SOUTH BEACH ART TOUR
WITH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND FOCUS CUMMER
OCTOBER, 2009

An exciting Adventure in Art took place on October 22, 23 and 24, for 36 members of FOCUS Cummer and Friends of the Library-Ponte Vedra Beach.The trip, led by Art Tour Chair Carolee Bertisch, included an Art Deco Architectural walking tour, accommodations at the Ritz Carlton, guided visits to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the Bass Museum of Art, and an evening at the extraordinary Miami City Ballet. A highlight on the trip home was the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, where the group saw George Segal sculptures and a unique New York City exhibit.

Art Deco Walking Tour	Noel Lanzas, Hotel Concierge, showing us a Miro Lithograph at the Ritz Carlton	Gardens at Vizcaya	Jerry & Carolee Bertisch	Pre-Ballet dinner: Joe & Nancy Spadaro at table head
Betty Saunders,waitress and Ouida Walker at DeVito's restaurant	Gayle Banks, Zena Hodor, Sandy Crenier	Dale Chihuly ceiling at Norton Museum	Frank & Daryl Barker at Norton Museum

ADVENTURES IN ART

November 5 – 7, 2008

By Carolee Bertisch

We had an exciting Art Tour with FOCUS Cummer and the Friends of the Library-Ponte Vedra Beach on November 5-7, 2008. Our first stop was in St. Petersburg to visit the extensive Raymond James private collection of American Art, and lunch at the historic Renaissance Resort and Hotel. To complete the day, a marvelous and informative tour of the Dali Museum was conducted especially for our group.

The Ritz Carlton in Sarasota was our hotel for two nights.  On Thursday, November 6, we toured the Ringling Museum of Art, including the Ringling home, Ca'd'Zan, The Art Museums and the Circus Museum, all on Sarasota Bay.  The football field-sized miniature circus, carved by one man, was an extra highlight, along with the gardend in full bloom.  Most people spent the late afternoon and evening on St. Armands Key.

  On Friday, November 7, we had an unexpected treat at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville experiencing the three story high Butterfly Garden. The Harn Museum in Gainsville, on the University of Florida campus, was our final destination, to see two exhibits, Momentum and Promises of Paradise.

On the way back to Ponte Vedra Beach, the main topic of conversation was, “Where are we going next?” the best indication of a great trip.