The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is proud to announce the full reopening
of its historic gardens, which sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Irma
in 2017. The $1.3 million reconstruction
of the lower tier of the Museum’s historically significant English, Italian and
Olmsted Gardens started in January 2019. The project was completed in June 2019. Historic records from the Cummer family
archives, including plant logs, photographs and invoices, were incorporated
into the reconstruction plans to preserve the original intent and historic
character of the riverfront gardens, which were added to the National Register
of Historic Places in 2010.
“The Cummer Gardens are among the most precious works of art in our
permanent collection. We have been tirelessly working to restore the gardens
for the community to enjoy, and welcome the community to celebrate this
milestone with us all summer — especially during free access opportunities like
Florida Blue Free Tuesdays, Weaver First Saturday Free for All and Summer
Fridays, presented by PNC Bank,” said Adam Levine, Ph.D., the Museum’s
George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & Chief Executive Officer.
Hurricane Irma swept through Jacksonville on September 11,
2017. As a result of the storm and
subsequent flooding of the St. Johns River, the lower tier of all three formal
garden spaces are believed to have been submerged in as much as four feet of
water for more than 24 hours. The water
uprooted plants, detached the railing along the river, contaminated the soil
and damaged the physical infrastructure of the gardens, including drainage,
electric, fencing and the well that services the landscape.
In January 2018, the Museum announced the selection of WLA Studio, an
award-winning landscape architecture and planning firm based in Athens, Ga., to
lead the garden reconstruction. The firm’s experience in both historic
landscape preservation and environmental design was critical to the Museum’s
goal of preserving the atmospheric intent of the original gardens, while making
necessary adjustments to reflect modern-day climate and soil conditions. A comprehensive project team managed by Danis
worked alongside WLA Studio.
Funds for the reconstruction came from grants and private donations from
several benefactors, including the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH),
the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), the State of
Florida, the Garden Conservancy and the Garden Club of America’s Restoration
Initiative.
“We are grateful to those organizations and individuals who committed
support to bringing the Cummer’s gardens back to their former glory, and
ensuring this institution remains a place for art and beauty for all of
Jacksonville,” said Levine.
Through the Summer Fridays Program, sponsored by PNC Bank,
admission to the gardens (along with the Museum’s permanent collection) is free
from 4 - 9 p.m. tonight and every Friday through September 6, rain or shine. Tonight’s theme is “Sunshine State: Flora,
Fauna, and Festivities.” Activities will include:
• Silent disco on the front lawn
• Live music by The New Moon Ramblers
• Lawn games
• Succulent workshop
• Food available for purchase from the Cummer Café and Saffron Mediterranean
Kitchen Food Truck
• Beverages available for purchase at pop-up bars throughout the campus.
It’s Springtime, but it still may feel like Autumn (not cold enough to call it
Winter, nonetheless, you will be comfortable as the guest in or outside of the
Cummer Museum this month. There is so
much going on and you and your family will have a lot to do. Get your calendar and list the activities that
interest you.
Florida Blue Free Tuesday - Each
Tuesday Evening from 4 to 9 p.m. | Free | No registration required. Every Tuesday, enjoy free admission to the
Cummer Museum and its historic gardens, thanks to the generous support of
Florida Blue. Guests can enjoy free
admission to the galleries. Each Tuesday evening, the Cummer Café is also open
for Tapas Tuesday sponsored by Vystar Credit Union.
Tapas Tuesday - Each Tues. Evening from
5 to 8 p.m. | The Cummer Café | Reservations recommended. Take in the sunset while listening to local musicians with
beer, wine, or artfully inspired tapas for sale at the Café. Reserve your table
by calling 904.899.6022.
The Harlem Renaissance: Lecture & Book Signing with Wil
Haygood - Tues., Apr 2 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. | Members $30, Non-Members $40 |
Registration required.
Schedule of evening:
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Lecture and Q&A
7:30 to 8 p.m. - Book Signing
Weaver First Saturday Free For All - Sat.,
Apr. 6 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free | No registration required. The first Saturday of each month at the
Cummer Museum is FREE FOR ALL, thanks to the generous support of J. Wayne and
Delores Barr Weaver. Guests can enjoy free admission, as well as art-making
activities for all ages in the Cummer Gardens, live music, and a Docent-led
tour at 2 p.m. For further information,
please call 904.899.6038.
Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman Closing Celebration -
Sat, Apr 6 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free | No registration required (with the
exception of lectures). Join the museum
for a free, family-friendly, closing celebration for Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman with live music, a lecture and
book signing with New York Times bestselling Author Vashti Harrison, with an
original spoken word performance directed by Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams. Dr.
