Touring Eden explores how American artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries shaped national identity through landscape paintings of iconic tourist destinations. As a burgeoning tourist industry grew, artists traveled widely, shaping a corpus of iconic views that helped define what it meant to be American.
From the marshes of Florida to the pastoral hills of New England, from the dramatic peaks of the American West to the scenic landscapes of Italy, the paintings in this exhibition reflect an evolving relationship between people and place. In a time of expansion, conflict, and industrialization, they reveal how a shared visual experience of landscape became central to the American imagination and the broader project of nationhood.
This exhibition is guest curated by University of North Florida students in Dr. Meg McCrummen Fowler’s class, “Public Narratives: Museum Curation and Interpretation.”
Image Credit:
John Frederick Kensett (American, 1816 – 1872), Marine View of Beacon Rock, Newport Harbor, 1864, oil on canvas, 28 ½ x 45 ¾ in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.157.1.
Revisiting Sacred Imagery asks the viewer to consider how traditional Christian artwork and iconography has changed across time. From devotional images dating from the 15th century to 20th century works by Salvador Dali, Abraham Rattner, and others, Revisiting Sacred Imagery explores the ways that artists use their artistic production to foster a reverence for the sacred and transcendental.
Image Credit:
Abraham Rattner (American, 1895 – 1978), Crucifixion in Yellow, 1953, Oil on Masonite, Gift of Genny, Clifford, and Robert Ayers in memory of Genevieve Schultz Ayers, AG.1987.7.1
Art in Bloom brings together nature-inspired works of art, enhancing the Cummer Museum’s dynamic dialogue between interior galleries and our historic gardens.
Coinciding with the height of our spring season, Art in Bloom celebrates how today’s artists are expanding the boundaries of floral art far beyond historic still-life paintings. Works from the Cummer’s permanent collection and exciting loans from contemporary artists create a dynamic exploration of this well-known style.
Artists include Martin Blank, Kim Cridler, Jane Hammond, Martin Johnson Heade, Jill Hotchkiss, Debora Moore, Severin Roesen, Daniel “Attaboy” Seifert, Sarah Ann Weber, Peter De Wiint, Ann Wood, and more.
Image Credit:
Debora Moore (American, b. 1960), Magnolia Host, 2021, Blown and sculpted glass, Purchased with funds from the Cummer Council, AP.2024.1.1
Collection Conversations assembles a selection of works from the Cummer Museum’s permanent collection, reimagining how each work of art is intertwined with the next. The installation promotes a fresh dialogue between the works exploring themes, history, relationships, form, style and more, spanning centuries of artistic connections.
By juxtaposing formal and thematic bonds, Collection Conversations invites you to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the Museum’s collection.
Image Credit:
Jacques de Claeuw (Dutch, active 1642 – 1677), Vanitas, 1677, Oil on canvas, Purchased with funds from the Morton R. Hirschberg Bequest, and gift from the family of Jacques Goudstikker, in his memory, AP.2014.4.1
Richard Learoyd (British, b. 1966), Poppies, Day 1, 2019, Camera obscura lifochrome photograph mounted to aluminum, Purchased with funds from Dr. and Mrs. Maurice H. Givens and the Mrs. W.H. Rogers Estate, AP.2020.3.1
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is honored to announce the gift of 18 works of art from the estate of longtime museum supporters and community philanthropists Helen M. and Edward W. Lane, Jr. The couple, who had been married 56 years at the time of Ed’s passing in 2004, contributed greatly to the civic and cultural fabric of northeast Florida through their support of many organizations. Through the years they also shared a passion for collecting, researching, and sharing works of art with friends and family. In a 2014 interview, Helen noted they took their time to listen and learn, “but when we started to buy…we were hooked.”
“Mom and Dad thoroughly enjoyed acquiring and living with these paintings over many decades,” said their son, Edward. “My sisters, brother, and I are delighted that the art they so loved has found a home at the Cummer Museum.”
