Joel Roberts Poinsett // A Curator’s Visit

Join Jonathan Green and Kim Cliett Long for a casual walkthrough of their expertly curated artistic reflection on the Poinsettia, aptly named in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, a Charleston-born statesman, diplomat, and amateur botanist who served as the first US Minister to Mexico, and brought the namesake Christmas flower to the states. His life and the poinsettia’s journey are inseparable from maritime history. Poinsett also just happened to be a transformative President of the Charleston Library Society during the years of 1835-1836, after being involved as a member from 1819, and later played a significant role in the founding of the Smithsonian Museum. Thanks to the generosity of his family, we are proud to hang his portrait by the front door – an appropriate reminder of his impact and legacy on Charleston as well as the Americas.

RSVP required, members only due to limited capacity.