PNC Bank. | Free | Registration recommended.

Events & Programs for August 2021:

Workshop: Make a Flower Crown: August 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Members $20, Non-Members $25. Registration required | Drop-in activity.

Meet the Artist: Cassidy Ramos: August 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free with Museum admission.

Behind the Leaves: Sunset Garden Tour: August 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. A docent-led tour of the Cummer Gardens (yummy bubbles included!). Members $15, Non-Members $20. Registration required.

Workshop: BYOB, Build Your Own Bouquet: August 20 from5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Members $30, Non-Members $35. Registration required | Drop-in activity.

Workshop: Cocktail Creation: August 27 from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Enjoy this brief course on cocktail making with edible flowers. Members $40, Non-Members $45. Registration required.

Lecture: Ashley Woodson Bailey: Sept. 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Members $35, Non-Members $45. Registration required.

Education - Virtual Slow Art Talks: August 11, Finding Form August 25, Calculating Color
12 to 1 p.m. Take a fun and mindful break. Free | Registration required.

Friday Night Live Model: Portrait Drawing: August 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Members $60, Non-Members $75. Registration required.

Art Connection Activity Saturday: August 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop in for a fun activity. Free with Museum admission.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity: August 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. Rebecca Louise Law: The Journey. Free with Museum admission.

Make & Take Tuesday: Nature Watercolors: August 17. Explore The Journey as inspiration. Members $45, Non-Members $60. Registration required.

Drawing Workshop: with William McMahan: August 28 and 29 from Noon to 4 p.m. (each day). Focus on Hands and Feet. Members $125, Non-Members $155. Registration required.

Cummer Shop: Visit them at the Museum, or from the comfort of your home through their online shop.
Spotlight on Rebecca Louise Law with her book Life in Death. This breathtaking publication is the most comprehensive collection to date of Law’s work. It documents the evolution of her unique artistic practice, and explains why she chose to use preserved flowers as sculptural material. It offers a journey through Law’s earliest experiments to her best-known immersive installations.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

The Cummer Museum and Gardens are awaiting your return

It may be hot outside but inside the Cummer Museum and outside in the cool luscious Gardens near the St. John’s River it’s cool, inviting and just lovely. Grab a friend, relative or come by yourself and enjoy what’s in store for you this month at the museum.

Events & Programs for June 2021:

Yoga in the historic gardens: Thursday, June 10 starting at 10 a.m. Enjoy a Mindful Yoga hour in the historic gardens. Members $10, Non-Members $15 | Registration required.

Queer: Exploring art and artists in the Museum's collection: Tuesday, June 15  & Saturday, June 19. Explore various works, along with themes of LGBT+ initiatives, with one of our Visitor Experience Associates. Free | Registration required.

Donte Palmer, Founder of Squat for Change: Thursday, June 17 starting at 7 p.m. (Virtual lecture) Free | Registration required. Sponsored by Northern Trust.

Zanele Muholi in Conversation: Friday, June 18 starting at 2 p.m. (Virtual program) Free | Registration required.

Friday Night Picnics: Friday Nights in June from 5 to 9 p.m. Prices vary | Registration required.

EDUCATION: Slow Art Wednesdays: Virtual Talks. Wednesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 23 starting at 12 p.m. Take a fun and mindful break. Topics vary; second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Free | Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour: Friday, June 18 starting at 6 p.m. Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity: Sunday, June 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists Free with Museum admission.

GARDEN CONCERT:
Two options for a socially distanced experience. Attend one or both! Saturday, June 26
First concert: 4:30 p.m. Doors open. 5 to 5:30 p.m. “Let’s Ride Brass Band”. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. “The Groove Coalition”. Prices vary | Registration required.

Second concert: 7 p.m. Doors Open 7:30 to 8 p.m. “Let’s Ride Brass Band”. 8 to 9 p.m. “The Groove Coalition”. Sponsored by Joan & Jim Van Vleck.

New Exhibition: Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists at Fort Marion. Now on view. In 1875, following the Red River War, the United States government ordered the arrest of 72 Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Caddo, and Arapaho warriors. Taken from their families, they arrived at Ft. Marion in St. Augustine, their home for the next three years. For nearly 100 years, this narrative was told and retold by historians and government agents.  However, the Cheyenne have their own story to tell: a story highlighting the journey east, as well as the life they left behind. A story told in art. Click here to learn more.