Jeffreen Hayes, the Curator of Augusta
Savage: Renaissance Woman, will be at the Museum during the closing
celebration for one last look before the exhibition leaves for its next venue. For further information, please call
904.899.6038.
Little Leaders: Bold Women In Black
History - A Lecture And Book Signing With Vashti Harrison - Sat., Apr. 6 |
11 a.m. to Noon OR 2 to 3 p.m. | Free | Registration required. Vashti Harrison will host a free lecture and
book signing for her “New York Times” bestselling children’s book “Little
Leaders: Bold Women in Black History”. Based
on her popular Instagram posts from Black History Month 2017, the book features
40 biographies of African-American women who helped shape history, including
Augusta Savage. A collection of
Harrison’s illustrations from the book are currently on display in the Bank of
America Concourse at the Museum. The
lecture will be held in the Hixon Auditorium, followed by the book signing in
the Cummer Museum Lobby. Books are
available for purchase from the Cummer Shop. For further information, please call
904.899.6038.
Bank Of America And Merrill Lynch
Museums On Us - Sun., Apr. 7 | Noon to 4 p.m. | Free to Cardholders | No
registration required. The Cummer Museum
of Art & Gardens offers free admission on the first Sunday of the first
full weekend of the month to all Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholders
through the Museums on Us program. Each cardholder
receives one free general admission to the Museum. For further information,
please call 904.899.6038.
Free Tuesday: Experience The Crime Of
Art - Tues., Apr. 9 | 4 to 9 p.m. | Free | No registration required. Enjoy themed items in the Café and visit the
Cummer Shop to find gifts for your favorite partner in crime.
6 p.m. - Take a family-friendly
interactive tour of Kota Ezawa: The Crime
of Art through fun activities that incorporate close observation and group
conversation. The tour will start at the
entrance of the exhibition.
7 p.m. – Our evening guided tour
will be on Kota Ezawa: The Crime of Art.
The tour will start at the entrance of the exhibition.
Family Tour - Kota Ezawa: The Crime Of Art - Tues., Apr. 9 | 6 p.m. | Free |
No registration required. Since crime
does not pay, we are hosting a Night of Crime Evening on our Free Tuesday! Enjoy themed items in the Café and visit the
Cummer Shop to find gifts for your favorite partner in crime. At 6 p.m., take a family-friendly interactive
tour of Kota Ezawa: The Crime of Art
through fun activities that incorporate close observation and group
conversation. The tour will start at the entrance of the exhibition.
Captivating Caper: A Mystery Dinner
Party - Thurs., Apr. 11 | 6 to 9 p.m. | Registration required.
Single Dinner:
VIP | $250
General | Members $150, Non-Members $175
Young Professionals (40 and under) | Members $100, Non-Members $125
Captivating Caper/Soirée Bohème Bundle:
VIP | $450
General | Members $275, Non-Members $325
Young Professionals (40 and under) | Members $185, Non-Members $235
Take a step into a world of intrigue while experiencing Kota Ezawa: The Crime of Art. Whether you come dressed as a dapper detective
or a busy burglar, this festive fête is sure to delight. There will be thrilling melodies and eats, and
a tantalizing case to solve. Hats, monocles, and (non-smoking!) pipes
encouraged. An evening filled with so
much fun it’s almost criminal! For
further information or to register, please call 904.899.6038.
Art Fundamentals: Acrylic Painting - Wed.,
Apr. 17 through May 29 (except May 1) | 1 to 4:30 p.m. | Members $180,
Non-Members $210 | Registration required.
Ages 18 and up. Instructor
Allison Watson introduces painting to beginning students and strengthens the
skills of intermediate painters. Learn composition for landscape and still
life, color theory, and techniques in acrylic. Participants may sign up for multiple
sessions. Supplies are not included. For further information, please email or
call 904.355.0630.
Talks & Tea: Permanent Collection - Wed.,
Apr. 17 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Members Free, Non-Members $10 | Registration
required. You are invited to the Museum
to enjoy an insightful talk on works of art from our permanent collection over
a cup of tea and a sweet treat. For
further information or to register, please call 904.899.6038.
Art Adventures: Printmaking - Sat.,
Apr. 20 | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Members $10, Non-Members $15 |
Registration required. Ages 6 through 12. Join the museum on the third Saturday of each
month for studio classes. In this class
students will explore the art of printmaking and how it can be utilized to
create multiple, identical works of art. Students will view diverse examples in the
galleries and employ printmaking techniques in the studio. Class size is limited. For further information, please email or call
904.355.0630.