Image Credit: Robert Henri (American, 1865 – 1929), Sissy in Yellow, 1924, oil on canvas, 30 x 26 x 1 3/4 in., Bequest of Helen M. and Edward W. Lane, Jr., AG.2025.2.17.
On display in the Bank of America Concourse Shop- a venue for regional artists whose works share parallel themes with featured exhibitions.
Westward Vibrations: Dance of the Exodusters explores the American West through the lens of Gullah Geechee heritage, African diasporic traditions, and Native American influences. Created by interdisciplinary artist and scholar Amiri Farris, the exhibition challenges common myths of the West while amplifying voices often left out of its history.
Through bold compositions layered with expressive drips, rich colors, and textured imagery, Farris reimagines the journey of the Exodusters—Black migrants who moved westward during Reconstruction. These movement—infused works evoke rhythm, dance, and visual storytelling, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of migration, resilience, and cultural memory.
For more information or to inquire about purchasing Amiri Farris’s artwork, please contact shop@cummermuseum.org
Image: Amiri Farris (1974), Dayblue Gullah Day Clean, Indigo Mixed Media on Canvas, 48 in. x 60 in.
Drawn Together explores the intriguing nature of the artistic process. Pairing work from the Cummer Museum’s permanent collection with the artist’s smaller study drawings reveals the time and commitment it takes to conceptualize an idea from start to finish. This often leaves the viewer with two or more standalone masterpieces: the initial sketch and the finished work of art. John Steuart Curry’s Parade to War, Allegory (1938), Claude Lorrain’s Minerva Visiting the Muses on Mount Parnassus (1680), Winslow Homer’s Waiting for a Bite (c. 1874), and Benjamin West’s The Honorable Mrs. Shute Barrington (c. 1808), among others, are featured. Come see some of your favorite works in a new light!
This exhibition is organized by the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
Image:
John Steuart Curry (American, 1897 – 1946), Sketch for Parade to War, 1938, pencil, pen, brush, wash, and ink, with traces of colored pencil on paper, 12 ¼ x 18 ¼ in., Purchased with funds from the Morton R. Hirschberg Bequest, AP.2004.2.1.
Calida Rawles envisions water as a space for Black healing and reimagines the African American community beyond the stories we already know as a part of the United States’ collective history. Merging hyperrealism, poetic abstraction, and the cultural and historical symbolisms of water, Rawles creates unique portraits of Black bodies submerged in and interacting with bright and mysterious bodies of water. The water, itself a sort of character within the paintings, functions as an element that signifies both physical and spiritual healing, as well as historical trauma and racial exclusion. Rawles creates a bridge between her signature style and a story within Miami’s history that is often ignored and obscured.
Rawles delves into the particular experience of Black people in Overtown, a Miami neighborhood that went from a thriving cultural and commercial hub for Black people to a community dismantled by gentrification, systemic racism, and mass displacement. The figures in Rawles’s paintings are residents of the Overtown community—from young children to senior citizens. The exhibition’s focus is on the stories and experiences of those who live in this historic neighborhood. Rawles takes her practice a step further by photographing some of her subjects in natural waters for the very first time, at the historic Virginia Key Beach, which was once racially segregated. By photographing Black subjects in the ocean for the first time, Rawles is able to probe the Atlantic’s history as the site of the supremely exploitative transatlantic slave trade. The finished work critically engages with Miami’s water-entwined climate and mines the history of beauty, oppression, and resilience in the neighboring community of Overtown.
Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides is organized by Maritza M. Lacayo, Associate Curator, with the support of Fabiana Sotillo, Curatorial Assistant. Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides is presented with lead individual support from Allison and Larry Berg and supporting sponsorship from Goldman Sachs. Additional support from PAMM’s International Women’s Committee, Leslie and Greg Ferrero, and Rebkah and Desmond Howard is gratefully acknowledged.
Image:
Calida Rawles (American, b. 1976), Towner for Life, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 72 x 102 in., Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Seoul, and London.