Cummer Shop: Visit the Museum store in person, or from the comfort of home through their online shop.

Recommended Reading! One of the museum’s new favorites - Art from Fort Marion: The Silberman Collection. Striking color images depict traditional lifeways and the pain of imprisonment by artists who graphically recorded their responses to incarceration in drawings that conveyed both their present reality and their nostalgic memories.

In order to prioritize the health of our guests and our staff, and to minimize touch points and onsite capacity, all visitors must reserve a timed ticket for entry. Timed tickets are available Tuesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 4 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. RESERVE YOUR ADMISSION TICKET NOW Facial Masks are strongly recommended!

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Don’t miss ‘They/Them/Their’ (Zanele Muholi) at The Cummer Museum

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is proud to present “Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail The Dark Lioness”, an internationally touring exhibition organized by Autograph, London and curated by Renée Mussai. These magnificent self-portraits were taken throughout the US, and all over the world, as you will note next to each photograph.

The exhibit was brought to Jacksonville, FL due to a redirection caused by the COIVD pandemic. There has not been a more controversial display of blackness since the Augusta Savage showings from Oct. 12, 2018 to Sun., Apr. 7, 2019. The Museum will be the final venue for this exhibition in the United States.

In more than 72 self-portraits and wallpapers, celebrated visual activist Zanele Muholi (South African, b. 1972) uses “their” body as a canvas to confront the deeply personal politics of race and representation in the visual archive. “Their” ongoing series Somnyama Ngonyama, which translates to ‘Hail The Dark Lioness’ from isiZulu, one of the official languages of South Africa, playfully employs the conventions of classical painting, fashion photography and the familiar tropes of ethnographic imagery to rearticulate contemporary identity politics. Each black and white self-portrait asks critical questions about social (in)justice, human rights and contested representations of the Black body.

Muholi states, “I’m reclaiming my blackness, which I feel is continuously performed by the privileged other. My reality is that I do not mimic being Black; it is my skin, and the experience of being Black is deeply entrenched in me. Just like our ancestors, we live as Black people 365 days a year, and we should speak without fear.”

Throughout the series, the dark complexion of Muholi’s skin (intensified through enhanced contrast applied in post-production) becomes the focal point of a profound, multilayered interrogation of beauty, pride, desire, self-care, well-being and the many interlinked phobias and isms navigated daily such as homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, racism and sexism, to name but a few.

“Zanele Muholi’s visually arresting self-portraits compel viewers to consider timely topics such as contrast, dignity, solidarity, difference, history and activism in meaningful ways,” said Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., the Museum’s George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer. “Each one invites deep looking and, ultimately, encourages viewers to ask themselves critical questions about empathy, courage and the power of each and every voice.”

The exhibition features photographs taken between 2012 - 2019 in cities across Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. Muholi's socially-engaged, radical brand of self-portraiture transforms found objects and quotidian materials into dramatic and historically loaded props, merging the political with the personal, aesthetics with history — often commenting on specific events in South Africa’s past, as well as urgent global concerns pertinent to our present times: scouring pads and latex gloves address themes of domestic servitude while alluding to sexual politics, cultural violence and the often-suffocating prisms of gendered identities. Rubber tires, cable ties or electrical cords invoke forms of social brutality and exploitation; sheets of plastic and polythene draw attention to environmental issues and global waste, while accessories like cowrie shells and beaded fly whisks highlight Western fascinations with clichéd, exoticized representations of African cultures and people.

Gazing defiantly at the camera, Muholi challenges viewers’ perceptions while firmly asserting their cultural and sexual identity on their own terms. When you gaze upon each photo, see what is in plain sight and what might be buried in your own observations. This writer saw a surprising resemblance of Zanele Muholi to songstress Nina Simone.

About Zanele Muholi: Zanele Muholi is a visual activist and photographer based in Johannesburg. Muholi’s self- proclaimed mission is “to re-write a Black queer and trans visual history of South Africa for the world to know of our resistance and existence at the height of hate crimes in South Africa and beyond.”