Family Open Studio: Spring Has Sprung - Sun.,
Apr. 21 | 1 to 3 p.m. | Free with admission | No registration required. Free art-making activity in the Art
Connections studios for all ages! Visitors
will create cards inspired by spring using a variety of different mediums. For further information, please email
or call 904.355.0630.
Art For Tots: Spring In The Garden - Sat.,
Apr. 27 | 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Members $10 per pair, Non-Members $15 per pair |
Registration required. Ages 2 & 3
with an adult. Join the Cummer for this
monthly program that helps develop a child’s sensory and motor skills through
art, movement, music, and storytelling. In
this class children will explore the gardens and look at the different shapes
and colors in the natural world. In the studio, children will use nature to
create unique pictures. Entry is through
Art Connections. Class size is limited. For further information, please email or
call 904.355.0630.
Cummer Museum of
Art & Gardens
829
Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours
of Operation & Admission
(Updated: November 28, 2018)
It’s
the season of giving and the Cummer Museum wants to Give you the opportunity to
share fine art with the ones you love.
It’s time to appreciate the fine arts.
Take a look at what’s scheduled for December and plan a day, evening or
the entire weekend at the Cummer. It’s
an experience that you’ll be glad that you did!
Florida Blue Free Tuesday - Each
Tuesday Evening (Except December 25) from 4 to 9 p.m. | Free | No registration
required. Every Tuesday, enjoy free
admission to the Cummer Museum and its historic Gardens, thanks to the generous
support of Florida Blue. Guests can enjoy free admission to the Galleries. Each
Tuesday evening, the Cummer Café is open for Tapas Tuesday sponsored by VyStar
Credit Union.
Tapas Tuesday - Tap into Tapas
Tuesday sponsored by VyStar Credit Union at the Cummer Café. Reservations recommended! Every Tuesday (Except December 25) from 5 to
8 p.m. on the Cummer Café patio, take in the sunset while listening to local
musicians with beer, wine, or artfully inspired tapas for sale at the Café. Reserve your table by calling 904.899.6022.
Weaver First Saturday Free for All - Sat., Dec.1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free | No registration
required. The first Saturday of each
month at the Cummer Museum is FREE FOR ALL, thanks to the generous support of
J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver. Guests can enjoy free admission, as well as
art-making activities for all ages in the Cummer Gardens, live music, and a
Docent-led tour at 2 p.m. For further information, please call 904.899.6038.
Bank Of America
And Merrill Lynch Museums On Us - Sun, Dec 2 |
Noon to 4 p.m. | Free to cardholders | No registration required. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens offers
free admission on the first Sunday of the first full weekend of the month to
all Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholders through the Museums On Us
program. Each cardholder receives one free general admission to the Museum. For
further information, please call 904.899.6038.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Tues., Dec 4 | 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Free | No
registration required. The Museum will
be celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities with an open
studio event and exhibition of works by Women of Vision. Visitors will learn about the Education Team’s
efforts to make art accessible to all through a studio experience using
adaptive art materials. Visitors will
also be able to view works of art created by Women of Vision, a monthly arts
program that empowers women with low vision or blindness to create original
works of art and writing.
Artists & World War I: The Aftermath - Thu, Dec 6 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. |
Members Free, Non-Members $10 | Registration required. World War I was the first truly mechanized
global war and it changed everything, including art. This four-part series examines how artists
captured the Great War and the post-war world, creating the path for Modern Art
that would send shock waves across the cultural landscape. Artists took stock of what the War had been
for and what was left afterwards. The
Germans had been the cultural hot house for Modern Art before the war, and now
Otto Dix, George Grosz, Ernst Kirchner, and Kathe Kollwitz would turn their
disillusion into searing statements of pain and grief. Georges Braque, Fernand Leger, and Andre
Masson had endured the trenches, bore their scars, and turned towards Cubism
and Surrealism in part to escape their memories. Art was torn from its traditional structure
and faced a brave new world with Modern Art. Join Museum staff to discover Artists &
World War I: The Aftermath including time in the galleries. Space is limited. For further information,
please email
or call 904.355.0630.
Champagne & Shopping - Thu and
Fri, Dec 6 and 7 | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Free | No registration required. Additional 20% discount for all. Enjoy complimentary champagne and appetizers,
while shopping special artisan merchandise brought in just for this two-day
event.
Trunk Show Offerings:
Alynn®: Conversational neckties and
accessories
Betsey Drake Interiors: Outdoor Home
Accessories
Italianissimo: Very Italian modern
design jewelry
KJK Jewelry: Distinctive
museum-inspired jewelry
Melissa & Doug: Toys to ignite
the imagination
Music Gifts Company: Music gifts for
all ages
Uncommon Artwear: For the uncommon
woman
...and much, much more!
