The Columbus Museum invites you to celebrate creativity and culture through the experience of American art, regional history, tranquil gardens, and more. As a destination for people of all interests and ages, the Museum has something for everyone –from the art enthusiast to the history buff, the nature lover to the leisure visitor – it’s free, and it’s all in one space.
THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM:
1251 Wynnton Road Columbus, GA 31906
706.748.2562 comuga.org
MUSEUM HOURS:
Letter from the Director
The holidays are a time when many of us reflect on the past year – and what a year it was for The Columbus Museum! It has been more than six months since we completed our major renovation, and we have been moved and thrilled by the response to the “new” COMU. During the summer, we had record attendance, led by family visits. As I write this letter, our fall school tours are fully booked, and spring tours are starting to fill up. It has been wonderful to share the Museum with the community again and present new programs and events along with favorites such as family festivals and glassmaking.
season, with ten members learning about curatorial work and contributing to an upcoming exhibition; participants completing the experience will be eligible to receive a Fine Arts Diploma seal. You can read more about the program in this issue.
After two years of holding the beloved Master Circle Dinner offsite, we are delighted to bring it home to COMU on December 2. Circle-level members will enjoy a festive evening planned by talented event co-chairs Traci Courville and Bob Vardaman. I look forward to seeing many of you there.
MUSEUM SHOP HOURS: Monday
THE COVER:
circa 1920, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation.
One of the biggest hits of our reopening exhibitions has been the installation of Andy Warhol’s Silver Clouds and Cow Wallpaper . At the January 21 Lifelong Learners session, I will talk about Warhol’s life and work, from his early professional years illustrating shoes for I. Miller, to the Factory Years, to his late career. I hope you’ll join me for a fun discussion about one of America’s most influential artists.
On Januar y 30th, I’ll be leading a gallery exploration and discussion during Art Unwrapped —come learn more about landscapes in the collection. On February 20, Tony-nominated songwriter Dr. Masi Asare, who is Associate Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies at Northwestern University, will speak about the legacy of Ma Rainey as part of this year’s Rothschild Speaker Series. Asare’s most recent book, Blues Mamas and Broadway Belters: Black Women, Voice, and the Musical Stage , published by Duke University Press, discusses Ma Rainey’s continuing influence on contemporary singing practice.
Last spring, we piloted a new program for high school juniors and seniors interested in learning more about museum careers, the Teen Exhibition Council (TEC). This academic year is its first full
L ooking ahead, the major exhibition American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection opens at the beginning of March. We are honored to be a venue for this important traveling exhibition that features more than 100 works spanning over 250 years of American art. Organized by The Mint Museum in Charlotte and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, the exhibition features work from the acclaimed Thomas H. and Dianne DeMell PhD Jacobsen Foundation, which shares its collection with accredited museums and traveling exhibitions. American Made is a must-see!
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm over the past two years as we completed the renovation. The Board, staff, and I appreciate so much your participation during the months that we held exhibitions, programs, and special events around town. Our goal in undertaking our “reimagining” was to create a welcoming, visitor-centered, and relevant experience for the community and visitors. Your support made that possible. I wish you a wonderful holiday season with family and friends!
ON
Edward Redfield (1869-1965). Birches and Harbor, Maine (detail),
American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection
American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection promises to be a highlight of this year at The Columbus Museum. With over 100 works by renowned American artists such as Benjamin West, Thomas Cole, Mary Cassatt, Robert Henri, and Charles Alston, this exhibition beautifully traces the evolution of American art over two centuries. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to experience masterworks of portraiture, landscape, and still life that have previously been featured at prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. What sets this exhibition apart is its inclusivity and breadth. Works by artists such as Benjamin West, Sarah Miriam Peale, William Michael Hartnett,
Grant Wood, Elizabeth Catlett, and Ernie Barnes will be on view, aligning with our aim to present a broad narrative of American Art. Visitors can explore an incredible variety of styles, from the tranquil landscapes of Asher B. Durand to the modernist abstraction of Suzy Frelinghuysen, reflecting a spectrum of American experiences.
Organized by The Mint Museum, American Made is not just a survey of exceptional American art but also a tribute to the vision of collector Diane DeMell Jacobsen, whose foundation has carefully curated these masterpieces. Dr. Jacobsen’s commitment to expanding the narrative of American art is reflected in the collection’s depth and diversity. We are excited to bring this
Image: 1. Luigi Lucioni (1900-88). An American Landscape, 1930, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation.
extraordinary exhibition to COMU, offering our visitors a fresh perspective on American art’s rich history. The range of artists and styles represented in this collection will captivate both art enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Accompanying the exhibition is a richly illustrated catalogue, authored by Elizabeth Heuer, Ph.D., with contributions from leading scholars. The catalogue will be available in the COMU Shop.
American Made was curated by Todd Herman, PhD, President and CEO of The Mint Museum; Kevin Sharp, Director of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; and Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, Senior Curator of American Art at The Mint Museum. This exhibition is sponsored by Visit Columbus GA and the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance.
