Mandarin Museum News

December 2024

Embrace the Mandarin Experience

----Warmest regards,

----Brittany Cohill

----Executive Director

Visit www.mandarinmuseum.org/join/donations to learn more about Mandarin Museum's planned giving program and other ways to contribute.

Evolution in Clay: A Vina Schemer Retrospective

Now on display through March 2025

The opening reception on October 30th was a wonderful celebration of Vina and her long career. Thank you to all who attended! Click the photo below for more scenes from the event courtesy of Olis Garber Photography.

About the artist: The groves and rural character of Mandarin drew Vina Schemer to the area in 1965. Amidst this backdrop, she made her mark as an innovative studio potter and photo-ceramist, influencing and likewise drawing influence from her friends Charlie M. Brown, Memphis Wood, and fellow members of the Crown Craftsmen. Her body of work spans decades and represents her evolving interests and techniques.

Vina is perhaps best known for her inventive process of photo-transfer on clay. Evolution in Clay follows Vina’s journey from early stamped pottery designs to raku to the perfecting of photo-transfer ceramics. A celebrated artist, Vina’s work can be found in the permanent collections of the University of North Florida, The White House, The Contemporary Ceramics Museum in Grottaglia, Italy, and more. From 1979 to 2009, she served as director of the American Crafts Council Southeast Region. Vina is also the co-founder of the annual Mandarin Art Festival which will enter its 57th year at Mandarin Community Club.

First Saturday @ the Museum

Saturday, December 7

December's First Saturday @ the Museum is a very special one -- it's Mandarin Museum's Annual Winter Celebration! Since 1999, Winter Celebration has delighted guests with seasonal fun and many First Saturday favorites. This FREE event is great for all ages. We hope to see you there!

Parking Information: Parking is free. The lot at Mandarin Museum & Walter Jones Historical Park will be open for drivers with disabilities only. All others should park at the Mandarin Presbyterian lot located just across Mandarin Road from the park. Please use the newly installed pedestrian crosswalk. (Thank you City of Jacksonville!)

A very special THANK YOU to TC Federal Bank for supporting Mandarin Winter Celebration as presenting sponsor for a 2nd year in a row!

And thank you to the following businesses for contributing exciting gifts and gift cards for the event's raffle! Raffle tickets will be available at Winter Celebration, 3 for $5 or 10 for $10. All proceeds support Mandarin Museum. Winners will be drawn at the close of the event. You need not be present to win.

Click here to see photos from last year's Winter Celebration.

Mandarin Museum's 2024 Ornament is here! Available in the Museum Shop, our locally handcrafted ornament features the likeness of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1883 Magnolia Blossoms oil on fabric painting (on display in Mandarin Museum's art gallery). Get yours while supplies last!

Our October 2024 Third Thursday Lecture featuring Dr. Guy Prentice's presentation, "Andersonville Revisited: An Archaeological and Historical Study of the Civil War's Most Infamous Prison Camp," is now available on Mandarin Museum's Youtube Channel.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special thank you to Dr. Prentice for an informative and engaging evening.

Video recording and post-production generously provided by the wonderful Olis Garber Photography.

Thank you to Endless Summer Roofing Co. for generously sponsoring our Fall 2024 Third Thursday Lecture Series!

"Harriet Beecher Stowe in Mandarin," sculpted by artist Brenda Councill is now on permanent display in Walter Jones Historical Park!

This life-size bronze sculpture honors the life and legacy of Mandarin's famed 19th-century winter resident and author of the 1852 best-selling anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The November 17th unveiling proved to be a joyous occasion thanks to the continued support of our Mandarin community. Attendees were treated to a time-lapse video documenting Brenda Councill's incredible process from concept to completion, masterfully captured and produced by Olis Garber and Keith Bartholomew.

It's addition to Walter Jones Historical Park serves as a beautiful tribute to Stowe's advocacy for accessible education for the newly freed living in Mandarin following the U.S. Civil War. As an interactive piece of public art, visitors are invited to sit alongside Harriet Beecher Stowe as they connect to our community's past.

More about the project, including photos from the unveiling can be found here.

Thank you to those who committed their support to making "Harriet Beecher Stowe in Mandarin" a reality.

City of Jacksonville

Councilman Michael Boylan

Orange Blossoms | $25,000 – $34,999

Rosamond Warren Allen

in honor of her great-great grandmother, Harriet Beecher Stowe

Mandarin Oaks | $10,000 – $24,999

Rosemary McCorkle

Emily and Lawrence Lisska

Thomas Davant Johns, Ph.D. and Gretchen Schaef Johns, M.D.

in memory of Thomas Joseph Agee

in honor of Sandy Arpen

Sheryl and Mel McNichols

in honor of Sandy Arpen

Magnolias | $2500 – $9,999

Cheryl S. Cummer

Eric and Naomi Gillis

John T. Foster, Jr.

in memory Sarah Whitmer Foster

Robert Pearce and Family

in memory of Gillian Pearce

Lee and Mindy Hanna

James C. and Nancy Capps Hoover

in memory of the Hoover and Capps Families

Ferrigno Family

in honor of Hope Ferrigno

Sandy and Tracey Arpen

Colonel John T. and Judith Winkler

George Ash and Kate Arpen

Patrick Plumlee and Laura D’Alisera

in memory of their parents

Marilyn Carpenter

in memory of Pete Carpenter

Don and Pam Chandler

Janelle and Bill Watson

Derek D. and Frances M. Igou

Dr. Ian MacKenzie Farnham

Rotary Club of Mandarin

Friends of Historic Mandarin | up to $2499

Bhide & Hall Architects

Matt Carlucci Insurance Agency, Inc.

