Mom's Favorite

It was my mother’s favorite painting.

Every time she visited me on the job as director of marketing at the Cincinnati Art Museum, she would ask to stop by and pay a visit to the van Gogh. I gladly showed her the way through the Great Hall up the grand staircase to the European galleries, where a crowd usually stood by the painting.

As I was reading the Wall Street Journal last Thursday, there it was, a picture above the fold of the beloved painting from the CAM’s collection, “Undergrowth with Two Figures” (1890) by Vincent van Gogh. The prized painting entered the storied Cincinnati collection in 1967, a bequest of Mary E. Johnston in the year of her passing along with 30 other paintings by famous names: Picasso, Matisse, among others.  

Per the article, “Undergrowth with Two Figures” is one of the star attractions in the new exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts titled “Van Gogh in America” on view through Jan. 22, 2023. The painting is in the Queen City’s collection thanks to Miss Mary Johnston (1890-1967), the niece by marriage of William Cooper Procter, who served as president of The Procter & Gamble Company. According to a Cincinnati Enquirer report, Miss Johnston (as she was known) was treated like a daughter by the Procters, as they had no children of their own. They taught her the value of giving. As their heir, she ensured their fortune benefitted the Episcopal Church and other causes such as Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Art Museum, and Society of the Transfiguration.

Mary Johnson

Miss Johnston was active in the Episcopal Church at every level, including campaigning for construction of the National Cathedral in Washington. For Christ Church in Glendale, she underwrote an addition with offices, classrooms and a chapel designed by local architect Woodie Garber (demolished). Besides the church, Miss Johnston’s interests included nursing, education, agriculture and art. She was a missionary in the Philippines, served as a battlefield nurse in World War II, studied under the innovative educator Maria Montessori in Rome, and operated a farm.

Among her greatest gifts was Procter Hall at the UC College of Nursing. A talented artist, Miss Johnston gave a collection of 30+ paintings valued at $2 million to the Cincinnati Art Museum in 1967, a value now that has increased by many zeros. The significant gift to the CAM was reported nationally at the time with a feature in The New York Times.

Thanks to Miss Mary E. Johnston for her largess to the Cincinnati Art Museum and thanks to Cincinnati Art Museum for giving me these fond memories with Ms. Pat Reau.

I think it’s time for a road trip up I-75 to see the van Gogh exhibition at the DIA.

– Jackie Reau

Purple Reign

If You Go

Sunshine Acres Lavender Farm
2471 Moore Saur Rd
​Morrow, OH
www.sunshineacreslavenderfarm.com.

Open Saturday, July 16, 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday, July 17, 9 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, July 24, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Other days coming soon!

Wish you were frolicking in Provence right now? But instead, you're stuck at your desk, trying to finish that report that was due two days ago?

Well, take a deep breath and get ready to enjoy a bit of la belle jolie in your own backyard.

Sunshine Acres is a 40-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati in Morrow. The farm is open select days during the summer lavender season for U-Pick days and shopping.

When you pull in, you’ll notice yo’'re on a private drive. (The Clark family who owns and runs the farm lives on the property!).

Follow the signs to park and walk up to the barn.

Photos by Shae Combs

Inside the barn you'll find a gift shop with everything from lavender soaps and scrubs to lavender jewelry AND lavender coffee. (There’s fresh eggs too!) The kind and super helpful owners are there as well. 

They will explain the process for cutting your own lavender bunches ($10 each, scissors provided) and touring the perfectly petite farm. You can also pay for parking ($5).

Next, step outside the barn and into the field. It’s roughly the size of a football field and wheelchair accessible, with no stairs.

Make sure to say hello to the chickens, fainting goats, and the Clark family dog on your way there!

From there, frolic away! The Clarks tell us you’re welcome to take pictures, take a seat in the shade or buy a glass of “U–pick”(-the-price) lemonade from their kids’ lemonade stand. 

You can spend as little or as much time at the fields as you’d like. But heads up, this weekend and next are the last two scheduled dates for U–pick events. 

The Clarks tell us additional dates could be added, it just depends on the season.

– Lauren Artino