Spring 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPRING 2009
EDITOR
Hillary Brown
ASSISTANT EDITOR Mary Koon
PUBLICATIONS INTERN Stephanie Kingsley
DESIGN
Kudzu Graphics Georgia Museum of Art University of Georgia 90 Carlton Street Athens, GA 30602 706.542.GMOA • FAX: 706.542.1051 Exhibition Line: 706.542.3254
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From the Director
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GMOA on the Move Exhibitions
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Event Photos
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Calendar of Events
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Museum Notes
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Gifts
www.uga.edu/gamuseum
BOARD OF ADVISORS Mr. B. Heyward Allen Jr. Dr. Amalia K. Amaki Turner I. Ball, M.D. Mr. Fred D. Bentley Sr. Mr. Richard E. Berkowitz Mrs. Devereux C. Burch Mr. Robert E. Burton Mrs. Debbie C. Callaway Mr. Randolph W. Camp Mrs. Shannon I. Candler, chair Mrs. Faye S. Chambers Mr. Harvey J. Coleman Mr. Zack D. Cravey Jr. Mrs. Martha T. Dinos Mrs. Annie Laurie Dodd Ms. Sally Dorsey Professor Marvin Eisenberg Ms. Carlyn F. Fisher Mr. James B. Fleece Mr. Edgar J. Forio Jr., past chair Mr. Harry L. Gilham Jr. Mr. John M. Greene Mrs. M. Smith Griffith Mrs. Marion E. Jarrell Mr. Paul R. Jones Professor John D. Kehoe Mrs. George-Ann Knox Mrs. Shell H. Knox Mr. John Lee Mrs. Helen P. McConnell Mrs. Marilyn McMullan Mrs. Marilyn D. McNeely Mrs. Berkeley S. Minor Mr. C. L. Morehead Jr.
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Ms. Jane C. Mullins Mr. Carl W. Mullis III Mr. Donald G. Myers Mrs. Betty R. Myrtle Dr. John Nickerson Mrs. Deborah L. O’Kain Ms. Kathy B. Prescott Dr. William F. Prokasy IV Mr. Rowland A. Radford Jr. Ms. Margaret A. Rolando Mr. Alan F. Rothschild Jr. Mrs. Dorothy A. Roush Mrs. Sarah P. Sams Mr. D. Jack Sawyer Jr. Mrs. Helen H. Scheidt Mr. Henry C. Schwob Mr. S. Stephen Selig III Ms. Cathy Selig-Kuranoff Mrs. Dudley R. Stevens Mrs. Carolyn W. Tanner Mrs. Barbara Auxier Turner Mr. C. Noel Wadsworth Ms. Kathleen E. Walker Mr. G. Vincent West
Ex-officio Dr. Paige Carmichael Mrs. Linda C. Chesnut Dr. William U. Eiland Mr. Tom Landrum Dr. Arnett C. Mace Jr.
ON THE COVER (detail): Arthur George Murphy (1906–1991) Steel Riggers—No. 3—Bay Bridge, 1936 Lithograph on paper 15 1/2 x 12 inches Schoen Collection GMOA 2003.0016
FROM THE DIRECTOR
From the Director
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t a meeting of the board of the American Association of Museums several years ago, during a “bonding” session for new members, the facilitator asked, “What keeps museum directors up at night?” Surprisingly to me, the least frequent response was anxiety over the protection of the museum and its collections, but, frankly, worrying about equipment failure, which is essentially what happened in the museum on January 4, 2009, is unproductive. Even the best efforts of the museum’s staff and the university’s Physical Plant personnel to prevent such an occurrence are not fail-safe. Equipment wears out; it gets old, obsolete and, sometimes, unpredictable. In this particular situation, we had a humidifier that continued to pump mist into our vault area when it should have shut off after bringing the room up to the prescribed humidity level of approximately 50%. When our security supervisor, Brent DeRevere, was doing a routine check of the building, he found drips and puddles and knew immediately that the situation held the potential for disaster. He implemented our emergency plan, and I am pleased that it worked extremely well, with staff reporting to the museum on a Sunday, prepared to do whatever was necessary to remove or relocate works of art, documents and archival materials from danger. Along with representatives from the Office of Campus Architects and Physical Plant, the staff moved objects out of harm’s way, put plastic sheeting over areas that were potentially at risk and began immediate steps to conserve and restore damaged or compromised works of art. At the time I am writing this column, we are still evaluating the extent of damage to some 15 works of art and one piece of furniture. One painting, an important one, has paint loss, and others are still shedding moisture. This incident occurred at both the best time possible—when the museum was closed and we had no temporary exhibitions in our galleries—and at a particularly difficult time—when the staff were already under considerable stress due to the exigencies of packing and moving out of the building. I am proud of their grace under pressure: they join me in promising you that we will do whatever is necessary to protect this collection, one that we steward, protect and study in the name of all Georgians.