Related Events
Ponce de León Reception and Exhibition Previews: Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides
Thursday, October 23
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Ponce de León Membership required for entry
Ponce de León Society donors are invited to join us for an evening celebrating the opening of these two extraordinary exhibitions. Enjoy cocktails, small bites, and your exclusive opportunity to preview the exhibitions. Register Now
Opening Weekend Activities: Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides
Saturday, October 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, Noon to 4 p.m.
Free with Admission | All Ages
Drop in for self-guided explorations and family-friendly activities related to our latest special exhibitions, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides.
Tour the exhibitions, then enjoy live music, a complimentary beverage, light refreshments for purchase, swag giveaway drawings, and double discounts in the Cummer Shop.
This is a member-exclusive program; no pre-registration is required.
Tides of Transformation: Water, Memory, and the Shaping of Jacksonville
Tuesday, January 13
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Members $25, Future Members $40
Registration Required
Join us for a powerful evening of dialogue inspired by Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides, a compelling exhibition exploring water as both a site of trauma and a source of healing. Local artists, historians, and community leaders will reflect on Jacksonville’s history, drawing parallels between various local narratives and Miami’s displaced Overtown community featured in the exhibition. One such example we’ll explore is the once-thriving Sugar Hill neighborhood, disrupted by the construction of I-95 in the 1950s and 1960s. Together, we’ll examine how water, land, and infrastructure have shaped the social and environmental fabric of our city, and how Black communities are reclaiming their stories to heal, rebuild, and thrive.
This program is presented in partnership with the St. Johns Riverkeeper’s Resilient Ribault project and is part of the Museum’s commitment to connecting arts and gardens to contemporary issues and celebrating the power of community. Register Now
Museums, Community, and the Work Ahead: A Talk with Dr. Russ Wigginton, National Civil Rights Museum
Tuesday, February 10
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Members $25, Future Members $40
Registration Required
Dr. Russ Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum, explores how cultural institutions help shape our collective future by preserving and interpreting stories that define us. Drawing from his personal and professional journey – from a family steeped in civic activism to leading a nationally significant museum – Dr. Wigginton reflects on the shared responsibilities of museums and communities to safeguard memory, foster dialogue, and inspire meaningful engagement.
Presented in conjunction with Black History Month and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides, this program invites us to consider the roles we play – as individuals and institutions – in carrying forward stories and actions with intention and care. Register Now
Boat Tours with St. Johns Riverkeeper
Saturday, November 8 | 1 to 2 p.m.
Thursday, November 13 | 1 to 2 p.m.
Members $40, Future Members $55
Set sail on a St. Johns Riverkeeper boat tour that explores Jacksonville’s evolving connection to its waterways, blending environmental insights with reflections on the exhibition, Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides. Discover how the river has shaped – and been shaped by – the city’s history, culture, and ecology, while drawing parallels to Rawles’ powerful themes of water, memory, and resilience. This immersive journey invites you to see the St. Johns River through both an environmental and artistic lens, deepening your appreciation for its role in our shared story. Events and Placemaking – Ticketed Events Boat Tour Ticket
Artful Storytime
Third Thursdays
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Members $10 per child, Future Members $15 per child
Ages 2 to 6 with an Adult | Registration Required
Join us for a fun-filled adventure of storytelling, singing, and laughter in our galleries and gardens. Each session includes enchanting tales, art, music, and nature, followed by a creative artmaking activity in the studio.
Ripples and Waves
Thursday, December 18
Dive into the enchanting world of water. From gentle ripples to crashing waves, discover watery wonders through stories, then make a splash creating your own water-inspired art.
Black History Month
Thursday, February 19
Celebrate Black History Month with us. Enjoy a special storytime honoring Black culture, history, and achievements, followed by an inspiring artmaking activity.