Pam Neumann

in memory of Dave Neumann and Ed Ralph

John and Leyda Cooksey

Carol Hazouri

Deborah Harmon

Jim and Renee Waler

Jay Caffey

Dale Rohlfing

Bill and Judy Morrow

Mr. and Mrs. James M. Barker, IV

Virginia B. Barker

Steve and Kathy Rawlins

Elizabeth Meux

Peggy and Bill Armstrong

Carol and Jeff Anderson

Byron and Marsha Peacock

Rev. and Mrs. Roger L.D. Williams

Claire King

Bonny Councill

Jeff and Carrie Councill

Pam Neumann

in honor of Carolyn Hall and Bettye Stilley

Bettye Stilley

in honor of Pam Neumann and Carolyn Hall

Gabriele Dempsey

in memory of Ruth Heerling

Anne Morrow

Leslie Anderson and Stacy Anderson

in memory of their parents, Bill and Doris Anderson

Evalyn Campbell

John and Kathleen Holler

Payson J. Tilden

Thomas Entenza

Sam Folds, Jr.

Sherry Cavanagh Cantrell

in memory of growing up in Mandarin

Friends of Gabriele Dempsey in her honor

Courtenay Wilson

Lynn McManus

Ruth Stein

Marilyn Stein

Margaret Gellatly

Blair Woolverton

Renate Hixon

Special thanks to the following who donated hundreds of hours of professional expertise to documenting the project:

Mandarin Museum is sincerely grateful for all the individuals and organizations who have supported us throughout the year, including the following who made leading gifts from December 2023 to the present in support of programming and operations.

General Endowment Fund

$75,000 - $99,999

The Darlene Gantt Estate

$50,000 - $74,999

River Branch Foundation

$25,000 - $49,999

The Carole Ansley Watson Fund in honor of the The Ansley Family

Individual and Corporate Contributions

$10,000 and above

William and Barbara Harrell

$2,500 - $9,999

Anonymous

Sheryl and Mel McNichols

$1,000 - $2499

Val Demings

Endless Summer Roofing Co.

Emily and Lawrence Lisska

Nancy Stewart and Family

in honor of their Aunt Memphis Wood

TC Federal Bank

$500 - $999

Dr. Edward N. Cohill, USN (Ret.)

Jeff and Mary Edwards

Florida Blue

Rob Malesky Fund for the Arts

in memory of Rob Malesky

Mandarin Garden Circle

Dr. Patrick Plumlee and Laura D'Alisera

James Register, Jr.

Agent, State Farm Insurance Companies

Ritter Soares Team (now The Ivy Group)

One Sotheby's International Realty

Patron Members $1,000 and above

Earl and Amy Rahn

Stephen and Ashly Unkelbach

Patron Members $500 - $999

Jeff and Mary Edwards

Brenda Ezell, Ezell Law Firm

Karl Frisch

Michelle Glavich

Deborah Harmon

Dr. Walter and Jeanne-Marie Hellinger

Thomas Davant Johns, Ph.D. and Gretchen Schaef Johns, M.D.

Barbara Pucci

Steve and Kathy Rawlins

Be a supporter of arts & culture in our community through the purchase of an annual membership! Benefits at the individual, family, and patron levels include free guided walking tours of Walter Jones Historical Park, reciprocal benefits at other museums across the nation, discounts in our Museum Shop, and more!

Annual memberships also make a great gift!

Every contribution made through the purchase of an annual membership enables us to fulfill our mission!

Mandarin Newsline





Read 2024 issues of the Mandarin Newsline online now!

This free newspaper allows Mandarin Museum to share history, events, and programs with the public. The newspaper remains free to readers due to the robust local advertising. Please visit, shop, and eat at those businesses who support the community in this way.

...spread holiday cheer throughout your community!

A big THANK YOU to Mandarin Garden Club for decorating the 1875 Webb-Jones Farmhouse each year before Winter Celebration! Pictured left to right: Melody Mallett, Mary Kay Weis, Carolynn Smith, Myrna Hedges, Angie VonDerVellen, Linda Carvalho, Melanie Coe, and Marvine Thompson. Thank you, also, to the local businesses who supported Mandarin Garden Club's efforts, including Hagan Ace Hardware for the beautiful Christmas tree, Severt's Tree Farm for the wreaths and greenery, and Winn-Dixie for the fruit, nuts, spices, and cinnamon brooms.

And one more thank you to The Key Club at Christ Church Academy for preparing our single-serving s'mores kits this week ahead of their upcoming volunteer shifts at the Winter Celebration s'mores station!

Thank you to all our community partners!

Mandarin Museum is funded, in part, through the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and the City of Jacksonville.