“They” (Muholi’s preferred pronoun) co-founded the Forum for Empowerment of Women (FEW) in 2002 (www.inkanyiso.org), and in 2009 founded Inkanyiso (www.inkanyiso.org), a forum for queer and visual (activist) media. They continue to train and co-facilitate photography workshops for young women in South African townships, and engage in a variety of community supported programs.

“Zanele Muholi”: Somnyama Ngonyama,
    Hail The Dark Lioness

DATES: April 15 – June 20, 2021

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens is ready for April

Spring is finally in the air and it’s time to go to the Cummer for a safe cultural experience. This month the museum will present exciting inhouse activities and some educational informative online events. Get your tickets and get in on the action.

Events & Programs:
Yoga in the Cummer Gardens: Thursday, April 8 @10 a.m. Enjoy a gentle, mindful yoga hour.
Members $10 | Non-Members $15. Registration required.

LiterARTure: Holocaust Remembrance, Stolen Yet Found: Wednesday, April 21 @
7 p.m. | Virtual Lecture - LiterARTure is both a virtual book and art club. Cindy Edelman, art lecturer, and Stacey Goldring, author, offer prescriptive solace and refuge within the pages of books and painted artworks. Free | Registration required.

Mobile Photography Studio in the Gardens: Saturday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Inspired by Zanele Muholi’s mobile studio concept, participants can use Museum-provided polaroid cameras to create their own self-portrait. Free | Registration required.

Culture & Conversation: with Kimberly Jenkins: Thursday, April 29 @7 p.m. | Virtual Lecture. Lecturer, researcher and fashion consultant who specializes in the sociocultural and historical influences behind why we wear what we wear. Free | Registration required.

Friday Night Picnics: Friday nights in April from 5 to 9 p.m. Prices vary | Registration required.

Education:
Acrylic Painting: with Allison Watson - April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12 Six week class | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Members $270 | Non-Members $360. Registration required.

Basic Drawing: with William McMahan: April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13. Six-week class | 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270 | Non-Members $360. Registration required.

Slow Art Wednesdays: Wednesday, April 14 & Wednesday, April 28. Take a fun and mindful break. Second and Fourth Wednesdays. Topics vary | Virtual Lectures from 12 to 1 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Make & Take Tuesday: Tuesday, April 13. Clay: Explore the fluidity of creating with clay.  Tuesday, April 20. Print: Sketch an original idea and create a printing plate. In the studio | Ages 12 and up from 5 to 7 p.m. Members $45 | Non-Members $60. Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour: Friday, April 16 @6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity: Sunday, April 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Free with admission.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators: Tuesday, April 27 @5 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Summer Art Camp: Calling all young artists! Check online for details.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

The Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens is open

The weather is getting nice and it’s time to enjoy some culture in a safe atmosphere right here in Jacksonville, Florida. Contact the Cummer for your admission tickets. It’s an investment well spent.

Events & Programs for March 2021:

Virtual Job Fair: The Cummer Museum provides career opportunities to enrich and develop your love of the arts, while contributing to our mission of engaging and inspiring our community. Meet them on March 18th, 2021 between 4 and 6 p.m. Click HERE for more information.

Behind the Leaves: Garden Tour – Saturday, March 20 @10 a.m. Enjoy an enlightening stroll in the gardens with a Museum Docent. Members $10, Non-Members $15 | Registration required. Sponsored by Joan and Jim Van Vleck.

LiterARTure: Comfortably Mysterious – Tuesday, March 23 @7 p.m. LiterARTure is both a virtual book and art club. Cindy Edelman, art lecturer, and Stacey Goldring, author, offer prescriptive solace and refuge within the pages of books and painted artworks. Free | Registration required.

Checkmate at the Cummer: A Chess Tournament – Saturday, March 27 @12 p.m.
The Museum has partnered with Chess for Charity in hosting a rated chess tournament in the Cummer Gardens. Check online for details. Registration required.

Friday Night Picnics – Friday nights in March from5 to 9 p.m. Prices vary | Registration required.

Education:
Slow Art Wednesday – Take a fun and mindful break on Wednesday, March 10 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour - Friday, March 19 @6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity - Sunday, March 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Slow Art Wednesday: Take a fun and mindful break - Wednesday, March 24 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators - Tuesday, March 30 @5 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Virtual School Tours: Check online for details. Sponsored by Community First Credit Union.