Make & Take: Water Scenes – Slow-Stitched Quilting, with Jacksonville Modern Quilt Guild
Tuesday, November 4
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Members $35, Future Members $50
Ages 12+ | Materials Included
Ticket includes admission to Museum
Mindfully create your own water-inspired postcard-sized quilt with the Jacksonville Modern Quilt Guild. Learn beginner–friendly slow stitching techniques in this relaxing workshop. Register Now
Ecologies of Color: Indigo Dye workshop Indigo Dye Workshop with Artist Elsie Lopez – inspired by Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides
Three-part workshop
Sundays, October 26, November 2, November 9
12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Members $180, Future Members $270
Ages 18+ | Materials Included
Explore the history, culture, and process of indigo dyeing with artist Elsie Lopez. In this three-part workshop, learn to build dye vats and create with indigo, connecting with the themes from the exhibition Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides. Register Now
Over more than six decades, Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania inspired nearly 1,000 artworks in a wide variety of genres and media by one of the most celebrated American artists of the 20th century, Andrew Wyeth.
Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth brings together over 40 works by Wyeth including some of the artist’s most iconic masterpieces from Kuerner Farm as well as exciting works drawn from Andrew and Betsy Wyeth’s private collection, including works that have never been on public display.
Wyeth’s fondness towards Kuerner Farm, which stands a short walk from the artist’s studio, served as constant inspiration over his long, productive career. Immersed in the layers of the landscape, the farmhouse at its core, and the people who inhabited it (the Kuerner family), Wyeth produced a remarkable array of work, depicting one of the most prevailing connections in American art – the powerful connection between artist and place.
Wyeth often spoke about the inspiration derived from walking and sketching the farm recalling, “The balance, the flash of that black thing, brought the image of the scene clear to my mind, and I recalled the marvelous amber color of the rich landscape and the lucid pond looking almost like the eye of the earth reflecting everything in creation.”
Co-organized by the Brandywine Museum of Art and the Reynolda Museum of American Art, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth marks the 25th anniversary of Kuerner Farm’s transition from a family home to a public site visited and sketched by thousands annually.
Generous support for the exhibition is provided by Wells Fargo.
Ponce de León Reception and Exhibition Previews: Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and CalidaRawles: Away with the Tides
Thursday, October 23
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Ponce de León Membership required for entry
Ponce de León Society donors are invited to join us for an evening celebrating the opening of these two extraordinary exhibitions. Enjoy cocktails, small bites, and your exclusive opportunity to preview the exhibitions. Register Now
Opening Weekend Activities:Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and CalidaRawles: Away with the Tides
Saturday, October 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, Noon to 4 p.m. Free with Admission | All Ages
Drop in for self-guided explorations and family-friendly activities related to our latest special exhibitions, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and CalidaRawles: Away with the Tides.
Vibes & Views Member Night
Tuesday, October 28
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Membership is required for entry.
Join fellow Cummer Museum members to explore our two newest exhibitions, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth and Calida Rawles: Away with the Tides.
Tour the exhibitions, then enjoy live music, a complimentary beverage, light refreshments for purchase, swag giveaway drawings, and double discounts in the Cummer Shop. This is a member-exclusive program; no pre-registration is required.
Victoria Wyeth: Unveiling Andrew Wyeth’s World
Wednesday, November 5
Join Victoria Wyeth, acclaimed speaker, writer, teacher, and only grandchild of Andrew Wyeth, for one of two unforgettable experiences celebrating one of America’s most iconic painters and the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth. Gain insights into the legendary artist’s world through Victoria’s personal stories, memories, and research.
This special day offers two distinct opportunities to engage with Victoria. Both options feature the same insightful lecture. Attend at the time that fits with your schedule.
Afternoon Lecture: Andrew Wyeth Unveiled
1 p.m. | Catalogue signing to follow
Step into the world of legendary American painter, Andrew Wyeth and the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth, through the personal stories, memories, and research of his granddaughter, Victoria Wyeth. Discover the powerful connection and emotional depth behind Wyeth’s iconic body of work, inspired by his more than six decades at Kuerner Farm.
