The Muse // Fall 2025

THE

The Columbus Museum Quarterly Magazine

Fall 2025

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.

Letter from the Director

THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM: 1251 Wynnton Road Columbus, GA 31906 706.748.2562 comuga.org

MUSEUM HOURS: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Closed 10 AM – 5 PM 10 AM – 5 PM 10 AM – 8 PM 10 AM – 5 PM 10 AM – 5 PM 1 PM – 5 PM

MUSEUM SHOP HOURS: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Closed 10 AM – 4:30 PM 10 AM – 4:30 PM 10 AM – 7:30 PM 10 AM – 4:30 PM 10 AM – 4:30 PM 1 PM – 4:30 PM

ON THE COVER: Irene Rice Pereira, Yellow Oblongs #4 (detail), 1945, oil on canvas with artistmade frame, In memory of Clifford Jewett Swift, III, The Columbus Museum G.2025.30

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In May, The Columbus Museum acquired a sculpture by Elie Nadelman and paintings by Irene Rice Pereira and Joseph Stella. These exciting additions stemmed from a trip to New York, where the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, curators, and I attended the American Art Fair and visited galleries and museums. Now on view in our galleries, these works strengthen our American modernist collection, and we are thrilled to share them with you. The Nadelman and Pereira acquisitions were made possible through the generosity of two donors, for which we are deeply grateful. The Stella was purchased using funds from an earlier gift.

Additionally, we recently acquired a 19th-century police badge worn by John H. Palmer, who served as Columbus’ chief of police from 1883 to 1889.

Two exhibitions open this fall. Mysteries of the Vault offers a behind-the-scenes look at how our curators and collections manager research and interpret objects in the Museum’s collection. Beautiful Words presents a site-specific installation by Hadieh Shafie. A visitor favorite since its 2018 acquisition, Shafie’s Saayeha 6 has captivated many, and we are pleased to present the artist’s first solo museum exhibition.

Join us on September 20 for a lively celebration of Daily Special: The Art of John Miller. Beginning at 4 PM with a gallery tour led by the artist, the evening continues with food trucks, art making, classic cars, and a screening of American Graffiti at dusk. We thank W.C. Bradley Co. for sponsoring this festive event, hosted in partnership with COMU’s Young Art Patrons.

Bring your family and friends to our annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 18. This free community event features hands-on art activities throughout the Museum, a scavenger hunt with fun prizes,

and creative stations hosted by a variety of community partners, such as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries.

Stop by the Food Truck Court for delicious eats, and enjoy an afternoon of art, learning, and celebration for all ages.

Looking ahead, we’re excited for a full fall calendar, including a members’ trip to Atlanta, glassmaking classes, and a special Signature Sunday in partnership with the Columbus State University Archives and Special Collections. On November 15, we are honored to participate once again in Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens and grateful to be a beneficiary of this treasured fall tradition.

Please save the date for the 36th Annual Master Circle Dinner on Monday, December 1—a special holiday celebration of our Circle Members, cochaired by Betsy Leebern and Bob Vardaman.

This summer also brought two pieces of outstanding news. In July, the American Alliance of Museums officially reaccredited The Columbus Museum following a rigorous yearlong review. Only three percent of museums nationwide hold this distinction, and we are proud to uphold this legacy of excellence—first earned by the Museum in 1972, during the program’s inaugural year. In August, we were honored to win Gold for CHOICE Museum in the Ledger-Enquirer’s Columbus’ People’s Choice Awards, with more than 186,000 votes cast by members of our community. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and inspired by your continued support.

New On View September 13, 2025 – January 18, 2026

Images: 1. Hadieh Shafie, Ceiling Circle, 2019, Rolled paper with ink and acrylic 2. Hadieh Shafie, Floor Circle, 2019, Rolled paper with ink and acrylic Images courtesy of the artist. Exhibited in She Says at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.

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Hadieh Shafie: Beautiful Words Internationally recognized artist Hadieh Shafie has, over the past decade and a half, systematically explored the physical qualities of writing and the traces it leaves behind. Text is now so deeply embedded in daily life that we take it for granted, but Shafie draws our focused attention to it, through overload, hideand-seek, and shapeshifting. She also pushes—hard—on the question, ‘What constitutes writing?’ Her art reveals the multifaceted materiality of text.

