Leading the Boca Raton Museum of Art has been a capstone to my career that began in the National Gallery of Art education department in 1975. Over the past 50 years, it has been my pleasure to contribute to the vital cultural resource that museums represent. I commend my colleagues and our dedicated Board of Trustees for their unwavering commitment to the arts. I also want to offer my sincere gratitude to our Museum members and volunteers for their continued support and active involvement.
My plan was to be an interim director for six months, but that time frame has now stretched to 11 years. This was due in large part to having extraordinary Board leadership beginning with Dalia Stiller and continuing, for many memorable years, with Jody Harrison Grass. Now with John DesPrez, as the newly-elected Chair, and a new Executive Director beginning in February, an exciting future is in store for the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
Permit me to look back over the last few years. Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, we
embarked on a significant initiative to enhance the Museum’s physical presence. The project addressed issues such as obscured entrances, confusing signage, and limited way-finding, resulting in a comprehensive upgrade inside and outside the building. Collaborating with architect Margi Glavovic Nothard at Glavovic Studio, we created a new relationship between the Museum and its surroundings, offering the same type of inviting public space as we achieved in the Museum galleries.
One of our notable achievements was the opening of the Ohnell Sculpture Garden, along with the removal of the west colonnade of the Mizner Park Amphitheater. This transformation created a 360-degree promenade around the Museum, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the outdoor art experience. The Sculpture Garden features remarkable art commissions, including a stunning 144-foot-long mural by Odili Donald Odita titled Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; a newly commissioned mural, At a Moment’s Notice, by John Boone; and Susan Philipsz’ eight-channel sound sculpture The Wind Rose Additionally, a 32-foot high installation, Worpswede-changing daytime sky, by the late Fluxus
artist Geoffrey Hendricks now boldly greets passersby on Federal Highway, symbolizing the Museum’s commitment to extending its reach beyond its galleries.
The renovation of our public areas, including the Jody Harrison Grass Lobby and the Wolgin Education Center, along with a complete revamp of our galleries and a thoughtful re-installation of the collections have further enhanced the overall visitor experience. Three new galleries foster fresh and dynamic interactions between artworks—one dedicated to African Art and the Art of Ancient America, one featuring the Museum’s comprehensive collection of prints and drawings, and a third designed to celebrate artists from the diverse local community are now the centerpiece among our rotating exhibitions.
One of the civic projects I am most proud of is the series of gallery installations closely tied to the Museum’s neighboring Pearl City. Located just two blocks from the Museum, Pearl City is one of the American South’s earliest and longest-lasting African American neighborhoods. The collaborative efforts of Museum curators, staff, and the community, along with artists Maren Hassinger, Charles McGill, and Reginald Cunningham, has resulted in acclaimed exhibitions and a lasting connection with Pearl City.
High-profile exhibitions have expanded the Museum’s audience and our role in promoting cultural tourism. Notable exhibitions organized by the Museum include Regarding George Ohr: Contemporary Ceramics in the Spirit of the Mad Potter; Imagining Florida: History and Myth in the Sunshine State; and An Irresistible Urge to Create: Florida Outsider Art. In 2021, the Museum
hosted the international premiere of Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, featuring a collection of 192 artifacts on loan from the Museo Larco in Lima, Peru. In 2022, Art of the Hollywood Backdrop continued to draw audiences, with a remarkable 318% increase in attendance from pre-pandemic numbers. We now look forward to Splendor and Passion: Baroque Spain and Its Empire.
We have also expanded the Museum’s reach beyond its location in Mizner Park. A source of pride are our programs with the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), designed in 1970 by Marcel Breuer. As one of Florida’s largest and most significant modern buildings, BRiC provides a gallery for the Museum’s annual juried exhibition, Art on BRiC Walls. The 132-acre campus also supports the Museum’s Art in Public Places Initiative, further enhancing the cultural impact of our institution.
The Museum’s original building on Palmetto Park Road continues to operate as the Museum’s Art School, nestled within a three-acre sculpture park. I have long felt that the next chapter in the Museum’s history returns to this location as we consider plans for a new facility. Through this exercise, we can look forward to finding the best means to expand the impact of the Art School and our education programs.
