Reynolda Guide: Fall/Winter 2023

For Members & Friends

Throughout this guide, you will see references to “Members” and “Friends.” Members support Reynolda House. They receive a variety of perks, including being first in line to see exhibitions, Members-only invitations to special programs and events, unlimited free admission throughout the year, and a Museum Store discount.

Friends support Reynolda Gardens to help sustain the day-to-day operations of maintaining Reynolda’s outdoor grounds, including the Formal Gardens, meadow, and trails. Benefits for Friends include early access to plant sales and other events, a subscription to Cultivate, and more!

If you are not yet a Member or Friend, please visit reynolda.org/support for more information.

Instances of “WFU” refer to faculty, staff, and students of Wake Forest University.

On the cover: Zachary Smith Reynolds and Libby Holman. Photograph courtesy Liam Donnelly Archive

Director’s letter

Dear Members and Friends,

There’s been an energizing feeling of “newness” in the air at Reynolda as of late. Have you noticed it? It could be the summer campers who parade around the estate with a bit more pep in their step. Or maybe it’s the first-time visitors who find themselves in awe when exploring the permanent collection, including our two newest acquisitions, Flora and Lillie by artist Stephen Towns, and Hubcap by Richard Estes. Even the Black-eyed Susans stood just a tad taller this summer.

More audiences are finding a newfound sense of belonging at Reynolda, and as we continue to push the boundaries of a historic estate and museum, we are deeply committed to sharing our stories in all of their truth—whether they be uplifting or uncomfortable. Our fall exhibition, Smith & Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet (opening September 9) is no exception and is in fact an intertwinement of the two sentiments.

For the first time in Reynolda’s history as a museum, we’ll shed light on the marriage of Z. Smith Reynolds and his wife, Libby Holman, the fatal night that brought it all to a screeching halt, and the remaining chapters that were yet to be written, but undoubtedly forgotten.

At Reynolda, we aim to connect people with the beauty and complexity of the American story through the integration of art, nature, and history. In doing so, we are committed to “lifting the veil” and providing a stronger sense of transparency and honesty to our visitors. We want Reynolda to feel just as much your home as it did to the three generations of Reynoldses who occupied it. So much so, that we are thrilled to announce the addition of a new ping pong table for play in the basement of the historic house. Adults and children alike will be invited to pause in their museum journey and create a moment of joy, laughter, and memories!

I encourage each of you to find a new favorite moment at Reynolda. Take a new route along the scenic trails of the estate, contemplate a new work of art, try a new menu item in Reynolda Village. Whatever your starting point, I encourage you to find a new reason to call Reynolda, “home.”

Allison Perkins Executive Director, Reynolda House Wake Forest University Associate Provost for Reynolda House & Reynolda Gardens

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON

Reynolda’s Virtual Tour

Set your own pace and travel step by step through the Reynolds family’s 1917 bungalow. Take in architectural details and explore the American art collection with a voiceover guide. The Reynolda House virtual tour offers a new perspective for curious minds to journey through the Museum from the comfort of their own home.

reynolda.org/virtual-tour

WHILE YOU’RE ONLINE

The Pop-Up Studio Series offers more than twenty family-friendly art activities, inspired by Reynolda’s collection of art and fine objects. Each activity includes a video guide, transcript, and instructions in a downloadable PDF. Choose from bubble wrap printing, candied flowers, paper sculpture masks, and many more.

reynolda.org/pop-up-studio

Volunteer Blake Stewart: Preserving Reynolda’s Trees by Stephani Eaton

Exhibitions

Smith & Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet

BABCOCK WING GALLERY

Like most family homes, Reynolda House witnessed its share of tragedies, none more shocking than the death by gunshot of Zachary Smith (“Smith”) Reynolds, youngest child of R.J. and Katharine Smith Reynolds. Soon after midnight on July 6, 1932, Smith was shot on a sleeping porch at the family’s country estate. It was a brood year for cicadas in the Southern Appalachians, so the bullet of a Mauser pistol was heard only as a muffled pop by the night watchman. It was heard by Smith’s wife, Broadway star Libby Holman, who was with her husband on the porch. And it was heard by Smith’s childhood friend and secretary Albert “Ab” Walker, although exactly where Walker was at the time of the shooting is shrouded in mystery.

Smith died later that morning. Subsequent investigations made national news in the summer and fall of 1932 and led to charges of first-degree murder for Libby Holman and Ab Walker. Then, in a stunning reversal, the case was dropped before coming to a trial that might have led to the death penalty. To this day, it is not known whether Smith Reynolds, twenty-year-old heir and renowned aviator, died by suicide, accident, or murder. This exhibition presents archival objects, news

Zachary Smith Reynolds courtesy Reynolda House Museum of American Art Archives; Libby Holman courtesy the Libby Holman Collection, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University

articles, and other primary sources to lay bare the mystery in all its fascinating complexity. There is more than one way for a house to be haunted, and this story has hung over Reynolda for ninety years, at once the most tragic and infamous day in its history. Smith & Libby draws back the curtain on an event that shocked the world and echoed down the generations, still inspiring speculation and curiosity in visitors of all ages today.