Images: 2. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). Elsie Wagg, 1894, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. // 3. Thomas Moran (18371926). Moonlight in Venice, 1898, oil on wood board. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. // 4. John Frederick Kensett (1816-72). Singing Beach & Eagle Rock, Magnolia, Massachusetts, 1864, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. // 5. William J. McCloskey (1859-1941). Basket of Apples, 1896, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. // 6. Patrick Henry Bruce (1881-1936). Peinture/Nature Morte, circa 1924, oil and pencil on canvas. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation.
Charles Demuth, Architecture
The Columbus Museum is pleased to announce the gift of a handsome watercolor by the renowned 20th-century painter and Stieglitz Circle artist Charles Demuth. The benefactor, Ralph Julius, Jr., has made this generous donation in memory of his parents, Dene and Ralph Julius, Sr. This is the first work by Demuth to enter the Museum’s holdings.
Demuth was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where his extended family ran a snuff manufactory and tobacco shop. He began his academic study of art by taking illustration and technical drawings courses at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia. Demuth subsequently transferred to the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; there he flourished in response to the school’s more creative fine arts curriculum. In 1907 and 1912–1914, the young artist made trips to Europe, where he absorbed the lessons of French and German modernism. Upon his return to the United States, he traveled and worked in his hometown, Manhattan, and New England. During the 1910s, he received critical attention for his lively watercolors of circus and vaudeville scenes. He hobnobbed in New York with others in the avant-garde crowd, many of whom, during the summers of 1915 and 1916, gathered forces as the Provincetown Players. Demuth worked on sets, wrote plays, and acted in at least one production. In Bermuda during the winter of 1916–1917, his understanding of cubism crystallized and became his mature visual “vocabulary.”
During a trip to Europe in 1921, he was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes, which slowed his production but did not dim his genius. Commercially he showed first at Charles Daniel Gallery and was later represented by Alfred Stieglitz. Demuth’s social circle reads like a who’s who of early 20th-century modernism in America; it includes painter Georgia O’Keeffe, playwright Eugene O’Neill, provocateur Marcel Duchamp, and poet-physician William Carlos Williams. Demuth is probably best known today for his stunning watercolor still lifes, his enigmatic “poster portraits” of the 1920s, and the precisionist industrial landscapes in oil that capped his career.
This masterful image, Architecture, dates to 1920, a particularly productive summer for the artist, which he spent in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
The composition evidences many of the watercolor techniques that Demuth perfected, including wash-over-wash, stippling, and blotting. This unique work on paper joins four other images of Gloucester already in the collection: oil paintings by William Meyerowitz and Max Kuehne and watercolors by William Trost Richards and William Zorach. In the coming weeks, Architecture will make its much-anticipated public debut at the Museum, appearing in the Hardaway Gallery.
Image: Charles Demuth, Architecture, 1920, watercolor on paper, Gift of Ralph Julius, Jr., in memory of his parents Dene and Ralph Julius, Sr.,The Columbus Museum G.2024.29
Springer Opera House Revival
Live theater returned to the Springer Opera House in 1965 after years of fundraising and painstaking restoration. The Springer’s first performance since 1941 was initially slated for the fall under the auspices of the Columbus Little Theatre (CLT), which produced plays and musicals at other local venues. However, in May 1965, with less than three weeks until curtain, the CLT moved its performance of Li’l Abner from the Wynnton School auditorium to the Springer while still under construction. Ledger-Enquirer columnist Tom Sellers wrote that al-
though the decision was a surprise, it made sense to work out the theater’s backstage bugs before its grand reopening, and after all, “a few loose boards and unpainted beams shouldn’t detract one whit from the hill-country arrangements” of Li’l Abner’s rural setting. The Springer Board of Trustees referred to the nine-performance run as a “progress report” for the community to see what had been accomplished and what was yet to come.
On October 6, 1965, the Springer formally reopened with the black-tie premiere of St. Elmo, a
new musical based on Augusta Jane Evans’ wellknown novel with Columbus ties. The gala was the society event of the season, and the entire evening earned a standing ovation from those in attendance. Mary Margaret Byrne, longtime arts and society reporter for the Ledger-Enquirer, noted that there was a special tribute to Emily Woodruff, the driving force behind the Springer’s restoration, when she was “literally carried down the aisle to the stage and showered with bouquets of red roses.”
Images:
1. Playbill for Columbus Little Theatre production of St. Elmo at Springer Opera House, 1965, The Gladys Dudley History Fund, The Columbus Museum G.2023.61.4 // 2. Poster for Columbus Little Theatre production of Li’l Abner at Springer Opera House, 1965, The Gladys Dudley History Fund, The Columbus Museum G.2023.61.3
COMU’s Teen Exhibition Council
“This
is an experience I feel like I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else,” commented a member of The Columbus Museum’s Teen Exhibition Council (TEC) after a year of exploring museum careers and gaining hands-on experience alongside Museum staff.
This year, ten new high school juniors and seniors from six area schools have joined TEC for 2024-2025. During the fall semester, TEC members will dive into curatorial work, conducting research and contributing to an upcoming history exhibition. In the spring, students will continue to explore the different roles of Museum staff members, including needing with exhibition design, education, marketing, and special events staff. These students will work closely alongside staff as they plan a special event reception, create content for the Museum’s social media accounts, and plan and run a Family Saturday.