Purchase the catalogue online or in-store at the Cummer Shop.
Lecture Only (afternoon or evening):
Donors and members enjoy early ticket access online starting September 2. Tickets open to the public on September 16. Early Bird (until October 1): $50 Members, $65 Future Members Regular (after October 1): $75 Members, $90 Future Members
An Evening with Victoria Wyeth
Enjoy a rare, intimate opportunity to connect with Victoria Wyeth, with options to attend a reception before the lecture or just the lecture.
Evening Reception + Lecture Package 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Reception
7 p.m. Lecture | Catalogue signing to follow
Begin with light bites prepared by Chef’s Garden and a complimentary beverage while mingling with fellow Museum supporters and friends. Then immerse yourself in Andrew Wyeth’s world and the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth, as his granddaughter, Victoria Wyeth, shares personal stories and research behind his iconic body of work, inspired by his more than six decades at Kuerner Farm.
Purchase the catalogue online or in-store at the Cummer Shop.
Reception + Lecture package:
Donors and members enjoy early ticket access online starting September 2. Tickets open to the public on September 16. Early Bird (until October 1): $125 Members, $150 Future Members Regular (after October 1): $150 Members, $175 Future Members
Evening Lecture: Andrew Wyeth Unveiled
7 p.m. | Catalogue signing to follow
Immerse yourself in Andrew Wyeth’s world and the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth, as his granddaughter, Victoria Wyeth, shares personal stories and research behind his iconic body of work, inspired by his more than six decades at Kuerner Farm.
Purchase the catalogue online or in-store at the Cummer Shop.
Lecture Only (afternoon or evening):
Donors and members enjoy early ticket access online starting September 2. Tickets open to the public on September 16. Early Bird (until October 1): $50 Members, $65 Future Members Regular (after October 1): $75 Members, $90 Future Members
Evening schedule details:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Reception in Uible Loggia and visit the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth, open until 7 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – Doors to lecture in Hixon Auditorium open for Reception registrants.
6:45 p.m. – Doors open for Lecture-only registrants.
7 to 8:00 p.m. – Lecture in Hixon Auditorium.
Immediately following – Catalogue signing.
Please note: Except for the Wyeth exhibition, the galleries, gardens, and the Cummer Café will not be accessible during this event. Reception registrants receive early access to lecture seating.
Please note that filming and video and audio recording are not permitted during these events.
November 5, 2025, 1 pm, Afternoon Lecture — Register Now
November 5, 2025, 7 pm, Evening Lecture —Register Now
November 5, 2025, 5:30 pm, Evening Reception + Lecture Package —Register Now
Painting Place: Wyeth’s Landscape Style with Artist Paul Ladnier
Tuesday, December 16
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Donors and members enjoy exclusive early access starting August 15. Tickets open to the public on August 24.
Members $25, Future Members $40
Join artist and Professor Emeritus Paul Ladnier for an evening exploring the landscape painting techniques of Andrew Wyeth. Through an informal talk, conversation, and live artmaking demonstration, Ladnier will share insights into Wyeth’s distinctive approach to place, mood, and people – drawing on his own decades of experience as a painter and educator.
Come early to dine at the Cummer Café and visit the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth. Register Now
Vacation Week Workshop: Snowy Scenes Painting for Kids
Tuesday December 23
11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Members $35, Future Members $50 Children Ages 7 to 12 Materials Included
Join us for a cozy art experience during the winter break! Children will explore the snowy farm scenes from the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth. Discover how quiet winter landscapes can tell powerful stories, then create your own snow-covered world with paint. It’s the perfect way to bring a touch of winter wonder to your break.
Classes & Workshops, Children & Family Register Now
Artful Storytime
Third Thursdays
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Members $10 per child, Future Members $15 per child Ages 2 to 6 with an Adult | Registration Required
Join us for a fun-filled adventure of storytelling, singing, and laughter in our galleries and gardens. Each session includes enchanting tales, art, music, and nature, followed by a creative artmaking activity in the studio.