Exhibition Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Howard Upchurch and John Hoemann

Contributing Sponsor

Lead Sponsor Pam and Fred Kahl

Exhibition Partners

Lynn and Barry Eisenberg

Lamar Advertising

Tom Lambeth and Jock Tate

Anonymous

The Robert and Constance Emken Fund of The Winston-Salem Foundation

Leigh and Gray Smith

Mary Craig and Andy Tennille

Verger Capital Management

Film Series: Sirens of the Silver Screen presented by Mike and Debbie Rubin

Oral history stations generously supported by Bruce and Anne Babcock

Exhibition Opening Events

PREVIEW PARTY

5:30–7:30 p.m.

For exhibition sponsors, Sustainers, and Reynolda Society Members Invitations will be mailed

MEMBERS’ CELEBRATION

3:30–6:30 p.m.

For all Members

Invitations will be mailed

Museum Members are invited to enjoy a sneak peek of the exhibition from noon to 3:30 p.m. on September 8. The Members’ Celebration will kick off at 3:30 p.m.

Still I Rise: The Black Experience at Reynolda EAST BEDROOM GALLERY

This exhibition examines the lives of the Black women and men who helped shape Reynolda as it evolved from a Jim Crow era working estate into an American art museum. Still I Rise has been extended through the end of 2024. Reynolda’s recent acquisition, Minnie Evans’s, Untitled, is now on view in the exhibition.

From 1912 through the 1950s, during one of the most repressive climates for Black people in North Carolina history, Black men and women navigated Reynolda’s segregated spaces—farming the land, constructing buildings, and working as domestic staff. Discriminatory laws denied Black people their rights, subjected them to public humiliation, and perpetuated their economic and educational marginalization. Segregation, anti-Black laws, and the exploitation of Black labor affected the lives of everyone at Reynolda, where there was separate housing, separate schools, and jobs often divided along racial lines. While the struggle for equality did not end with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the story of Reynolda pivoted to one of a public cultural institution that invited artists such as Maya Angelou, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden to share their craft. Still I Rise highlights Reynolda’s first fifteen years as a museum for American art by examining the events that shaped the evolution of the Museum and the projects that uncovered the history of Reynolda’s past.

This exhibition has been made possible in part by the Winston-Salem (NC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Coexistence: Nature vs. Nurture

This exhibition brings together works from Reynolda, Wake Forest University Print Collections, and Special Collections and Archives at Z. Smith Reynolds Library to examine the theme of interaction. What kinds of reciprocal relationships between human beings find expression in art? How has art commented upon the involvement that human beings have with the natural world? This exhibition navigates the negotiation of human interactions and how we interact with the reality around us, as the aftermath of the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic drastically shifted our perceived reality and interactions with others and the world. This exhibition is curated by Brighid Biehl, Amanda Jones, Audrey Kim, Jillian Liu, Tsing Liu, and Olivia Wright, students in Dr. Morna O’Neill’s art class at Wake Forest University entitled The Art Museum—History, Theory, Controversy.

COMING SOON

Good Impressions: Portraits Across Three Centuries from Reynolda and Wake Forest NORTHWEST BEDROOM GALLERY

Portraits are often taken at face value—as accurate representations of a person’s appearance, sometimes removed by decades or centuries. But portraits are often the products of delicate negotiations between artist and subject. Sometimes they flatter, exaggerating the sitter’s beauty or rich attire. Sometimes they capture the subject engaged in his or her occupation, whether pausing during study or painting in his or her studio. Sometimes they celebrate an auspicious occasion, such as a recent engagement or the imminent birth of a child. This exhibition features three centuries of portraits of men and women, Black and White, solitary and companionate, classic and modern.

Good Impressions was mounted to mark the recent conservation treatment of John Singleton Copley’s 1762 Portrait of Mrs. Daniel Rogers (Elizabeth Gorham Rogers) in the collection of Wake Forest University, and Reynolda House’s recent acquisition of Kwame Brathwaite’s 1973 photograph Changing Times.

DEC 9 through JUNE 30 2024

COMING SOON

Art for the American Home: Grant Wood’s Lithographs

WEST BEDROOM GALLERY

In 1934, the Regionalist artist Grant Wood made an agreement with Associated American Artists (AAA) in New York to create a series of lithographs. Wood, the creator of Reynolda’s iconic 1936 painting Spring Turning, ultimately produced nineteen lithographs, about a quarter of his mature work. His consummate drafting skills made him a natural for the medium. The AAA produced the lithographs in editions of 250 and sold them for $5 to $10 each. The opportunity to create affordable art during the Great Depression appealed to the artist. This small exhibition will focus on Wood’s narrative lithographs (Sultry Night, Honorary Degree, Shrine Quartet, The Midnight Alarm) and still lifes. The colored still life lithographs of fruits, vegetables, and flowers represent the fecundity of Iowa’s farmland.

John Singleton Copley, Portrait of Mrs. Daniel Rogers (Elizabeth Gorham Rogers), 1762, Wake Forest University, Hanes Collection, Gift of Philip and Charlotte Hanes

COMING SOON Imogen Cunningham: Seen and Unseen

BABCOCK WING GALLERY

Embracing the times in which she lived, Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976) created images that reflect crucial movements and developments in art and photography during her seventy-year career. Her photographs, seductive and dynamic, are inspired by a multitude of genres, including portraiture, family photographs, still lifes, and street photography. Cunningham was one of the most experimental photographers in her lifetime. In this exhibition, unusual and rare images are presented alongside iconic ones, revealing why this American artist is one of the most important pioneers of photography and demonstrating how the unseen for Imogen Cunningham was eternally as important as the familiar. This exhibition consists of silver gelatin prints from the Imogen Cunningham Trust.

through MAY 26

Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976), Magnolia Blossom, 1925, gelatin silver print. © Imogen Cunningham Trust.

