Opening Reception: A Return to Espero

Celebrate the opening of this exhibition with live music by Shine, food from Kappy's Subs food truck, a cash bar, and honoring our founder J. André Smith on our beautiful National Historic Landmark campus!

About the exhibition:

For nearly a century, the story of the Maitland Art Center’s founding seemed complete.

Then, the letters surfaced.

Recently discovered in the archives of the Curtis Institute of Music, an extraordinary trove of correspondence between artist J. André Smith and philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok reveals a deeper, more compelling origin, born of a powerful creative alliance and a shared vision for what Central Florida’s art community could become. Illustrated by Smith and brimming with artistic and philosophical exchange, these letters illuminate the origin of the Research Studio as never before. Paired with rarely seen works from Smith’s evolving career, A Return to Espero reframes the birth of the site as a profound creative partnership.

Thank you to Red Bud Landscaping for sponsoring this exhibition opening! This exhibition is generously supported by a grant from the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation.

Admission, to this event is FREE! However, donations of any size are gratefully accepted with your order or at the event, in order to support our many free community programs!