Once Upon a Barn Thursday, November 20
Bring the barnyard to life with tales of cows, chickens, and pigs! Then create a barn-inspired art in the studio. A perfect way to spark creativity and imagination.
Snow Thursday, January 15
Explore the wonders of winter in this frosty storytime. After the tale, create our own wintery masterpiece in the studio.
Make & Take: Printmaking Techniques Tuesday, January 27
5 to 7 p.m. Members $25, Future Members $35 Ages 12+ | Materials Included Ticket includes admission to Museum
Discover the art of printmaking. Carve, ink, and press your own unique block prints, drawing inspiration from meaningful landscapes and memories. Each design is a visual story rooted in place. Register Now
Mushrooms at the Edge: A Workshop with Samurai Fungi
Sunday, February 22
12:30 to 2 p.m. Members $75, Future Members $95 Ages 16+ | Registration Required Ticket includes admission to Museum
Step into the earthy world of fungi with John Ren of Samurai Fungi in this engaging workshop exploring the role of mushrooms in natural ecosystems and artistic inspiration. Drawing connections to the textures and tones of Andrew Wyeth’s depictions of rural life at Kuerner Farm, this introductory session invites participants to consider the hidden layers of the land beneath their feet. Through a one-hour lecture paired with visuals and a 30-minute Q&A, you’ll learn the fundamentals of growing mushrooms at home – from spores to harvest – using low-cost, accessible methods.
Bonus Make & Take: Each participant will also inoculate their own mini mushroom log to take home. Learn the basics of spore inoculation and create a functional, living sculpture that will grow over time, bringing a touch of nature’s quiet magic to your own backyard or garden. Register Now
Knowing the West is a travelling exhibition that embraces and examines perceptions of the American West to be more inclusive, complex, and reflective of the diverse peoples who contributed to art and life in and about the West.
Americans often feel they “know the West,” whether informed by direct experience or popular culture. Visions of landscapes and people tangle with ideas of conflict, freedom, and nostalgia. Knowing the West embraces preexisting impressions of the American West and presents a wide variety of artwork from diverse makers from the 19th to early 20th centuries to add richness to what is often a flattened and simplified view of the American West.
Knowing the West is organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, and co-curated by Mindy N. Besaw and Jami C. Powell with influence and input from a curatorial advisory council.
Image:
Nellie Two Bear Gates (Iháƞktȟuƞwaƞna Dakhóta, Standing Rock Reservation, 1854 – 1935), Suitcase, 1880 – 1910, bead, hide, oilcloth, thread, 12 1/2 in. x 17 11/16 in. x 10 1/4 in., Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN. The Robert J. Ulrich Works of Art Purchase Fund. Photo: Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Related Events
Cummer Connects: Embracing Our World Together
Saturday, April 19
Free with Museum Admission | All Ages
Some Registration Required
Join us for a day of art, music, stories, dance, and immersive experiences with a variety of community partners. Explore the beauty and significance of the outdoors through the Knowing the West exhibition and the Cummer Gardens and deepen your connection to nature. Let’s come together to honor our planet, northeast Florida, and our people.
Free with Admission
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Drop-in activities throughout the museum including a one-day sculpture installation: Bamboo Project Initiative with UNF Botanical Gardens and Late Bloomers Garden Club in the J. Wayne & Delores Barr Weaver Sculpture Garden.
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (ongoing)
View Tree Tender – a movie created by UF to bring awareness about biodiversity. treetender.org
Location: Round Room
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Live Music with Chillakaya
Location: Café Patio
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Enjoy a UNF Water Stories performance (schedule tbd)
Location: Audi and Gardens
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Teens Program Clay Demonstration
Location: Studio 2
1 to 2 p.m.
Larry Yazzie Native American dance, music and storytelling; Larry Yazzie of Native Pride Productions nativeprideproductions.com @LarryYazzie @NativePrideProductions
Location: Gardens
2 to 3 p.m.
