What I Did (at Reynolda!) On My Summer Vacation… 

By Sandy Carter

In early Spring, as I contemplated the coming summer months, I assumed they would be relatively quiet on the Reynolda front. Although the wonderful Layered Looking exhibit would draw people to the museum, the temporary house closure for HVAC updates would surely make for a slow season on the estate, right? Wrong! 

There was always something happening at Reynolda! In connection with the art exhibit, there were exciting Saturdays in the studios where kids could make use of the inspiration they received in the gallery to create their own masterpieces. The gardens were abuzz with activity and visitors, as were the ever-popular restaurants and shops in Reynolda Village. Thanks to our Volunteer Council, volunteers had several ongoing training and social opportunities. These included a clever, informative tour of Reynolda Village through the lens of Ms. Katharine’s original vision and a delightful gathering of volunteers at Theodore’s for community connection. We had the opportunity to volunteer at H.O.P.E., bagging vegetables grown in Reynolda Gardens.  Some of the most fun for this particular volunteer was the joy of attending summer camps with my grandchildren. 

The first camp on my schedule was the educational and entertaining Young Naturalists Camp. Shout-out to Janie Bass and her crew for planning, organizing, supplying, and delivering a super good time all week! I was a helper for my grandson’s group…all boys! What an adventure this mom-of-girls had as we dug and sifted through the muddy creekbed to find and learn about all the critters that make their home there. The children built creative waterways on which to sail the amazing boats they designed from natural materials. We hiked the woods to learn about the diverse bird and plant life so abundant at the Reynolda estate. We made herbed butter using herbs grown in the gardens…and made a mad dash to the conservatory in a driving rain! 

A highlight for me was watching the boys enthusiastically “wash” clothes using scrub boards, then hanging them on the line to dry at the cabin in the woods! Maybe that’s the way to get them to help around the house? Each day was packed with experiences and time in nature. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a very unexpected treat during the June camps. Yes, the German soccer team was in town, and the campers took time to make signs and line up to cheer the players as they biked through the estate!  

In July, the Reynolda Art Adventures camp offered yet more unique opportunities to embrace the estate’s offerings. Julia Tanner and team provided a wide variety of art projects for the campers to create, all based on the diverse collection in the Layered Looking exhibit. Each day of the week, campers toured the exhibit, then gathered in the auditorium and studios to produce their own interpretations of what they had seen. The tables were piled high with every possible tool an artist could need and volunteers were ready with great instruction and information. The proof was in the beautiful results…all proudly displayed for family and friends at the end of the week at a lovely reception. 

We were wowed by the hearts inspired by Jim Dine’s work, The World (for Anne Waldman), celebrating favorite places; gorgeous colorful string art in homage to Frank Stella’s silk screen print, Double Gray Scramble; and the thoughtful landscapes sketched en plein air per Frederic Church and painted to completion back in the studios. A favorite of mine was the interpretation of Lloyd Toone’s Styling. The campers made tracings and cut-outs of their own shoes to create portraits…so fun! 

With the pool closed for renovations, would the campers be disappointed not to have some water fun at summer camp? No way! Hoses, water tables, waterway building apparati, and slip-and-slides made the day!  What an exciting summer we had at the Reynolda House Museum and Gardens! This is one camper who is already looking forward to next year…