Get Ready for Spring:
Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail The Dark Lioness.
April 15 through June 6, 2021

"It's what comes from within that is beautiful."
Zanele Muholi – An internationally touring exhibition organized by Autograph, London and curated by Renée Mussai. The Cummer Museum is the final venue for this internationally touring exhibition featuring art by one of the most acclaimed and celebrated photographers working today. In more than 80 self-portraits, celebrated South African visual activist Zanele Muholi uses their body as a canvas to confront the deeply personal politics of race and representation in the visual archive. Each black and white self-portrait asks critical questions about social (in)justice, human rights, and contested representations of the Black body. Exhibition-related programming will be announced soon. © Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of Stevenson, Cape Town/Johannesburg and Yancey Richardson, New York.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida. The Cummer was established in 1958, when art collector, garden enthusiast, and civic leader Ninah Cummer bequeathed her art collection and riverfront home to create a museum. Today, the core collection of 60 pieces from Mrs. Cummer's estate has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art. The historic gardens, set against the backdrop of the St. Johns River, serve as a centerpiece of beauty for all to enjoy.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Cummer Museum safely functions during January 2021

The Museum, in partnership with The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, is curating a retrospective exhibition to celebrate the “30th Anniversary of the Art Ventures Fund”. Thirty artists have been selected to include one work — one for each year of Art Ventures grantmaking. Art Ventures is an endowed fund at The Community Foundation, launched in 1990 through a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts that was matched by generous local donors. The fund makes grants annually to individual artists and small arts organizations so recipients can explore or refine the next level of their craft, with more than $1.4 million invested since its inception.

Upcoming Events & Programs:

Culture and Conversation: The Invincible Garden Ladies, a virtual lecture with Abra Lee, renowned horticulturist and founder of Conquer the Soil and BIPOC Working Hort Group Thursday, Jan. 14 @ 7 p.m. Free | Registration required. Sponsored by Joan and Jim Van Vleck.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Virtual and In-Person Experiences Monday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free | Registration required. Sponsored by The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida's Presidential Grants Program.

Virtual Lecture with guest curator, Susan Gallo, on the Museum's, Eugène-Louis Charvot, highlighting the artist's works in our collection Thursday, Jan. 21 @7 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Art Ventures Programming: In partnership with The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, the Museum is hosting special programming with Art Ventures grant recipients on select Free Friday nights. Visitors will enjoy poetry readings, spoken word, musical performances, and more. Friday, Jan. 15 Tiffany Melanson | Mal Jones Friday, Jan. 29 Rebecca Levy | Hurley Winkler 5 to 8 p.m. | Free Admission registration required.

Hiromi Moneyhun, Bonsai, papercut. Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Exhibition Education Slow Art Wednesdays: Take a fun and mindful break Wednesday, Jan. 13 & Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Acrylic Painting for beginner/intermediate levels with artist Allison Watson: Six-week, in-studio classes Jan. 13, 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17  from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360, Registration required.

Basic Drawing for beginner/intermediate levels with artist William McMahan: Six-week, in-studio classes; Jan. 14, 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360. Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour: Topic: Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Friday, Jan. 15 @6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Museum Friends: Play-filled activities for art lovers ages 3-5: Multi-week, virtual class for a child and favorite adult. Topic: Laugh Lines Jan. 16, 23, 30 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Members $60 per pair. Non-Members $75 per pair Registration required.

Artist Expressions: Drawing, painting and more for art lovers ages 6-12 Multi-week, virtual class. Topic: Come Take a Ride in My Time Machine, Jan. 16, 23, 30 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Members $75, Non-Members $90 Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity: Topic: Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Sunday, Jan. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators Tuesday, Jan. 26 @5 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Virtual School Tours: Check online for details, Sponsored by Community First Credit Union.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

The Cummer Museum is ready to entertain you

Here are a few ideas to bring your family and friends to this month. Give them a call and make your reservation today. Make plans to have a Merry Christmas this year. 

Illuminating Nature | December 11, 15, 18 | 5 to 9 p.m. + Admission to the Museum and Gardens is FREE on Tuesday and Friday nights and includes this event. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Register Here. Play witness to the transformative power of light and color in the Cummer Gardens during this unique opportunity to view a familiar landscape in a whole new light!