Volunteer Blake Stewart: Preserving Reynolda’s Trees

— Stephani Eaton, Coordinator of Tours and Volunteers

The Reynolda House volunteers recently celebrated more than fifty years of service at Reynolda. Volunteers have served Reynolda in various ways in those fifty years, such as leading tours, arranging flowers, and assisting in the archives. Reynolda recently welcomed Blake Stewart to the ranks.

Blake’s mission is to preserve native trees by removing invasives, like vines. While he enjoys planting seedlings and saplings with his small business, Fair Witness, a Winston-Salem cocktail bar, he says, “Young trees might only offset one to ten kilograms of carbon dioxide per year until around ten years of age or more. Mature hardwood trees can offset two tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of growth. Invasive clearing does a great deal more net good for the planet.”

Blake emphasizes that preserving a forest is easier than planting a new one. “Many trees I work on are more than one hundred years old. You can’t simply assay a value or replace them. Many are a few years from being choked out by vines or even pulled down. The foliage on the vines creates additional wind break stress on the trees and makes them susceptible to stronger storms. My work can help make a more resilient canopy for future generations.”

Blake works two to three days a week at various sites around Winston-Salem, organizing group cleanings or the occasional street or stream clean-up. This spring, Blake worked with and taught members of Wake Forest University’s Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity how to safely remove ivy from trees around Reynolda. Blake’s desire to help Reynolda’s trees stems from a long relationship with the property. He first visited as a child with his parents, later with friends because it was a safe place to be, later still with dates because of its beauty and peace. Now he comes as a father with his wife and son. By freeing the trees of invasives, he’s repaying these woods for what Reynolda has given to him over the years.

Early Childhood

TAKE NOTE

Register for family programs online at reynolda.org/family-events

Contact Julia Hood, director of teaching and learning, at 336.758.5599 or julia@reynolda.org with questions; for early childhood and family programs in the Gardens, contact Janie Bass at 336.758.6271 or janie@reynolda.org. Outdoor classes will be held weather permitting.

Young Explorers

10–11 a.m.

6 SEPT 20 OCT 4

Ages 2–5, accompanied by a caregiver $7 per child; $5.60 per child for Friends

Weather permitting

Join us in the Gardens to learn more about the natural world around us. Each session will engage a young naturalist in hands-on learning as we closely study a topic while enjoying the gardens and grounds. Earn Young Explorers “badges” for each session you attend: Signs of the Beaver Badge, Birding at Reynolda Badge, and Natural Seed Collection and Observation Badge. Pre-registration is required; participants will receive an email prior to the program with the location for each.

Mornings at Reynolda

10–11:30 a.m.

Ages 3–5, accompanied by a caregiver

$15 per child per class; $12 per child per class for Members and Friends Register for all of Series 2 for $40; $32 for Members and Friends

To promote reading readiness and visual literacy, pre-schoolers and their caregivers will explore Reynolda through activities that encourage dramatic play, music, movement, nature exploration, and art-making. Students will interact with a natural theme, work of art, location on the estate, or item from Reynolda’s collection for inspiration. The program takes place in the Gardens and on the grounds (we encourage you to bring a blanket) as well as indoors at the Museum. Materials are provided; however, participants may collect their own natural items. In the event of inclement weather, programs held outdoors may be moved indoors, canceled, or rescheduled. In each series, the lessons will build upon one another, however, families may choose to attend single sessions.

Series 1

We will explore the plants and animals of Reynolda in three themes: Where does our food come from? (This session was held on August 25); Pond Life (location: Boathouse); and Over in the Meadow (location: Meadow).

Series 2

We will explore seasonal signs and sounds in the nature and art of Reynolda: Signs of Fall at Reynolda (location: Boathouse/ Trails); Woodpeckers (location: Boathouse/Trails); and Animals in Art (location: Museum).

16

Reynolda Read-Aloud

10–10:30 a.m.

Suggested ages 2–5, accompanied by a caregiver; younger siblings are welcome Free

Weather permitting

Come join us for an outdoor storytime perfect for children who are emerging readers. Featuring a different theme each month, we’ll hear stories, sing songs, and participate in fingerplays. Leaders will suggest at-home activities for continued engagement. Read-Alouds are held in the Jordan Courtyard, next to the 1930s pool, unless noted otherwise. Pre-registration encouraged.

September 22 and 23: How to Find a Bird StoryWalk ® (meet at the Boathouse)

October 13: Pumpkins/Leaves

November 17 and 18: Music

December 15 and 16: Storywalk ® with The Mitten, by Jan Brett (meet at the Boathouse)

Online Family Resources

Families seeking to learn together with Reynolda’s history and art collection can find a PDF and video resources at reynolda.org/family and reynolda. org/teachers. The Reynolda Pop-Up Studio video series provides suggestions and directions for art activities. Explore Reynolda cards offer questions for conversation with objects and works of art with simple activities for all ages and Discovery Lessons offer guided activities for pre-K audiences.

Sprouts: Spreading Roots in the Garden

These programs in the Formal Gardens and Greater Gardens are designed to offer children and their families hands-on opportunities to learn about nature and create together. Location, time, and age range vary by program. For programs with per-person pricing, both children and their adult companion create a project to take home. Pre-registration is required.