What is certain is that this is a job that is never complete, but a dynamic continuum. I am pleased to have had this opportunity to play a role in the life of the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IRVIN LIPPMAN
2024/2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
John DesPrez, Chair
Paola Luptak Jakobson, Vice Chair
Dr. Tamara Morgenstern, 2nd Vice Chair
Daniel Wolgin, Treasurer
Zachary Kirstein, Assistant Treasurer
Lorraine Gilden, Secretary
Jody H. Grass, Immediate Past Chair
Dalia Pabón Stiller, Member-at-Large Åsa Lööf, Member-at-Large
Doug Mithun, Chair Appointee
Stacey Packer, Chair Appointee
TRUSTEES
M. Adam Bankier
Marta Batmasian
Angelo Bianco
Renee Blatt
B. Michael Budd
Daniel Hostettler
Blake Janover
Suzanne Klein
Martin Mallinger
Dr. Karen Mashkin
Paul Miller
Robert Murphy
Julie Clairmont Shide
Houda Silcock
Edith Stein
John Tolbert
Liza Wainger
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Norman Codo
Jean Colker
Beth Davis
June Gelb
Olive Johnson
Elayne Mordes
Pat Ohnell
Marlene Pomeranz
Félix de la Concha, Untitled triptych [detail], 2023, oil on canvas panel. Museum acquisition in honor of Irvin M. Lippman, Executive Director (2014-2025) as part of an artist residency and commissioning project generously funded by Jody H. and Martin Grass
It was Jody Grass who called in January of 2014 and asked if I could help the Boca Raton Museum of Art during a leadership transition. Because it was a bitterly cold winter in North Texas, I agreed to come for six months. Eleven years later as I look forward to another retirement, I want to thank Jody for that call.
I recognized quickly that she and a devoted group of Trustees were convinced that the Museum had a spirit that needed to be unleashed. Jody and her husband, Martin Grass, were lead donors for the renovations inside and outside the Museum, making the facility far more public-oriented. It was Jody’s steadfast support and encouragement that will also be long lasting, building an esprit de corps within the Board that certainly impacted the staff, volunteers, and all of our members.
Perhaps the most emblematic and a truly lasting tribute is The Mending Wall, which literally mends the large space across the Museum’s loading dock. Thanks again to a contribution from Jody and Martin, it replaced a gate that visually said “keep out.” Now, with its alternating vertical
bands of colors and mirrored surfaces, it conveys something of the dynamic life of the Museum. At night it lights up, attracting the attention of passersby. Not surprisingly it has become a great backdrop for photographers and selfies. In choosing a title for this wall—conceived as an artwork—we were making reference to Robert Frost’s enigmatic poem The Mending Wall Like Frost’s annual fence-building activities with his neighbors, our Mending Wall is about community, as opposed to isolation.
Our architect Margi Glavovic Nothard wrote in a recent Newsweek article that for her Mending Wall is a metaphor for “unity and inclusion, bringing people closer together rather than a mechanism of exclusion and division.”
That spirit has been Jody’s all-important gift to the Museum, the spirit of unity and inclusion, bringing people closer together over the last eight years under her tenure as Chair for the greater good of the Boca Raton Museum of Art and the surrounding community.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IRVIN LIPPMAN
The Mending Wall. Photo by Robin Hill
SPLENDOR AND PASSION: BAROQUE SPAIN AND ITS EMPIRE
Premiering at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Splendor and Passion showcases 57 spectacular and rarely seen paintings dating from 16th and 17th century Spain generously on loan from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library in New York City, the most significant collection of Hispanic art outside of the Iberian Peninsula.
NOVEMBER 7, 2024 - MARCH 30, 2025
South Florida audiences have the singular opportunity to see the largest concentration of art from Baroque Spain ever to travel to the state. The exhibition features masterpieces from the Golden Age by artists such as El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Jusepe de Ribera, and Francisco de Zurbarán. It also includes work produced during that time throughout Spain’s empire in Latin America.
The word “baroque” comes from Portuguese, describing the irregular shape of a pearl. In art, it denotes an effusive, visually seductive style that appeals to the senses. During the Baroque period, Spain established the first globe-encircling empire. The wealth created by its empire resulted,
in part, from the exploitation of the recently discovered “New World.” These riches, along with wider international exposure, expanded Spain’s intellectual horizons, leading to two centuries of unmatched cultural energy and excellence in all the arts, particularly painting. This artistic “golden age” began in 1556 with the ascension of Philip II to the throne and continued through the reign of Charles II, the last Habsburg King of Spain, in 1700. The period also saw a cultural flowering in Spain’s dominions, leading to the creation of fascinating artworks from Latin America that combine Western influences, indigenous techniques, and local traditions. Examples of these works are also featured in the exhibition.
