A Dynamic Contemporary Art Exhibition to Inspire Nature Enthusiasts and Art Lovers Alike
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — October 29, 2024 — The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens presents Spirit in the Land, an exhibition of 30 contemporary artists exploring humanity’s connection to nature and how both cultural diversity and biodiversity are essential to our survival. Spirit in the Land is on view from November 9, 2024 until February 9, 2025.
“At the Cummer Museum, every day we witness the healing connection people have with nature as they explore our riverfront gardens," said Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and CEO of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. “This exhibition calls on us to look more closely at our own personal relationship with nature, how it has shifted in recent generations due to ecological stress and what we can learn from marginalized communities most impacted.”
Spirit in the Land features works by artists from North America and the Caribbean that investigate natural environments under stress. Acting as environmental stewards, the artists reclaim and revitalize our understanding of nature as a repository of cultural memory, a place of sanctuary, a site of resistance, and a source of spiritual nourishment and healing. The exhibition presents a belief in the possibility of transformation and regeneration.
“Our desire to live in harmony with nature is ultimately what will determine our future,” said Trevor Schoonmaker, Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans, director of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, and exhibition curator.
With Spirit in the Land, the Cummer Museum kicks off a new exhibition season focused on the theme “Centering the Land and Voice,” exploring the stories that emerge from our profound connection with the natural world. Following this exhibition in spring 2025, Knowing the West will offer a more inclusive view of the Western United States from the diverse peoples who contribute to its unique culture. Both of these exhibitions will allow Museum guests to enjoy programs and experiences that celebrate our individual and collective connection to the land’s beauty and discover how art can inspire us to become more mindful stewards of our planet.
Spirit in the Land is organized by Trevor Schoonmaker, Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans, director of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Lead Support for Spirit in the Land is provided by the Ford Foundation. Major support for Spirit in the Land is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Featured Artists: Terry Adkins, Firelei Báez, Radcliffe Bailey, Rina Banerjee, Christi Belcourt, María Berrío, Mel Chin, Andrea Chung, Sonya Clark, Annalee Davis, Tamika Galanis, Allison Janae Hamilton, Barkley L. Hendricks, Alexa Kleinbard, Hung Liu, Hew Locke, Meryl McMaster, Wangechi Mutu, Maia Cruz Palileo, Dario Robleto, Jim Roche, Kathleen Ryan, Sheldon Scott, Renée Stout, Monique Verdin, Stacy Lynn Waddell, Charmaine Watkiss, Marie Watt, Carrie Mae Weems, and Peter Williams.
Exhibition Related Programs:
Curators in Conversation: Spirit in the Land with Trevor Schoonmaker and Holly Keris
Join Trevor Schoonmaker, the Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Director, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and Holly Keris, the J. Wayne & Delores Barr Weaver Chief Curator at the Cummer Museum for a dynamic curatorial conversation exploring the vision behind the exhibition.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
$5 for Members | $25 for Future Members
Your Connection to Nature: An Evening with Robin Wall Kimmerer
Join Robin Wall Kimmerer, Indigenous botanist and celebrated author of the bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, for a lecture, book signing and reception.
Friday, January 10, 2025
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
$50 for Members | $70 for Future Members
2024 Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Exhibition Presenters include: Season Presenters - City of Jacksonville and Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville; Lead Sponsor - The Robert D. Davis Family Endowment and the Schultz Family Endowment; Celebrated Sponsors Bank of America and Director’s Circle Donors at the Cummer Museum.
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About the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens:
For more than 60 years, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has been committed to engaging and inspiring through the arts, gardens, and education. A permanent collection of more than 5,000 objects and historically significant gardens on a riverfront campus offers nearly 140,000 visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast each year. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities. The Museum is committed to ensuring that diversity and inclusion are woven into the fabric of its exhibitions, programs, and offerings. For further information, including hours, visit www.cummermuseum.org.
About the Nasher Museum of Art
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is a major center for the arts in Durham, North Carolina, and the surrounding region. The 65,000-square-foot building was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. Since opening in 2005, the museum has organized and presented leading-edge exhibitions that travel worldwide. From the beginning, the Nasher Museum has been dedicated to building a groundbreaking collection of contemporary art. In this effort, the museum’s collection strategy emphasizes works by diverse artists who have been historically underrepresented. Drawing on the resources of a leading research university, the museum serves as a laboratory for interdisciplinary approaches.