Talks & Tea: Lost In Paradise - Wed,
Dec 12 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Members Free, Non-Members $10 | Registration
required. You are invited to the Museum
to enjoy an insightful talk on the Museum’s sculpture garden exhibition, Carlos Rolón: Lost in Paradise, led by guest
curator Aaron Levi Garvey over a cup of tea and a sweet treat. For further information or to register, please
call 904.899.6023.
Art For Tots: How Can We Get There? Thu, Dec 13 | 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | $10
per pair | Registration required. Ages
24 through 36 months with an adult. This
class will view Nightfall at the Hangar
by Philip Evergood and will discuss how people get from one place to another.
In the studio children will create their own artwork inspired by
transportation. Art for Tots is funded
through the generosity of the Chartrand Family Foundation. Entry is through Art Connections. Class size
is limited. For further information,
please email
or call 904.355.0630.
Art For Tots: How Can We Get There? - Sat,
Dec 15 | 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | $10 per pair | Registration required. Ages 24 through 36 months with an adult. This class will view Nightfall at the Hangar by Philip Evergood and will discuss how
people get from one place to another. In the studio children will create their
own artwork inspired by transportation. Art for Tots is funded through the
generosity of the Chartrand Family Foundation. Entry is through Art
Connections. Class size is limited. For further information, please email or
call 904.355.0630.
Art Adventures: Families In Art! - Sat,
Dec 15 | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Members $10, Non-Members $15 | Registration
required. Ages 6 through 12. Join us on the third Saturday of each month
for studio classes. In this class students will explore works from the
permanent collection representing various types of families. Then in the studio
they will create works of art depicting their own ideas of the significance of
family. Projects will be completed within one class period. Class size is
limited. For further information, please email or
call 904.355.0630.
Museum Closed - Mon and Tue, Dec 24
and 25. The Museum will be closed in
observance of Christmas.
Museum Closed - Mon and Tue, Dec 31
and Jan 1. The Museum will be closed in
celebration of the New Year.
For more than 50 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
The front landscape of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens welcomes Lost in Paradise, an exhibition by artist Carlos
Rolon. The exhibition features
sculptures that weave together nature and humankind found in both Florida and
Puerto Rico and will be on display from November
3, 2018 to October 20, 2019. Park
across the street and view the collection before you enter the building.
In September 2017 two catastrophic hurricanes (Irma
and Maria) made landfall in Florida and Puerto Rico, leaving a trail of
devastation in their wakes, and linked Jacksonville and Puerto Rico together
again in their relief efforts beyond the Jones Act. In Jacksonville, the Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens sits on the St. Johns River. The Museum was not spared from hurricane
Irma’s storm surge, and the Cummer Gardens were left heavily damaged. Within the same week, Puerto Rico was hit
head-on by hurricane Maria, leaving the entire island without power, supplies,
or infrastructure.
Rolón’s new works draw inspirations from the architecture and natural
landscapes that both Florida and Puerto Rico share. In Lost in
Paradise, Rolón seeks to bring attention to nature’s unbridled ability to
change its own landscape, but also humankind’s ability to overcome catastrophe
and rebuild stronger than ever. Rolon’s “losa isleño” (island tile) pieces
break from the traditional repetitive decorative design, departing from the
typical rug or carpet style layouts to create new sculptural paintings that
reference homes in Puerto Rico. Looking to his mirrored mosaic floral works,
the artist has created indestructible plant life in an effort to memorialize
and create monuments to the native plants of Florida and Puerto Rico.
Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation & Admission
 |
| Artist: Carlos Rolon |
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens welcomes Lost in Paradise, an
exhibition by artist Carlos Rolon and curated by Guest Curator Aaron Levi
Garvey, to the Museum from November 3,
2018 to October 20, 2019. The
exhibition features sculptures that weave together nature and humankind found
in both Florida and Puerto Rico.
The parallel histories of Florida and Puerto Rico have been hand in hand since
the first landings of the same Spanish explorer: Juan Ponce de León. De León, on a quest for
gold in Puerto Rico and searching for the Fountain of Youth in Florida, had no
idea that in a few hundred years his landings would have a direct impact on
life as we know it. The Jones Act of
1920, a Merchant Marine Act, entangled Florida and Puerto Rico further,
allowing for nearly 90 percent of all goods that move to and from Puerto Rico
to be passed through Jacksonville’s port. More recently, the Jones Act has come back
into headlines during relief efforts after hurricanes Irma and Maria made
landfall in Florida and Puerto Rico within a week of each other.