This installation is the Iranian American artist’s first solo project in the United States and her first one-person museum exhibition. It showcases one of the most recent developments in the artist’s studio practice, which she calls “vertical books.” The planar rolled paper objects, for which she is well known, now fully inhabit dimensional space; the coils have grown in size and length. In clusters, they hang from the ceiling or seem to emerge from the floor. The respective silhouettes of each suspended strand fluctuate from wide to narrow. All the text-based objects that Shafie creates—flat sheets, planar rolls, tapered extensions, dangling bunches—imply potential relationships: words arise from the desire to communicate; books exist for future readers. Beautiful Words awaits future viewers to experience books in the expanded field, where,

according to the artist, “words are an energetic charge, color is emotion, and repetition is a kind of spiritual practice.”

The Columbus Museum is grateful to the Ovissi Foundation for recognizing the importance of this project and for providing a seed grant for the exhibition’s organization.

THE MUSE FALL 2025 // 3

New On View September 27, 2025 – January 11, 2026

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Mysteries of the Vault Have you ever wondered how curators and collections managers learn about a museum’s collection?

How does decoding logos and abbreviations help us determine how old an object is?

What can colors and patterns tell us about where an object was made? What’s the trick to effective newspaper research? And what answers are harder to find than you might think?

Mysteries of the Vault draws back the curtain on behind-the-scenes object research in museums. Using real case studies from the COMU collection, visitors will gain insight into rarely seen collection objects and new acquisitions. You may even be invited to help us solve some persistent mysteries!

Images: 1. – 2. Hocking Glass Company, Sweet Tea Pitcher, 1930s, frosted green uranium glass, Gift of Jonathan Frederick Walz, Ph.D., The Columbus Museum G.2021.42.1 3. American Silver Plate Company, Columbus Home Coming dance trophy, 1916, silverplate, The Evelyn S. and H. Wayne Patterson Fund, The Columbus Museum G.2015.21 4. John Maier, Dr. Stephen Ingersoll (detail), 1847, oil on canvas, Museum purchase, The Columbus Museum G.1995.11 5. Drawing by Ledger-Enquirer illustrator Angelo Franco, 1970–1983, Gift of the Family of Angelo Franco, The Columbus Museum G.2023.34

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New Acquisition Fall 2025

Rare Police Badge Joins Collection Future Columbus police chief John H. Palmer (1845–1928) grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. Palmer and his brother joined the Confederate army, were captured by federal troops in their hometown, and spent 18 months in Camp Douglas, a POW camp in Chicago. Released just weeks before the end of the war, Palmer moved with his parents and brothers to Georgia for a fresh start. After a few years in Dublin, where he met his wife, he established himself in Columbus as a watchmaker and jeweler in 1873.

Palmer seems to have joined Columbus’ police department soon after his move. After rising through the ranks to become a detective, Palmer won the office of City Marshal in the 1883 municipal election, which resulted in his also becoming the chief of police. Palmer and his department of 24 men were routinely praised by locals and travelers alike. Visitors from Quincy, Florida, wrote this typically glowing account: “Columbus is the most orderly and quiet city we have ever seen, and this is not to be wondered at when it is known that its police force is one of the very finest in

the United States… Capt. J.H. Palmer, the chief, is a man of fine ability, is a strict disciplinarian, and keeps a watchful eye upon everything under his supervision, and law-breakers have long since learned to fear him. He deserves much credit for bringing his force up to its present efficiency.”

Palmer chose not to run for reelection in 1889, citing health concerns. He briefly returned to law enforcement in 1898 when he was appointed a deputy sheriff for Muscogee County, frequently tracking suspects across the region.

Palmer received many gifts while in office, but as a skilled jeweler, he almost certainly made this unique badge himself. The center prominently features the state seal of Georgia. Though patina suggests frequent wear, the text on the back dates to the year Palmer left office, suggesting he might have engraved it as a retirement memento.