PREVIOUS PAGE: Nicholás Correa, The Wedding at Cana, 1696, oil and mixed media on wood panel, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
LEFT: Juan Carreño de Miranda, Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, ca. 1670, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
The paintings in Splendor and Passion include both secular and religious themes. Visitors will see depictions of monarchs and nobles arrayed in spectacular costumes, such as Diego Velázquez’s Portrait of Gaspar de Guzmán and Juan Carreño de Miranda’s portraits of kings Charles II and Philip IV. The exhibition prominently features images of clergy, including the portrait of a red-robed Cardinal Pamphili, also by Velázquez. Saints, angels, prominent figures, and scenes from the Bible also play a significant role. El Greco’s dramatic paintings of Saint James, Saint Jerome, Saint Francis, the Pietà, and the Holy Family are especially evocative, as are Ribera’s Saint Paul and Zurbarán’s paintings of Saint Emerentiana and Saint Lucy. Murillo’s depiction of The Prodigal Son Among the Swine demonstrates the artist’s attention to the plight of the poor. Other works in Splendor and Passion include deceiving trompe l’oeil paintings, still lifes, and allegorical works.
Splendor and Passion premieres at the Boca Raton Museum of Art before traveling to three additional venues. Guillaume Kientz, Director and CEO of The Hispanic Society Museum & Library is the exhibition’s curator. Located in New York’s Upper Manhattan Washington Heights neighborhood, The Hispanic Society Museum & Library was founded in 1904 by American philanthropist Archer Milton Huntington. Huntington aimed to establish a public museum and library for studying the art and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines, from antiquity to the present day. Its collection of 500,000 items is unparalleled in scope and quality.
This exciting exhibition kicks off the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s 75th Anniversary Season, which also coincides with the city of Boca Raton’s Centenary.
This exhibition was organized by The Hispanic Society Museum & Library with support from The Museum Box.
TOP: Diego Velázquez, Gaspar de Guzmán, Conde-Duque de Olivares, ca. 1625-1626, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
BOTTOM: Manuel Serna, Immaculate Conception and Saints, 1750, oil on copper. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
RIGHT: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Prodigal Son Among the Swine, 16561665, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
Unknown Artist, after Diego Velázquez, Copy of the Portrait of Juan de Pareja by Velázquez, mid-17th-late-18th century, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
El Greco (Doménikos Theotókopoulos), Pietà, ca. 1574-1576, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
FÉLIX DE LA CONCHA
To complement Splendor and Passion, the Museum invited the contemporary Spanish artist Félix de la Concha to include an installation of his meticulous copy of Diego Velázquez’s famous painting Las Meninas that hangs in the Prado Museum in Madrid.
NOVEMBER 7, 2024 - MARCH 30, 2025
De la Concha painted Las Meninas Under an Artificial Light, a work of art in oil on 140 individual sheets of canvas, each measuring 9 by 12 inches. The segments together reconstruct the real size of the Velázquez masterpiece, which measures 125 by 108 inches. De la Concha reproduced it with the patient task of a copyist, but instead of working in front of the painting at the Museo del Prado, de la Concha painted it entirely from a high-resolution reproduction available on the internet.
Félix de la Concha’s work is also featured in a special installation commemorating Boca Raton’s 100th anniversary. The artist chose the important crossroads of Dixie Highway, the Flagler railroad, and Camino Real with Addison Mizner’s administrative building (The Addison) as the centerpiece, painted en plein air using the traditional technique of oil on canvas. The triptych was acquired in honor of Irvin Lippman, the Museum’s Executive Director from 2014 to 2025, as part of an artist residency and commissioning project generously funded by Jody H. and Martin Grass.
SENIOR
CURATOR
KATHLEEN GONCHAROV
LEFT: Félix de la Concha, Las Meninas from an Artificial Light [detail], oil paint on 140 sheets of canvas. Courtesy of the Artist
RIGHT: Félix de la Concha, Untitled triptych [detail], 2023, oil on canvas panel. Museum acquisition in honor of Irvin M. Lippman, Executive Director (2014-2025) as part of an artist residency and commissioning project generously funded by Jody H. and Martin Grass
EXHIBITION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
SPOTLIGHT TOURS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024 / 5:30 - 7:00 PM
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025 / 5:30 - 7:00 PM
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 / 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Art historian Armando Droulers provides an intimate guided tour highlighting the works of renowned Baroque painters such as Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, depicting the religious and allegorical themes that dominate this period.
Our knowledgeable guide delves into historical and cultural contexts, revealing fascinating stories and the unique characteristics of Baroque art, including its use of light and shadow, realistic details, and dramatic intensity.
After the exploration into the world of Baroque art, unwind in the Ohnell Sculpture Garden, where you will be treated to a selection of fine Spanish wines.