Pumpkin Patch Storytime and Hayride

10–11:30 a.m.

Suggested ages 3–9, accompanied by a caregiver $20 per child; $16 per child for Friends

Travel in the Meadow on a hayride and hear a story and learn songs about how pumpkins grow. Then, choose a pumpkin in the field and bring it back to paint. We will also explore STEM activities with pumpkins to learn more about their unique attributes.

Reynolda After Dark

7 p.m.

Suggested ages 4–12, accompanied by a caregiver $15 per person; $12 per person for Friends

In this intergenerational outdoor evening program, learn about Reynolda after the sun goes down and how some animals adapt or thrive in the dark. Lanterns will be used during this event to illuminate the path and bring light as the days get darker to help connect with rhythms of nature and community. All participants can create a simple, stamped paper bag “lantern” or families can purchase a lantern kit to make a papier-mâché lantern beforehand or take home to make after for $12 each.

Evergreen Decorations

December 1, 10–11 a.m.

Ages 2–5, accompanied by a caregiver $15 per child; $12 per child for Friends

December 10, 2–3:30 p.m.

10

Ages 5–12, accompanied by a caregiver $25 per person; $20 per person for Friends

Just as Katharine Smith Reynolds decorated for Christmas with greenery from the estate, participants in this workshop can create table or mantel decorations with evergreen and other plants from Reynolda.

Youth & Family

Family First Workshops

Join us on the first Sunday of the month to explore Reynolda’s art and to make your own! These two-hour workshops begin at 2 p.m. for children in grades one through six and an adult companion. We’ll spend time in the Museum exploring a work of art or decorative art and then will create our own artwork in the studio classroom; locations may vary by workshop. Pre-registration is required.

Grades one through six

$15 per person; $12 per person

for Members

Children should have at least one adult also registered for the workshop; at least one adult registration per three youth registrations recommended.

OCT 1

Paper Relief Sculpture Workshop

Take inspiration from sculptural lions in the furnishings at Reynolda to create a lion head sculpture from cut and folded paper.

Let’s Paint!

Grab a brush, a bit of canvas, and some acrylic paint and see how you can combine colors and shapes to create a picture. We’ll learn about some American painters and think about the ways they did (or didn’t) represent the world around them through art.

Holiday Card and Gift Tag Workshop

It’s that time of year again! We’ll ink the leaves of evergreens to create paper prints using a printing press. Participants will also create stamped and collaged cards and tags.

Ages 5–15

Homeschool Day: Get Down In the Stream! Art and Nature at Reynolda with Kaleideum

Two activity sessions available: 10 a.m.–noon or 1–3 p.m. The Museum is open from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

$10 per student, $8 per student for Members and Friends

One adult free per student ticket purchased

Additional adults visiting the Museum pay general admission (free categories apply)

The Museum is open to visit, but not a focus of this Homeschool Day

Our home is your homeschool, too! Homeschool students and teachers are invited to visit Reynolda to take a deep dive into science, art, and history. Kaleideum’s science educators will offer hands-on learning in Reynolda’s outdoor spaces. Learn about the ecosystem of Lake Katharine and the animals and plants native to the area; then make vegetable prints in the gardens. Participants are also welcome to tour the Museum on their own while learning about the place and having conversations about the art. Pre-registration is required.

Download our free app, Reynolda Revealed, for more stories before, during, and after your visit. Activities will take place primarily outdoors, weather permitting.

Contact Julia Hood at julia@reynolda.org with questions.

Fall Programs and Events

Introduction to Reynolda

Eight-class series: September 6, 13, 20, 27 and October 4, 11, 18, 25

10 a.m.–noon

$40; $32 for Members

Using an interdisciplinary approach and the Museum’s collection, students will explore the story of Reynolda through its people, history, art, objects, and landscape. Participants will find themselves intrigued, challenged, and supported as they explore this unique place in the company of other lifelong learners.

Smartphone Photography Class with Elizabeth Larson Photography

8:30–11:30 a.m.

$60; $50 for Friends and WFU

Meet at the East Cherry Allée Arbor

Learn skills to better understand proper lighting, composition, exposure, and selecting go-to photo apps to enhance your photographs. This class is for both iPhone and Android photographers. All levels are welcome. Rain date September 30.

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

Fall Plant Sale Preview

12:30 p.m.

Free

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

Join us for highlights of the fall plant sale. Get the inside track on what not to miss out on and what you absolutely need to have for your garden.

Fundamentals of Digital Photography with Elizabeth Larson Photography

5:30–8:30 p.m.

$180; $160 for Friends and WFU

Meet at the East Cherry Allée Arbor

This two-session class will teach you how to take better photos with your DSLR or mirrorless camera, using the gardens and landscape at Reynolda Gardens as your backdrop. Learn how to operate your camera settings better (shutter and aperture, composition, working in natural light, and use of flash). Master which lenses and equipment are the best for each subject or scene you would like to photograph. Beginners welcome. Rain date September 19.

Village Walking Tours

September 15, September 16, October 6, and October 7

10 a.m.