Image: Columbus Chief of Police badge worn by John H. Palmer, 1889, The Gladys Dudley History Fund, The Columbus Museum G.2025.26

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New Acquisitions Fall 2025

Amplifying American Modernism The Columbus Museum has recently acquired three objects that amplify its holdings of early American modernism and abstraction at mid-century.

Classical Head (fig. 1) is the first sculpture by artist Elie Nadelman to join COMU’s permanent collection. Nadelman trained in Warsaw before moving to Paris. His first solo exhibition in 1909 created a sensation and led to Nadelman’s inclusion in the groundbreaking Armory Show in 1913.

As World War I began, Nadelman relocated to New York, where the city’s lively arts inspired an extended exploration of performers—musicians, dancers, vaudevillians. Well-known for these streamlined sculptures in wood, Nadelman also created a parallel body of work inspired by ancient Greece. Carved in both Europe and the United States, these graceful, idealized heads in white marble evidence Nadelman’s continued interest in the origins of Western art as well as modernism’s extreme simplification of form. Before acquiring Classical Head, COMU already possessed two of the artist’s drawings—and both depict female faces, making an important connection to this bust from around the same moment.

Nadelman’s handsome modernist sculpture also

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Fig. 1: Elie Nadelman, Classical Head, ca. 1917/1920. marble, Gift in memory of Donald F. Broda, Jr., The Columbus Museum G.2025.28 Fig. 2: Joseph Stella, The White Heron, 1925, oil on canvas, The Gladys Walton Dudley Fund and The Ella E. Kirven Charitable Lead Trust for Acquisitions, The Columbus Museum G.2025.29 Fig. 3: Irene Rice Pereira, Yellow Oblongs #4, 1945, oil on canvas with artist-made frame, In memory of Clifford Jewett Swift, III, The Columbus Museum G.2025.30

relates to COMU’s antebellum marble carving of Proserpine—another Classical subject—by Hiram Powers.

The Columbus Museum purchased its first Joseph Stella work over 20 years ago—a silverpoint and colored crayon study of weigela flowers. Since that time, COMU has acquired additional Stella drawings in a range of media and styles: two male profile portraits, five sketchbook pages, and a mas-

terful early charcoal. The White Heron (fig. 2) is COMU’s first painting by the artist. Born in Naples, Italy, Stella moved to New York City with his family as a young man. In the 1910s, Stella created images that captured the energy and noise of the modern city. In the 1920s, he turned to nature for inspiration, frequently depicting plants and birds in a sleek, representational style. This painting demonstrates Stella’s ability to blend elements of private symbol-

ism, religious themes, and natural elements into a quasi-mystical icon. With its hybrid flowers and strong upward diagonal, The White Heron also embodies the early 20th-century concept of élan vital, the seemingly unstoppable “life force” that drives evolution and creativity. The image’s colorful birds and blossoms help the Museum connect what’s on view in the galleries to the historic Bradley Olmsted Garden outdoors.

A significant, mature work by Irene Rice Pereira had been on COMU’s short list of desirable acquisitions for over a decade. The recent purchase of Yellow Oblongs #4 (fig. 3) has now fulfilled this aspiration.

In the 1920s Pereira exchanged a secretarial post for a career dedicated to painting. She took courses at the legendary Art Students League in Manhattan, and, during the Great Depression, helped found the Federal Art Project Design Laboratory, a program of the Works Progress Administration. Pereira maintained a busy exhibition schedule. She displayed work regularly in New York as well as Washington.

Solo shows at the Howard University Gallery of Art (1938) and its offshoot, the Barnett Aden Gallery (1948), mean that Pereira crossed paths with Columbus-born, DC-based painter Alma Thomas on multiple occasions. In the last decade of her life, Pereira turned to writing, penning books and poems about the mysteries of space, time, and vision—themes that she had previously explored in masterful canvases like Yellow Oblongs #4.

The Columbus Museum is proud to welcome this trio of modernist objects into the collection, where they will help COMU fulfill its mission to bring regional history and American art to life for the communities of the Lower Chattahoochee River Valley.

All of the Museum’s collection acquisitions are due to the generosity of private donors. COMU is particularly grateful to the two patrons who respectively supported the purchases of the Nadelman sculpture and the Pereira painting. Stella’s The White Heron is currently on view in COMU’s Shorter Gallery.