The Teen Exhibition Council provides local teens with an opportunity to engage deeply with their community, providing hands-on experience that
hones skills for their future careers, whether in the arts field or elsewhere. Among them, several are working toward their Arts Diploma Seal at Columbus High School, using their involvement in TEC to meet part of the requirements for this recognition in the arts. TEC offers a tangible way to fulfill their arts engagement requirements, while all students benefit from a hands-on experience that strengthens their abilities in collaboration, creative thinking, and project management. Reflecting on last year’s contribution to A Decade of Drawings, a TEC member said, “Our contribution to an exhibition on view is what I feel to be the most rewarding because we had the chance to give our input on different pieces [and] because others get the chance to understand some of what we see and feel.”
December
1 Sunday Museum Store Sunday
1 – 5 PM // FREE
No registration required.
Don’t miss in-store and online sales in the COMU Gift Shop as we join 2,100 museum stores nationwide for Museum Store Sunday! Enjoy light refreshments and door prizes.
5 Thursday COMU at The Wynn House Sip & Shop
5 – 7 PM
$10 per person
Visit the COMU pop-up shop for exclusive holiday items and sales!
8 Sunday The Art of Wreathmaking
2 – 4 PM
$65 Members/$75 Non-members
Registration required. Space is limited. Celebrate the holiday season while learning the basics of wreathmaking! Create your very own beautiful seasonal wreath to take home while enjoying light refreshments and
Drop-In Tour: Celebrating the COMU Collection
Every Saturday at 2 PM // FREE
Join a COMU docent for a guided tour highlighting COMU’s permanent collection. Learn about American art and regional history through this hour-long introduction to some of our most beloved collection objects. No registration required.
9 Monday Volunteer/Docent Social Hour
9:30 – 11 AM // FREE
Let’s celebrate the holidays together! COMU volunteers and docents are invited for a morning of refreshments, fellowship, and shopping. Volunteer and docent exclusive discounts will be offered in the shop. .
10 Tuesday Look at Lunch
12:15 PM // FREE
No registration required.
Spend your lunch break at COMU with a 20-minute gallery presentation followed by lunch in the courtyard. Bring your food or purchase from the Museum Café.
10 Tuesday After School Art Break
2:30 – 4:30 PM // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required. Join us in the Studio for art making! Each month, we will take inspiration from an object in COMU and experiment with new materials.
12 Thursday Garden Volunteer Work Day
Bradley Olmsted Garden
8:30 AM – Noon
No registration required.
12 Thursday Members & Friends Holiday Open House
5 – 8 PM // FREE Drop-in event.
Enjoy performances by the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus, drinks by Uppity Lush, hot beverages from Star Spangled Tea, and an array of tasty treats. Shop for one-of-akind holiday gifts, including hand-blown glass by Sally Denham Designs, Common Link Permanent Jewelry, and holiday stationery and gift tags from Dinglewood Design & Press.
14 Saturday Yoga at the Museum
10:30 AM – Noon
$5 Members/$10 Non-members Registration required. Space is limited. Relax with a gentle, all-levels yoga session led by Sue Tomkiewicz. Yoga mats are available on a first come, first served basis.
17 Tuesday
COMU Lifelong Learners
Columbus Creatives: Cathy Fussell
12:15 PM // FREE
Optional Gallery Experience at 11:30 AM
Registration required. Space is limited. Join us for our lunch lecture series spotlighting people from our region who have made their mark through creative ingenuity. In December, artist Cathy Fussell will speak about her work as a quilter. Participants have the option to purchase lunch from the Museum’s Café or bring their own.
19 Thursday Third Thursday
5:30 – 8 PM // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required. Celebrate the season at COMU with musical performances, holiday card making, a gallery scavenger hunt for all ages, and delicious refreshments!
21 Saturday Family Saturday & Pictures with Santa
10 AM – Noon // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required. Drop by the Museum each month for new activities exploring the Museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. This month, enjoy a special visit from Santa, fresh cookies, and gift shop sales for the holidays!
26 Thursday Holiday Gift Shop Sale
10 AM – 8 PM // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required. Get up to 75% off on all remaining holiday items in the COMU Shop!
Explore books, hands-on objects, and an art activity for children and caregivers to enjoy
Garden Volunteer Work Day
Bradley Olmsted Garden
8:30 AM – Noon
No registration required.
11 Saturday & 14 Tuesday Mini Makers
10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE
Ages 2 - 4 years & caregivers. Drop-in event. No registration required.
Learn about art through story time, games, and more! Each session includes exploring new materials and creating mini masterpieces to take home.
11 Saturday Yoga at the Museum
10:30 AM – Noon
$5 Members/$10 Non-members
Registration required. Space is limited.
11 Saturday Teen Sculpture Workshop
2 – 3:30 PM
Instructor: Samantha Simmons (Ages 14 – 18)
$25 Members/$40 Non-Members
Registration required. Space is limited.
miniature sculptural versions. Whether you love to paint, collage, or just express yourself, this workshop is all about letting your creativity run wild. Don’t miss out on this chance to create something truly one-of-a-kind!
