Letter to the Editor: Celebrating Maitland's historic treasure

There is a lot to love in Greater Orlando. From world class cultural treasures and natural beauty to a growing foodie and tech scene, much of the nation hasn’t quite caught on that Orlando is a great place to live, work and play. More than 80 years ago, artist and architect Jules André Smith saw the potential of this area and used three acres on the shores of Lake Sybelia as a blank canvas to create what would become his masterpiece. Originally known as the Research Studio and now known as the A&H’s Maitland Art Center, Smith created an artists’ colony designed in the rare Mayan Revival style.

The Research Studio was founded on the idea that to elevate their work, artists needed a retreat from their daily lives to experiment and collaborate in a supportive environment. Supported by generous patronage from Mary Curtis Bok, some of the nation’s most celebrated artists such as Milton Avery and Ralston Crawford lived and worked in the colony during its classic period from 1937 through 1959.

Smith’s artist’s colony took its place on the national stage once again during the Jan. 8, dedication ceremony as Central Florida’s first National Historic Landmark. Special guests included Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Brent D. Glass; University of Virginia Chairman of the Department of Architectural History, Richard Guy Wilson; and childhood resident of the Research Studio, Peter Banca.

To put the A&H’s Maitland Art Center’s new designation in perspective, more than 89,000 sites are listed on our country’s National Register of Historic Places. Only three percent have been deemed significant enough to our national history to earn landmark status – and ours is the first in a four-county footprint that includes Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. The path to National Historic Landmark designation was paved through support of past and present members of the A&H’s board and staff members and other key stakeholders who dreamt of the possibility over a decade ago. The rigorous nomination process was undertaken by architectural historian Christine Madrid French with the support of the City of Maitland and Art & History Museums – Maitland. The nomination took two years and included reviews by subject matter experts, advisory boards, the National Park Service and ultimately, the Secretary of the Interior.

The Landmark designation recognizes the importance of Smith’s architectural masterpiece as well as the groundbreaking artwork produced on the grounds. It is the honor of the Art & History Museums – Maitland to continue Smith’s legacy today with artists-in-action, artists-in-residence, studio art instruction, gallery exhibitions, lectures, films and preservation of the more than 200 reliefs, sculptures and murals on the site. The designation has begun a bright new chapter in Maitland Art Center’s history. Join us in celebrating this important moment for Central Florida. Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, we invite you to step onto the grounds and discover why the A&H’s Maitland Art Center is a national historic treasure that won’t remain hidden for long.

Andrea Bailey Cox is Executive Director and CEO of the Art & History Museums – Maitland. The Maitland Art Center is one of the five museums that comprise the Art and History Museums – Maitland (A&H.) “Art and the Subconscious: Salvador Dalí and André Smith” runs through Feb. 22, and photographer Clyde Butcher’s “Nature’s Places of Spiritual Sanctuary” exhibition will be held March 6-May 17 as part of Art31. To learn more, visit artandhistory.org and art31.org or call 407-539181.