A Visit with Isabella Stewart Gardner

Venue: The Chapel of St Anne, Arlington Heights (MA), performed with Stephen Kurkjian, investigative reporter and author of “Master Thieves,” January & May 2025

Article: ‘Isabella Stewart Gardner’ makes a return visit to Chapel of St. Anne in Arlington

Sleeper-McCann House, Beauport Museum, Historic New England, Gloucester (MA) Summer 1996-2007

Letters

Your performance of Isabella Stewart Gardner during my 55th college reunion was the highlight of the day. We were enthralled wishing it could’ve been longer. The Gardner museum is my favorite in the world. I frequented it while a student in the late ’60s. Mrs. Gardner came alive for that hour. Thank you for giving us so much pleasure.

-Joan Pinello Kaley (Pleasant Valley, NY), Emmanuel College Reunion speaker, May 2025

Thanks, Jessa – a pleasure to see your performance!
Outstanding – I really get the character and her complexity and significance. Enjoyed the question part — you really have to own the essence of the character to be able to do that!

-Ted & Janet Kirousis, Bemis Hall, Lincoln, May 2025

Jessa Piaia presented at the Belmont Garden’s Club’s 2024 Annual Meeting at The Oakley Country Club and gave a magical performance that left several guests feeling unable to shake the feeling that Isabella Stewart Gardner herself was actually in attendance. Jessa’s one-woman narrative was interesting, informative and highly engaging. Her understanding of her subject matter and her ability to channel Isabella was a highlight of our meeting. It was easy to communicate with Jessa and enjoyable to work with her while planning and preparing for the logistics of the day. I would highly recommend her as a performer at myriad events- the breadth of Isabella Stewart Gardner’s interests and life experiences make her the perfect host at almost any occasion!


–Amie Joseph, Belmont Garden Club, May 2024

This is the second time we invited Jessa to do this (our first time was 2014). She adeptly brought us back in time with numerous facts sprinkled into her presentation providing a reality check for us folks in 2024, as well as some great laughter! The audience was enthralled with her performance, and her breadth of knowledge of Isabella Stewart Gardner really shown in her responses wih very specific details. Several folks took the time to peruse memorabilia she so nicely displayed.

I highly recommend Jessa Piaia for her dramatic portrayal of Isabella Stewart Gardner!

-Kathy Hinds, Hopkinton Garden Club, April 2024

Dear Jessa,

On behalf of the Lincoln Garden Club, I would like to thank you for your most interesting program this morning. What a delightful way to begin the holiday season!

A visit with Isabella Stewart Gardner totally engaged our members, as evidenced by rapt expressions and many questions. Your realistic character portrayal, combined with all the interested facts you shared demonstrated a masterful grasp of this most interesting woman and was enjoyed by all. The Lincoln Garden Club would be please to be added to your list of references.

I would also like to thank you for braving the winter weather, as well as the beginning of a cold. Happy Holidays, and may you bring holiday joy to many other organizations.

-Joyce DiToro, Lincoln Garden Club, December 2016

On a Sunday afternoon, Jessa Piaia transformed the library’s theater into a 1910 Back Bay salon, bringing Isabella Stewart Gardner to life and sharing conversation about her art collection, her travels, the notable people she spent time with, and the opening of her home at Fenway Court to the public. Authentically dressed, she brought along books, postcards, and other artifacts pertaining to her art collecting and answered audience questions about her artistic abilities, her friendship with John Singer Sargent, and her love of animals. I highly recommend her program.

-Nashua Public Library, October 2014

It was standing room only at the Historical Society’s restored schoolhouse building on Hayden Rowe Street as Jessa Piaia brought Isabella to life. All present stepped back to the early 1900s in this collaborative event helod by the Hopkinton Garden Club and the Hopkinton Historical Society.

Arriving in character, Isabella Stewart Gardner recounted her time at Fenway Court and many tales of her travels, family, and friends. It was an enchanting evening in the one room schoolhouse that now serves as the permanent home of the Hopkinton Historical Society.

-Vicki Lee Francis, Hopkinton Patch, 2014

Greetings from Norwood. Or should I say 150-152 Beacon Street where I was transformed by your performance. Intelligent, informative, and insight from years gone by, and relevant today.

Your unique gift of public speaking in the persona of a private person is exquisite.

Heartfelt appreciation and continued success!

-Madeline Eysie, Norwood Public LIbrary, 2013


Carlisle Garden Club, September 2008

Bourne Historical Society 2007

-Rebecca Schoonmaker, Salem News, August 2006

Billerica Public Library, June ’02