The Baker Museum

The Baker Museum is at 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. Part of the Artis-Naples complex, the 30,000-square-foot museum houses permanent and temporary collections in 15 galleries. The permanent installations comprise modernist American paintings and drawings; modern Mexican art; sculpture; and two large chandeliers by artist Dale Chihuly. Your experience begins at the striking 16-foot-tall bronze and steel front gates, crafted by artist Albert Paley. In the lobby a 35-foot-tall glass icicle chandelier by Dale Chihuly grabs your attention. On the third floor, discover Chihuly's Persian Ceiling 2001, an exuberant piece bursting with a kaleidoscope of vivid colors. Light shines through more than 600 translucent glass pieces shaped like sea shells, flowers, jelly fish tentacles and other organic forms that cling to the ceiling, kept in place by a sheet of glass. The piece measures about 50 feet long and 6 feet wide. The American Modernism collection features paintings and drawings from 1912 to the 1950s. Artists from the New York School, also called abstract expressionism, a post-World War II art movement, are well-represented and include Oscar Bluemner and Alexander Calder. Several galleries also contain furniture from this period, including an Art Deco desk and living room pieces. The Modern Mexican Masters collection includes vivid 20th-century paintings, drawings and sculpture by such artists as Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. Pieces from the permanent collection are rotated every season. The museum also has several changing exhibits in the Hayes Hall galleries. In addition, temporary exhibits take place throughout the season; past exhibitions have featured works by Edgar Degas, Louise Nevelson, Edward Weston and Frank Lloyd Wright. Educational programs, workshops, family events and lectures also are presented each season. Art After Hours offers performances by local musicians. Note: Photography is not permitted. Guided tours are available. Food is available. Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.