ABOVE: Francisco de Zurbarán, Saint Emerentiana [detail], ca. 1635-40, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
SPANISH CINEMA NOW+
See an exciting series of recent films that reflect the styles and talents produced in Spain today. Thanks to the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington D.C., this limited free film series promotes Spanish cinema. Most films in this series are in Spanish with English subtitles.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025 / 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Four’s A Crowd / El Cuarto Pasajero 99 minutes, 2022
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025 / 6:00 - 7:30 PM
The Girls are Alright / Las Chicas Están Bien 85 minutes, 2023
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025 / 6:00 - 7:30 PM
The Human Voice / La Voz Humana 30 minutes, 2020 Strange Way of Life 31 minutes, 2023
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 / 6:00 - 7:50 PM
Love & Revolution / Te Estoy Amando Locamente 107 minutes, 2023
ABOVE: Álex de la Iglesia, Four’s a Crowd / El cuarto pasajero, 2022, film still
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT BOCAMUSEUM.ORG
Educational programs for Splendor and Passion are generously funded by the Gerald & Olivia Shapiro Family Foundation
FIESTA DE ROJO
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024
Mark the holiday season with a magical night celebrating Splendor and Passion, exploring the vivid drama, deep emotion, and exquisite detail that defines Spanish Baroque art.
Fiesta de Rojo is an exceptional opportunity to enjoy the rich creativity and passion of Spanish culture featuring Flamenco dancers and an evening of live Spanish music. Savor a culinary journey though Spain with traditional dishes, perfectly paired with fine Spanish wines and refreshing sangria.
This event is a feast for the senses and a journey into a time of unparalleled beauty and artistic achievement. Invite your friends and family for an unforgettable evening of food, music, dance, and celebration. ¡Olé!
BAROQUE INTELLIGENCE SYMPOSIUM
FEBRUARY 22, 2025
Boca Raton Museum of Art and Florida Atlantic University partner for the day-long symposium, Baroque Intelligence: From Masterpieces to Machines, Searching for the Reflections of the Mind.
In today’s age of narrative manipulations, where does the human mind turn for reflection? What is the ultimate goal for the omnipresence of Artificial Intelligence? Today’s society can learn a great deal from previous cognitive and epistemological revolutions. The Baroque period offers us lessons on how new technologies reshape human understanding. Known for its extravagance, dynamism, and complexity, this era in Spain and its colonial empire provides insights into human perception, cognition, and creativity. AI in our own “Neo-Baroque” times can shed light on the cognitive processes behind Baroque art, literature, and music.
Scholars from diverse fields come together to bridge the past, present, and future, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. The symposium seeks to generate new insights into both the Baroque period and today’s world by highlighting various revolutionary intelligences.
ABOVE: El Greco (Doménikos Theotókopoulos), Saint Luke [detail], 1590s, oil on canvas. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
LEGACY: GIFTS OF THE MAYERS AND FRIEDMANS
It is thanks to the exceptional works given by Dr. John J. and Mrs. Bess Mayers in 1989 that put the Boca Raton Museum of Art on the map as a serious collecting institution. In 2007, the Bequest of Isadore and Kelly Friedman helped solidify the strength of the Museum’s growing photography collection.
NOVEMBER 7, 2024 - OCTOBER 26, 2025
Foundational gifts like those of the Mayers and Friedmans are the backbone of a successful and dynamic collecting program. It is with great pride that we present on the occasion of the Museum’s 75th anniversary, the celebratory exhibition Legacy: Gifts from the Mayers and Friedman Collections
Over 100 exemplary drawings, graphics, photographs, paintings, and sculpture have been selected from the two collections. Each selected artist is considered a pioneer in their field, and visitors will enjoy a familiar stroll through the annals of art history. Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Alberto Giacometti, Edward Hopper, Eugène Atget, Berenice Abbott, Doro-
thea Lange, Walker Evans, and Helmut Newton are just a few of the artists featured. The exhibition represents the progression of style across art historical eras beginning in the late 1800s and ending in the 1980s.
The Boca Raton Museum of Art looks back with gratitude to donors who believed the visual arts are integral to a city’s success. At the time of its donation, the Miami Herald (October 31, 1990) reported: “Dr. John Mayers and his wife Bess wanted to make a difference when they donated their multi-million-dollar art collection. So they gave their collection of 51 works of modern art to the Boca Raton Museum of Art, a museum they saw as thriving.”
“‘We were looking for a small museum with a bright future,’ explained Dr. Mayers, a retired dentist. ‘We could have given the collection to a larger institution, but it might have become lost, among other things. Here, it is important and will stay important.’”
Isadore Friedman, a long-time Museum Trustee who played an influential role as President of the Museum’s Board from 2004 to 2006, expressed a similar sentiment, indicating that his greatest desire was to share his enthusiasm for art with as many people as possible and ensure that his collection would remain a resource for the residents and visitors to Florida for generations.
In addition to their bequest, the Isadore and Kelly Friedman Acquisition Fund has been invaluable in allowing the Museum to acquire new work for the collection that reflects exciting new developments in artistic creation.
