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.
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 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.
