The Florence County Museum will feature a new exhibition titled ReCollect, which examines the past, present and future of the museum’s work. The exhibit will be on display June 4 – December 12, 2024. SC Humanities supported this exhibit with a Mini Grant.
Celebrating the Florence County Museum’s 10th year in its current location and historical years as an institution, ReCollect describes the history of the museum, taking a closer look at its earliest acquisitions and asking the viewer to consider: What attributes make collection items meaningful? How have the museum and its collections changed over time?
Interpretative panels and historical images will chronicle the past, present and future of the museum’s work, including the role of Jane Beverly Evans and her vision for a museum for the community of Florence. It is through her travels that she met Kenneth Chapman, one of the first employees of the Museum of New Mexico. On display will be color reproductions of Chapman’s Pueblo Indian Pottery illustrations demonstrating his observation and study of the artform. The catalyst of the Florence County Museum’s formation as an institution was the purchase of a Southwestern Pottery Collection under Chapman’s care. Select pieces from this initial purchase will be on display. Viewers will be invited to look closer, consider their meaning and significance. A magnetic wall featuring pottery sherds to be placed together will be available for younger viewers to explore.
Dr. Kiley Molinari of Francis Marion University has served as consultant on exhibition content and imagery. Through her scholarship and SC Humanities’ support, a take-home booklet describing Southwestern pottery forms and related vocabulary will be available at no cost. In addition, the gallery narrative will be available in English audio and in Spanish text on the museum’s website via QR code.
Programming related to this exhibition includes Summer Camps, Fall Family Days and a museum anniversary weekend October 11-12, 2024. The Florence County Museum offers free admission for guests. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm, with extended hours on Thursdays until 7pm. Sundays the museum is open 10am-2pm. Learn more: www.flocomuseum.org.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
Image: 1926-1930: Through surplus funds raised by local war relief efforts Jane B. Evans purchases several collections of Southwestern Native pottery. This collection was held in a small room in the basement of the Florence Public Library.