Rolón’s Lost in Paradise exhibition examines
regrowth post industrialization and catastrophic events. In the early 20th century and after the Great
Depression, both Florida and Puerto Rico saw a rapid spike in
industrialization, migrations, and tourism. While there was a rise in these industries,
the natural landscape took the brunt of the abuse. The expansions of attractions and high-rise
complexes deteriorated the beaches, drained wetlands, and cleared wooded areas,
making both the island of Puerto Rico and the Florida peninsula more
susceptible to flooding and coastline erosion.
In September 2017 two catastrophic hurricanes (Irma and Maria) made landfall in
Florida and Puerto Rico, leaving a trail of devastation in their wakes, and
linked Jacksonville and Puerto Rico together again in their relief efforts
beyond the Jones Act. In Jacksonville, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
sits on the St. Johns River. The Museum
was not spared from hurricane Irma’s storm surge, and the Cummer Gardens were
left heavily damaged. Within the same
week, Puerto Rico was hit head-on by hurricane Maria, leaving the entire island
without power, supplies, or infrastructure.
Rolón’s new works draw inspirations from the architecture and natural
landscapes that both Florida and Puerto Rico share. In Lost in
Paradise, Rolón seeks to bring attention to nature’s unbridled ability to
change its own landscape, but also humankind’s ability to overcome catastrophe
and rebuild stronger than ever. Rolon’s “losa isleño” (island tile) pieces
break from the traditional repetitive decorative design, departing from the
typical rug or carpet style layouts to create new sculptural paintings that
reference homes in Puerto Rico. Looking to his mirrored mosaic floral works,
the artist has created indestructible plant life in an effort to memorialize
and create monuments to the native plants of Florida and Puerto Rico.
Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation & Admission
Following Hurricane Irma, the Museum’s safety committee reviewed emergency
preparedness procedures and updated it based on effects from Irma, a practice
that the safety committee performs following each storm. New areas of preparedness have been identified
and will be implemented.
The Museum is looking into mitigation options, to minimize damage in the
future. For example, plants that are
more tolerant of salt will be planted, and sealed lighting fixtures will be
installed that can be submerged for a period of time.
Garden reconstruction remains a major undertaking and focus. The Cummer
advisors, WLA Studio, are preparing comprehensive recommendations that honor their
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places while being mindful of
practical environmental considerations. Much of the necessary infrastructure repairs,
including new electrical and irrigation systems, will be completed over the
summer.
The Cummer Gardens anticipate being ready to put plants in the ground late fall
or early spring and look forward to sharing more details about their grand
reopening celebration soon. Stay tuned
and please keep the restoration donations coming.
The Cummer Museum of
Art & Gardens is excited to announce a partnership with Bold City Brewery
and the launch of an exciting new brew: Avant Gardener. After Hurricane Irma, Kevin Miller with Bold
City Brewery approached Museum staff to see if there was anything they could do
to help. From this conversation Avant Gardener was born. The brewers and staff got to work to come up
with a concept for the beer that would highlight something specific about the
Cummer Gardens. The Cummer Oak was, of
course, the first thing to come to mind, soon followed by the abundance of
roses throughout the gardens.
From this, brewer Alex Johnson came up with a flavor concept and unique recipe
created especially for the Cummer Gardens. “I am honored to be able to work with the
Cummer Museum on such an exciting project,” states Johnson. “I went to the Museum a lot as a kid. It is
such a great part of the community, and I love that we get to be part of the
reconstruction process.” In addition
to the great work being done at Bold City Brewery, local artist Jim Draper has
donated the use of his artwork to be used alongside the new brew. Draper’s image is a serigraph print of a rose
found in the Cummer Gardens.
The new brew is a Belgian wheat with hints of rose petal, rose hips, and oak
chips. The cherished Cummer Oak, one of
the oldest trees in Jacksonville, makes a guest appearance in this recipe. It is described as floral, savory, and cloudy,
but not hoppy.
Help the Cummer Museum celebrate the launch of this one-of-a-kind beer at the Bold
City Tap Room, located at 109 E. Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville, where the beer will be on tap beginning February 7,
2018. Avant Gardener will only be
available for a limited time, so get it while you can. A portion of the beer sales will go directly
to the Garden
Reconstruction Fund at the Museum, which makes this beer a bona
fide act of benevolence. So, do a good
deed and drink some beer!
