MUSEUM MART, GOURMET GALLERY, AND THE TREASURE GALLERY

Presented by Fay Mackey at the General Membership Meeting on January 27, 2022.

I gathered information and use quotes for this talk from A History of The Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts. My additional comments come from watching my mother and many other ladies work their tails off year round during these years.

1969 - There was an event titled “Treasures and Trifles”. In the society History it was described as follows: “The Society assumes responsibility for this so-called ‘all Museum” undertaking. It draws heavily from its funds to underwrite the preliminary purchases of needed materials . The general chairmen, booth chairmen, treasurer, secretary and majority of workers are Society members.”

The event was held over two days with a dinner for members on opening night. On the following day there was a luncheon and the Mart was open to the public. There were two seatings for the dinner and the luncheon. All the food was prepared and served by Society members. The meals were themed, for example Italian or American Cuisine, and then the Marley Room and gardens were decorated according to the theme. In addition all the floral arrangements were done by members.

There was a vast array of items sold - antiques, quilts, needlepoint pillows, pastel portraits, jewelry, and clothes, for a few examples. There was even a dressing room.  The booth chairmen would prepare a year in advance assigning members to make there particular booth’s objects. For example, needlework makers would be provided kits for whatever item they were making and have a year to complete it.  A kit was purchased for 3-D nativity figures that my aunt, Anne Bleakley, embroidered in crewel stitches, complete with French knot sheep. My mother bought the set for me and I am delighted to still use it today.

I also have a needlepoint pillow of “The Cock of Liberation” by Pablo Picasso.

1970 - the name of the event was changed to “Museum Mart”.

1975 - And I quote, “The Society assembles and publishes ten thousand copies of their cookbook, Gourmet Gallery, in time to sell at the November Museum Mart. They are sold in the Museum Shop, other museums and innumerable nationwide stores and specialty shops.” Gourmet Gallery is printed three more times: in 1977 for another 10,000 copies; 1978 for an additional 10,000 copies; and a forth time in 1981 for 12,000 copies. In 1985, Gourmet Gallery is retired after 10 years and 42,000 copies printed.

The cover of the cookbook is a color photograph of sumptuous dishes and a beautiful flower arrangement on a table in the Membership Garden. The cookbook had over 420 pages of recipes and had 380 recipe contributors including some from local restaurants.

I always love to hear people say how much they love their well worn and stained copy of Gourmet Gallery.

1976 - the Society votes to turn the Mart over to an independent Museum Mart organization.

1979 - because of the success of a particular part of the Museum Mart, The Treasure Gallery was opened as a separate store. The Treasure Gallery “concentrates on the sale of fine items from estates and donations”. Over time The Treasure Gallery occupied several different storefronts on First Street North. The Treasure Gallery was closed during the 1990-1991 Stuart Society year. It made $235,000.00 during its approximate 11 year duration.  I have two mahogany end tables purchased from The Treasure Gallery.

1986 - the Museum Mart is terminated. Even though there is an independent Museum Mart organization, most of the work falls on members. From the History I quote, “In November, the traditional time for the Mart, the Grand Prix comes to St. Petersburg. The Museum is surrounded by concrete and fence barriers as the city prepares the track for the races.”

The Museum Marts were a huge success. Unfortunately, I did not find any annual totals or a cumulative total of funds raised in the History. However it required many, many people, and countless hours of planning, effort and plain hard physical work to pull the Mart off annually. The Mart spilled out of the Marly Room into the galleries and art had to be removed from the walls and then reinstalled by Museum staff. And so the event had exhausted itself and The Stuart Society moved on to other successful fundraising events.

1990 - for the Museum’s 25th Anniversary there was a special Museum Mart called “A Silver Celebration”. This final Mart raised $52,350.00. A fitting epilogue for this major fundraising event.