and Public Programs
Exhibition Lecture
The Surrealist International: Fifty Years of Dreams
Friday, October 16, 4pm
Ubben Signature Event Space
Matthew Gale, Ph.D, former head of displays, Tate Modern and co-curator of Surrealism Beyond Borders (Metropolitan Museum of Art and Tate Modern, 2021-22)
Join exhibition curator Matthew Gale for unique insights into The Surrealist International: Fifty Years of Dreams. This exhibition, drawn entirely from the collection of Tate, United Kingdom, explores the long trajectory and the broad reach of surrealism as a state of mind, through a rich texture of paintings, photographs, sculptures and objects. The project expands upon the themes Gale explored in his momentous 2021-22 exhibition Surrealism Beyond Borders (Metropolitan Museum of Art and Tate Modern).
Artis—Wellness
Mediation Walks on The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail
Multiple dates
Wednesday, November 11, 10am
Wednesday, December 9, 10am
Wednesday, January 13, 10am
Wednesday, February 10, 10am
Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus and The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail at Pelican Bay
Laurie Lyons, founder and director of Zen & the Arts
Engage your senses and explore the sculptures nestled within the lush gardens of the Kimberly K . Querrey and Louis A . Simpson Cultural Campus and Pelican Bay. Guided by local Zen teacher Laurie Lyons, this one-hour guided meditation walk takes participants along The Baker Museum Sculpture Trail, connecting gentle movement with a grounding outdoor meditation session.
© Xiaoming Liu, Ph.D., courtesy Arting Gallery
Artist Talk
Linling Lu The Sound of Color
Friday, December 11, 10am
Ubben Signature Event Space
Linling Lu, artist
Alexander Shelley, artistic and music director
Courtney McNeil, museum director and chief curator
Join exhibiting artist Linling Lu for a discussion of her new work. The installation, titled Fugue in 3 Voices, responds to symphonic works featured in the Naples Philharmonic’s 2026-27 Masterworks series.
Chladni Sound Bath Meditation
Frequencies You Can Hear, Feel and See with certified sound therapy practitioner Erica Nagel
Multiple dates
Thurday, January 7, 7:30pm Friday, February 5, 7:30pm Wednesday, March 3, 7:30pm Wednesday, April 7, 7:30pm Ubben Signature Event Space
Erica Nagel, owner of Sound Healings
This 90-minute sound bath meditation with Erica Nagel explores the hidden geometry of sound through visual patterns formed by vibration. No experience with meditation is needed — just a receptive presence and a mat.
Panel Discussion
Florida Contemporary 2026-27
Thursday, January 28, 2pm
Ubben Signature Event Space
Join the artists featured in Florida Contemporary 2026-27 for a lively panel discussion celebrating the state’s vibrant art scene. The 14th edition of the annual exhibition highlights diverse approaches to personal, local and global themes.
Exhibition Lecture
Ekphrastic Biography: A Poetic Exploration of Louise Nevelson’s Art and Life
Thursday, February 25, 2pm
Ubben Signature Event Space
Julie Gard, MFA, professor of writing and department chair, University of Wisconsin Superior
In this talk, reading, and visual presentation, Julie Gard will share excerpts from her prose poetry collection Scrap: On Louise Nevelson, in which she “carries out a necessary expansion of the ekphrastic tradition, not only entering into Louise Nevelson’s artworks with the precise, feelingful, and articulate response of an ideal viewer but also taking on the more emotionally fraught question of what it means to be an artist and a mother” (Kathleen Ossip). In addition, Gard will describe her travels to Pereiaslav, Ukraine, where Nevelson was born, and the establishment of a plaque there in the artist’s honor. Audience members will be encouraged to consider the benefits of deep, creative engagement with a visual artist’s work and legacy.
Exhibition Lecture
Collecting with Purpose: Shaping the Future of The Baker Museum Collection
Tuesday, March 30, 10am
Ubben Signature Event Space
Courtney McNeil, museum director and chief curator
The Baker Museum’s collection is entering an exciting new chapter. Join Museum Director and Chief Curator Courtney McNeil for an inside look into the creation and adoption of the museum’s first Scope of Collections and Collections Plan. This foundational document outlines the existing strengths of the collection and will guide future acquisitions, all in service of the organization’s mission. The presentation will also highlight significant recent gifts, showing how these new additions strengthen the collection and help chart a dynamic course for its future.
Exhibition Lecture
Mapping Waterways Through Art & Science
Friday, April 23, 2pm
Ubben Signature Event Space
Christopher Daly, Ph.D., assistant professor, Coastal Geomorphology
Lauren Rosenthal McManus, featured artist, The Long View
Join Christopher Daly, Ph.D., assistant professor of coastal geomorphology at Florida Gulf Coast University, and The Long View featured artist, Lauren Rosenthal McManus, in a dynamic panel discussion that will investigate the intersections between Daly’s research tracking coastal geomorphology and storm impacts and McManus’ collaborative, multimedia representations of rivers and watersheds. Daly and McManus will discuss the similarities and differences in their research processes and the meaningful interactions between fieldwork, citizen science and the visual arts.
Free Admission to The Baker Museum
All exhibition lecture tickets include free same-day admission to The Baker Museum.