14 Tuesday Look at Lunch
12:15 PM // FREE
No registration required.
14 Tuesday After School Art Break
2:30 – 4:30 PM // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required.
16 Thursday
Third Thursday
5:30 – 8 PM // FREE
Join us at The Columbus Museum for our monthly social event celebrating all things COMU! This month, we are celebrating the exhibition Riverfront Renaissance with music, gallery experiences, and more.
18 Saturday Family Saturday
10 AM – Noon // FREE
No registration required.
17 Tuesday
COMU Lifelong Learners Now on View: Andy Warhol
12:15 PM // FREE
Optional Gallery Experience at 11:30 AM
Registration required. Space is limited.
In January, Director Marianne Richter will give a talk about the life and work of artist Andy Warhol. Participants have the option to purchase lunch from the Museum’s Café or bring their own.
25 Saturday Adult Workshop: Junk Journals
10:30 AM – 12:15 PM
$30 Members/$40 Non-Members
Registration required. Space is limited. Join COMU staff to learn about the art of junk journaling! Start the new year with a new mindful practice to capture your memories and unleash your creativity.
25 Saturday Silent Disco Hosted by COMU’s Young Art Patrons
7 – 11 PM
$25 Members*/$30 Non-Members* Registration required. Space is limited. Get hyped for an unforgettable evening! Grab a set of headphones, tune in to your favorite choice of live DJ sets, and dance the night away in this fun, completely wireless, music-filled atmosphere surrounded by art and history!
*Ticket price includes 2 free drinks and light snacks.
26 Sunday Signature Sunday with Hannah Israel
3 – 5 PM
(Location provided upon reservation)
$20 for Reciprocal ($150) Level Members & above Registration required. Space is limited. Enjoy a studio tour with local artist Hannah Israel as she shares the inspiration behind her art. Light refreshments will be served.
30 Thursday
Art Unwrapped: Modern Landscapes
5:30 – 6:15 PM // FREE
Registration required. Join COMU Director Marianne Richter for an up-close gallery exploration of the history and evolution of modern landscape painting.
February
Ready to make some noise? Join us for an exciting teen workshop where creativity meets sound! Dive into the vibrant world of artist Nick Cave and discover his amazing Soundsuit. We’ll kick off with a quick intro into Cave’s unique style, then take a gallery walk to experience his artwork up close. Back in the Studio, we’ll unleash our imaginations as we craft our own wearable Soundsuits and continues on next page ...
Registration required. Space is limited. Join us to learn about the life and art of Columbus native Alma Thomas! During this four-part workshop series, students will explore our galleries, taking what they have discovered back to the Studio where they will create their own work through drawing, painting, collaging, and other mediums.
4 Tuesday Alma Thomas Society Purchase Party
5:30 – 7 PM
FREE for Alma Thomas Society Members
Registration required. Space is limited. Join us for the 8th Annual Alma Thomas Society Purchase Party, where you’ll get to vote on which work will join the Museum’s collection. Consider the options on view as Curator of American Art Dr. Jonathan Frederick Walz discusses each potential piece. The winning artwork will be revealed at the end of the evening.
Not an Alma Thomas Society Member but want to attend? Contact us at membership@comuga.org or call 706.748.2562 ext. 5440 to join today. Membership in the Alma Thomas Society is an add-on to Museum membership.
7 Friday
The Art of Glassmaking Workshop: Hearts
3 & 5 PM
$65 Members/$75 Non-members Registration required. Space is limited. Learn to make your own glass heart with Kelly Robertson of Calvary Glass. All materials are provided. No experience is necessary.
8 Saturday & 11 Tuesday Mini Makers
10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE Ages 2 - 4 years & caregivers. Drop-in event. No registration required.
8 Saturday & 9 Sunday The Art of Glassmaking Workshop: Hearts
10 AM, Noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM
$65 Members/$75 Non-members
Registration required. Space is limited.
8 Saturday Yoga at the Museum
10:30 AM – Noon
$5 Members/$10 Non-members
Registration required. Space is limited.
11 Tuesday Look at Lunch
12:15 PM // FREE
No registration required.
11 Tuesday After School Art Break
2:30 – 4:30 PM // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required.
13 Thursday Garden Volunteer Work Day
Bradley Olmsted Garden
8:30 AM – Noon
No registration required.
14 Friday Valentine’s Day Rush Sale
10 AM – 5 PM // FREE
Drop-in event. No registration required. Find the perfect last-minute gift for your loved one! Enjoy exclusive shop sales, complimentary gift wrapping, and light refreshments.
15 Saturday February Festival
10 AM – 2 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required.
16 Sunday Art & Sip with Addie Newcomer
2 – 4 PM
$45 Members/$50 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited. Join us for a creative afternoon with wine and charcuterie as you create your own watercolor masterpiece to take home. Local artist Addie Newcomer will lead the session.
18 Tuesday COMU Lifelong
Learners
Now on View: Alma Thomas Society
12:15 PM // FREE
Optional Gallery Experience at 11:30 AM
Registration required. Space is limited.
