Free Admission to the Appleton to Celebrate Arthur I. Appleton Birth Date

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is offering free admission on Sunday, Oct. 13, noon-5 p.m. to honor the birth date of Arthur I. Appleton.

Visit the permanent collection and special exhibitions “Urban Chatter: Sharon Kerry-Harlan,” “Do Not Bleach: Stephanie Brown,” and “Florida Impressions: Relief Prints by Leslie Peebles.” Visit the new permanent exhibition in the auditorium, “Artistic Legacy: The Story of Arthur I. Appleton and the Appleton Museum of Art,” to learn about the history of the museum and the Appleton family. There are several new and must-see works of art on view in the second-floor Modern & Contemporary galleries, including a Picasso and two Warhol prints.

Guests can also visit the Artspace, full of activity stations and art projects for the whole family; there is even an area for toddlers with art books and soft blocks. This is also a great opportunity to take a stroll on the museum grounds and check out the outdoor sculpture collection.

About Arthur I. Appleton:

Born in Chicago in 1915, Arthur I. Appleton was the son of the founder of the Appleton Electric Company. He loved art and antiquities from an early age because his mother, a concert pianist, singer and collector of fine art, instilled in her children her love of beautiful things. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1936, Arthur I. Appleton joined the family business, which manufactured electrical products used in chemical and steel plants. He contributed many inventions to the electronics field, acquiring more than 160 patents. Upon his retirement in 1982, the business was sold to Emerson Electric.

Appleton and his wife, actress Martha O’Driscoll, bought land in the Ocala area during the mid-1970s and established Bridlewood Farm, a thoroughbred breeding and training facility. When Appleton realized Ocala was the perfect setting for a museum that would allow him to share his vast art collections with the public, he hired Tampa architect Dwight Holmes to design the Appleton Museum of Art. The design was based on a sketch drawn by Appleton. Construction began on the 44 acres of land in 1984. The museum opened to the public in 1987, winning the American Institute of Architects Florida Award for Excellence. Appleton passed away Jan. 15, 2008, at the age of 92.

Owned and operated by the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call the Appleton Museum of Art at 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.