On the occasion of this exhibition, the Museum presents its newest acquisition made through a recent special gift from the Isadore and Kelly Friedman Foundation—Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck’s Vanishing Point, an 11-minute video. The artist’s animated drawings explore the act of slipping into a moment of timelessness, an oasis for a busy and preoccupied mind.
ASSOCIATE CURATOR KELLI BODLE
LEFT: Maurice Prendergast, Campo San Cassiano, about 1898-1899, watercolor on paper. Acquired 1989. The Dr. and Mrs. John J. Mayers Collection
ABOVE: Roy Lichtenstein, View from the Window, 1985, lithograph, woodcut, and screen print. Acquired 2007; Bequest of Isadore and Kelly Friedman
ART ON BRIC WALLS: ADDISON MIZNER AND HIS LASTING INFLUENCE ON BOCA RATON
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
Organized by the Boca Raton Museum of Art in partnership with CP Group, this annual juried exhibition is open to artists from Palm Beach and Broward Counties. This year’s exhibition celebrates the centenary of Boca Raton with a special focus on Addison Mizner who was instrumental in developing our city to be, as he said, “as perfect as study and ideals can make it.”
Famed Palm Beach society architect Addison Mizner (1872-1933) put the little farming town of Boca Raton literally on the map in the mid-1920s. Mizner envisioned a place with the beauties of
an ancient Spanish or Italian town—but with American plumbing, roads, and electricity. “Boca Raton” became a metaphor for the Florida land boom and gave locals a sense of uniqueness that continues to this day. In this exhibition, selected photographers present their interpretation of Mizner’s influence on the “Dream City of the Western World.”
Local historian Susan Gillis juried the exhibition. She is curator at the Boca Raton Historical Society and author of eight books on local history, including Boomtime Boca: Boca Raton in the 1920s.
TOP LEFT: Sharon Koskoff, Addison’s Shadow, 2022, digital print. Courtesy of the Artist
TOP MIDDLE: Grace Courbis, Mizner Fountains, 2024, digital print. Courtesy of the Artist
TOP RIGHT: Virginia Carrocio, Mizner’s Spirit, 2024, digital print. Courtesy of the Artist
BOTTOM LEFT: David Cohen, Paradise Found, 2024, photograph on glass. Courtesy of the Artist
BOTTOM RIGHT: Rishona Cann, Symmetree, 2024, photograph on fine art paper. Courtesy of the Artist
GLASSTRESS BOCA RATON 2025
APRIL 23 - OCTOBER 26, 2025
The third iteration of the popular Glasstress exhibition returns to the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Glasstress is a project in Murano at the Fondazione Berengo that brings major international artists, many of whom have never worked in glass, to Venice to collaborate with its glass masters. These glass experts are challenged to rise to the technical obstacles that artists at the forefront of contemporary art present and expand beyond their centuries-old techniques. The project also aims to increase the prestige of glass as fine art and to bring Murano’s ancient traditions into the contemporary world. The result is innovative artworks that are dramatic.
Glasstress Boca Raton 2025 includes over twenty works by globally celebrated artists. Irish artist Sean Scully, known for lush abstract paintings, turned to sculpture as an artist-in-residence at the Fondazione Berengo. His Venice Stack is a monumental tower consisting of hand-made glass squares of vibrant colors measuring nearly eight feet tall in total. Another colorful installation of multiple glass urns by German artist Thomas Schütte, whose work is the subject of a current retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, will also be included.
MacArthur Fellow Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons’s two contributions to the exhibition are a mobile of abstracted butterflies dedicated to the memory of Breonna Taylor, and a vibrant pink and red stabile titled Reservoir of Love. Laure Prouvost, winner of the prestigious British Turner Prize who represented France in the 2019 Venice Biennale, and
has collaborated regularly with the masters in Murano, contributes a nature-focused installation to this exhibition. Anna Jermolaewa, who represented Austria in the 2024 Venice Biennale, is included in the exhibition along with Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s giant chandelier, Fiona Banner with her life-size glass scaffold, and multiple works by the celebrated British artist Tony Cragg.
SENIOR CURATOR KATHLEEN GONCHAROV
ABOVE: Irene Cattaneo, Forget Me No-w/t, 2024, glass, plaster, lights. Courtesy of the Artist
A LOOK AHEAD
DONALD FARNSWORTH: THE PARMA PORTRAITS (THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS)
MARCH 5 - AUGUST 3, 2025
While traveling in Italy in 2022 artist Donald Farnsworth was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of COVID-19. He was admitted to the Maggiore Hospital in Parma where he was confined for five weeks.
These exquisite portraits pay homage to the courageous doctors and healthcare professionals who risked their lives to save him during the height of the pandemic. Though the portraits are described as contempo-
TIMELESS
rary, Farnsworth’s mixed media drawings recall those made during the Italian Renaissance. In fact, Farnsworth is an expert papermaker and through painstaking research into materials and techniques he has recreated Renaissance-style handmade paper. This further instills a timeless quality of the portraits and mirrors the enduring values inherent to the medical profession.