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Master Circle Update

Save the Date:

36th Annual Master Circle Dinner Monday, December 1 // 6 PM Circle Members only We look forward to celebrating a special evening with our esteemed Circle Members. This breathtaking black-tie event features culinary delights, spirits, and exquisite décor. Mark your calendars for this highly anticipated night, co-chaired by Betsy Leebern and Bob Vardaman.

To take part in this Circle level membership benefit, please consider upgrading your membership before December.

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Upcoming Programs Fall 2025 13 Saturday & 14 Sunday

September

The Art of Glassmaking Workshop – Pumpkins 10 AM, Noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM

16 Tuesday

Mini Makers 10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE Ages 2 - 4 years & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required.

6 Saturday & 9 Tuesday

$75 Members/$85 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE

All materials are provided. No experience is necessary.

17 Wednesday

13 Saturday

10:30 AM – Noon // FREE

Artful Babies

Ages 6 - 24 months & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required.

Explore books, hands-on objects, and an art activity for children and caregivers to enjoy together.

9 Tuesday

After School Art Break 2:30 – 4:30 PM // FREE Elementary students & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required.

Join us in the Studio for art making! Each month, take inspiration from an object in the COMU collection and experiment with new materials.

11 Thursday

Garden Volunteer Work Day Bradley Olmsted Garden 8:30 AM – Noon No registration required.

12 Friday

The Art of Glassmaking Workshop – Pumpkins 1, 3, & 5 PM $75 Members/$85 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

Learn to make your own glass pumpkin with Kelly Robertson of Calvary Glass. All materials are provided. No experience is necessary.

Drop-In Tours: Celebrating the COMU Collection Every Saturday // 2 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required.

Join a COMU docent for a guided tour highlighting our permanent collection. Learn about American art and regional history through this hour-long tour of some of our most beloved collection objects.

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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.

13 Saturday

Yoga at the Museum

The Bradley Olmsted Garden Talk & Tour with Matt Thompson Registration required. Space is limited.

Join COMU Horticulturalist Matt Thompson for a special morning exploring the past, present, and future of the Museum’s historic Bradley Olmsted Garden. Enjoy an engaging talk followed by a guided tour through the grounds. Light refreshments will be provided.

20 Saturday

10:30 AM – Noon

Diners, Drive-Ins, & Daily Specials

$5 Members/$10 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

Registration required. Space is limited.

De-stress with a yoga class at COMU, surrounded by art and history! Start with a short mindfulness-focused gallery experience, then relax with a gentle, all-levels yoga session led by Sue Tomkiewicz. Some yoga mats are available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

15 Monday

Art Collectors and Museums with Tina Teel 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM // FREE Registration required. Space is limited.

Join us for this complimentary luncheon with Tina Teel, Principal of Tina Teel Fine Art and a partner at Sterling/Teel Capital, a global art advisory and valuation firm Teel co-founded with Liz Sterling. Based in Palm Beach and New York City, the firm serves a wide range of clients, including private collectors, family offices, estates, foundations, and institutions.

A native of Birmingham, Teel will discuss interesting works of art and collections she has advised through the years. Learn about the impact planned giving can have for the Museum while creating a meaningful legacy.

A boxed lunch will be provided.

4 – 9 PM // FREE Spend your Saturday evening at COMU enjoying art, food, and nostalgia under the stars as we celebrate our newest exhibition, Daily Special: The Art of John Miller. The festivities begin at 4 PM with a special gallery tour led by the artist himself. Afterward, head outside to grab dinner from local food trucks, get creative with art-making activities inspired by the exhibition, and take in a lineup of classic cars on display. As the sun sets, spread out your lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for a screening of American Graffiti. It’s a one-ofa-kind evening that brings together food, fun, and the joy of art—don’t miss it!

Image: Photo courtesy of Mario Clarke © John Miller

27 Saturday

Family Saturday

17 Friday

30 Thursday

10 AM – Noon // FREE

Members & Friends Bus Trip to Atlanta

Drop-in event. No registration required.

