Letter from the Director

The spirit of renewal is one of the reasons I love the spring. Renewal is indeed in the air with the long-anticipated reopening of our newly renovated, reimagined Museum. The Board, staff, and I are excited to share the transformation of the building and grounds with our members during an extraordinary black-tire Reopening Gala on April 26, co-chaired by Lark Champion and Ivey Evans; a Member Family Day on April 27; and additional preview events leading up to the Public Grand Opening on May 4 and 5. This issue of The Muse has all of the information about our upcoming reopening festivities.

As I write this letter, construction is winding down and installation of the new history and children's galleries is about to start, along with a complete reinstallation of the art galleries. We look forward to showcasing important acquisitions, including a Soundsuit by Nick Cave, portraits of Samuel Phillips Savage by John Singleton Copley and Tagoniscoteyeh by Charlies Bird King, Seamstresses by Jacob Lawrence, and a Haiman Brothers sword used by Major James Fleming Waddell in the Battle of Columbus.

We have several important exhibitions planned for the reopening. Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection presents work by 20th-century female artists who lived or worked in the South. We also have a special installation of Andy Warhol's Silver Clouds, on loan from the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. This interactive exhibition features silver mylar balloons filled to hover at varying heights throughout the space. Warhol described the clouds as paintings that could "float away," and visitors are invited to experience this immersive installation as they walk through the gallery. Additionally, Columbus State University has developed a new public musicology program, and we have partnered with CSU students of Dr. Reba Wissner on Crossroads: Chattahoochee Valley Blues and Folk Music for our first spotlight exhibition in the history galleries. You'll also find drawings acquired by the Museum over the past ten years on view in the expanded Yarbrough Gallery. Finally, the new visitor orientation spaces in the lobby will have a focus show that looks at the history of the Museum from its days as the private residence of W.C. Bradley to today.

As we prepare to reopen, we will continue to offer programs in March and April. I am looking forward to giving a talk on the history of the Museum in March, and our workshops will continue at 1327 through April. In May, Third Thursdays will return at the Museum, as will Family Saturdays. We invite you all to this year's Annual Meeting on May 16, where we will share highlights from the last year and elect our new and renewing Museum trustees.

With this edition of The Muse, we are debuting a new brand. The Museum engaged Wier Stewart, a marketing firm based in Augusta, to create a new brand identity that reflects our newly renovated, visitor-friendly building. We are delighted with this vibrant new look, which captures the many facets of the Museum. When we first discussed renovating the Museum more than five years ago, our goal was to create a more inviting experience for visitors of all ages. The generosity of the community in supporting the renovation has been phenomenal, and the Board, staff, and I will be forever grateful. Thank you so much. We look forward to welcoming you back this spring!