MUCHA: THE MAGIC OF LINE
NOVEMBER 19, 2025 - MARCH 1, 2026
This exhibition is a reappraisal of the wellloved graphic work of pioneering Czech artist Alphonse Mucha (1860 - 1939), which was created during the height of his popularity in turn-of-the-century Paris. It further explores the timelessness of Mucha’s unique style as his art has continued to influence contemporary media.
Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line includes over one-hundred works of art, providing a complete overview of the artist who became an Art Nouveau icon. Drawn from the Mucha Foundation (established in 1922 by members of the family), the exhibition, in addition to his prolific graphic work, also
includes private treasures from Mucha’s personal life and studio that formed his art theory.
Art Nouveau and Mucha were “rediscovered” by later generations of artists. The first were the designers in the 1960s and ‘70s of psychedelic band posters and record covers—the Grateful Dead, Diana Ross & The Supremes, and The Rolling Stones. Following the poster boom, Mucha’s style continued to influence a wide range of visual culture from the late 20th century to the present as exemplified by American comics, Japanese manga, and street murals.
Our signature Gala fundraiser—the 75th Anniversary Dinner and Dance at The Boca Raton—will be inspired by Spain’s rich and vibrant culture and feature flashes of brilliant performances of flamenco dance and Spanish guitar.
Enjoy fine cuisine, dancing to superlative entertainment, and many more surprises—all to support the Museum’s outstanding exhibitions and educational programs.
Join us as we celebrate 75 years of award-winning art and education and a future full of creativity and inspiration for our community!
Honorary Chair and Jean Spence Award Recipient: Dr. Karen Mashkin
Co-Chairs: Marta Batmasian, John DesPrez III
38TH ANNUAL ART FESTIVAL
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 & 2, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Take a break to celebrate one of South Florida’s premier cultural events at Mizner Park. With over 170 artists from more than 10 countries, the 2025 festival promises to be a vibrant, diverse showcase of creative talent. From painting and sculpture to ceramics and mixed media, it’s the perfect opportunity to purchase original artwork directly from the artists.
As a special bonus, admission to the Museum will be free to the community during the festival. The event will feature engaging family activities, art-making sessions, and the must-see Splendor and Passion exhibition.
Come together to experience an unforgettable outdoors weekend filled with creativity, culture, and inspiration. It’s also a great way to support the arts and artists.
MUSEUM STORE EVENTS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Sip & Shop
Enjoy a glass of wine as you shop. We will be featuring jewelry designer Shari Sadek.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2024
12:00 - 5:00 PM
Latin American Expo
Local artists Leda Almar, Juan Bernal, Sol Filippi, Mingo, Mariana Monteagudo, and Polo Ramirez
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2024
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Museum Store Sunday
All visitors receive 20% off every purchase.
DECEMBER 1, 2024 - JANUARY 5, 2025
Member Appreciation Days
Museum Members receive an additional 10% off their purchases at the Museum Store.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024
3:00 - 4:00 PM (LECTURE)
4:00 - 6:00 PM (SIP & SHOP)
Lecture and Sip & Shop
A conversation with local jewelry designer Sana Dumet followed by a Museum Store Sip & Shop.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Guest Artist
Jewelry designer Sana Dumet visits the store.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 PM (LECTURE)
4:00 - 6:00 PM (BOOK SIGNING / SIP & SHOP)
Lecture and Book Signing
Local artist and author Nicole Gabai discusses her book The Art of Organizing followed by a signing and Sip & Shop.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 PM (LECTURE)
4:00 - 6:00 PM (BOOK SIGNING / SIP & SHOP)
Lecture and Book Signing
Local artist and author Carol Calicchio discusses her book Flower Power followed by a signing and Sip & Shop.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART
The arts are one of the fundamental ways that humanity has communicated experiences and ideas from the dawn of time. From cave drawings to Eugene Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People to Louise Nevelson’s Shadow Chord, art illustrates life and creativity. The arts promote self-discovery and social connectedness. Advocating the importance of the arts needs to remain a priority.
The academic benefits of art education are well understood and have long formed the basis for arts advocacy. Experts, including those at the Brookings Institution, Harvard University’s Project Zero, and Americans for the Arts, have long espoused the critical role that the arts play in K-12 education. Various studies demonstrate that students engaged in arts learning have lower dropout rates, higher GPAs, better retention rates, and higher college admittance rates.
The Museum’s staff and volunteers have a passionate belief in the transformative power of art. The Education Department’s activity and reach are broad – providing learning experiences for Pre-K through adults at the museum and throughout the South Florida community. We listen to our community to create engaging educational and entertaining programs that tap into cognitive and critical thinking.