Jonathan F. Walz, Curator of American Art, will give a talk about the Alma Thomas Society and the most recent acquisition made by this group of Museum supporters. Participants have the option to purchase lunch from the Museum’s Café or bring their own.
20 Thursday
Third Thursday
5:30 – 8 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required. Join us and celebrate Black History Month at COMU. This month will include a lecture by Dr. Masi Asare of Northwestern University on the legacy of Ma Rainey in the Patrick Theater, plus hands-on art making in the Galleria!
28
Friday
Members & Friends Bus Trip to Birmingham Museum of Art & Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
8 AM – 7 PM // Bus leaves from COMU
$95 Members/$115 Non-Members
Registration required. Space is limited. This trip offers a guided tour of the Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art, followed by time to explore its diverse collection on your own. Enjoy lunch at the museum’s café, Juniper, before heading to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where you’ll learn about the city’s pivotal role in civil rights history.
For event information and tickets, visit our website or contact:
Morgan Wilson at 706.748.2562 ext. 5440 or mwilson@comuga.org
Gift Shop & Garden Café News
The Gift Shop is now selling Fountain City Coffee whole beans roasted and bagged right here in Columbus. They proudly roast their beans in small batches which allows them to offer coffee at its peak to ensure excellence and freshness. Fountain City Coffee is committed to using high quality beans, which create their coffee’s rich and enveloping flavors. We are excited to offer the House blend, the Blue Heron blend, and the Breakfast blend.
Volunteer News
Please welcome Juanita Christian as our newest Gift Shop Volunteer. Also, we are pleased to have Dorothy Mabry volunteering in the Gift Shop again. This fall we welcomed over 65 high school students to the Museum as they volunteered at various events including the Fall Festival and the Glass Making Workshops! The Muscogee County schools that participated were Columbus High School, Spencer High School, and Northside High School.
SUPPORT THE ARTS WITH A GIFT TO THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM
By supporting The Columbus Museum, you help bring culture to life for the communities of the Chattahoochee Valley. Your donation helps provide invaluable educational opportunities and culturally rich experiences that make our community an even better place to live, work, and play.
Please consider a fully tax-deductible gift to the Museum this holiday season. You can even make your gift in honor of a loved one!
Give online at columbusmuseum.com/join-give or contact Kimberly Finn, Director of Development, kfinn@comuga.org,706.748-2562 ext. 5420
Meet the COMU Education Team!
Lucy Kacir has been the Director of Education and Engagement at The Columbus Museum since March 2019. With over a decade of teaching experience in a variety of settings—including after-school programs, preschool classrooms, libraries, and public schools—Lucy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. In addition to her teaching background, she has over nine years of experience in museum education. At COMU, Lucy manages adult programs and oversees the education team, ensuring that all visitors have meaningful learning experiences. She holds a BFA in Photography from New York University and an MA in Museum Education from The University of Texas at Austin. “I love working with a team that is passionate about education,” Lucy says. “Every day, we find new ways to connect our audiences to art and history, and that’s incredibly rewarding.”
Rachel Vogt joined The Columbus Museum in June 2019 as the Academic Programs Manager. With over six years of experience as a professional development facilitator for the Austin Independent School District and two years drafting curriculum for the educational non-profit MINDPOP, Rachel is well-versed in designing impactful educational experiences. At the Museum, she manages programs for PreK-12th grade students and teachers and oversees the Docent Corps. Rachel holds a BA in Art History from Carleton College and an MA in Museum Education from The University of Texas at Austin. Rachel enjoys seeing students and teachers engage with our collections in creative ways.
Jessamy South, COMU’s Youth and Family Programs Manager, has been instrumental in developing engaging programs for the Museum’s youngest visitors.
Since joining the team, Jessamy has launched the popular Artful Babies and Mini Makers programs, designed for children ages 6 months to 4 years, which introduce them to art-making and gallery exploration. She also created the Teen Exhibition Council, giving local teens the chance to collaborate with Museum staff on exhibitions, social media, and programming. Jessamy holds a BA in History from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MA in Museum Studies from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. “I’m passionate about creating spaces where children and teens can experience art and history in ways that are fun, interactive, and meaningful,” Jessamy says. “Watching young people grow through these experiences is incredibly fulfilling.”
The newest member of the team, Carter Eldridge, serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Born and raised in Columbus, Carter has a strong connection to the local community and brings years of experience as a teaching artist. He has taught theatrical arts, creative writing, and more to students in grades K-12. Carter holds a BFA in Theatre from Columbus State University and an MFA in Narrative Media Writing from the University of Georgia.
Together, the COMU Education Department works to engage visitors of all ages with the Museum’s rich collections and innovative programs. Whether through classroom visits, family-friendly workshops, or specialized teen initiatives, this team is dedicated to making learning at The Columbus Museum both fun and impactful.
Image: (from left to right) Jessamy South, Carter Eldridge, Lucy Kacir, and Rachel Vogt.
