- February 21, 2025
Musician Paul Ricci plays the saxophone at the Casements during the Starry, Starry Night gallery walk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Musician Paul Ricci plays the saxophone at the Casements during the Starry, Starry Night gallery walk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Saxophonist Paul Ricci plays for people attending the Starry, Starry Night event at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Starry, Starry Night attendees peruse the Beaux Arts of Central Florida exhibition held in the Casements Cultural Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach residents Suzanne Engel and Timo Hogan said they appreciate the unique styles of the artists on display in the Beaux Arts of Central Florida exhibition at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach residents Suzanne Engel and Timo Hogan said they appreciate the unique styles of the artists on display in the Beaux Arts of Central Florida exhibition at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach residents Suzanne Engel and Timo Hogan help themselves to refreshments being served by Ursula Suddard who is a member of the Casements Guild. Photo by Michele Meyers
Casements Guild member Ursula Suddard serves refreshments during the Starry, Starry Night event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pianist and six-year Ormond Beach resident Glenn Lowry has played previous events held at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Starry, Starry Night event pianist Glenn Lowry became a United States citizen in October 2023. He lives a couple blocks away from the Casements and said he loves living in the area. Photo by Michele Meyers
Beaux Arts artist Joyce McAdams stands next to her mixed media art during the Starry, Starry Night event at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Joyce McAdams holds a necklace she designed and created. She has been an artist for 50 years and this is the first time she has displayed art at the Starry, Starry Night event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Beaux Arts artist Peg Williams displays her macro photograph called the 'Big Red Boat'. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Casements was one of the sites people could stop by to enjoy an art exhibition, music and refreshments during the Starry, Starry Night event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach Historical Society second Vice President Pam Woodsome (right) talks to Sue Keane about the birthplace of speed at the MacDonald House during the Starry, Starry Night event. Photo by Michele Meyers
The model of the Hotel Ormond was recently renovated and returned to the MacDonald House for display. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens hosted a photography exhibit and live music by Kyle Bogdan on the rooftop terrace during the Starry, Starry Night gallery walk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Garden Board Secretary Dr. Philip Shapiro and Diamond Johnson, the curator of youth programs and outreach. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Cultuvue photography exhibition was on display at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens during the Starry, Starry Night gallery walk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Garden Board Secretary Dr. Philip Shapiro and Executive Director Stephanie Mason-Teague. Photo by Michele Meyers
Musician Kyle Bogdan performed on the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens rooftop terrace for the Starry, Starry Night gallery walk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Art lovers, history buffs and people that just like to hang out celebrated 34 years of art and culture in Ormond Beach at the Starry, Starry Night gallery walk on Friday, Jan. 12.
Attendees strolled through Ormond Beach’s “culture corner” — The Casements, the MacDonald House and the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens — and had the option to take a peek inside the Hotel Ormond Cupola located at Fortunato Park.
Dr. Philip Shapiro, OMAM board secretary, said they had over 310 visitors by 7:30 p.m. He said the event was about community awareness from a cultural standpoint.
“I’ve lived in Ormond Beach since 1981 and I must say we have expanded tremendously with cultural enhancement and heritage in the community,” he said. “What we have here is Museum Row. It goes from the art museum, the MacDonald House, The Casements and the Cupola. It’s a unique district in the community.”
Founder of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, Alice Louise Olmsted Burt, known as Lupe to her friends, was instrumental in saving many of Ormond’s historic landmarks before she died in 2023. Shapiro said The Casements was saved, in large part, by Burt’s initiative. It is considered to be the city’s cultural center.
I’ve lived in Ormond beach since 1981 and I must say we have expanded tremendously with cultural enhancement and heritage in the community. What we have here is museum row. It goes from the art museum, the MacDonald House, The Casements and the Cupola. It’s a unique district in the community. - Dr. Philip Shapiro, Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens board secretary
Members of the Beaux Arts of Central Florida featured their work in the “Reflections of Starry, Starry Night” exhibit at The Casements during the event. Guests enjoyed finger foods, and music by Paul Ricci and Glenn Lowry, who played saxophone and piano, respectively.
This is Lowry’s first year performing at the Starry, Starry Night event. Originally from Canada, he has lived in Ormond for six years and recently acquired his American citizenship.
“I love it here,” he said. “Especially this area. I bring people here all the time for the tours. I canoe, kayak, sail and walk the beaches. This is my retired life.”
Ormond Beach residents Suzanne Engel and Timo Hogan said the event sign on the Granada bridge piqued their interest.
“Starry, starry night brought me in,” Hogan said. “I got a thing for Van Gogh. I wanted to grab the advertisement off the bridge — it’s got a Van Gogh look to it.”
The artwork for the event poster features “Starry Night Over the Halifax,” created by Sherrill Schoening.
Those interested in the history of the area stopped by the MacDonald House to take a look at the recently renovated Hotel Ormond model and the “Women of Ormond Beach: Eileen Hubbard Butts” exhibit.
Pam Woodsome, Ormond Beach Historical Society second vice president, was on-hand to answer questions. She said the gallery walk event is a good way for the Historical Society to generate membership along with the return of the historic bus tours. They currently have approximately 427 members.
“Membership is our main revenue source,” she said. “We did increase membership by about 30% in 2023 over the previous year. We want to let everyone know we are now accepting new members.”
OMAM hosted the Cultuvue photography exhibition and an opening reception for artist John Wilton, whose modular art panels adorn the walls that lead to the rooftop terrace. Starry, Starry Night guests were treated to the sounds of musician Kyle Bogdan and a view of Ormond.
OMAM Executive Director Stephanie Mason-Teague said they have added two new programs for veterans and is eager to generate interest in the community. They are offering a creative workshop, paired with an exhibition tour, which is free to veterans and their families. Quarterly, they will host a lunch and learn. The museum will buy veterans lunch, follow it up with guest speakers who will cover a wide range of topics and then have them complete a project.
“We are dedicated to nature in our botanical gardens, art in our exhibitions and also honoring veterans,” she said. “As the third leg of our stool, there’s always an opportunity to bring our veterans’ programs to the forefront. It’s so important to us.”
