Florida Guide > Places to Visit
The Ormond Art Gallery and Gardens.
The Ormond Art Museum and gardens have the double benefit of an interesting gallery to look at and a beautiful garden to view.
For 64 years this museum has been dedicated to the work of artists connected to the two World Wars.
It all started in 1946 when the well known artist Malcolm Fraser offered his work to a city that would properly exhibit his work and continue to offer access to the public.
Ormond was very keen to win this honour and the local community banded together to make this happen.
A suitable building was found to adapt and servicemen gave an hour of their time each week to use the donated materials.
It is said that 9 out of 10 citizens of Ormond did something or gave something to help this project.
Malcolm had given them 6 months to complete this project and they were finished with only 2 days to spare.
Now a little about the artist; Malcolm was born in Chicago but loved to winter in Florida.
He served in World War One and he was awarded many honours. He summed up his work as ' Spirit is lifes only significant reality'
In all he donated 56 of his paintings and subsequently a few more have been donated by his widow and other benefactors.
And talking of his widow she also was an artist and sculptor and her peacock fountain is on show here.
Malcolm only lived 4 short years after his philanthropic donation and he was buried with full military honours.
2 years ago, The Brighthouse Corporation made a generous gift which has allowed all of his paintings to be restored.
And now on to the gardens:
The gardens were designed by Henry Stockman and in all they cover about two and a half acres.
They nestle right up to the coastline and are a mix of highly cultivated and wild.
There are 5 ponds, all of which are teeming with aquatic wildlife and a gazebo with a labrynth.
Among the plants on show are papyrus, banana and ginger lilies and there are imported and native plantings.
Once you are in these gardens you will hardly believe that you are in the very heart of the city; but you are!
The museum is open from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. monday to friday and from noon to 5 p. m. at the weekends.
The gardens follow the State Park rule of opening from sun up to sun down.
78 East Granada Boulevard
Ormond Beach
Florida
32176 6534
Tel 386 676 3347
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