Garden Damage from
Hurricane Irma: The historic Cummer Gardens
were severely impacted by Hurricane Irma and will be closed to the public until
the reconstruction effort can be complete. The lower tier of all three formal garden spaces,
which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, remained
submerged for more than 24 hours, resulting in the uprooting of plants,
detached railing along the river, broken lighting, pervasive salinization of
the soil, large amounts of debris, and significant impact to much of the
physical infrastructure, including drainage, electric, fencing, and the well
that services the landscape.
Museum leadership is working with professionals from many sectors to properly assess
the situation and create a strategy and timeline to reconstruct the gardens. Additionally, staff is working with colleagues
at other historic gardens to ensure that best practices are utilized throughout
the reconstruction effort. Members of
the community may donate
directly to the Garden Reconstruction Fund.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is pleased to announce it is
moving forward with the reconstruction effort in the historic Cummer Gardens,
after the extensive damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma. In order to reconstruct
the gardens in a way that incorporates principles of sustainability at every
level of stewardship, management, and maintenance, while preserving the
original intent and historic character, the Museum selected WLA Studio, an
award-winning landscape architecture and planning firm based in Athens, Ga. to
help guide the process.
WLA Studio
specializes in historic landscape preservation and environmental design. The
firm has extensive experience in helping to preserve, promote, and interpret
historically significant sites throughout the Southeast. “We are thrilled by the opportunity to work at such a prestigious
landscape,” states Keyes Williamson, principal of WLA Studio. “The list of individuals associated with
the Cummer Gardens reads like a ‘Who's Who’ of American landscape designers.” “We are
especially excited about Cummer Museum’s charge to us to think progressively
about creating a more resilient landscape that is respectful to its historic
significance,” said Williamson. During Hurricane Irma, as much as four feet
of water inundated the lower tier of the formal gardens, uprooting plants,
damaging the physical infrastructure, and contaminating the soil.
According to Cummer Museum Chief Operating Officer & Chief Curator, Holly
Keris, “The goal of this project is to
honor the historic character of the gardens while making improvements that
correct storm-related damage and better prepare the site to withstand future
storm events. The gardens, our ‘living art’ collections, are a vital asset to
our institution and the greater Jacksonville community we serve. We have a
longstanding track record of leveraging these historic spaces for the
betterment of the community and sharing them with visitors in engaging and
inspiring in artful ways, while maintaining our commitment to sustainability.
We look forward to working with WLA Studio to frame the future of our landscape
while being harmonious with its past.”
The Cummer Gardens are part of the National Register of Historic Places, the
official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation, as well
as an important cultural asset to the community.
If you say that
there’s nothing to do in JAX, then you haven’t visited the Cummer Museum of Art
and Gardens. There is something
interesting to do and see for all ages; and you won’t be boarded. Take a look and make plans to attend this
month.
Florida Blue Free Tuesday - from 4 to 9 p.m. Free. No
registration required. Every Tuesday,
enjoy free admission to the Cummer Museum and its historic Gardens, thanks to
the generous support of Florida Blue. Guests can enjoy free admission to the
Galleries.
Tapas Tuesday - from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on
The Cummer Café patio. Tap into Tapas Tuesday sponsored by VyStar
Credit Union at the Cummer Café. Take in
the sunset while listening to local musicians as you enjoy beer, wine, or artfully
inspired tapas for sale at the Café. Reserve your table by calling
904.899.6022.
In the Garden Member Preview - Thurs., Feb. 1 from
Noon to 4 p.m. Free for Members only. No registration required. Beat the crowds and take advantage of this
members-only opportunity to experience the exhibition. Docent-led tours will be
offered at noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. For further information, please call
904.899.6038.
In
the Garden Member & Community Opening - Thurs., Feb. 1 from 6 to 8
p.m. Members Free, Non-Members $10. Registration required. Join the Museum for the opening celebration
of In the Garden. Get a sneak peek of the exhibition before it opens to the
public. Enjoy small bites, beer, and wine while listening to live music.
Docent-led tours will be offered at 6 and 7 p.m., and Associate Curator Nelda
Damiano will present remarks at 6:30 p.m. For further information or to
register, please call 904.899.6038.
Art & Architecture Tour - Sat.,
Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon OR 2 to 5 p.m.
Members & Non-Members $250. Young Professionals (40 and under) $150. Registration required. Join the Cummer for the annual Art &
Architecture Tour. Explore where architecture, art, and nature meet with this
3-hour personally guided tour by Architect Richard Skinner. Visit three
beautiful locations on the First Coast with commentary by Chief Operating Officer
& Chief Curator Holly Keris on private collection pieces and the Museum’s
tradition of marrying architecture and nature. This unique opportunity cannot
be matched and should not be missed! Choose one of two tours: 9 a.m.to noon:
Tour with small bites at the first location; 2 to 5 p.m.: Tour with wine and
cheese at the final location; For further information or to reserve your space
today, please call 904.899.6027.