$25; $20 for Members, Friends, and WFU

Explore Reynolda Village on this outdoor guided tour and learn how Katharine Reynolds envisioned the original model farm and community of workers who supported it. Today, the buildings are occupied by shops, restaurants, and an event venue; but on this tour, you will get a sense of what life was like outside the walls of the Historic House and the agricultural history of the built environment. Price includes a “Reynolda Farm” booklet. Please note: these tours are outdoors and are weather permitting.

Museum Members’ Swim Club

September 17, October 14, November 11, and December 19

2–4 p.m.

$20 for adult Member; $10 children under 18

Enjoy swimming year-round with Members’ Swim Club this fall. Spend two hours with your family in Reynolda’s original 1937 pool. Space is limited. Recommended for children ages 6–18.

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

Rain Gardens: The Answer to Drought, Deluge, and Water Pollution

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

This engaging presentation by Anne Spafford, professor and associate department head, North Carolina State Department of Horticulture, will explain how to harness stormwater runoff to benefit our landscapes and to make gardening easier for homeowners. A rain garden is a functional garden (that is also beautiful, of course!) that is slightly sunken, and located in a place to capture rainwater coming off a house or other structure. Plants used in a rain garden are ones that will thrive in both short-term flooding and long periods of drought. This presentation will teach you what a rain garden is all about, how to design one, and the best plants to use.

Reynolda on the House: Singin’ the Blues

4–7 p.m.

Free

All are welcome to visit Reynolda “on the house”! School’s back in session and fall is right around the corner. Visit Smith and Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet and the Historic House. Join Reynolda to say goodbye to summer and dance those blues away at Reynolda on the House, where admission, live music, and an art activity are on us! Advance registration is encouraged.

Film Series: Sirens of the Silver Screen

Written on the Wind (1956)

1–4 p.m.

Included with Museum admission

Several major Hollywood films were adapted from the story of Smith and Libby. Join us as we screen three of these films this fall including Douglas Sirk’s Written on the Wind (1956). The setting has been changed to Texas and the family’s source of wealth is oil rather than tobacco, but similarities to the Reynolds family’s story remain. This film earned co-star Dorothy Malone an Academy Award, playing opposite Robert Stack, Lauren Bacall, and Rock Hudson. An introduction and discussion will be led by Dale Pollock, former dean of the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Presented by Mike and Debbie Rubin

Reynolda Noir Matinée

3–5:30 p.m.

$100 per person

Join us for an afternoon of music and storytelling exploring the life and music of Libby Holman. Holman was sultry, smart, and bluesy. It is said she changed the way America sang and then promptly was forgotten. Or, perhaps, she was remembered for the wrong reason. For forty years, she was known as the woman indicted for the murder of her husband, Smith Reynolds, in a case that was never solved. Reynolda Noir shines a spotlight on Holman—the wife, mother, civil rights activist, and “smokiest torch on Broadway.” Join Dr. Michele Gillespie, historian and provost of Wake Forest University, and Phil Archer, curator and Betsy Main Babcock deputy director at Reynolda, as they discuss some of the lesser-known truths of Libby’s life, including details of her activism during the civil rights movement and the undeniable impact she made as a Broadway performer. As the story unfolds, enjoy several of Libby’s hit songs performed by soprano Jodi Burns with arrangements and accompaniment by Kenneth Frazelle. Secure your seat today as this event is expected to sell out.

Presented by Ashley And Rick Wimmer

Fall Plant Sale

8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Front Lawn of Reynolda House

Autumn is the time for planting and Reynolda’s fall plant sale is a popular opportunity to purchase a great selection of native plants as well as some staff favorites.

Friends of Reynolda Gardens will get early access to the sale. Not yet a Friend of the Gardens? Call 336.758.5889 or email

sarah@reynolda.org to join today!

Call For Volunteers

Reynolda Gardens will again offer tours for K–6 students this fall. We’re looking for interested volunteers to be trained to lead these tours and programs. Visit reynolda.org/learn/volunteers for more information and to apply.

Photograph courtesy Liam Donnelly Archive

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

Fall Container Class – Anything but Ordinary

12:30 p.m.

$50; $40 for Friends

Outside Reynolda Gardens Education Wing

Bring a container from home (20” max. width) and join lead horticulturist Michelle Hawks in this hands-on workshop. Space is limited. Soil and a selection of Michelle’s favorites will be available to choose from to make your own container for the fall. Advance registration is required.

Gallery Talks

2:30 p.m.

$15; $12 for Members

Babcock Wing Gallery

Join Jenna Anderson as she discusses the significance of Libby Holman’s dress and the fashion of the 1920s and 1930s in the context of the exhibition and fashion history. Anderson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Costume Design and Technology program and chief executive officer of Jenna Sais Quois Designs. For the exhibition Smith and Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet, she recreated the strapless evening gown worn by Libby Holman in the 1920s.

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

Taking the Prairie to the Parking Lot

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

In 2015, a one-acre rendition of a piedmont prairie was created at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham. It was managed through fire and mowing. In 2019, Duke Gardens turned their attention to urban landscapes and started to evaluate the suitability of piedmont prairie plants in parking lot medians with the goal of creating pollinator habitats. Annabel Renwick, curator of the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, will describe both projects and discuss the outcomes to date, specifically the components that worked well and those that have been more problematic.

OCT 15

Reynolda on the House: Aviation

1:30–4:30 p.m.

Free

All are welcome to visit Reynolda “on the house”! Visit Smith and Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet and the Historic House at no cost. Celebrate aviation, Smith Reynolds’s favorite pastime. Make a paper airplane and see how far you can make it fly. Advance registration is encouraged.

