Our 50th Anniversary Kick-Off event was a wonderful success! Over 800 members enjoyed an evening of music, live performance, a new exhibition and first look at the restored Tudor Room. Our Chairs, Lisa Page and Laura Magevney, created a special evening to show our appreciation for our donors, sponsors, members and friends.
Lisa Page & Laura Magevney
50 for the 50th Champagne
Our pre-party event was a toast in the Tudor Room given by our Director, Hope McMath, thanking all of the people who have become 50 for the 50th Donors. Their generous support has enabled the museum to restore Mrs. Cummer’s Tudor Room and the Lovett Gallery containing our Meissen Collection, as well as other programs during our 50th Anniversary.
Belle Fleur
Upon entering the lobby, our members were entertained by the string quartet Belle Fleur. People strolled through the museum store and visited the Milner Gallery and the newly restored Tudor Room. The party continued in the Mason Gallery. Our members enjoyed good food and drink, and danced to the sounds of Reginald Haywood and The Paradise Experience.
Art Connections had additional seating and music for our members, as well. Many members enjoyed some of the interactive displays in Art Connections.
Art Connections
The Cummer Legacy in the Jacobsen Gallery
The Cummer Legacy was a big draw Saturday evening. This exhibition displays for the first time in one gallery the works of art that comprise the original pieces of The Cummer collection. When the museum opened in 1961, the nucleus of its permanent collection consisted of 60 works of art collected by Ninah and Arthur Cummer. Our members enjoyed viewing a selection of these paintings and sculptures on display in the Jacobsen Gallery to honor the legacy of the Cummer family.
Newly Renovated Tudor Room
We unveiled a restored Tudor Room gallery Saturday evening. The Tudor Room incorporates wood paneling and flooring, furnishings, a fireplace, and a selection of art from the Cummers’ home to recreate the domestic sphere in which their collection was originally displayed. Archival photographs and documents in the Millner Gallery further illustrated how the Cummers’ lived with their collection.
Through our partnership with Players by the Sea and The Grune Family Foundation, a theatrical presentation on the life of Ninah Cummer was performed in the Tudor Room. Members heard Ninah Cummer discuss her life, home and art collection in descriptive vignettes.
This is only the beginning of a very exciting year! It is through the generosity and support of our donors, sponsors and members that we are able to showcase our beautiful art collection, historic gardens and educational programs. Our loyal members have a vital role to play as partners in fulfilling our Mission Statement “To engage and inspire through the arts, gardens and education.” We invite you to be a part of our 50th Anniversary and help us move forward in serving our community!