The visual arts are essential for a full, healthy, and creative life and form the foundation for our programs. You may have participated in one of our programs, such as a docent tour, Music in the Museum, an art film, or a cultural lecture. In addition, we offer programs for early childhood,
intergenerational workshops, and career development opportunities for youth and young adults.
We accomplish our programming with many supporters, including volunteers, cultural partners, and sponsors. Through the generosity of our donors, the Museum provides free admission for all students from elementary school through college. This is possible because our donors understand the importance of making arts education accessible to all. Don’t be an observer, join our list of donors at any level you can give!
We appreciate all the support for our education programming and want to acknowledge the following recent donors – the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Art Bridges Foundation, Mindy Helman-Levine, and the Gerald & Olivia Shapiro Family Foundation.
Lastly, I am happy to announce our newest staff member in the Education Department, Teresa Russo, PhD. Dr. Russo has been teaching for 15 years in the US and Canada. Known for her experiential learning practices and digital humanities projects, she brings a fresh perspective to the department.
I hope to see you on your next visit to the museum!
HAROLD E. PERPER DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION CLAIRE ELISABETH CLUM
BELOW: Louise Nevelson, Shadow Chord [detail], 1969, painted wood construction. Acquired 2001; Museum Purchase with funding provided by Collector’s Forum and partial gift of Mr. Sid Deutsch
LEARNING ON THE ROAD: 6TH GRADE DISTRICT CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
The Boca Raton Museum of Art is one of 43 arts and science field trip providers listed by the School District of Palm Beach County to offer experiences for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The Museum enhances classroom learning objectives and goals set by the State of Florida’s Department of Education through its engaging student programs.
In addition to making the K-12 list, Superintendent Mike Burke has invited the Museum to participate in the Cultural Experience Initiative. As part of the District’s strategic plan, this initiative requires that all students, in every grade, attend an off-campus field trip to explore community resources and expand their learning in an informal environment. Alongside regular K-12 visitors, the Museum expects to host an additional 1,300 sixth-graders and their teachers this school year.
The Education Department has designed an exciting program featuring IT integration, interaction with an artist, and a self-directed activity book for visiting students. With the guidance of Museum staff and their teachers, students apply their knowledge and explore artwork through activities linked to visual arts, English language arts, science, and math. The Museum staff researched sixth-grade concepts and the Florida State curriculum to align the artwork on display with the students’ visit. For example, in their social studies and English language arts classes, students learn about myths and narration. At the Museum, in the Edith & Martin Stein Family Foundation Gallery, one activity focuses on mythological sculptures, including a piece about the creation of the Milky Way. Students then create
stories incorporating the solar system into their own mythological hero or heroine.
In the Jay and Jane Braus Gallery, the program highlights themes such as the environment, seasons, and the golden ratio. Students are introduced to the mathematical concept of the golden ratio and explore how Dorothea Rockburne uses it in her painting, Gerusalemme Liberata. Another activity connects to sixth-grade studies of characters’ journeys in novels like Little Women and The Adventures of Pinocchio This theme continues in the Isadore Friedman Gallery, where students explore the character of Don Quixote through the sculpture Don Quixote Segunda Partee [Don Quixote Second Part] by Izhar Paktin, which is on extended loan to the Museum.
The Education Department developed the program to make the experience interdisciplinary, incorporating subjects that sixth graders are studying and introducing them to deeper concepts. The planning and implementation of this project involve a collaborative effort by the Education Department, which has a longstanding reputation with the Palm Beach County School System, as well as parochial, charter, and homeschool educators in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
This new program is sponsored by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
ROUMEN BOUDEV: WORKING IN A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Q&A with an Art School instructor
How long have you been with the Boca Raton Museum Art School?
I have been with the Boca Raton Museum Art School since 2014, when I moved with my family from Michigan.
Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in art?
I was born and raised in Bulgaria, and for as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to become an artist. At the age of three, I declared my ambition to be an artist, and I have never wavered from that goal. At 13, I applied to the National High School for Arts, winning a nationwide competition and finishing first among hundreds of candidates. At 18, I applied to the National Academy of Art, won another nationwide competition, and graduated in 1991 with an MFA in Painting and Art Education. I started my
career as a freelance artist and later became an Assistant Professor of Painting at the National Academy of Art in Sofia after winning another nationwide competition. In 1999, after receiving my USA Permanent Resident Card, I decided to change my life and moved to Michigan, and later to Florida.
Could you describe your artistic style and the themes you explore in your works?