8 AM – 6 PM

Registration required. Space is limited.

Stop by COMU every month for new activities exploring the Museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

$95 Members/$115 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

Join Museum Director Marianne Richter for an up-close gallery exploration of American glass art. Explore captivating works by renowned artists including Dale Chihuly, Preston Singletary, and Therman Statom.

October 4 Saturday & 7 Tuesday

Artful Babies

10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE Ages 6 - 24 months & caregivers.

Drop-in event. No registration required.

9 Thursday

Garden Volunteer Work Day Bradley Olmsted Garden 8:30 AM – Noon No registration required.

9 Thursday

An Evening with Hadieh Shafie 5:30 – 8 PM // FREE Registration required. Space is limited.

Join artist Hadieh Shafie for an evening exploring her installation at COMU, Beautiful Words. The event will begin with art making, snacks, and time in the gallery. Shafie will begin her artist talk at 6:30 PM in the Galleria.

11 Saturday

Yoga at the Museum

This trip offers a visit to the Atlanta History Center, where guests will explore two of its most compelling exhibitions: Cyclorama: The Big Picture, and Native Lands: Indians and Georgia, followed by lunch at the Swan Coach House. The afternoon continues with a tour of The Warehouse, a contemporary art space in Atlanta’s Westside featuring the private collection of John and Sue Wieland.

18 Saturday

Fall Festival 10 AM – 3 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required.

Don’t miss our festival with creativity and experimentation for the whole family! Complete art-making activities throughout the Museum inspired by the work of glass artist John Miller. Take part in a scavenger hunt, engage in activities from community partners, catch live performances, and indulge in delicious bites from local food trucks.

21 Tuesday

Lifelong Learners: Surrealism and Magic Realism 12:15 PM // FREE Optional Gallery Experience at 11:30 AM Registration required. Space is limited.

11 Saturday & 14 Tuesday

In October, Curator of American Art and Director of Curatorial Affairs, Jonathan Walz, Ph.D., will talk about the surrealism exhibition America Fantastica: Memories, Dreams, and Chance. Participants have the option to purchase lunch from the Museum’s Café or bring their own.

10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE

25 Saturday

10:30 AM – Noon Instructor: Sue Tomkiewicz $5 Members/$10 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

Mini Makers

Ages 2 - 4 years & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required.

14 Tuesday

After School Art Break 2:30 – 4:30 PM // FREE Elementary students & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required.

Bookbinding Workshop 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Ages 16+ $25 Members/$35 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

Learn and explore simple bookbinding techniques with COMU staff inspired by the exhibition Hadieh Shafie: Beautiful Words.

Beginners are welcome.

Art Unwrapped 5:30 – 6:15 PM // FREE

November 1 Saturday & 4 Tuesday

Artful Babies

10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE Ages 6 - 24 months & caregivers.

Drop-in event. No registration required.

7 Friday

The Art of Glassmaking Workshop – Snowmen 3 PM Cost per session: $150 Registration required. Space is limited.

Are you one of our seasoned students? Sign up for our new advanced glassmaking workshop where you will get to craft your very own glass snowman.

7 Friday

The Art of Glassmaking Workshop – Ornaments 5 PM $65 Members/$75 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

All materials are provided. No experience is necessary.

8 Saturday

Yoga at the Museum 10:30 AM – Noon Instructor: Sue Tomkiewicz $5 Members/$10 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

8 Saturday

Mini Makers 10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE Ages 2 - 4 years & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required. continues on next page ...

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Upcoming Programs Fall 2025

8 Saturday & 9 Sunday

The Art of Glassmaking Workshop – Ornaments 10 AM, Noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM $65 Members/$75 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

All materials are provided. No experience is necessary.

9 Sunday

Signature Sunday with Columbus State University Archives 3 PM $25 for Reciprocal ($150) Level Members & above Registration required. Space is limited.

15 Saturday

COMU at Steeplechase Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens, known as the “event of the season,” brings family and friends together to watch thoroughbred horses race over timber and brush hurdles.

The Museum is honored to be a beneficiary of Steeplechase.

The COMU Shop will host a tent featuring select merchandise, including products by local artists, fine jewelry, and children’s items.

