Appleton Museum Offers Free Admission and More on May 4

“Norimono (Ceremonial Palanquin),” 19th century. Unknown maker, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868), Lacquer and gold on wood; interior paintings: ink, color and gold on paper; silk upholstery, 49 x 53 1/2 x 36 1/8 in. , Gift of Arthur I. Appleton.

The Appleton Museum offers free admission the first Saturday of each month.

Patrons who visit on May 4 can enjoy special exhibitions and pieces from the museum’s permanent collection, such as the piece highlighted below.

According to a museum’s website, the Humane Society of Marion County who will host an adoption event in front of the museum from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and the Grilled Cheese Emporium food truck will be onsite from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Gabi Sullivan from the City of Ocala will give a presentation in the auditorium at 11 a.m., “Connecting Y(our) Water.”

Sullivan will explain “how water flows throughout the City of Ocala and the role that consumers have in protecting this precious resource and the surrounding landscapes it connects.”

Permanent collection highlight:
The Appleton Museum of Art’s permanent collection includes an exceptionally rare 19th century norimono, or “thing to ride” (essentially a palanquin).

It was made of lacquer and gold on wood, with ink, color and gold on paper, and silk upholstery by an unknown maker in Japan between 1603 and 1868.

The palanquin is 49 X 53 1/2 X 36 1/8 in and is thought to have been a ceremonial item for the wealthy upper class of Edo Japan.

The intricate decorations of the palanquin are believed to have been inspired by the teachings of Zen philosophy and Chinese painting styles.