Our friend Sam told me about the nice outing him and his wife Susana had enjoying the exhibits at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens… Susana was attracted to the textile exhibit they had, which was tastefully displayed. It was so sweet that Sam thought of me when he saw the angel artwork and garden.
The idea of angel artwork and gardens all in one place definitely was enchanting. It did not disappoint. The drive to the city of Ormond Beach was delightful, clear blue skies with a radiant hot Summer sun blazing overhead.
We arrived to the museum and right from the public parking one can see the historic 1886 Emmons Cracker Cottage and continue a walk into the garden.
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The garden itself provided a therapeutic walk on concrete sidewalks some had art-leaf stamp-work others areas had red brick exposed, and other surfaces could have been made of coquina kept those for attention to detail looking for more surprises. The water feature in the garden added serenity and having a bench right next to it was perfect for viewing the snapping turtles basking on a log nearby. The canopy of Florida native plants and other trees made for a pleasant experience to the mind, body and soul.
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The garden was full of surprises from artwork honoring our veterans to sculptors of Nature. The pleasant walk towards the museum was made enchanting by a solemn bronze and granite sculpture by Gregory Johnson was dedicated to veterans of the Vietnam War.
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I was drawn to an unfamiliar sound coming from the large bamboo growing majestically in the garden… it was the sound of the bamboos rubbing against each other as the wind blue gently through it. Here I took a short video to capture this magical moment. Nearby on the walk was the stainless steel piece representing the ‘eternal flame’ created by artist Mark Chew, honoring the Korean War veterans.
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And giving opportunity to go deeper into the enchantment was a large gazebo offering a covered place to rest… and providing further enchantment as one could engage in a meditative walk towards the center of the labyrinth – designed by Joan Baliker and the late Carol Bertrand.
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Approaching the rear entrance to the museum we came up to more enchanting art display such as the affixed fluttering butterflies which adorned the exterior wall of the museum created by Mathew Paczech. In this garden nook also one can enjoy the bronze peacock fountain created by artist Aldrich Fraser – this water feature added a sense of movement to the peacocks.
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The garden kaleidoscope created by metal sculptor Robert C. Anderson is an attractive feature, it has a metal framework with a bowl of seasonal flowering plants as the center piece for the kaleidoscope. This brought back so many childhood memories… and once more magic is created as the eyes delighted seeing the different patterns of the flowers as we spin the bowl changing what was seen when looking through the eyepiece.
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As if our senses were not delighted enough, gleeful we entered the museum. Charles Malcolm Fraser was an artist and illustrator… who also served in World War I in 1917. He joined the French regiment known as the “Blue Devils.” He later served as captain on the front lines, as zone commander with the American Red Cross, American Expeditionary Forces. On display at the museum are also his medals and his helmet.
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Charles Malcolm Fraser donated fifty-six symbolic paintings to the City of Ormond Beach, Florida, who’s central theme is: “Spirit is life’s only significant reality,” as a war memorial to those who served in World Wars I and II. I was drawn to the angel art and appreciated his artistic interpretation adding vagueness and detail at the same time.
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The museum had on exhibit also a collection of Florida fiber art -Stitched, Stamped & Sculpted, here’s a sampling.
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The museum lends itself for a great cultural experience. The location between the inter-coastal and the Atlantic Ocean lends itself to offer a wide variety of places to dine and enjoy the day.