Raffle tickets are on sale in the COMU Shop or by contacting Morgan Wilson, mwilson@comuga.org, 706.748.2562 ext. 5440. For more information, visit steeplechaseatcallaway.com.

Ages 2 - 4 years & caregivers. Drop-in event.

No registration required.

Drop-in event. No registration required.

11 Tuesday

Kids Quilling Workshop

2:30 – 4:30 PM // FREE

2 – 3:30 PM Instructor: Samantha Simmons

Family Saturday

15 Saturday

Elementary students & caregivers.

Drop-in event. No registration required.

Ages 5 – 10 $20 Members/$25 Non-Members Registration required. Space is limited.

13 Thursday

Ready, Set, Roll! Get ready to explore the colorful world of creativity and play inspired by the world of artist Hadieh Shafie. In this paper quilling adventure for little hands and big imaginations, your young artist will roll, glue, and arrange paper to create their very own swirling masterpieces. Along the way, they’ll build fine motor skills, discover fun patterns, and express their unique style. No experience is needed.

13 Thursday

Curator Tour – Now on View: Mysteries of the Vault 5:30 – 6:30 PM FREE for Reciprocal ($150) Level Members & above Registration required. Space is limited.

Join Curator of History Rebecca Bush for a guided tour of Mysteries of the Vault, highlighting stories and research behind the objects.

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21 Friday

Pink Friday at COMU Shop 10 AM – 4:30 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required.

Drop-in event. No registration required.

10 AM – Noon // FREE

No registration required.

Curator of History and Exhibitions Manager Rebecca Bush will talk about the exhibition Mysteries of the Vault. Participants have the option to purchase lunch from the Museum’s Café or bring their own.

10 AM – 4:30 PM // FREE

10:30 – 11:30 AM // FREE

Bradley Olmsted Garden 8:30 AM – Noon

Registration required. Space is limited.

Black Friday at COMU Shop 15 Saturday

Garden Volunteer Work Day

12:15 PM // FREE Optional Gallery Experience at 11:30 AM

28 Friday

11 Tuesday

After School Art Break

Lifelong Learners: Mysteries of the Vault

Shop small and local this Pink Friday! Enjoy specials throughout the store and try some of our favorite gourmet treats.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Columbus State University Archives and Special Collections. David Owings, Associate Professor and Head of Archives, will lead a guided tour highlighting the history of CSU, Columbus, and the Chattahoochee Valley.

Light refreshments will be served.

Mini Makers

18 Tuesday

Black Friday Deals begin first thing in the morning! Receive 30% off from 10 – 11 AM, 20% off from 11 AM – Noon, and 10 % off until 5 PM. Enjoy a scratch-off with a special discount to use on top of your sale purchase.

29 Saturday

Small Business Saturday 10 AM – 4:30 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required.

Shop small, celebrate local this Saturday!

Stop by for sales and holiday specials.

30 Sunday

Museum Store Sunday 10 AM – 4:30 PM // FREE Drop-in event. No registration required.

Shop products inspired by our Museum’s mission and unique to our store! Door prizes will be given each hour, today only.

For event information and tickets, visit our website or contact: Morgan Wilson at 706.748.2562 ext. 5440 or mwilson@comuga.org

COMU Spotlight

Rooted in History, Growing with Care Tucked behind The Columbus Museum lies one of the city’s most treasured landscapes: the Bradley Olmsted Garden.

Originally known as Sunset Terrace, the garden was created in the 1920s by the renowned Olmsted Brothers firm for industrialist W.C. Bradley.

This elegant, naturalistic garden stands as the most significant of the firm’s 13 residential projects in Georgia. It features historic elements like the spring-fed ravine, grotto, pool house, native oaks, laurels, Japanese yews, and river stones; many original plantings and design features remain today. With its sweeping lawns, curved paths, and native plantings, the garden was intended to offer both beauty and peace—a natural extension of the Museum experience.