“I am proud of [the staff’s] grace under pressure: they join me in promising you that we will do whatever is necessary to protect this collection, one that we steward, protect and study in the name of all Georgians.”
This painting by William Stanley Haseltine sustained paint loss when a humidity valve failed to shut off.
William U. Eiland, Director William Stanley Haseltine (American, 1835–1900) Castel Fusano, n.d. Oil on canvas 14 15/16 x 17 1/2 inches Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Edith L. Stallings GMOA 88.2
Mission Statement The Georgia Museum of Art shares the mission of the University of Georgia to support and to promote teaching, research and service. Specifically, as a repository and educational instrument of the visual arts, the museum exists to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret significant works of art. GMOA SPRING 2009 • page 3
EXHIBITIONS
Although the Georgia Museum of Art officially closed to the public for renovation and expansion on March 3, 2009, the museum’s local, state- and nationwide initiative of offsite exhibitions and programming, GMOA on the Move, is in full swing. Highlights from GMOA on the Move will be covered quarterly in this newsletter. For a schedule of GMOA on the Move events, see pages 8 and 9 in this newsletter or visit our website, www.uga.edu/gamuseum.
Passport to Paris: 19th-Century French Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art April 30–June 7, 2009 Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City, Okla. www.okcmoa.com
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n 19th-century France, the variety and quality of contemporary prints often rivaled the paintings of that period, commonly considered the golden era of French painting. Featuring 46 works from the Georgia Museum of Art’s collection, Passport to Paris covers a century of printmaking in France by such key artists as Jean François Millet, Honoré Daumier, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edouard Manet, Pierre Auguste Renoir and Mary Cassatt. Spurred by the democratic impulses that continued after the French Revolution, artists embraced a greater variety of subjects beyond the narratives of history painting and portraiture. They found material in Parisian street scenes, views of the French countryside, the landscape of North Africa and in Japanese prints circulating in the French art market. Organized by the Georgia Museum of Art.
Mary Cassatt (American, 1845–1926) The Coiffure, 1891 Drypoint, soft ground and aquatint on laid paper 14 3/8 x 10 1/2 inches Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; University Purchase GMOA 72.2777
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EXHIBITIONS
Anna Richards Brewster: American Impressionist March 28–June 14, 2009 Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science, Fresno, Calif. www.fresnomet.org
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his comprehensive exhibition of works by Anna Richards Brewster brings together paintings and prints from private and public collections and includes Moulin Huet, Guernsey (1896), which belongs to the Georgia Museum of Art’s permanent collection. The show spans the artist’s 45 most productive years and features more than 50 plein-air scenes, portraits and still lifes. Brewster was one of the best-known American woman artists at the turn of the century and won the prestigious Dodge Prize at the National Academy of Design for the best picture by a woman artist in 1890. Anna Richards Brewster: American Impressionist seeks to demonstrate Brewster’s historical context and her role as a successful artist at the beginning of the 20th century, a time when women were just starting to break into the professional and academic spheres of the art world.
Anna Richards Brewster (American, 1870–1952) Moulin Huet, Guernsey, 1896 Watercolor on paper 19 1/4 x 22 1/4 inches Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of William T. Brewster GMOA 1954.465
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EXHIBITIONS
Scripture for the Eyes: Bible Illustration in Netherlandish Prints of the 16th Century June 4–September 27, 2009 Museum of Biblical Art, New York, N.Y. www.mobia.org
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mong the 130 objects featured in Scripture for the Eyes, the first major exhibition to explore the central role played by printed illustrations of subjects from both the Old and New Testaments in one of the most dramatic artistic and religious transformations in history, are two engravings from the Georgia Museum of Art’s permanent collection: the Nailing to the Cross (1565) and the Crucifixion (1565), by Herman Janz. Muller. These and the other biblical prints featured here were a dynamic force both in the transformation of northern European art between Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn and in the intensified attention to scripture in the religious turmoil of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. The exhibition is organized according to the diverse functions of the prints rather than according to a chronology of their production or a biblical narrative.
