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Bonnet House Announces the Release of a New Book

By Bonnet House Blog, News No Comments

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens announces the release of a new book written by Kent Planck entitled Bonnet House: A Legacy of Artistry and Elegance. The release date is scheduled for Monday, November 14 with a reception at 6pm on the Bonnet House Veranda and Courtyard.  This new book is a coffee table-book about the historic home and the artistic legacy of Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett.  The book traces the history of the property and explores and depicts the decorative embellishments utilized by the Bartletts to create a truly unique home.

Author Kent Planck, a long-time Bonnet House volunteer and graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Journalism, vividly illustrates Hugh Taylor Birch’s love of South Florida’s pristine barrier islands, his gift of the Bonnet House site to daughter Helen and her artist husband Frederic, Bartlett’s art career and marriage (after Helen’s death) to Evelyn Fortune Lilly, Evelyn’s own period working as an artist, and Evelyn’s desire to see that the home be preserved. Kent Planck has donated his services as have several photographers.

The cost of the book is $35 and will be available online after November 14 at www.bonnethouse.org and in the Bonnet House Museum Shop and at various local cultural organizations and bookstores.

For more information about Bonnet House: A Legacy of Artistry and Elegance or Kent Planck, please contact Patrick Shavloske at [email protected] or (954) 563-5393 ext. 140.

About Author

A native of Pekin, Illinois, Kent Planck holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University where he was elected a charter member of the Medill School of Journalism’s Hall of Achievement in 1997. He worked nearly 30 years in the field of communications before retiring in 1994 as Vice President of Public Relations at AT&T. A life-long history buff, Planck has held board positions at both Bonnet House Museum & Gardens and the Wellfleet Historical Society on Cape Cod where he has summered for more than 35 years. Now a resident of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Planck is a volunteer tour guide at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and tour guide and annual historic lecturer at Bonnet House. He is also a self-taught artist who exhibits his oil-on-canvas landscapes in both Florida and Cape Cod.

"Impressions of Florida" fundraiser in the works

By Bonnet House Blog, Events No Comments

LXR Luxury Resorts and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens announce the opening date of “Impressions of Florida,” the annual juried art exhibition and fundraiser to benefit the public programs of Bonnet House. The opening date is Friday, February 11, 2011 and the exhibition is set to open with a private showing for V.I.P. guests at 5:00pm. V.I.P. guests will be treated to champagne and hors d’oeuvres, preview the exhibition, and partake in a rare viewing of the exclusive private living quarters of Evelyn and Frederic Bartlett, Bonnet House’s former owners. The reception opens to members of the public at 6:00 p.m. Lois Schmatz, Pat Smith and Dev Motwani are co-chairing this year’s Impressions of Florida opening.

The juried art exhibit, presented by LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, showcases artists from throughout the state and the artists’ personal interpretations of “Florida.” All guests and participating artists are invited to cast votes for their favorite artist in the exhibition. The artist receiving the highest number of votes will receive the People’s Choice Award, awarded that evening. All of the artwork in the Impressions of Florida competition will be available for sale with 50% of the proceeds benefiting Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. The Impressions of Florida exhibition will be on display from February 11 through April 10, 2011 during Bonnet House regular tour hours.

Additional highlights of the evening will include fine food, fine wine and live entertainment throughout the house presented by 360˚ Catering. Invitations for Impressions of Florida will be mailed in December. If you would like to add your name to the mailing list or would like to enter your work to be considered, please call (954) 563-5393 ext. 163 or click here.

View images of last year’s event by clicking here.