Exhibitions Archives | The Cummer Museum

Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs | Works from the Bank of America Collection

Support i95Design on January 13, 2026

Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs features 115 works by important international photographers dating from the invention of the medium in the 1830s through the mid-20th century, including William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Timothy O’Sullivan, Paul Strand, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Helen Levitt, and Walker Evans.

The history and evolution of this photography exhibition is notable. The original collection was created in the late 1960s, when the first corporate collections of fine art photography in the United States emerged. At this time, the corporate environment was changing from formal settings to workspaces allowing freedom of movement and interaction with customers, and the art world was redefining itself and its relationship to photography as a fine art. At this historic juncture for the photographic arts and business worlds, a pivotal collection in the history of photography was born.

Beaumont and Nancy Newhall were a husband and wife team of pioneering collectors and historians who became the first curators of the photography department at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, in the 1940s. In 1967, they were commissioned by the president of the National Exchange Bank of Chicago, a legacy bank of Bank of America, to establish a corporate art collection focused solely on photography. Nancy Newhall was the primary curator for the Exchange Bank collection and continued through 1972. She was a trailblazer in the field of photography curation and the exhibition introduces her achievements to a new audience. This selection of photographs reflects her unique vision.

In the years that followed, the Exchange Bank – and its groundbreaking collection, which continued to expand – were acquired several times, finally becoming part of Bank of America in 2008. The legacy of the original Newhall collection, marking a historic partnership between the art and business worlds and a landmark in photography, resonates to this day.

This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® Program.

Image credits: Moment in Time

Lead image: Alfred Steiglitz (American, 1864 – 1946), The Steerage, 1907, photogravure, Bank of America Collection, 69.39.1.

Julia Margaret Cameron (British, 1815 – 1879), Untitled (May Prinsep), October 1870, albumen silver print, Bank of America Collection, 68.8.3.

Lewis Wickes Hine (American, 1874 – 1940), An Albanian Woman from Italy at Ellis Island 1905 negative, posthumous print 1970, gelatin silver print, Bank of America Collection, 68.19.17.

Walker Evans (American, 1903 – 1975), Barber Shop, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1936, gelatin silver print, Bank of America Collection, 68.16.12.

Doug Eng: Impressions of Place – The Kuerner Farm

Jean Gustave on October 22, 2025

The Cummer Museum’s Bank of America Concourse Art Shop welcomes Jacksonville native Doug Eng, a photographer and installation artist who explores urban and natural landscapes through striking imagery. Trained as an engineer and software programmer, Eng has built a reputation for distinctive visual work and public projects.

Impressions of Place complements Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth by capturing the 33-acre Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, largely preserved as Wyeth would have seen it. Eng’s photographs, from wide landscapes to intimate details, show the roads, buildings, fields, and hills that inspired Wyeth.

With accompanying notes, the series highlights key features and relationships across the site without acting as a literal map. Eng’s personal exploration of the grounds, farmhouse, and barn offers his interpretation of the farm, giving viewers a closer connection to the landscapes behind Wyeth’s iconic paintings.

Image credit:

Douglas J. Eng (American, b. 1954), Hooks, 2025, archival inkjet print, Douglas J. Eng Photography.

Douglas J. Eng (American, b. 1954), Barnscape, 2025, archival inkjet print, Douglas J. Eng Photography.

Douglas J. Eng (American, b. 1954), Kuerner Farm, 2025, archival inkjet print, Douglas J. Eng Photography.

Touring the Landscape: Art, Travel and the Shaping of American Identity

Jean Gustave on October 9, 2025

Touring the Landscape 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, assembled from the Cummer Museum’s permanent collection, 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 Christian Iconography

Jean Gustave on October 4, 2025

Revisiting Christian Iconography asks the viewer to consider how traditional Christian artwork and iconography has changed across time. Scenes depicting the life of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or other New Testament references have been used for centuries in Western European art to inspire devotion. However, as artistic self-expression became more prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, artists such as Abraham Rattner and Marc Chagall used Biblical references to expand on universal themes. While rooted in tradition, these modern works challenge the imagination, encouraging reverence for the sacred and contemplation of the transcendent.

Presented by The Edge Family

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

Jean Gustave on October 4, 2025

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

Jean Gustave on October 4, 2025

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

A Special Bequest: Works from the Helen M. and Edward W. Lane, Jr. Collection

Support i95Design on July 31, 2025

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.

Westward Vibrations: Dance of the Exodusters

Kelly Harvey on April 14, 2025

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: From Sketch to Masterpiece

Phillip Brunswick on January 22, 2025

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: Away with the Tides

Phillip Brunswick on January 14, 2025

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.

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.

Vibes & Views Member Night
Tuesday, October 28
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Membership 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.

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.

Register Now for December 18
Register Now for February 19

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