After the sun goes down, come experience an installation of glowing fabric sculptures throughout the Cummer Gardens. Make an evening with them by dining in the Café (reservations are suggested), enjoying live music, and cozying up with a beverage from the garden bar.

Winter Art Camp (Virtual!) December 28, 29, 30 - During this online winter camp, young artists will explore the Museum to experience different perspectives and mediums across cultures, times, and locations and create their own unique artworks.
Ages 6 to 8 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Ages 9 to 12 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Register Here. Members | $25 per class; Non-Members | $30 per class. + Registration fee includes art kit to complete art-making activities during each class and a complimentary family admission pass.

Shop the Season – Shop Online: Just in time for the Holidays! Gifts from the Cummer Shop support our mission, and we know you will find unique finds they will adore. Free ground shipping on orders over $50. Offer expires Dec. 17. Use your member discount code, Member10, at checkout and save 10% off all purchases.

Meal Delivery

Let Chef's Garden cook for you! The Cummer Café is adapting to be more socially responsible in finding ways to best serve you, their valued community. Chef’s Garden, the Café’s catering team, is taking even more precautions to ensure they are working to the highest levels of health and safety standards. Chef’s Garden’s Meal Delivery Program offers socially responsible dining options with ready to eat meals for your family dinners. Available for same-day delivery when purchased before 12 p.m.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Cummer Museum and Gardens December safe events

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is a wonderfully safe and interesting place to bring your entire family. It’s time to mask up and come out of the house while social distancing and keeping your hands to yourself (they do offer hand sanitizer too). Feel free to give the museum a call and schedule your time at the museum first thing today.

Events, Programs, Art Virtual Lecture with Jim Draper: Radical Naturalism: Bringing Heade's Environmental Realism into the 21st Century: Tuesday, Dec. 1 7 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Illuminating Nature Preview: Thursday, Dec. 3 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pricing varies | Registration required.

Illuminating Nature in the Gardens: Dec. 4, 8, 11, 15, 18 5 to 9 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Private Onsite or Virtual Exhibition Tour for 10 Guests: Booking by request; call (904)-899-6023.

Petal Pub & Parks: Private Tour for 15 Guests: Booking by request; call(904) 899-6023.

Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Exhibition: Jan. 13 through Feb. 21, 2021 Presented in conjunction with The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Art Ventures will highlight artists with ties to our community who have received Art Ventures grants throughout the program’s 30-year history.

Education International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Monday, Dec. 1 Check online for details.

Art Experiences: Nature's Textures: Dec. 2, 9, 16 1 to 4 p.m. Ages 18+ | Three-week class
Members $135 | Non-Members $180.

Virtual Family Exploration: Antiquities: Friday, Dec. 18 6 to 7 p.m. Interactive, family-friendly virtual tour. Free | Registration required.

Family Open Studio: Antiquities Sunday, Dec. 20 2 to 4 p.m. Drop-in art making activity for all ages. Free with admission.

Virtual Art Camp - Winter 2020: Dec. 28, 29, 30 Half-day camp with daily themes. Prices vary | Scholarships available. Registration required. Check online for details.

Virtual School Tours: Guided virtual tours for students. Check online for details.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is FREE on Veterans Day

Today, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens announced it will celebrate Veterans Day with free admission for all guests on Wednesday, November 11, presented by VyStar Credit Union.

The Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy full access to the Museum’s permanent collection, gardens and signature exhibition, Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church and Our Contemporary Moment. The Cummer Café will be open through 3 p.m.

“We are grateful to VyStar Credit Union for providing access to our community to experience all the benefits the Museum provides,” said Kerrie Slattery, Interim Director and Chief Advancement Officer of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. “We hope that our neighbors come take a moment, reflect on the sacrifices of our military community and express their appreciation for the service they provide.

“Since our founding in 1952 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, VyStar has shared a deep connection with our servicemen and servicewomen,” said Brian Wolfburg, President/CEO of VyStar Credit Union. “We are honored to once again partner with the Cummer Museum to show our appreciation, and there is no better time to do so than Veterans Day. We hope these men and women and their families can come together to enjoy a wonderful day at a true local landmark and know that we are thankful for their service.”

To minimize touch points and monitor onsite capacity, all visitors must reserve tickets online in advance of their visit.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission