The English-Speaking Union

News and Events

Wednesday, January 19 from 4:00 PM (EST)
Jan Clanton

It is often inferred that John Singer Sargent moved to London because of the scandal over his portrait, Madame X, 1883-4, and there could be some truth to that. He knew that the time was ripe to develop the English market. He couldn't do it by copying British masters, rather he would build a clientele that embraced a distinctly modern, almost flamboyant style of portraiture. That Sargent made a success of his style in Britain passed from history into Legend. 

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Jan Clanton

Clanton joined the staff of Orlando Museum of Art in 1985 and retired as Associate Curator in June, 2014. She has a B.A. in Art History from Rollins College. Previously she served as Adult Program Specialist, Special Project Coordinator, Assistant Curator of Education, and Coordinator of Educational Programs during her 29 year career at OMA.

Clanton curated XX-XY: Gender Representation in Art in 2011 and A Passion for Collecting in 2013. Clanton received the 2014Outstanding Achievement Award for Arts/Culture from the Women's Executive Council. She was selected as one of the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs, recipients of its "Inclusive Culture Award" in 2009, as well as awarded the Catalyst Institution for Innovation and Excellence Distinguished Achievement Award in 2005. She has offered art appreciation classes at the Orlando Museum of Art, Rollins College, LIFE at UCF, Solivita and The Villages in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Sumter Counties.

She was the Project Coordinator of Art's the Spark, a joint project between OMA and Winter Park Health Foundation, for life-long learning for seniors living in congregate living sites. In FY2005-06 she expanded the program for inclusion in programs for the homeless. In 2009 the program, now expanded to Art's the Spark @ OMA as an on-site program, received additional funding from the State of Florida. This expanded program was tailored for people diagnosed with memory impairment and their healthy caregivers. It was based on a nationally recognized program, Meet Me at MoMA in NYC, who mentored Clanton on best practices. She initiated Creative Connection, a program for students with disabilities, in 2010 along with Tactile Tours for the vision impaired.

Along with these programs for special audiences, Clanton also oversaw OMA Travel, advised Friends of American Art, a collectors circle at the museum and other on-site adult programs for the museum. She is a former member of the Educational and Community Resources Committee, part of the Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Council, served on the Winter Park Public Art Advisory Board, the and the Arts and Culture Alliance for the City of Winter Park, the Tourist Development Tax Annual Review Committee of Orange County and served on the Engagement Committee of the Cornell Museum of Fine Arts.

Since retiring in 2014, Clanton has continued offering art appreciation classes in three Central Florida counties and leading Art's the Spark @ OMA on a monthly basis for those with dementia and their healthy caregivers. When not working in the arts, she walks several miles daily in Winter Park and plays croquet.

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