Herman Janz. Muller (Dutch, 1555–1617), after Maerten van Heemskerck Nailing to the Cross, 1565 Engraving on paper 8 x 9 1/2 inches Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Alfred H. Holbrook and Museum Patrons, Purchased from David James GMOA 1965.1412
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E V E N T P H OTO S
GMOA Events Family Day: Holiday Creations 1. This season’s Christmas tree hats were a hit among young patrons. 2. A little visitor models his hand-decorated reindeer antlers.
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3. Former GMOA media relations coordinator Johnathan McGinty and his daughter, Emma Kate 4. A museum patron concentrates on beading a holiday bracelet. The Collectors’ Holiday Party 5. Curator of education Cece Hinton, Carol Dolson and Karen Prasse
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6. Vince Masters and Michele Turner GMOA ring workshop with visiting artist and Penn State University professor James Thurman 7. Docent Karen Benson watches Thurman demonstrate metalworking techniques.
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8. Thurman uses a hot glue gun and a mandrel to make a wearable ring. Collectors’ event featuring worldrenowned photographer and Athens resident Jim Fiscus 9. Fiscus discusses his photograph of hip hop artist Jay-Z. 10. Dan Minor and John Morrison
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APRIL Family Day: Spring Festival Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. – noon Lamar Dodd School of Art Come to the art education classrooms of the Lamar Dodd School of Art to make puppets that look like you! Volunteers will also be painting faces at this fun-filled event.
The Art of: Scenic Design Wednesday, May 13, 6 – 8 p.m. Athens Community Theater Join us for a presentation from Dr. Stanley Longman, retired head of the UGA Department of Drama and Theatre, entitled “Evolution of Scene Design and Theatre Architecture from Medieval Times to the Late 19th Century.” A reception will follow the presentation. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Town and Gown Players. $5 Friends of the Museum, $10 non-members. RSVP 706.542.0830.
The Collectors and Docents of GMOA visit Atlanta Tuesday, April 7 Join The Collectors and GMOA docents for an exciting day in Atlanta. The group will first visit the home of Jack Sawyer and Bill Torres to view their collection. After lunch, The Collectors will visit the High Museum of Art to see The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army. Call 706.542.GMOA (4662) for pricing information.
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The Collectors Visit Tuesday, April 21, 6 – 8 p.m. The Collectors visit the home of Dr. Mary Erlanger and the late Professor Michael Erlanger to view their collection. $40 per person. RSVP 706.542.0830.
Family Day: Sunny Sunflowers Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. – noon State Botanical Garden of Georgia Come to the Botanical Garden to make paintings of sunflowers with the Georgia Museum of Art. Families will be able to look at the flowers in the gardens for inspiration! Co-sponsored by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
The Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art Annual Meeting Friday, May 29, 6 – 8 p.m. Lamar Dodd School of Art large auditorium (room S151) The Friends of the Museum will celebrate the past year’s achievements and announce the 2009 recipient of the “Smitty,” the M. Smith Griffith Volunteer of the Year Award. A reception will follow. This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to join the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, call 706.542.0437.
MAY The Collectors Present: Art on Wheels Saturday, May 16, 6 – 8:30 p.m. State Botanical Garden of Georgia Presented by The Collectors of the Georgia Museum of Art, “Art on Wheels” will feature several vehicles from the golden age of vintage automobiles. The gala evening will include a silent auction. Collectors members: $75 per person, $125 per couple; nonmembers: $100 per person, $175 per couple. Contact 706.542.0437 for more information. RSVP 706.542.0830.
The Art of: Flowers Thursday, June 4, 6 – 8 p.m. State Botanical Garden of Georgia Stroll through one of Georgia’s prized attractions on curator-led tours of the Flower and Heritage Gardens at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. A reception will follow. Co-sponsored by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. $5 Friends of the Museum, $10 nonmembers. RSVP 706.542.0830.
Drawing Plants, Flowers and Other Natural Objects Tuesday, April 14, 4 – 6 p.m. State Botanical Garden of Georgia Join artist Toni Carlucci to learn some of the secrets to drawing plants, flowers and other natural objects using techniques that are fun, effective and easy to practice at home. Open to children ages 8 and older. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Call 706.542.GMOA (4662) for more information.