Today, the garden is undergoing continued thoughtful restoration, led

by COMU horticulturalist Matt Thompson. You’re invited to be part of this story. COMU hosts Volunteer Work Days on the second Thursday of each month from 8:30 AM to noon. Volunteers assist with light gardening tasks like weeding, pruning, and planting—no experience necessary, and all tools are provided. Whether you come once or become a regular, your time helps preserve this living piece of history.

“I am so grateful for the support and attention the garden has received over the past year from volunteers, donors, and the Museum,” said Thompson. “We have made incredible strides together in restoring the landscape and creating a space that is beautiful, historic, and free to the public. We still have a lot of work to do, and now is a great time to get involved and preserve a piece of history while supporting your community.”

Interested in learning even more about the garden? Join us on Wednesday, September 17, for a Bradley Olmsted Garden Talk & Tour with Thompson. He’ll share the garden’s evolving story and lead a walk through the grounds, highlighting key restoration efforts and plant selections. Light refreshments will be provided.

From its historic roots to the hands that tend it today, the Bradley Olmsted Garden is a reminder of how art, history, and nature come together.

We hope you’ll join us—dig in, learn, and grow with us.

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Museum News

Gift Shop & Garden Café News

Save the Dates

Student Volunteers from Columbus High School and Northside High School volunteered this summer in the COMU Gift Shop! These students learned to run the shop as a retail associate, worked with staff on our annual inventory, and learned merchandising techniques.

Look for the COMU Gift Shop at the Wynn House Holiday Sip and Shop!

We are thrilled to welcome back the deliciously curated menu from Fountain City Coffee at the COMU Garden Café!

Sip & Shop @ COMU Gift Shop December 11 // 5 – 7:30 PM

Volunteer News

Winter Wonderland at COMU – Pictures with Santa December 18 // 5:30 – 7:30 PM

We welcomed 20 Columbus State University students to the Bradley Olmsted Garden in August for the annual day of service! The student volunteers worked with our horticulturalist, Matt Thompson, to complete work in the Bradley Olmsted Garden.

Holiday Sale at COMU Gift Shop December 26 // 10 AM – 5 PM

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Meet the Staff

Image: (from left to right) Matt Thompson and Allison Malmin

Meet the COMU Garden Team Behind every flourishing bloom and winding path in the Bradley Olmsted Garden, you’ll find dedicated care and expertise from COMU’s horticultural team.

Matt Thompson and Allison Malmin worked together to breathe life into this historic landscape—preserving the past and cultivating the future.

Matt Thompson, COMU’s horticulturist, brings a wealth of experience in landscape restoration, environmental science, and educational design to the garden. Raised on a small farm in Pine Mountain, GA, Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in environmental science at Columbus State University. During his undergraduate years, he served as Conservation Technician at Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center. In that capacity, he designed

interactive science installations, maintained and blazed walking trails, and led a joint composting initiative with local restaurants.

Before joining The Columbus Museum, Matt served as a horticulturist at the Columbus Botanical Garden, where he cultivated diverse plant collections, managed soil and pest care, and supported plant propagation. At COMU, his role encompasses restoring the historic Bradley Olmsted Garden—which includes original elements like the spring-fed ravine, grotto, native oaks, laurels, and river stones—while overseeing garden maintenance, planting, pruning, and specimen care. He also leads sustainability efforts and supports volunteer efforts.

Allison Malmin, 2024-2025 horticulture intern, earned her degree in environmental science from Columbus State University and assisted in day-to-day garden tasks—from seasonal planting and native species care to helping plan future garden improvements. Her enthusiasm and commitment supported both the garden’s ecological health and its public accessibility over the last year. For those interested in assisting with the garden, a new internship opportunity will open in January 2026 as Malmin prepares to move on to an exciting new chapter.

Matt ensures that the Bradley Olmsted Garden remains a living canvas—rooted in historic design but nurtured for generations to come. His work includes routine garden upkeep, plant identification and health assessments, soil management, curatorial input for landscape preservation, and engaging with volunteers and visitors through educational outreach.