July 1 to September 30, 2024
**Continuous member for 20+ years // *Continuous member for 10+ years
The Columbus Museum is grateful to recognize our President, Director, Collector, Master Circle, & Patron level members. Those who joined or renewed within the last quarter are in bold print.
PRESIDENT CIRCLE
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel P. Amos**
Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Hecht**
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth M. Henson, Jr.**
Helen Jordan Hobbs**
Mr. & Mrs. John C. Martin II**
Mr. & Mrs. W. Michael Ogie**
Mr. & Mrs. Alan C. Ramsay, Jr.** D. Steven Sharp**
DIRECTOR CIRCLE
Mrs. Lovick P. Corn**
David Durant
Dr. & Mrs. Thornton F. Jordan**
Mr. & Mrs. Mason Houghland
Lampton**
Mrs. Cherry N. Pease**
Dr. & Mrs. Richard S. Robbins**
Maxine R. Schiffman**
Katherine & Wright Waddell**
COLLECTOR CIRCLE
Mrs. Donald F. Broda, Jr.**
Ed & Suzanne Burdeshaw**
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Butler**
James G. & Kathryn A. Hillenbrand
Marjorie & Jerry Newman**
Mr. & Mrs. Otis J. Scarborough**
Bobsie Swift**
Mr. & Mrs. D. A. Turner III
Dr. Chip & Audrey Tillman*
Mrs. Davis Ronald Watson**
Rebecca K. & Sidney H. Yarbrough III, M.D.**
MASTER CIRCLE
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Adams, Jr.*
Dr. & Mrs. A. C. Alvarez**
Dr. & Mrs. David P. Antekeier
Fred & Catalina Aranas Family Foundation
Ms. Betty L. Auten*
Mrs. Champ Baker, Jr.**
Bo Bartlett & Betsy Eby*
Mr. & Mrs. Donald W. Beck, Jr.**
Catherine & Rennie Bickerstaff**
Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Bickerstaff
Mrs. James J. W. Biggers**
Mr. Wilson W. Blackmon**
Mr. & Mrs. James H. Blanchard**
Thomas R. Bowden & Troy P. Mann
Minnie R. Bradley**
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Y. Bradley**
Ms. Sara B. Bradley
Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Brewer*
Dr. & Mrs. Philip L. Brewer**
Mr. & Mrs. Lance Brooks
Ms. Patricia A. Butts
Florene Calvin-Dawkins
Mr. & Mrs. Gill Cargill*
Dr. Kia L. Chambers
Mr. & Mrs. R. Keith Chambless
Mrs. Forrest L. Champion, Jr.**
Dr. & Mrs. Hunter Champion
Rhonda Pritchett Clippinger
Bonnie & Leslie Cohn**
Craig & Traci Courville**
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mack Dixon, Jr.
Ms. Brooks Dykes &
Mr. Eugene Dykes
Mr. & Mrs. J. Robert Elliott, Jr.**
Mint & Robert Flowers**
Cindy & Spencer Garrard
Mr. & Mrs. Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr.**
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Gates**
Gail B. Greenblatt**
James E. & Kelli Hall
Mr. & Mrs. Kerry W. Hand**
Mr. Christopher R. Harman**
Judye S. Harris**
Dr. & Mrs. Ed P. Helton
Robbie Keith Holt**
Darren & Becky Horne
Mrs. Lula Huff**
Mr. & Mrs. John H. Irby
Mr. & Mrs. Randolph B. Jones III*
Dr. William P. Kendall**
Mrs. Erwin D. Key**
Jack & Libbie Key**
Dr. & Mrs. Edward B. Kinner**
Mr. & Mrs. Mason Hardaway
Lampton
Mrs. Donald M. Leebern, Jr.**
Mrs. R. Scott McGurk
Mr. & Mrs. W. Fray McCormick**
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. McKnight
Mr. & Mrs. L. Pierce Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Miller
Mr. & Mrs. W. Bradley Mullins
Dr. & Mrs. Douglas Pahl*
Mr. & Mrs. William Roland Peek**
Thom Pegg, Black Art Auction
Mr. & Mrs. Ben B. Philips**
Ms. Sally Phillips
Dr. & Mrs. Andrew W. Pippas*
Ms. Marianne Richter*
Mr. & Mrs. Chandler Riley*
Mrs. Kathy J. Riley**
Mr. & Mrs. Alan F. Rothschild, Jr.**
Mrs. Benno G. Rothschild**
Ms. Melanie Slaton &
Mr. Ben Holden*
Dr. & Mrs. J. Lacey Smith
Celia & Murray Solomon*
Dr. Eva Sperk
Ms. Rose H. Steiner**
Ms. Jeanne R. Swift**
Elizabeth A. Taylor**
Patty Kimbrough Taylor**
Jim & Melissa Thomas
Beth Thrift
Mr. & Mrs. Wade H. Tomlinson III**
Townsend Wealth Management
Mr. & Mrs. James Trotter, Jr.**
Dr. Amandah S. & Mr. John T. Turner*
Mr. & Mrs. William B. Turner, Jr.**
Mr. Robert H. Vardaman, Jr.