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

OCT 17

Top 40 Hits: The Favorite Plants from Riverbanks

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

The Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina, approaches its fiftieth anniversary in 2024 and the Riverbanks Botanical Garden hits its thirtieth in 2025. Join us as Andy Cabe, director of horticulture, Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden, shares some of his favorite plants.

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

OCT 24

2023 Year of the Trail in North Carolina

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

NC Year of the Trail celebrates North Carolina’s vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways. Join Abby Draut, Piedmont Legacy Trails coordinator at the Piedmont Land Conservancy, and learn about the local efforts to encourage people to get outdoors to discover our region’s diverse landscapes.

Smith Reynolds’s 1930 Savoia-Marchetti S-56 Airplane Photograph collection of Reynolda House Museum of American Art Archives

OCT 27

Moonlight Curator Tours

$125; $100 for Members, Ages 21+

7:30–9:30 p.m.

For two nights only, join us for a very special tour led by Phil Archer, Betsy Main Babcock deputy director, as we travel back to the fateful night of July 6, 1932, when Smith Reynolds died inside Reynolda. Earlier that evening, Smith, Libby, and their friends gathered at the Boathouse on Lake Katharine for an intimate birthday celebration complete with BBQ and moonshine. How did this revelry end in tragedy? This immersive tour begins at the Boathouse and follows Smith’s path back to the bungalow. Enjoy specialty cocktails from Winston-Salem cocktail bar Fair Witness and the taste of BBQ while the sounds of cicadas and Jelly Roll Morton hang in the air. Following the tour, visit Smith and Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet in the Babcock Wing of Reynolda House. The Boathouse is not set up to accommodate walkers, wheelchairs, or anything of that nature. Walking shoes are suggested.

Mindfulness and the Museum: Finding Stillness in the Forest

10 a.m.–noon

$15; Free for Members and WFU

In this workshop, we’ll explore a few mindfulness practices in the natural world. From a slow, walking meditation to “forest bathing” (a Japanese practice that is not about bathing, but rather “absorbing the atmosphere of the forest”), we will spend time on the grounds at Reynolda slowing down and listening to the natural world and how it can help ground us. The Reverend Timothy L. Auman, PhD, MDiv, chaplain at Wake Forest University and founder and director of the MindfulWake initiative, will join Julia Hood, director of teaching and learning at Reynolda House, to lead this workshop.

Film Series: Sirens of the Silver Screen Reckless (1935)

1–4 p.m.

Included with Museum admission

Several major Hollywood films were adapted from the story of Smith and Libby. Join us as we screen Reckless (1935). This film showcased a dazzling range of talent: actors Jean Harlow and William Powell, director Victor Fleming (a few years before Gone with the Wind and Wizard of Oz), writers David O. Selznick and Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and composers Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. An introduction and discussion will be led by Dale Pollock, former dean of the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Aeolian Organ Spooktacular

2–2:30 p.m.

Included with Museum admission

If your favorite holiday is Halloween, then you and Katharine Reynolds have something in common. She loved the spookiest day of the year, and so will you when you hear the 1917 Aeolian Organ play the spine-tingling sounds of Halloween past. The bewitching begins in the Historic House at 2 p.m. so make sure you are there!

Support the Gardens at Brent and Becky’s

Fall is the time to plant your bulbs. We know many of you enjoyed the bulbs that adorned Reynolda’s Gardens and grounds this spring, and we wanted you to be aware of where to get them and know how you can help Reynolda Gardens at the same time! Brent and Becky’s is a fantastic mail-order bulb nursery in Gloucester, Virginia, operated by some of the best people around. Through their Bloomin’ Bucks program you can designate Reynolda Gardens as the beneficiary of your order and 25% of the value of your order will be set aside as a credit for the Gardens to purchase bulbs.

Just go to bloominbucks.com and scroll down to select Reynolda Gardens. Happy planting!

Presented by Mike and Debbie Rubin

Benefactors’ Event

Winslow Homer: Lecture by William Cross

2:30–4:30 p.m.

For Benefactor, Sustainer, and Reynolda Society Members Invitations will be mailed

Join Reynolda for an afternoon with William Cross, chairman of the advisory board of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and the author of Winslow Homer: American Passage, which The Washington Post calls “an exemplary biography” and The New Yorker named one of the best books of the year. He has spoken widely in Europe and the United States. In 2019, he curated Homer at the Beach, A Marine Painter’s Journey, 1869–1880, a nationally acclaimed exhibition at the Cape Ann Museum. In Winslow Homer: American Passage, Cross unveils his subject’s surprising role as a visual counterpart to his contemporaries in American literature such as Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson. Join us to see afresh the man behind the art, a major American figure hidden in plain sight.

Presented by A Proper View

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

Rewilding Reynolda: The Methods and Materials in the Battle of Natives vs. Invasives

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

Over the past few years, areas along Reynolda’s trails and in the Greater Gardens have steadily begun to improve with a decrease in invasives and a corresponding increase in new plantings and management. Jon Roethling, director of Reynolda Gardens, will discuss the thought process that goes into these projects, what it takes to make them happen, and some of the interesting plants that have been added.