Summer Film Series Ingmar Bergman’s Trilogy and “The Seventh Seal”: Questions of Spirituality in Film “Through a Glass Darkly” Wednesday, June 24, 7 p.m. Lamar Dodd School of Art Rm. 151. Introduction by Janice Simon, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in Art This film is the first of what Ingmar Bergman considered a trilogy of films examining issues of faith and spirituality. The title derives from 1 Corinthians 13 and describes
JUNE the limited capacity of the living to understand God. The film covers 24 hours in the life of a motherless family after their daughter, Karin, is released from a mental hospital. Are Karin’s communications with God manifestations of her insanity? Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language Film, 1962. Swedish with English subtitles. (1961, 89 minutes) “The Seventh Seal” (1957) and the second and third movies in the trilogy, “Winter Light” (1962) and “The Silence” (1964), will be shown
in July and featured in our next newsletter. AthFest: Silly Sun Visors Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 Downtown Athens Be sure to look for the Georgia Museum of Art’s table at KidsFest, part of the annual AthFest events, where you can make a silly sun visor to wear all weekend!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Art Adventures: Folk Art Monday, June 15 – Friday, July 17 This summer, the Georgia Museum of Art will host its third annual community-wide outreach program. These one-hour workshops are held at community organizations in and around Athens-Clarke County for organized groups and will be based on folk art from the museum’s collection. Children will learn about the subjects, techniques and materials folk artists use and create their own art inspired by the works they see. Registration will begin on May 11. For more information, please call 706.542.GMOA (4662) or visit our website at www.uga.edu/gamuseum. Sponsored by the W. Newton Morris Charitable Foundation. R.A. Miller (American, 1912–2006) Coke Whirligig, ca.1980s Paint on cut tin, wood and metal 2 x 2 feet Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Carl and Marian Mullis in honor of Michele Turner GMOA 2007.0069
Since its founding in 1945, with a collection of 100 paintings donated by Alfred Heber Holbrook, the Georgia Museum of Art has grown continuously, necessitating new housing as the collection has expanded. From its initial location in the basement of a library on the University of Georgia’s North Campus, it moved in 1996 to its current building on Carlton St. Now its development requires yet more room, and as it prepares to break ground on a crucial renovation and expansion, the museum also must close its doors to the public. During this important time of growth, we remain dedicated to bringing art to the citizens of Georgia through service, teaching and scholarship. As we embark on this new phase in the museum’s history, we are taking your favorite GMOA programming on the move. From now until our doors reopen in early 2011, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey!
“The Art of,” hosted by the Young at Art committee of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, is a series of entertaining and educational events that celebrate craft beyond the traditional fine arts, such as gardening, cinema, beer brewing and more. Each event takes place at a corresponding venue and will be followed by a reception with refreshments and music. Please join us as we explore the broader world of art in this inspiring new series.
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300d from the collection of Todd Emily
Mark your calendar for The Collectors Present: Art on Wheels. Saturday, May 16, 6–8:30 p.m. GMOA SPRING 2009 • page 9
M U S E U M N OT E S
Museum Notes
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New docents, L to R: Cyndy Harbold, Jan Miller, Bonnie Steelman. Not pictured: Jacque Mitchell and Janet Patterson. Photo by Chris Mitts.
ongratulations to new docents Cyndy Harbold, Jan Miller, Jacque Mitchell, Janet Patterson and Bonnie Steelman. They join other docents in providing tours and outreach programs and are ambassadors of the Georgia Museum of Art. During construction of Phase II, docents will be involved with suitcase tours; field trips; programs featuring paintings, printmaking and sculpture; continuing education programs; book clubs and other special interest groups. The next Docent Education session will start in September 2010 in preparation for the museum’s grand opening in January 2011. GMOA’s holiday book sale held December 11 through 13 in the lobby was a great success. The department of publications, together with the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, raised more than $2,000 selling new museum publications as well as used books donated by Friends members and museum patrons. The money will be used for education and programming. The museum is pleased to welcome two new hires, Jana McGee and Heidi Snyder. Jana, who joined the museum’s business office as an accounting assistant, has 14 years’ experience in the banking industry, including four years in the bursar’s office and in the revenue and receivables office at Clemson University. Heidi has filled the position of assistant registrar. She has a BA in art applications from North Carolina State University, where she was an intern at the Gregg Museum of Art, and has worked as a floral designer and decorator. The Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries (GAMG) has named Annelies Mondi, deputy director of the museum, Georgia Museum Professional of the Year. GAMG also recognized longtime museum advocate Ann Scoggins by naming her Museum Volunteer of the Year. Among many other contributions, Scoggins cochaired the most successful fundraising event in the museum’s history: Elegant Salute X, which raised more than $6 million for the Phase II expansion. New Discoveries in Georgia Painted Furniture received GAMG’s Museum Exhibition of the Year award. The awards were presented on January 23, 2009, at GAMG’s annual conference in Marietta, Ga.
