The second Sunday of each month is Free Family Day at the Mennello Museum of American Art, (900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803). This was a rare day when it was cool enough to sketch outside. A wedding rehearsal was set up lakeside and people slowly gathered to run through the ceremony.
The
Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden had on display sculptures by Alice Aycock called Waltzing Matilda and Twin Vortexes. These were originally part of series of seven sculptures
in Aycock’s significant outdoor exhibition on Park Avenue in Manhattan
entitled Park Avenue Paper Chase. Aycock, is one
of America’s most recognized and respected sculptors of her generation.
Grounds for Exhibition features
year-long large-scale sculpture exhibitions by nationally renowned
American artists who otherwise would not be shared with Orlando
audiences. It is possible to see the sculptures any time if you are running or riding the Orlando Urban Trail which runs from Meade Gardens to the north down through Lock Haven park, Lake Formosa and down to Magnolia Avenue. An extension is planned to bring the running and biking trail downtown.
Museum Founder Michael Mennello presented over 20 examples of early 20th
Century painting and seminal works from his American Impressionist
Collection to the museum on May 1, 2018. These painting are is
valued at more than $8.75 million as appraised by Debra Force Fine Art,
LLC, New York. The masterpieces include work by renowned ashcan school artists: John Sloan, Robert Henri, George Lukes, and George Bellows. The ashcan school was named after a sketch done by George Bellows of two bums inspecting a morsel of food they had just lifted from a garbage can. The movement didn’t only show life in the gutters, but also featured the pleasures of art and culture that was booming at the time. The ashcan school of art includes some of my favorite artists who documented everyday life of people from all walks of life.
The next Free Family Fun Day at the Mennello is October 14, 2018 from Noon to 2:30pm. I definitely want to see these new paintings in person.