Weaver First Saturday Free for All - Sat.,
Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. No registration required. The first Saturday of each month at the
Cummer Museum is FREE FOR ALL, thanks to the generous support of J. Wayne and
Delores Barr Weaver. Guests can enjoy free admission, as well as art-making
activities for all ages in the Cummer Gardens, live music, and a Docent-led
tour at 2 p.m. For further information, please call 904.899.6038.
Bank of America And Merrill Lynch
Museums On Us - Sun., Feb. 4 from Noon to 4 p.m. Free to cardholders. No registration required. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens offers
free admission on the first Sunday of the first full weekend of the month to
all Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholders through the Museums On Us
program. Each cardholder receives one free general admission to the Museum. For
further information, please call 904.899.6038.
History of Western Gardens: The Baroque
Garden - Tues., Feb. 6 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Members Free, Non-Members $10. Registration required. Explore garden history through this four-part
lecture series. Join Director of Education Lynn Norris for a trip through some
of the world’s great gardens as we trace the connections between art and
gardens. Space is limited. For further information, please email or call
904.355.0630.
Avant Gardener Keg Tapping - Wed.,
Feb. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. Free admission. No registration required. Bold City Downtown, 109 East Bay Street. Do a good deed and drink some beer. The folks
at Bold City Brewery have created a unique beer in honor of the Cummer Gardens.
The aptly named Avant Gardener is a Belgian wheat brew with hints of rose
petals, rose hips, and oak chips. Oak chips, you say? Yes, the cherished Cummer
Oak, one of the oldest trees in Jacksonville, makes a guest appearance in the
recipe. Help us celebrate the launch of this one-of-a-kind beer at the Bold
City Downtown located at 109 East Bay Street. The beer will be on tap at Bold
City beginning February 7 and is available in a limited quantity, so get it
while you can. A portion of the beer sales will go directly to the Garden
Reconstruction Fund, which makes drinking this beer a bona fide act of
benevolence.
Cummer Beaches Lecture Series: Women
Artists of The 20th Century - Thurs., Feb. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Free.
No registration required. Beaches
Museum & History Park Chapel. Cummer
Beaches and the Beaches Museum & History Park partner for a lecture series
on “Women Artists from the Renaissance to Abstract Expressionism” by Cummer
Museum Director of Education Lynn Norris. The last lecture in this series
addresses the 20th century, when art education became available to women. For
major artists from Georgia O’ Keeffe to Helen Frankenthaler, a new question
emerged: “to be an artist or a woman artist?” For further information, please visit or contact Wendy
Mayle or call 904.899.6007.
Art for Two: Animal Hunt! - Sat.,
Feb. 10 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Members
$15 per pair, Non-Members $20 per pair.
Registration required. Ages 3
through 5 with an adult. Make art with
your little one and enjoy gallery and garden visits on the second Saturday of
each month. In this class, students will search for animals in the Museum’s
permanent collection and then return to the studio to create a collage animal
mask. Open to children ages 3 through 5 and their favorite adult. Class size is
limited. For further information, please email or call
904.355.0630.
Cummer Beaches Gala: Love and Romance - Sun.,
Feb. 11 from 6 to 10 p.m. Members $150,
Non-Members $175. Registration required. Registration required. Cummer Beaches hosts its annual Celebrate!
Gala with this year’s theme of “Love & Romance.” The event will be held at
the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse. The mission of the Cummer Museum comes to life at
the Beaches where guests will enjoy cocktails and an elegant meal, followed by
live music and dancing, along with a Valentine’s Day purchasing opportunity
from the Cummer Shop. Entertainment will be provided by Jacksonville
University's splendid Jazz Orchestra. For further information please email Wendy Mayle or
904.899.6007.
Talks & Tea: In the Garden - Wed., Feb. 14 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Members Free, Non-Members $6. Registration required. You are invited to the Museum to enjoy an
insightful talk on In the Garden over
a cup of tea and a sweet treat, led by Associate Curator, Nelda Damiano. For
further information or to register, please call 904.899.6038.
Art for Tots: In the Forest! - Thurs.,
Feb. 15 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. $10 per pair.
Registration required. Ages 24-36
months with accompanying adult. Join us
with your little one to view the painting Ponce
de León in Florida and discuss what they see in the painting using
questions such as, “If they were in the woods, what would their five senses
tell them?” In the studio, children will create art with natural objects from
the woods. Art for Tots is funded through the generosity of the Chartrand
Family Foundation. Entry is through Art Connections. Class size is limited. For
further information, please email or call
904.355.0630.