Dr. Thomas A. & Sherry F. Wade**
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Walden, Jr.**
Whitni & Mulford Waldrop
Chris Weaver**
Mr. L. Rexford Whiddon
Susan Smith Wiggins*
Pat & Jack Wilensky**
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald L. Wilson**
Mrs. Brevard House Windsor**
Kay & Billy Winn**
Bob & Liz Wolverton
Keith & Susan Wood
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Woodruff
Mr. & Mrs. Joel O. Wooten*
PATRON
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey G. Adams
Mrs. Julia S. Alexander**
Drs. Karin & Champ Baker III*
Mrs. Marjorie B. Bickerstaff**
Mr. Mrs. Alfred O. Blackmar
Mr. & Mrs. Gary O. Bruce**
Garrett & Shawn Burns
Ann P. Burr**
Ms. Jan Carter**
Elizabeth & Shaun Conlin
Scott & Pam Cotter
Sherricka Day
Mrs. Frank S. Etheridge III**
Mr. & Mrs. Frank D. Foley III**
Mr. & Mrs. Keith Frakes
Andy & Dana Freeman**
Rich Godfrey & Kim Dodd
Mr. & Mrs. Lee R. Grogan, Jr.**
Mr. & Mrs. Madden Hatcher, Jr.**
Mrs. Richard Hallock
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Huff**
Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Johnson**
Mr. & Mrs. Miles Jordan
Dr. Ronald E. King
Mr. & Mrs. Seth L. Knight III**
Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Krieg*
Betty Krulik
Ashok & Mary Kumar*
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Lewallen
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony D. Link**
Drs. Kevin T. & Amanda McPherson*
Mr. & Mrs. Roy E. Martin III**
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Metry
Mr. William Morgan & Mr. Steve Morse
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Olson**
Mr. & Mrs. J. Donald Peek**
The Honorable &
Mrs. William C. Rumer**
Dr. & Mrs. Lloyd Sampson**
Edith H. Satterwhite**
Ms. Charlotte Alexander Saunders**
Mr. Claude G. Scarbrough III**
continues on next page ...
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Schley
Kenneth A. Shaw**
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas P. Swift**
Mr. & Mrs. John P. Thayer*
Mr. Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Philip Tomlinson**
Mr. & Mrs. Jack G. Turner**
Mrs. W. David Varner, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Mal Waldrep
Mrs. Jessie G. Wright**
Mr. & Mrs. James D. Yancey**
The Columbus Museum is grateful to recognize our Reciprocal, Family, Supporting, & Civic level members who joined or renewed within the last quarter.
RECIPROCAL
Mr. & Mrs. John O. Barwick III**
JoJo Beck**
Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Bryan
Helen J. Burgin**
Dr. & Mrs. Robert H. Bush
George & Jean Flowers*
Stan Floyd**
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Gristina*
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth S. Janke, Jr.*
Mr. & Mrs. P. Elliott Kirven**
Judge & Mrs. John T. Laney III**
Mr. James P. McHenry &
Ms. Cheryl Yatsko**
Shirley B. Moon**
Ashley & Blake Reinhart
Cameron & Lucy Saunders
Sharon W. Self**
Mr. Frederick Spitzmiller
Mrs. Lothar Tresp*
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Ussery*
Ron & Susan Wirt
FAMILY
Mr. & Mrs. Arch V. Arnold III**
Alison & Billy Bullock
Win & Joyce Fowler**
Victoria & Roger Grantham
Leticia & Jakob Haas
Mr. & Mrs. Lorenzo Harris
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Huff**
Mr. & Mrs. David M. Jordan**
Caroline & Whit Laney
Mary & David Liwanag
Judy & Bobby McCarley**
Mr. & Mrs. George Mize
Mr. & Mrs. Charlton W. Norris
Mr. & Mrs. Jack J. Pease III**
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Springer
Walter & Dancy Stroman**
Dr. Stefania & Mr. Dan Wilcox
SUPPORTING
Mr. & Mrs. Mote W. Andrews, Jr.**
Rita B. Boyd**
Charles & Mary Brown
Kim Flournoy
Barbara Gaston
Ms. Phyllis Gilbert
Ms. Paula Goble
Mark & Elizabeth Graham
Ann M. Hall
Mr. & Mrs. David Harmon
Melinda Hunter**
Austin Koon
Mr. Phillip J. Linn*
Keri Lofton, Esq.
Almeda Medlin**
Mr. & Mrs. Josh Neville
Courtney George & Robert Ositis
Celia G. Page**
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene H. Polleys, Jr.**
Sheila Reed
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Schley III**
Mrs. Billie C. Smith**
Barbara Waller
CIVIC
Susan F. Boyter**
Ms. Silvia M. Bunn**
Celina Chung
Elaine Claridy
William Cook
F. H. Boyd Coons
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Corlin
Roxann G. Daniel
Barbara Dorsey
Mary & Steve Goff
Angie Gordy
J. Bruce Griffin**
Lynn Hunter Griley**
Claudia Guzman
Theresa Jackson
Darlene Kittrell
Sally Lord
Mr. Ronald M. Mack**
Karen Mahoney
Mary Ann Marshall
Mrs. Cheryl Mortenson
Ms. Kathleen Mullins
Gwyn P. Newsom**
Frances Peeples
Mrs. Robert Pittman
Ms. Barbara Rivers**
Beverly Toland
Mr. & Mrs. Rafael J. Torres
Keisha Tramel
Lee York
ALMA THOMAS SOCIETY
Florene Calvin-Dawkins
Mr. & Mrs. Mason Houghland
Lampton
Mr. Harry L. Lindsey
Mary Ann Marshall
Dr. Thomas A. & Sherry F. Wade
YOUNG ART PATRONS
JoJo Beck
Cameron & Lucy Saunders
Mrs. Billie C. Smith
The Columbus Museum gratefully acknowledges the following contributions in honor or in memory of special friends.