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Volunteer Orientation For Reynolda House

10 a.m.–noon

Reynolda Auditorium and Historic House Free

Are you interested in history, art, or architecture? Do you like meeting people or learning new things? Join us to learn about volunteering at Reynolda House. This orientation will cover volunteer opportunities and steps to becoming a volunteer, as well as a brief tour of the Historic House. Arrive five to ten minutes early to allow time for check-in at our front desk.

Sirens of the Silver Screen Sunset

1–4 p.m.

Boulevard (1950)

Included with Museum admission

Several major Hollywood films were related to the story of Smith and Libby. Join us for Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, and Erich von Stroheim. In the 1950s, Libby Holman had a relationship with Montgomery Clift, even though he was primarily gay in his orientation. One challenge to this bond came with Sunset Boulevard. Clift was cast as Joe Gillis, but Libby, reportedly, found the story of an older and largely forgotten female star in love with a younger man too close to her own circumstances with Clift. He withdrew from the film. The program includes an introduction and discussion led by David Lubin, Charlotte C. Weber professor of art at Wake Forest University.

Presented by Mike and Debbie Rubin

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

The Area 51 Collection: Japanese Maples That Are Out of This World

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

Join Matt and Tim Nichols, past presidents of the North American Maple Society, as they share their passion for Japanese Maples. They will highlight their “Area 51 Collection,” which includes some of the rarest maples around.

Drinks @ Dusk

6–8 p.m.

$25, Ages 21+

After the sun sets, Reynolda opens its doors to visitors 21+ for an evening of music, drinks, and art. Visit Reynolda’s current exhibition Smith and Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet, view the Historic House featuring highlights from the permanent collection, and go on a scavenger hunt for a chance to win a prize. Make sure to visit onsite food trucks and enjoy a cocktail or two while you are here.

Members’ Shopping Day

9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.

On this special shopping day, Museum Members can save up to 20% in the Museum Store, plus 50% off one item (some exclusions apply). If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the Museum Store, don’t forget that a membership to Reynolda makes the perfect gift for anyone who needs more art, learning, and nature in their life. Visit Reynolda.org/support to share a year of Reynolda with friends and family!

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

Overview of Wine Grape Production in the Southeast

12:30 p.m.

$5; Free for Friends and WFU

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

Develop a greater appreciation for local grapes and wine as Sarah Bowman, viticulture instructor at Surry Community College, guides attendees through the major steps of vineyard establishment and management.

Presented by Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate

Reynolda Reads: The Aviator’s Wife, by Melanie Benjamin

11 a.m.–noon

Four years before amateur aviator Smith Reynolds undertook an ambitious four-month-long 17,000-mile flight, Charles Lindbergh made the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927. Shortly after this flight, Lindbergh met his wife, Anne Morrow. The Aviator’s Wife, by Melanie Benjamin, provides a fictional account of Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s life as an aviator, becoming the first licensed female glider pilot, and adapting to living in her husband’s shadow. Read the book beforehand and join Reynolda Reads to find out how Anne learned to define her own life despite the challenges she faced.

Mindfulness and the Museum: Contemplative Viewing

10 a.m.–noon

$15; Free for Members and WFU

Through guided meditations, mindful walking, and time with works of art, participants will learn the ancient art of quieting the mind, opening the heart, and engaging with the world more consciously. The Reverend Timothy L. Auman, PhD, MDiv, chaplain at Wake Forest University and founder and director of the MindfulWake initiative, will join Julia Hood, director of teaching and learning, at Reynolda House, to lead this workshop.

Reynolda on the House: Jazz

1:30–4:30 p.m. Free

All are welcome to visit Reynolda “on the house”! Take a self-guided tour of Smith and Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet and the Historic House (draped in period holiday decor), enjoy light refreshments, live jazz by Matt Kendrick and friends, and an art activity for kids of all ages. Advance registration is encouraged.

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Reynolda Village Annual Holiday Stroll

3–6 p.m.

Free

Kick off your holiday season with a stroll through historic Reynolda Village. Enjoy carolers, carriage rides, and beautiful decorations throughout the Village. Visit your favorite shops to get first dibs on their holiday selection, and treat yourself to delicious fare from our restaurants. Keep an eye out for a very special guest! (Hint: he always wears red.)

Wreath Class

November 27, November 28, December 4, and December 5

6 p.m.

$60; $50 for Friends and WFU

The Barn at Reynolda Village

Gardens horticulturist Michelle Hawks will guide you to holiday wreath-decorating perfection. Each participant will receive a large, natural wreath to decorate. We will provide an assortment of natural items to adorn your wreath, or you can bring your own decorations. Pruners and gloves are encouraged. Space is limited. These workshops fill up fast.

Friends of Reynolda Gardens receive early access to register for this event. Not yet a Friend of the Gardens? Call 336.758.5889 or email sarah@reynolda.org to join today.

Reynolda Gardens: A Year in Review

12:30 p.m.

Free

Reynolda House Auditorium and Zoom

Join Gardens Director Jon Roethling as we reflect on all that has happened in 2023 with a glimpse of what is to come in 2024.

Members Be Merry

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5:30–7:30 p.m.

Free for Members

This after-hours Members-only family event is sure to spark the magic of the season! As our holiday gift to you, tour the Historic House decorated in the style of the first Christmas at Reynolda in 1917 while festive songs play on the original Aeolian organ. Afterwards, enjoy a hot chocolate bar and make holiday cards inspired by vintage cards belonging to the Reynolds family. Become a Member to join us for this very special evening! Call 336.758.5889 or email sarah@reynolda.org to join today.

