- March 10, 2025
A new exhibit, focusing on adrenaline sports and milestones, will open at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum Jan. 25
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF
The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, at 78 E. Granada Blvd., will open its next exhibit, "X-treme Speed: Daredevils, Thrill Seekers and Innovators," Jan. 25, to run through March 3.
Including film, photos, artifacts and fine art on loan from more than 15 private collections, the exhibit hopes to illustrate the “quest for extreme speed ... by examining when adrenaline and excitement meet science and experimentation,” according to Museum Director Susan Richmond.
For the past four years, the museum has also collaborated with NASCAR and the Daytona International Speedway to display all aspects of racing, during February and March Speedweeks.
"’X-Treme Speed’ will focus on the iconic racing machines, engine builders and business barons (in) motorsports,” Richmond added. “It will explore the many activities involving not only speed, but also height, high levels of physical exertion and highly specialized machinery and gear.”
Joe Kittinger, who, until recently, held the record for the world’s highest parachute jump (a 20-mile drop, in 1960), will be the exhbition’s featured guest. The first man to break the speed of sound, Kittinger free-fell for five minutes. He also served three tours in the Vietnam War and his plane was shot down over Hanoi, where he was held as a prisoner of war for 11 months, with Senator John McCain.
Also on loan are artifacts from bobsledding, NASCAR, speedboating, skydiving and aviation.
Other events in this exhibit are occurring Feb 15, when RAYDON, of Port Orange, will display its defense simulators, and Feb. 18, when NASA Engineer Steven Ernest will present “Extreme Innovation: The International Space Station.”
A free discussion with extreme photographer/actor/stuntman Norman Kent, will be held Feb 18, as well. Call 676-3347 to reserve a seat.
