Welcome to the new C’mon Collections Blog! I am excited to begin introducing the collection to everyone. I plan on using this forum to share the most recent news regarding the collection and offer advice on caring for your personal collections and family treasures.
Did you know that C’mon is one of a few children’s museums in the country that has a permanent collection of artifacts? The bulk of our 2,000 + collection is the Dr. Ernestine O’Connell Collection. This collection consists of tribal, ceremonial, ethnographic and folk pieces from over 140 countries. It will allow us to integrate real objects into exhibits which give children opportunities to make connections to cultures and places around the world. A new country being featured every 3 months along with coordinating educational programming and activities makes for an educational experience like no other in Southwest Florida.
C’mon is also one of a very few (if not the only) children’s museums with a fine art collection. We focus on children as the subject matter in American art. William Meek, Owner and Director of the Harmon-Meek Gallery and a C’mon Collection Committee member, has been assisting us with this collection. Currently we have several paintings, including pieces by Richard Segalman and Colleen Browning, and 1 sculpture by Lorrie Goulet. It is an incredible opportunity to expand learning opportunities through art.
Currently, the O’Connell collection is still in Venice, Florida. We have agreed to leave the collection in place while the trust company arranges and completes the appraisals that need to be done. Once those are complete we will be moving the collection to Naples. Then the real fun will begin!