British Invasion: An English Dinner
Party - Thurs., Feb. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m.
General Members $150, Non-Members $175; Young Professional (40 and
under), Members $100, Non-Members $125. Registration
required. Calling all anglophiles! Do
you fancy a pint? Round up some mates, dress in your British best, and join us
at the Museum for a pub crawl-style evening with a classy spin. Guests will
enjoy live music with the Beatles tribute band Liverpool Live, a selection of
English beers plus our very own Avant Gardener by Bold City Brewery, wines, and
some posh spins on classic pub cuisine! This jolly good evening will support
the reconstruction of the English Gardens. For further information or to
register, please call 904.899.6038. Please
RSVP by February 8.
Art for Tots: In the Forest! - Sat., Feb. 17 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. $10 per pair.
Registration required. Ages 24-36
months with accompanying adult. Join the
museum with your little one to view the painting Ponce de León in Florida and discuss what they see in the painting
using questions such as, “If they were in the woods, what would their five
senses tell them?” In the studio, children will create art with natural objects
from the woods. Art for Tots is funded through the generosity of the Chartrand
Family Foundation. Entry is through Art Connections. Class size is limited. For
further information, please email or call
904.355.0630.
Art Adventures: The Lost Bird Project! -
Sat, Feb. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Members $10, Non-Members $15. Registration required. Ages 6 through 12. Join them on the third Saturday of each month
for studio classes. In this class students will visit the sculpture garden and
view Todd McGrain’s The Lost Bird Project,
which represents North American birds that have been driven to extinction. Then
students will return to the studio and create works that address conservation
and nature. Projects will be completed within one class period. Open to
children ages 6 through 12. Class size is limited. For further information,
please email or call
904.355.0630.
History of Western Art: Realism,
Impressionism, And Post-Impressionism - Tues., Feb. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to
noon. Members Free, Non-Members $10. Registration required. Explore art history through this monthly
series of lectures that includes time in the galleries. Brush up on your art
history for personal enjoyment as Director of Education Lynn Norris leads you
through the history of Western Art. Space is limited. For further information,
please email or call
904.355.0630.
Affinity Group Lunch, Lecture &
Tour: In The Garden - Thurs., Feb.
22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Members $30,
Non-Members $45. Registration required. Cummer Amelia and Cummer Beaches partner for
a Lunch, Lecture & Tour event at the Cummer Museum. Sharon Core, Eastman
contemporary artist, will make a presentation relating to the exhibition, In the Garden. For further information,
please visit their website or email
Wendy Mayle or call 904.899.6007.
The Space Between Illusion And Reality:
An Evening With Contemporary Artist Sharon Core - Thurs., Feb. 22 from 6:30
to 8:30 p.m. Members $30, Non-Members
$40. Registration required. Enjoy music, light appetizers, beer, and wine
before attending a lecture by Sharon Core, a contemporary photographer
represented within the exhibition In the Garden. Sharon Core’s carefully constructed images
examine the relationship between illusion and reality within photography. From Early American (2007-2010), painstaking
photographic recreations of the still life’s of 19th-century American painter
Raphaelle Peale, to her most recent series, Understory (2014-2016), inspired by
the work of 17th-century Dutch painter Otto Marseus van Schriek, for which she
cultivated and photographed a rich array of plant life, Core problematizes our
understanding of photography as a simple truth-telling medium. For further
information or to register, please call 904.899.6038.
Cummer Amelia An Afternoon of Art: Women
Artists Of The 18th Century - Mon., Feb. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free!
No registration required. Fernandina
Beach Library Cummer Amelia partners with the Fernandina Beach Library for a
lecture series on “Women Artists from the Renaissance to Abstract
Expressionism” by Cummer Museum Director of Education Lynn Norris. This series
continues with the 18th century, when three women achieved a degree of fame,
wealth, and adulation that was unparalleled – Rosalba Carriera, Angelica
Kauffman, and Elizabeth Vigée-Lebrun (who was the subject of a major
retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art). For further information
please visit their website or email Wendy
Mayle or call 904.899.6007.
Ritz Chamber Concert - Wed., Feb. 28
from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Free with Museum admission. Registration required. Enjoy a special performance by the world
class musicians of the Ritz Chamber Players, an organization that seeks to
foster the appreciation of chamber music through performances and educational
outreach featuring preeminent African-American musicians and composers, with an
emphasis on building audiences and arts inclusion that reflects our diverse
society. For further information or to register, please call 904.899.6038.
Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation &
Admission
