Escape the summer heat and check out these bodacious Florida museums
2013 Summer | Bow Ties | Ella Bing | Florida Museums
Here at Ella Bing we like to keep our mind finely tuned, and one of the many ways we do this is by taking the time to enjoy the fine arts. It's relaxing, it can get your mind away from everyday life and you can learn something at the same time. We have accumulated a list of a few of our favorites in the great state of Florida, in no particular order.
Cummer Museum of Art
Jacksonville - Riverside
904.356.6857
The Cummer Museum offers three outstanding areas, to let your mind escape the first being the arts. Offering world-class art spanning from 2100 B.C thru the 21st century, while featuring exhibits from around the world. Masterpiece Collections include work from Peter Paul Rubens, Winslow Homer, Thomas Moran, Norman Rockwell and Romare Bearden. Additionally the Cummer Museum is home to the Wark Collection of Early Meissen Porcelain, known to be one the three most outstanding collection of its kind in the world.
The Gardens
The Cummer's 1.5 acres of lush, floral historic gardens features reflecting pools, fountains, arbors, antique ornaments and sculptures. One stellar attraction in the gardens represents one of the oldest living trees in Jacksonville, the Cummer Oak, estimated to be 200 years old. These gardens are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Education
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens has an educational mission to bring the power of the arts and the joy of creation to all people. Both young and old, their programs serve the entire community of Jacksonville, opening new opportunities for understanding, creativity and inspiration for all.
Orlando Museum of Art
Orlando
407.896.4231
The Orlando Museum of Art (Omart) was founded in 1924. The Omart is an institution for education, whose mission reflects the on growing growth of Florida while taking on the role of a leading cultural establishment in the region. The Museum's purpose has always been to enrich the cultural life of Florida through visual arts. To accomplish such a task, the Museum has dedicated itself to collecting, preserving and interpreting notable works of art. The Museum also presents 10-12 exhibitions on-site annually and 13 exhibitions off-site, award-winning art enrichment programs and unlimited gallery tours. The Omart has several well-known collections in its presence. Starting with African Art, American Art after 1945, and before, Art of the Ancient Americas and Contemporary American Graphics, an entire day is needed to take it all in.
Naples Museum of Art
Naples
239.597.1900
The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to enlighten, educate and entertain people of all ages by utilizing the very best of the visual and performing arts. What makes the Phil so unique is that it features both performing and visual arts in a single complex, while hosting a resident orchestra. The Phil has four museum-quality art galleries, which showcase traveling and exclusive exhibitions. You can expect to view the largest collection of Mexican Art in the Southeast. The Phil also houses a must see; Rufino Tamayo's Two Women at the Window and White Nude Oils.
Norton Museum of Art
West Palm Beach
561.832.5196
The Norton was founded in 1941, as the Norton Museum of Art and has grown and evolved to become one of Florida's major cultural institutions. The Norton is internationally known for its distinguished permanent collection featuring American Art, Chinese Art, Contemporary Art, European Art and Photography. Its masterpieces of both the 19th and 20th centuries houses paintings and sculptures including works by Brancusi, Gauguin, Matisse, Miro, Picasso, Davis, Hassam, Hopper, O'Keeffe, Pollack and Sheeler.
Alright kids, now that we have given you a few tips to broaden your horizons and increase you bar-talk intelligence go out and do good. Oh and be sure to wear something suitable, like an Ella Bing Bow Tie. Perhaps a seersucker, or madras, perfect for those warm summer months, or if you want to go jaw dropping look at our Woodys.