TUESDAY GARDENING SERIES

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7 begins

Caroling Fridays at Reynolda

3:30–4 p.m.

Included with Museum admission

Gather in the Reception Hall of the Historic House to share Christmas cheer through song and community. Advance registration or singing experience are not required. The holiday merriment is open to all.

Christmas Songs on the Aeolian Organ

December 7, December 10, and December 14

2–2:30 p.m.

Included with Museum admission

Gather in the Reception Hall of the Historic House to listen to familiar Christmas songs played on the 1917 Aeolian Organ.

Christmas with the Reynolds Family

5–7:30 p.m.

Tours begin every fifteen minutes

$25, $20 for Members

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Join us this holiday season for a special Christmas tour at Reynolda House. Docents, costumed interpreters, and festive decorations bring to life the stories and traditions that make Reynolda at Christmastime special. Conclude the tour with Christmas treats and some last-minute Christmas shopping in the Museum Store.

Reynolda Society

New and Upgraded Members

NOVEMBER 1, 2022 – MAY 31, 2023

New Director’s Circle

Linda and Harold Bettis

Susan Carson

Catherine and Robert Clegg

Michelle and Ryan Lawrence

Mary Catherine and Josh Crane

Upgraded Hudson River School Circle

Barbara Hill

Ashley and Rick Wimmer

Stewards of Reynolda

“Hunter and I are thankful to Reynolda for providing a place for our boys to learn and explore. They have an appreciation of art and gardens and trails and historic homes because of the time we have spent at Reynolda as a family. We are Stewards so that future generations of families are able to experience the Museum and Gardens in the same way I have throughout my life.”

—Sandlin Douglas

A legacy gift shares all that you love about Reynolda today with generations to come. Stewards of Reynolda ensure that the Museum and Gardens will remain historical and educational resources for years to come. With the variety of legacy giving opportunities available, everyone can make a meaningful impact on the future of Reynolda.

To begin a conversation about your legacy gift for Reynolda, contact Director of Advancement Sarah Blackwell at 336.758.5889 or sarah@reynolda.org.

Reynolda is grateful to A Proper View for their support of events and programs for Stewards of Reynolda.

Reynolda is grateful to the following donors for including Reynolda in their estate plans:

Anonymous

Anne and Bruce Babcock

Frank and Gary

Greer and Scott Cawood

Donna Cooke

John W. Davis, III

Hunter and Sandlin Douglas

Stephan Dragisic

Frank Driscoll

Constance Fraser Gray

Frank Borden Hanes

Clark Harper

Sue and Doug Henderson

Richard Earl Johnson

Cathleen and Ray McKinney

Blanche Miller

Barbara Babcock Millhouse

McLean Mitchell

Scottie and David Neill

Everdina B. Nieuwenhuis

Elizabeth Philips

Nancy Pleasants

Debi and Noah Reynolds

Debbie Rubin

Brian Speas and Jay Everette

Susan and Michael Starr

Peggy Taylor

Louise Thomas

Anonymous

Bynum Tudor

Sue Wall

*italics denote deceased

Shops and Services

A Proper View

Thoughtfully curated eyewear, exceptional eyecare

Aeracura Salon An Aveda Concept Salon

All Through the House Gifts, home furnishings, and accessories

The Barn at Reynolda Village

Private venue for weddings, social and corporate events

The Bookhouse Independent bookstore

European Touch

Full-service day spa

Gazebo

Ladies’ designer fashions

Half Past Three

Women’s contemporary clothing where classic charm meets boho vibes

Restaurants

Dough-Joe’s Doughnuts & Coffee

Made-to-order cake doughnuts, baked goods, full coffee bar

May Way Dumplings

Chinese noodles and dumplings

J. McLaughlin

Men’s and ladies’ clothing and accessories

McCalls

Linens, fine lingerie, children’s wear, gifts, and accessories

Monkee’s Fine ladies’ clothing, shoes, and accessories

Naturopathic Health Clinic

Natural, conventional, alternative, and integrative healing methods

Norman Stockton

Men’s clothing and accessories

Painters’ Palette Art studio and gallery

Pure Barre Pure Barre technique classes and activewear

RingMaster Jewelers

Diamonds, custom jewelry, repair

Sfeer + Co.

Furniture and home decor

stArt Gallery

Quality student artwork for exhibition and sale

Uncorked Masterpiece

A ceramic and canvas paint and party studio

Village Fabric Shop Fabric boutique and studio

Village Hair Designs Hair salon

Village Realty

Boutique real estate services

Penny Path Café & Crêpe Shop

Savory and sweet crepes, full coffee bar

Theodore’s Local bar and market; sandwiches, salads, and soups

Village Tavern

Steaks, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, cocktails

Museum

HOURS

Tuesday—Saturday 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Sunday 1:30–4:30 p.m.

ADMISSION

Adult admission charged. Free with valid I.D. — Museum Members, children under 18, students, active or retired military personnel, EBT cardholders, employees of Wake Forest University and Atrium Health

Wake Forest Baptist

Gardens

HOURS

Greenhouse

Tuesday—Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Gardens Dawn to dusk

ADMISSION

Gardens and grounds are open free of charge.

Village

Hours vary by merchant.

at Reynolda House is sponsored by

STAY

Reynolda House thanks its Annual Sponsor

CONNECTED at REYNOLDA.ORG