In honor of Cindy & Spencer Garrard
Kevin Hudson
In honor of Callie Bergin McGinnis
Richard Read
In honor of Jonathan F. Walz, Ph.D., and his research
Swann Auction Galleries
The Columbus Museum gratefully acknowledges the following friends for their contributions.
Donation of artwork by Yasmine Diazand & Minor White Gift of a Friend of the Museum
Donation of glass items by Reuben Haley
Gift of D. Steven Sharp, in memory of George L. Atkins, Jr.
Donation of items related to the 1996 Olympics
Gift of Ken Garbacik
Donation of artwork by Yvonne Wells
Elizabeth Ogie
Donation of items related to Elaine Hammond
Ginger W. Smith & Stephen Smith
Donation of artwork by Alan Feltus Thornton & Sue Jordan
Donation of artwork by Larry Walker
Larry D. & Brenda A. Thompson
Donation of items owned by Roberta H.H. Yonge Browne
Gift of Sandra Strother Hudson
Donation for the African American Art Fund
Bea Haledjian
Donation for Bradley Olmsted Garden
Columbus Council of Garden Clubs, Inc.
Sally B. Hatcher through The Fort Trustee Fund, CFCV
Donation for education programs
Georgia Council for the Arts
Mercer University
The Walter Alan Richards Foundation, Inc.
Donation for general acquisition
Ralph H. Julius
Donation for general operations
Georgia Council for the Arts
Dan & Sara Ginter
D. Steven Sharp
W.C. Bradley Co.
The J.W. & Ethel I. Woodruff Foundation
Sponsorship of Riverfront Renaissance exhibition
W.C. Bradley Co
Sponsorship of American Made: PaintingsandSculpturefrom the DeMell Jacobsen Collection exhibition
Visit Columbus GA
Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance
Board of Trustees 2024 – 2025
Chris Henson
President
James E. Hall
Vice President
Gwendolyn H. Ruff
Corresponding Secretary
Marianne Richter
MuseumDirector/RecordingSecretary
Tyler A. Townsend
Treasurer
D. Steven Sharp
Immediate Past President
Daniel P. Amos, Kathelen V. Amos, Mary B. Bradley, Kay Broda, Lance Brooks, Lark Champion, Florene Dawkins, J. Robert Elliott, Jr.,
Mint Flowers, Gail B. Greenblatt, Pace Halter, Donna S. Hand, Helen Hobbs, Thornton F. Jordan, William P. Kendall, Tricia Llewellyn Konan, Elizabeth Lampton, Mary Lu Lampton, W. Fray McCormick, Becky Miller, Stephen Morse, Dionne Rosser-Mims, Jack Schley, Melanie Slaton, Bobsie Swift, Thomas Wade, Jr., Whitni Waldrop, Elizabeth Wolverton, Blair Woodruff
Christine Hull
Ex-officio MCSD Representative
LIFE TRUSTEES:
Phillip L. Brewer, Elizabeth T. Corn, Judye S. Harris, Robert Hecht, F. Clason Kyle, Betsy T. Leebern, Jerry B. Newman, Rebecca K. Yarbrough
HONORARY TRUSTEES:
James H. Blanchard
The Honorable Calvin Smyre J. Barrington Vaught
Museum Staff
Marianne Richter Director
Lacey Yeend Assistant to the Director
COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS
Jonathan Frederick Walz Director of Curatorial Affairs & Curator of American Art
Rebecca Bush Curator of History & Exhibitions Manager
Kristen Hudson Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Marcolm Tatum
Graphic Designer
Cesar Colon Torres
Marketing & PR Coordinator
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Kimberly Beck Deputy Director for Operations
Paula Evans
Accounting Specialist
Brooke King
Gift Shop Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Samantha Wooden Visitor Services Representative
Josh Latta Visitor Services Representative
Renata Tompson Visitor Services Representative
Rick McGowan
Security Chief
Larry Hunter
Security Deputy
Al Johnson
Security Deputy
Edward Diamond
Maintenance Engineer
Jonathan Jones General Maintenance
Alice Holmes Custodian
Dorothy Walker Custodian
Rita Palm Custodian
Matthew Thompson Horticulturist
The Columbus Museum is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency –
is a special benefit of membership. Columbus Museum mailings are not forwarded by the U.S. Postal Service. If your address changes, please notify the Museum at 706.748.2562, ext. 5440.
