ARTIS—NAPLES AND PELICAN BAY FOUNDATION UNVEIL THE BAKER MUSEUM SCULPTURE TRAIL
Naples, FL (January 15, 2025) – Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum and the Pelican Bay Foundation today announced the successful installation of The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail, a dynamic outdoor exhibition along Pelican Bay Boulevard. This collaborative project showcases an engaging selection of sculptures from The Baker Museum’s permanent collection and loans, enriching the cultural landscape of Naples with a unique outdoor art experience.
Spanning the scenic walking path adjacent to the Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus, the trail features significant works by renowned artists, including vibrant kinetic sculptures by George Rickey and a monumental corten steel sculpture by Albert Paley, among others. Visitors will encounter these thought-provoking pieces in a natural setting, fostering a deeper connection between art and the Southwest Florida community. The installation is further enhanced by landscaping and lighting design, which highlights these works while preserving the trail’s accessible and inviting atmosphere.
“The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail exemplifies the enduring partnership between Artis—Naples and Pelican Bay, celebrating our shared commitment to making art visible, accessible and inspiring for all,” said Artis—Naples CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen. “For decades, we have proudly showcased outdoor sculptures on our cultural campus. This new trail represents an exciting expansion of this longstanding commitment, extending our reach and creating a cultural destination that invites both residents and visitors to experience outstanding art in a distinctive outdoor setting.”
“Pelican Bay Foundation is proud to partner with Artis—Naples—a world-class institution—and it is an absolute privilege to collaborate with them on The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail,” said Tony D’Errico, Pelican Bay Foundation president. “This project aligns perfectly with our vision and, specifically, our desire to beautify the community and enrich the lives of our members and guests.”
The Baker Museum Director and Chief Curator Courtney McNeil highlighted the artistic impact of the trail: “The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail offers a distinctive opportunity to experience art in harmony with the natural beauty of Pelican Bay,” McNeil said. “By situating these remarkable sculptures along the walking path, we create a space where art and environment enhance one another, inviting reflection and discovery outside of the traditional gallery setting. This trail underscores our commitment to sharing exceptional works of art with the community in meaningful and accessible ways.”
Visitors can access the trail for a self-guided tour at any time. Additionally, The Baker Museum’s trained docents offer weekly outdoor sculpture tours on Thursdays at 10am from November through May. These tours are generously sponsored by Bank of America. The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail is organized by Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum and curated by Libby Harrington, director of museum exhibitions and operations. For more information about The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail, please visit artisnaples.org.
PELICAN BAY VISION STATEMENT A premier coastal community that enriches the lives of its members through first-class amenities, engaging activities, the tranquility of nature and a sense of belonging.
ARTIS—NAPLES Home of The Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic, Artis—Naples is unique among cultural institutions nationwide, equally dedicated to both the visual and performing arts featuring artists of global distinction.
KIMBERLY K. QUERREY and LOUIS A. SIMPSON CULTURAL CAMPUS Led by CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen and Artistic and Music Director Alexander Shelley, Artis—Naples offers more than 800 paid and free events annually across its 8.5-acre Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus. Artis—Naples welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for a broad array of artistic and educational opportunities perfect for audiences of all backgrounds and interests. The cultural campus is home to five buildings, including two performance halls (Frances Pew Hayes Hall and Myra J. Daniels Pavilion), The Baker Museum, the Toni Stabile Education Building and the Kohan Administration Building.
NAPLES PHILHARMONIC The Naples Philharmonic has long been recognized as one of the cornerstones of Southwest Florida’s arts community. As part of Artis—Naples, the Naples Philharmonic performs more than 140 orchestral and chamber music concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts annually between September and June in the 1,477-seat Hayes Hall, the 283-seat Daniels Pavilion and around Southwest Florida. The Naples Philharmonic has enjoyed a history of working with world-class music directors. Following a successful designate year in 2023-24, Alexander Shelley begins his new role as artistic and music director in the 2024-25 season. Renowned violinist James Ehnes continues as artistic partner through the 2024-25 season, working with Naples Philharmonic musicians in a variety of settings with a focus on inspiring and embodying a high level of artistry. Podium leadership also includes Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, celebrating 15 years in this role in the 2024-25 season and bringing pops performances that celebrate music across genres.
THE BAKER MUSEUM The Baker Museum is the foremost fine art museum in Southwest Florida, presenting an ambitious slate of exhibitions annually to complement installations of works from its permanent collection. Comprising more than 3,000 objects, the museum’s broad holdings of 20th- and 21st-century art reflect particular strengths in modern art of the United States and Mexico. The Baker Museum's collection demonstrates the generosity and commitment of area collectors, including significant gifts from the collection of the late Olga Hirshhorn.
With more than two decades of collecting and exhibiting, the museum is committed to the stewardship and scholarship of its collections and to fostering inspiring and transformative experiences with the visual arts. At the same time, The Baker Museum partners with the world’s leading arts institutions to make extraordinary exhibitions accessible to the Southwest Florida community—including recently the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. In 2020, Artis—Naples celebrated the renovation and expansion of The Baker Museum and adjoining Norris Garden, designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, which created new spaces for multidisciplinary exploration and social interaction.
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY In addition to creating and presenting visual and performing arts, Artis—Naples provides robust education and community activities for students of all ages in Collier and Lee counties. Each season, thousands of Collier County Public School students interact with Artis—Naples education programming, both on our cultural campus and in their classrooms. Beyond our commitment to youth education, the Lifelong Learning program provides informative lectures and study opportunities for adults seeking to engage more deeply with the arts.
The Friends of Artis—Naples, comprised of more than 3,500 donor households, offers activities, travel experiences and events designed to foster a deeper relationship between patrons and the arts.
In 2017, Artis—Naples acquired the Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), expanding its film offerings and providing a platform for the festival’s continued excellence and growth. In 2023, the festival’s 15th anniversary year, NIFF was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “20 Great Film Festivals in Vacation Destinations.”