Free Culture on Smithsonian’s Museum Day

Self Portrait - Sniffing the Roses at the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla. — Smelling the Roses at the Ringling Museum, Sept. 25, 2010

Today was the 6th Annual Museum Day hosted by Smithsonian Media which meant participating museums across the country offered free admission for two people. I opted to revisit the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota and see what’s new since my last visit, which I can’t recall when that was. Plus, I saved $25, the regular cost of admission.

I have say, “wow!” Ringling has grown up and has a nice balance of fine art, history and circus heritage.

Enjoy these snapshots from the day and check out the whole collection on Flickr.

Dwarf Garden at Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla. — Dwarf Garden at the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Have to say, the Dwarf Garden is my favorite site at the Ringling Museum. It consists of maybe a dozen carved sculptures (not sure of the exact count) in the form of dwarfs. They each have their own quirky personality. Some look scared (makes me think they were once children gone bad and turned to stone) and others look mischievous. Since I have this fascination with them, is there something wrong with me? I think not.

Rose Garden at the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla. — Sculpture in the Rose Garden, Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla.

Ah, to stand almost naked in a rose garden without a care in the world.

Ringling Circus Museum, Sarasota, Fla. — Clown Elephants in the Circus Museum at the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla.

Bring in the clowns! And the elephants! The Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center is well, quite cool. It’s the world’s largest miniature circus. These elephants aren’t part of that exhibit but on display on an opposite wall.

Tiles and Flower Petal Next to Old Pool at Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla. — Flower Petal on Pool Tiles at the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Fla.

Just a little abstract imagery for ya. I love the tile and the pop of the flower petal.

Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

Free Culture on Smithsonian’s Museum Day

Jenn

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