Meet Marlene Cummins, who has been a docent at the Muscarelle since 2016.

Why did you become a docent?
I have always loved museums and art in particular. For nearly fifteen years I was a docent at Colonial Williamsburg and gave both “Garden Tours” and “Behind the Scenes at Bruton Heights Tours” at CW for ten or twelve years. Finally, I decided I wanted to do something different and was drawn to the Muscarelle which I had enjoyed visiting over the years. Probably the Michelangelo exhibition helped convince me to become involved.

What is your favorite part of being a docent at the Muscarelle?
I enjoy interacting with people and trying to educate visitors while making it fun and memorable for them. I like to add special little tidbits about the artists or the work of art so that they may remember it long after they leave. I think there are advantages to a smaller, more intimate setting, which may make it less intimidating to some people. In addition, since the museum is part of William & Mary, I believe it gives it additional credibility. The fact that the Muscarelle also provides art students at the university an opportunity to select and curate an art exhibition each year shows its dedication to the students.

What is your favorite Muscarelle exhibition so far? Do you have a favorite artist or art period?
It is difficult to say which exhibition I liked the best. Different artists and shows appeal to me in different ways. The Botticelli show was certainly impressive and provided an opportunity for me to learn a lot. Because I love French Impressionism, the Degas exhibit was especially enjoyable for me and provided an opportunity to tell fascinating stories to the visitors. The Japanese Woodblock exhibition of the “53 Stations of the Tokaido Road” by Hiroshige was a real thrill because we lived in Japan for 3 years and I took classes on Japanese art and culture while there. The fact that Japanese woodblock prints inspired many of the Impressionists provides a tie-in to Impressionist art.

However, I found the exhibition “Forever Marked by the Day” to be particularly inspiring. The giant photographs provided a real appreciation of what has been done in the last 20 years to rebuild the area while commemorating the many lives lost. I personally found that exhibit to be so moving that my husband and I went to New York City, coming into the World Trade Center transportation hub by subway, to see firsthand the phenomenal Oculus and the other new buildings. I had not been aware of the Oculus with its captivating architecture until the Muscarelle had the exhibit. And while talking to visitors, I found that the Oculus was unknown to most of them, too.

What are your hobbies/interests, outside of being a Muscarelle docent?
I enjoy gardening and flower arranging and have been a member of the Green Spring Garden Club for 25 years. I thoroughly enjoyed working on the Christmas Homes Tours every December. Up until 4 years ago, we had a sailboat. Initially I enjoyed sailing on Lake Ontario for many years until we moved to Williamsburg and then sailed the Chesapeake Bay area for 20 years. Traveling to many parts of the world and learning about those areas also has been a real thrill. I have taken some painting classes in the recent past and hope to give it a try again soon.