Wednesday Notes, January 11, 2023

The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy will have you smiling . . .

Marietta Lee, director/curator, and founder of the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy has a ready smile that lights up easily. Her cornflower blue eyes radiate curiosity mixed with wonder and something rarer still – a sense of peace.

To meet her is to know instantly she is in her happy place.

Here – at the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, well known for its iconic large flamingo sculptures seen by traffic whizzing by on Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida. The museum opened in 2006.

I asked Marietta: Why show up at the museum every day?

“This is a fun place to be,” she replies.

After some pondering, she adds:

 ‘We are all volunteers. Always so much to do. And there are challenges.”

Being closed during COVID was a big challenge. During that time the grounds got a lot of attention, especially the big parking lot.

Statues, landscaping, even painting the curbs turquoise. When the museum first reopened – it was just outdoors, not indoors.

The sculpture garden and walkways are beautiful examples of thoughtful landscaping, attention to detail and homage to Mother Nature. Many pollinator plants present.

Since Thanksgiving 2022 the museum is fully open inside and outside and numbers of visitors are creeping up.

As we talked inside the museum near the front desk a volunteer told Lee:

“We just hit a record – 105 people in one hour.”

Lee nods. She is not surprised.

“People want to feel happy again,” Lee says.

And she obliges. Lee attends many art shows, meeting artists. “It is a great perk of the job. Artists are so smart and creative. I get to be with them.” 

One thing she is NOT looking for is angst art. “No angst” she says firmly.

Instead, her purchases for the museum are eclectic, various mediums, quirky, often funny. On my first visit, just stepping inside and looking around at the sheer volume of exuberant art – mosaics, mobiles, paintings, furniture, sculptures – did it for me. I stood there and started laughing. Whimsy will do that to you. Then I started exploring.

Immediately attractive to me were the tall ceramic pillars embedded with bold animal characters.

See what I mean? What fun it would be to meet this artist! (sorry I do not know the artist’s name).

Now I never thought I would EVER say this in a blog, a print story, a book, well, anywhere. But never say never, so here goes  . . .

You MUST visit the bathroom.

Repeat. MUST.

Yes, the bathroom. No not for Number 1 or Number 2 (though you could do that too). But step inside for some seriously funky art.

My friend Pattie Lanier and I had a grand time taking selfies of ourselves in the bathroom mirror. We had to wait our turn to do this, others did the same before and after us.

There was a steady flow of people in and out of the bathroom looking at the art and whimsy. It is a big main room with side cubicles. Never fear, there are also real bathrooms here.

One piece of bathroom art is a “sailing” dichroic glass by Newy Fagan. Newy is a renowned glass artist living in Ocklawaha, Florida. I first interviewed her as a newspaper reporter at the Star Banner several years ago. We became friends.

Turns out Marietta and Newy are cousins. The Lee and Fagan families are well represented in the museum with bits and pieces of their lives including in the Lee Family Arch – all have stories to tell.

Take time to read the history of the museum on the museum website – how being a trauma nurse and a work tragedy influenced the direction of Marietta’s life -she was called to promote the need for positive art.

I asked Newy about the museum she wrote back in part:

 “When my cousin Mary had the idea (for the museum) my mom (Mary’s godmother) and I were totally supportive . . .she has devoted her being to this creation of hers. I am totally amazed by her accomplishments. . . .And on top of all that she is the kindest, most thoughtful woman I’ve ever met.”

“Mary has generously built the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy for all to enjoy, from toddlers on up. I say, “Kudos Mary.”

Indeed. Kudos all around. I love this happy place.

A return visit is on the agenda – soon!

Particulars

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy

2121 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34234, phone 941-364-3399

$10 donation is requested.

Open November-May, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1-4 p.m.

www.whimsymuseum.org