Portraits & Landscapes

By Sean Davies

While a good number of museums play host to beautiful artwork, few are works of art themselves. At The Ringling, Florida’s State Museum, art and artistry are in full display in every corner of the property, not just in the exhibits but in the immaculate decoration, the stunning architecture and the well manicured grounds.

The former residence of John Ringling, circus impresario, The Ringling is every bit as eye-catching as the industry that paid for its conception. The entirety of the Ringling estate is home to The Ringling Arboretum, over 2350 of native, exotic, historical and culturally significant trees.

Amongst the arbor sits the palatial winter residence of John and Mable Ringling, Ca’ d’Zan, an architectural gem in the Mediterranean Revival style that draws thousands of visitors every year. Inside, guests can marvel at the furnishings and works of fine art carefully selected by Marissa Hershon, Curator of Ca’ d’Zan and Decorative Arts.

It’s not the only venue dedicated to the former proprietors of the estate. The Circus Museum, divided into two buildings, houses the wardrobe, props, equipment and ephemera documenting more than 250 years of the traveling entertainment emporium.

Beautifully carved parade wagons, sturdy utility wagons, and even a cannon that shot fearless performers across the big top are joined by a wealth of 19th and early

Continued on page 26

20th century posters, as well as the Howard Bros. Circus Model, a 3/4 inch scale miniature depicting the tented American circus of Ringling’s era.

However, that’s not the only era The Ringling has its sights on. Special exhibitions focusing on contemporary art reflect the institution’s initiative, “The Art of Our Time.”

At The Ringling Museum of Art, the original 21 galleries of rotating works of art from the Ringlings expansive collection are housed with 10 additional galleries that have been added since it opened. Traveling exhibits are hosted regularly, including a new and groundbreaking exhibit running March 18 to September 4.

“Reclaiming Home: Contemporary Seminole Art” will mark The Ringling’s first presentation of contemporary art by Native American artists with ancestral, historical, and present-day connections to Florida. An imperative step toward establishing a meaningful relationship

The piece (above), a triptych by artist with the Native American artistic community, “Reclaiming Home” will highlight the breadth and depth of the artwork being done today by Seminole, Miccosukee, and mixedheritage artists in Florida and beyond.

Jessica Osceola entitled “Portrait One, Portrait Two, and Portrait Three” (2017) is the first work by a Seminole artist to be added to The Ringling’s collection of modern and contemporary art.

“It’s important to understand who are some of the contemporary Native American artists working in Florida today and what various issues they are exploring in their art,” said Ola Wlusek, The Ringling’s Keith D. and Linda. L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. “Every single piece of art on view, over 100 objects, was made after the 1970s. We’re very excited and honored to be able to show recent work by Native artists with such deep ancestral connections to Florida.”

Also presented with the important work by the internationally-recognized artists of Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole descent now living in Oklahoma and beyond, the exhibition will change viewers’ understanding of Native American art made in and around Florida today and raise awareness about the complexities of issues facing Seminole diaspora.

“Reclaiming Home” is also the first collaboration between The Ringling and Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of Seminole culture and history, located on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation. Several important loans from the museum will be featured in the exhibition.

“Recently, The Ringling made an important and exciting acquisition from the collection of work by one of the artists in the exhibition” said Wlusek. The piece, a triptych by artist Jessica Osceola entitled “Portrait One, Portrait Two, and Portrait Three” (2017) is the first work by a Seminole artist to be added to The Ringling’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary art.

The permanent collection at the Museum of Art includes works that span genres and centuries, from medieval art and Renaissance paintings to contemporary works, as well as an entire pavilion dedicated to international contemporary glass. The rotating collections allow for new acquisitions to be installed, giving guests a reason to return.

Just outside the Museum of Art, in the beautiful Italianate courtyard, is one of many bayfront gardens that dot the grounds. Like Mable’s Rose Garden, located at the heart of the estate, they are another enduring testament to The Ringling’s many interests.

From pristine beaches and waterways to nature trails filled with fascinating wildlife, an outdoor wonderland awaits to rekindle romance and reawaken your sense of adventure. Come share unforgettable moments in a getaway that’s outside all expectations.