Orlando Museum of Art — Attraction in Orlando

I have been a member of OMA for years but after last night's event: "Don't ask me where I'm from" Opening Reception just for members, was very disappointing and I will NOT renew my years long membership. I will continue with My Dali Museum membership better.

OMA has a new leadership who eliminated the famous and longtime tradition of First Thursdays (ugh!!) for members and guests and now they came up with this event that separated members in two groups, the VIP (that were tucked away in another room with employees guarding the entrance) and the not so VIP (regular down to earth members that have the simple or contributing membership like me and my friends do).

The theme was dead on: Don't Ask me Where I'm From, is correct when you separate the members in two groups - who the heck is going to ask who!

The VIP had food served to them and the lower class had to go outside to a food truck (and pay), ha!

The music was beautiful but NOT for the occasion!

It was Opera and no place to sit to listen to it.

Traditionally on the defunct first Thursdays there would be music you can DANCE to, because the space is wide and everyone is dressed up and in a festive mood and looking forward to it....NOT LAST NIGHT THOUGH!

No dancing to Opera, although it is the Holidays and everyone wants to move their weary bones to some cool jazz or a well rounded DJ. Opera is better to absorb in a theater, sitting and sipping your wine, not in a dancing room environment.

Needless to say members started to leave early, it was a ghost activity - only meaningful to the higher hierarchy who were scooped away to be well fed and guarded. Wow, major fail...

We didn't even see the new management or any OMA Board members come around and say hi to us. Yet employees were aggressive in trying to get us inside the store to buy (which btw now has plain white bags with NO LOGO - who does that? Imagine MoMA's store bagging items in a plain bag without their logo on it!), they used the lower class members to spend our money for the wine, food and to buy souvenirs, while the VIP were undisturbed and enjoying their evening without the pressure or need to open their wallets.

I don't have time for this and my money will not support this platform anymore, my friends share the same sentiment.

Orlando keeps...

Orlando Museum of Art is high on my priority list every time I visit central Florida. It is the museum's unwavering commitment to contemporary art that truly ignites my imagination and pulls me in. The boldness of the contemporary pieces featured here challenge convention and dare the observer to reassess their perceptions. The juxtaposition of eras within the same space serves as a visual dialogue, offering a profound understanding of the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation.

One cannot help but be captivated by the diversity of voices that find a home within these walls. From Edward Ruscha to Ursula Von Rydingsvard, Nick Cave, Kerry Marshall and Pat Steirs, the Orlando Museum of Art champions diversity and inclusion, and this ethos reverberates through its exhibitions. Artists from various backgrounds and perspectives are given a platform to communicate their stories, creating a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with the viewer on a deeply personal level.

The layout of the museum is thoughtfully designed, with each room flowing seamlessly into the next. The spatial organization enhances the visitor's journey, allowing for moments of introspection and connection with the art. The use of natural light is particularly noteworthy, as it bathes the artwork in a gentle, ever-changing embrace, giving each piece an opportunity to reveal new facets of its beauty.

My admiration extends to the museum's commitment to education and community engagement. The interactive workshops, lectures, and outreach programs serve as beacons of inspiration for both young and old. It is heartening to witness a place where art is not merely exhibited but celebrated as a living, breathing entity that has the power to ignite curiosity and...

NOT FOR CHILDREN!!! BEWARE!!! Seriously though, it truly is for ages 8+. If not older still... I was thinking this experience would be like the Art Institute of Chicago. Holding hands in a line, weaving in and out of the galleries. It turned out more like Bull in a China shop chased down by armed guards. It was myself and my three children holding hands the entire time wandering through the galleries followed closely by two security guards!

We made our way to the back of the museum where there is a room for children. They provide a stack of papers and baskets of crayons and colored pencils to draw and create rubbings on a simulated Mayan Hieroglyph. There were books to read about the Mayans, and self-inking stamps to make your own Hieroglyph. They even provided a basket of building blocks to build your very own temple. Very interesting; however, your children must do all of this in absolute silence. Heaven forbid a block fall on the marble floors or a child's laugh bounce off the barren walls. That, my friends, is forbidden.

When the security guard started to reprimand us for playing with the blocks and laughing, I told my children it was time to clean up and go. We had the room cleaned up and were ready to go within seconds. I told my kids "Okay guys, lets go" and my 4 yr old son who hadn't taken his eyes off the security guard for one second, headed straight for the door. The back door, of course, and this inevitably set off the alarm! At this point the guard was so frustrated she began yelling at us. I told the guard calmly that we had to get going so that we could get to bed early tonight. We had plans to come back first thing in the morning because we had bought a year pass and didn't want to...