My artistic style is versatile, ranging from representational to non-representational art, and from hyper-realistic to conceptual works. I work in various mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, installation, and 3-D art. I believe that each idea or concept should be executed in the medium that best suits it, using the appropriate materials, methods, and techniques.
Can you describe the courses or classes you teach at the Art School?
At the Boca Raton Museum Art School, I teach all levels of painting and drawing classes for both adults and teens. These include painting in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, gouache, tempera, mixed media, fundamentals of drawing, figure drawing, and advanced drawing and painting classes. My emphasis is on linear and atmospheric perspective, human anatomy, color theory, materials and process, and the principles and elements of art.
How do you keep your teaching methods and curriculum fresh and engaging for both new and returning students?
I use a variety of teaching methods, including lessons, short lectures, presentations, and plenty of demonstrations. I believe live demonstrations in the studio are the most effective way to learn and develop skills. Students need to see how the principles and elements presented in a lesson work in the process of creating artwork. I work one-on-one with each student at their current level, helping them develop their artistic abilities by sharing “shortcuts” based on my six decades of experience as a practicing artist.
How has your role as an instructor influenced your perspective on the art world and the creative process?
From my extensive experience, I know that in the studio, I am not just an art instructor but also a role model for our students. I share my knowledge, methods, and skills while providing my perspective on art history, aesthetics, contemporary art, and new genres. The exchange of ideas with my students has a very positive impact on my creative process.
What do you hope your students take away from their experience at the Art School?
The Museum’s Art School is like a second home for our students and instructors—a creative hub
and professional center for the highest level of education in the visual arts. Our students are talented, dedicated, and grateful for the knowledge they gain about making art, developing their skills and abilities, and receiving the best professional instruction from our amazing faculty members. Working in a creative, supportive, and friendly environment, having fun, and creating art with pleasure and love, my students often say with a smile, “Thank you for making a difference in our lives.”
You can register for Art School classes online at bocamuseum.org or by calling 561.392.2503
All Members receive 10% off Art School classes. Plus+ Family levels and above receive 10% off Art School Classes and Summer Sessions for children under 18.
Learn more about becoming a Member at bocamuseum.org/membership
LEFT: Roumen Boudev, Transition, 2012, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of the Artist
TOP: Roumen Boudev, My Mother, 2001, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Artist
MEMBERSHIP MEANS MORE
Supporting the Museum not only demonstrates your commitment to enriching our community, it enriches your personal experience. Programs have been designed to provide opportunities for you to more fully engage with the Museum. We invite you to be involved!
MEMBER MORNINGS
Complimentary Member Mornings present personal interactions with Museum and Art School staff, offering behind-the-scenes insights and a closer connection to the creative process. Upcoming Dates: November 4 and December 9.
LECTURE & LUNCH SERIES
This popular series boasts a lineup of distinguished speakers. Each lecture is followed by lunch in the Grand Hall, creating an ideal blend of social, intellectual, and culinary nourishment. Lectures begin promptly at 11:00 am.
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
What Art Tells Us About the Brain: The Surreal Paintings of Rene Magritte with Russell D. Hamer, Ph.D
MARCH 17, 2025
Paintings from the Spanish Golden Age with Armando Droulers
APRIL 7, 2025
Fakes, Forgeries and Frauds: International Intrigue in Art Law with Laura Reich, Esq.
COLLECTORS FORUM
Members and Donors at the Curatorial Circle level and above enjoy the best of the South Florida art scene through a curated itinerary of visits to private collections, galleries, museums, and artist studios.
NOVEMBER 13, 2024
Miami: Gallery Dinner Party
Share a meal and mingle with some of Miami’s foremost gallerists and artists.
DECEMBER 3, 2024
Miami Art Week: Private Collection / Art Miami / NADA
Visit a private Miami collection and enjoy VIP access to the Art Miami, CONTEXT, and NADA.
JANUARY 8, 2025
Palm Beach: Studio 1608 / Gallery / Private Collections
Explore artist studios, galleries, and one of the most important collections in Palm Beach.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
Miami: Coral Gables and Allapattah
Visit two private collections in Coral Gables and a new gallery in Allapattah.
MARCH 19, 2025
Boca: Private Collections
Visits the homes of some of Boca Raton’s most prominent collectors.
Prices and schedules for events vary.
For more information or to RSVP call 561.392.2500, ext. 212 or email museumcircle@bocamuseum.org
ART TRAVEL
Regional, national, and international travel opportunities are available as a benefit of your annual giving level. Stay tuned for upcoming trips to Sarasota/Naples, L.A., Madrid, and Prague.
501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432
HOURS
WEDNESDAY 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
THURSDAY 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
FRIDAY 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SATURDAY 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
COVER: Sebastián López de Arteaga, Saint Michael Striking Down the Rebellious Angels, 1650-1652, oil on copper. Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York