Earth Day Tours by Docents
Location: Galleries and Gardens
Knowing the West Curator Talk
Tuesday, April 22
7 to 8 p.m. Members $5, Future Members $25
Join Mindy N. Besaw, Ph.D., exhibition co-curator and curator of American Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, for a deep dive into the exhibition, Knowing the West, and get to know some of the hidden stories behind the art and the West. Knowing the West is the first major traveling exhibition to embrace and examine how people see the American West. This program promises to provide attendees with a unique perspective on the creative processes behind exhibitions, the selection of artworks, and the narratives that emerge from them. Dr. Besaw will share insights into the curatorial process, discuss the significance of the artworks on display, and explore the complex and multifaceted history of the American West. Register Now
Make & Take: Sweetgrass and Indigo: Gullah Geechee Inspired Art with Anastatia Ketchen
Tuesday, May 27
5 to 7 p.m. Members $35, Future Members $45
Ages 12+ | Materials Included
Learn the history of the Sweetgrass basket through a demonstration. Together we will create your own original Art piece using natural resources and shades of Indigo inspired by one of the oldest African traditions preserved within the Gullah Geechee Nation Register Now
Summer at the Cummer
Weaving Demonstration with Jacksonville Weavers’ Guild
Friday, May 30
5 to 7 p.m. Free | All Ages
Explore the timeless craft of weaving as the skilled members of Jacksonville Weavers’ Guild work on their looms and spinning wheels. Experience the craft and try weaving yourself.
Gullah Geechee Cultural Experience with Anastatia Ketchen
Friday, June 13
5 to 6:30 p.m.
Free | All Ages
Experience the captivating storytelling, music, and artistry of Anastatia Ketchen (Lady SheRo). Through art and oral history, Ketchen will bring to life the Gullah Geechee cultural traditions of sweetgrass basketmakers of Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Cowboy Cocktails: Recipes Inspired by the American West
Tuesday, July 1 | 7 to 8 p.m.
Members $50, Future Members $70
Ages 21+ Register Now
Make & Take: Bead and Leather Bracelet Making
Tuesday, July 29
5 to 7 p.m. Members $25, Future Members $35
Ages 12+ | Materials Included
Explore Native American artistry through bead and leather bracelet making. In this session, you’ll learn beading techniques and work with a leather cord to create a unique, handcrafted Native American-inspired bracelet. Register Now
Native Cuisine Workshop with Saturiwa Trading Co.
Saturday, August 23
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Members $50, Future Members $70
Ages 16+ Register Now
Make & Take: Fabric Collage Landscape with Jacksonville Modern Quilt Guild
Tuesday, April 8
5 to 7 p.m. Members $35, Future Members $50
Ages 14+ | Materials Included
Create your own unique fabric landscape! In this hands-on workshop, JAXMQG members will guide you in designing a beautiful desert-inspired scene using pre-fused fabrics. After building your landscape, you’ll have the chance to elevate your piece with beading, hand embroidery, or quilting, adding intricate details that bring your vision to life. Whether you’re an experienced crafter or just starting out, this workshop offers a wonderful way to explore fabric collage in a relaxed, creative environment. Register Now
Artful Storytime
Third Thursday
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Our Community Inspired by Our Museum as a Community Place Thursday, April 17, 2025
Forest Inspired by Knowing the West and the Cummer Gardens Thursday, May 15, 2025
Native American Tales Inspired by Knowing the West Thursday, June 19, 2025
Animals Inspired by Knowing the West Thursday, July 17, 2025
Art Adventures – Youth Workshops
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Watercolor Techniques
Saturday, May 17
Ages 7 to 11
Reed Basket Weaving
Saturday, July 19
Ages 7 to 11
Hand Built Clay Workshop with Artist Sonia Nowak-Vera
Six-session workshop, Sundays 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
• July 13, 20, 27 Design & Form
• August 17, 31 Decorate & Glaze
