January 2015 E-Newsletter

In This Issue

Grant

In the News

Blog Post

Preschool Palette

From the Director

Events Calendar

New Stafford Movie

In the News
State budget cuts pinch Belmont, James Monroe Museum

Grant
The Fredericksburg Savings Charitable Foundation has awarded Belmont a $5,000 grant to help defray the costs of restoring the exterior of the Melcherses' Cow Barn. Once fully funded, the project will include replacing deteriorated siding, rebuilding drainage systems, repairing the cupola and the metal roof and repainting the entire structure. The Cow Barn is the last of the original dependencies to be restored. Once the exterior is complete, the next project will be to return the interior to its original state as a milking parlor for the Melcherses' cows.

Blog Post
Announcing Winter/Spring Events A wide variety of events and programs await our guests in 2015! [...]

Preschool Palette
Children ages 2-5 with an adult enjoy a story, garden walk, hands-on art project, and a visit to the art gallery or historic house. Classes run from 10-11 am. January Classes: Jan 20, 22, 23 February Classes: Feb 10, 12, 13 $10/child (Members $8) Register Online Questions? Contact Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby at 540/654-1851.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Director David Berreth

Thanks to Annual Appeal donors!

The response to our first annual appeal has been gratifying. As of mid-December, over 40 Friends of Belmont have given almost $5,500 in new contributions, which will help mitigate some of the state-imposed budget cuts for this year, and allow Belmont to stay open on a normal schedule through the winter months.

The following Friends get an extra thanks for helping us start 2015 as a happy new year! Additional contributions will be noted in the February e-news.

Julia Alessio, Sarah and Martin Bass, Robert G. Beck, Anna Marie Blatt, M.J. Bradley, Sandy Brooks, Linda Burgess, William P. Carter, Carolyn Crain, Claire C. Curcio, Marian & Stan Dawgert, Roger Engels, Colleen Fisher, Kathleen & Everett Geno, Patricia Gray, Mary & Paul Harris, Ann & Bob Harry, Bonnie Hayes, Alma Jenkins, Ann Keel, Janet and Tom Kimbrell, Anne & Granger Macfarlane, Anne B. McCahill, Linda McLintock, Christine Morin, Judith Murray, M.J. O'Neill, Jamie & Bill Percival, Danette Pisarcik, Joan & William Rice, Janet Savage, Karen and Norm Scanlon, Laura & Samuel Smart, Beverly Smith, Clint M. Street, Nancy Taubert, Charlotte M. Walker, Paulette Watson, Mary Lou & Dietmar Weselin, Catherine Zickafoose

EVENTS CALENDAR
7th Annual Wedding Sampler Sunday, January 18, 1-4 pm Fredericksburg-area vendors specializing in wedding planning will be showcased at this intimate event. Sample delicious food and share ideas for your wedding. Door prizes will be offered. Touring the studio galleries is included in the $10 fee. UMW student/staff admission is $5. Pre-register by contacting Betsy Labar at 540-654-1848. Woodland Hike Sunday, January 25, 2pm Conducted by Virginia Master Naturalists, these informative hikes cover a mile of trails in both woodlands and fields and touch on Belmont's historic ruins. Meet outside the Visitor Center, free. Sweetheart Wine Pairing Dinner Saturday, February 14, 5:30 pm Celebrate this special day with a four-course dinner catered by Dori Farrell, featuring wines chosen for each course by Ingleside Winery. Members $75/non-members $95; Reservations required by February 7, 540/654-1848 or blabar@umw.edu. 'Rappahannock' Film Screening Sun, Feb 15, 2 pm Belmont is partnering with Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) for a showing of FOR's new film, 'Rappahannock.' This historic and cultural film about the Rappahannock River is produced by Oscar-nominated Bailey Silleck. John Odenkirk of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will give a short presentation about the river's health in our area and the impact of the Embrey Dam removal; a Q&A will follow. This is a family-friendly, free event.

STAFFORD MOVIE FEATURES GM

New Stafford Film Debuts [Read More...]

Stafford, Virginia: Our American Story

Michelle Crow-Dolby, Editor

Education and Communications Manager

Past e-newsletter issues can be
found on our website.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont was the home and studio of prominent portraitist and American Impressionist painter Gari Melchers (1860-1932) from 1916 until his death. The 18th century Georgian mansion, outbuildings, and formal gardens were modified and expanded to serve as an elegant country retreat for the artist and his wife, who had left their longtime European home at the outbreak of WWI. Melchers was one of the most respected artists of his generation. Upon Corinne Melchers' death in 1955, the property and all its contents were deeded to the Commonwealth of Virginia, making Belmont one of the most complete and authentic artists' homes in America.

Administered by the University of Mary Washington, the museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a National Historic Landmark, and is included in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Artists' Homes and Studios consortium.