Event details
- When: Thursday, March 25, 2027 at 10:00 AM
- Where: Art & History Museums – Maitland, 231 W. Packwood Ave
- Category: Event
A one‑hour guided tour of the Maitland Art Center leads visitors through its gardens and courtyards, highlighting the campus founded in the 1930s by artist and architect J. André Smith as a haven for modern experimentation and creative freedom. The guide follows the story of Smith’s life—from his childhood in Hong Kong to his service in World War I and the creation of the center, which he named Espero, a Spanish word for hope. The tour explains how his Episcopal faith, Mayan Revival architecture, Christian symbolism and East Asian motifs combine to produce a surreal, immersive environment adorned with more than 2,500 carvings, sculptures and reliefs. It also introduces the community of artists who lived and worked there between the 1930s and 1950s, including Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford and Doris Lee, and describes the site’s role as a forward‑thinking creative center in Florida.
The tour includes access to the Maitland Art Center Gallery, the Maitland History Museum and the Telephone Museum. Tickets range from $4 to $6 and cover admission to the three museums and the grounds; members receive free entry. The experience is suitable for all ages and is recommended for participants 13 and older.
Event listing published by Art & History Museums Maitland:
https://artandhistory.org/event/stories-in-stone-4/
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