Brent Tharp, president of GAMG, presents the Museum Volunteer of the Year Award to Ann Scoggins. Photo by Andrea Childress.
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GIFTS
Friends of the Museum The following gifts were made to the Georgia Museum of Art between October 29, 2008, and February 18, 2009: In memory of David Michael Biggs and his son, Justin Martin Biggs, by Jessica Benjamin and Mary Koon In memory of Isabel Cauffman by Peg Wood In memory of Henry E. Evans by Bill and Jana McGee In memory of Aurora Guerra by Fran and Emory Thomas In memory of Andrew Ladis by Peter and Shannon Candler, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar J. Forio Jr., Tom and Patricia Wright and Shelley Zuraw In memory of Druwillie M. McCurley by Bill and Jana McGee In memory of Shara Overstreet by Peter and Shannon Candler In memory of Henry King Stanford by M. Smith Griffith In honor of William U. Eiland by Alfredo Rodriguez Jr., Tony R. Stringer and Tom and Patricia Wright In honor of William U. Eiland and Andrew Ladis by Dr. and Mrs. D. Hamilton Magill III
In honor of Todd Emily by Alfredo Rodriguez Jr. and Tony R. Stringer In honor of Betty Johnston by Betty Anne Bell In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Rhett Tanner by Dr. and Mrs. Hugh C. McLeod III In honor of the staff of the Georgia Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar J. Forio Jr. The following gifts were made to the Georgia Museum of Art between October 13, 2008, and January 20, 2009: Alfred Heber Holbrook Society Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Peter Candler Mr. and Mrs. Edgar J. Forio Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gilham Mrs. Frances Yates Green Mrs. M. Smith Griffith Mrs. Clementi L. Holder Ms. Kathy B. Prescott & Mr. Grady Thrasher III Mr. and Mrs. James C. Turner
Patron’s Level Mr. and Mrs. E. Davison Burch Mr. and Mrs. H. Daniels Minor Mr. William Darrell Moseley Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Myrtle Ms. Margaret A. Rolando Director’s Circle Dr. Amalia Amaki Drs. Wyatt & Margaret Anderson Dr. and Mrs. Larry Beard Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Brown Jr. Dr. and Mrs. W. Harvey Cabaniss Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. David Chesnut Dr. & Mrs. James W. Cooper Jr. Drs. William & Marya Free Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jarrell Dr. Norman James Johnson Dr. and Mrs. Daniel H. Magill III Mr. Thomas Mapp & Ms. Martha Daura Ms. Marilyn D. McNeely Drs. Gordhan and Jinx Patel The Selig Foundation Mrs. Margaret R. Spalding Mrs. Patricia G. Staub Ms. Peggy Hoard Suddreth Mr. and Mrs. Ian Walker Mrs. Thomas R. Williams
Benefactor Level Mr. and Mrs. B. Heyward Allen Jr. Ms. Beverly H. Bremer Dr. Patricia Deitz Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Stanley, Beaman and Sears Architecture & Interiors
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GMOA SPRING 2009 • page 11
non-profit org. u.s. postage paid athens, ga permit no. 49
Georgia museum of art university of georgia 90 carlton street athens, ga  30602 - 6719 www.uga.edu/gamuseum address service requested
During this important time of growth, when our doors are closed to the public, we remain dedicated to bringing art to the citizens of Georgia through service, teaching and scholarship. As we embark on this new phase, we are taking your favorite GMOA programming on the move. Be a part of GMOA history: Join the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art now! Call 706.542.0437 or visit our web site at www.uga.edu/gamuseum.
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art is provided by the W. Newton Morris Charitable Foundation, the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, and the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The Council is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations, and corporations provide additional support through their gifts to the Arch Foundation and the University of Georgia Foundation. The Georgia Museum of Art is ADA compliant; the M. Smith Griffith Auditorium is equipped for the hearing-impaired.