THE MUSE SUMMER 2025 // 15

Members & Contributions

April 1 to June 30, 2025 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** Mrs. Donald F. Broda, Jr.** 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** Mr. & Mrs. Asa V. Swift Katherine & Wright Waddell** COLLECTOR CIRCLE Mr. & Mrs. Richard Y. Bradley** Ed & Suzanne Burdeshaw** Mr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Butler** Judye S. Harris** James G. & Kathryn A. Hillenbrand Gail B. Greenblatt** Marjorie & Jerry Newman** Mr. & Mrs. Otis J. Scarborough** Bobsie Swift** Mr. & Mrs. D. A. Turner III Dr. Chip & Audrey Tillman** Mrs. Davis Ronald Watson** Mr. & Mrs. Ronald L. Wilson** Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Woodruff Rebecca K. & Sidney H. Yarbrough III, M.D.* MASTER CIRCLE Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Adams, Jr.*

16 // THE MUSE FALL 2025

**Continuous member for 20+ years // *Continuous member for 10+ years

Dr. & Mrs. A. C. Alvarez** Dr. & Mrs. David P. Antekeier Fred & Catalina Aranas Family Foundation Ms. Betty L. Auten* Bo Bartlett & Betsy Eby* Mr. & Mrs. Donald W. Beck, Jr.** Catherine & Rennie Bickerstaff** Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Bickerstaff Mrs. James J. W. Biggers** Mr. & Mrs. James H. Blanchard** Thomas R. Bowden & Troy P. Mann Minnie R. Bradley** Ms. Sara B. Bradley Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Brewer* Dr. & Mrs. Philip L. Brewer** Mr. & Mrs. Lance Brooks Nancy Sullivan Burgin* 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 Nora & Gardiner Garrard** Mrs. Sally Q. Gates** Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Goldsmith** Mr. & Mrs. Clay Gullatt James E. & Kelli Hall* Mr. & Mrs. Kerry W. Hand** Mr. Christopher R. Harman** 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** Mr. & Mrs. Jack B. Key III** Dr. & Mrs. Edward B. Kinner** Mr. & Mrs. Mason Hardaway Lampton*

Drs. Francye & Joseph Largeman* Mrs. Donald M. Leebern, Jr.** Mr. & Mrs. W. Fray McCormick** Mrs. R. Scott McGurk** Mrs. Marquette McKnight Ms. Marsha E. Mason** Mr. & Mrs. L. Pierce Miller Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Miller Mr. & Mrs. W. Bradley Mullins Dr. & Mrs. Douglas Pahl* Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Patton* Mr. & Mrs. William Roland Peek** Thom Pegg, Black Art Auction Mr. & Mrs. Ben B. Philips** Ms. Sally Phillips Dr. & Mrs. Andrew W. Pippas* Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Poydasheff, Jr. 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 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. Travis F. Wade Mr. & Mrs. John W. Walden, Jr.** Whitni & Mulford Waldrop Mr. & Mrs. Harrison Wallace* Chris Weaver** Mr. L. Rexford Whiddon** Mrs. Cecil Whitaker** Susan Smith Wiggins* Pat & Jack Wilensky** Mrs. Brevard House Windsor** Kay & Billy Winn**

Bob & Liz Wolverton Keith & Susan Wood Mr. & Mrs. Joel O. Wooten* PATRON Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey G. Adams Mrs. Julia S. Alexander** Drs. Karin & Champ Baker III* Susan Berry Mr. Reynolds Bickerstaff 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** Larry & Kate Rosenstrauch The Honorable & Mrs. William C. Rumer** Dr. & Mrs. Lloyd Sampson** Edith H. Satterwhite** Ms. Charlotte Alexander Saunders** Mr. Claude G. Scarbrough III** Mr. & Mrs. Jack Schley

Kenneth A. Shaw** Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Springer Mrs. Nancy Stephens* Mr. & Mrs. Thomas P. Swift** Mr. & Mrs. John P. Thayer* Mr. Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr. Anita & Philip Tomlinson** Mr. & Mrs. Jack G. Turner** Rick & Jan Ussery Mrs. W. David Varner, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Vaught Mr. Elliott Waddell Mr. & Mrs. Mal Waldrep Mrs. Jessie G. Wright** Mr. & Mrs. James D. Yancey** Mr. & Mrs. Bruno Zupan**

The Columbus Museum is grateful to recognize our Reciprocal, Family, Supporting, Civic level, & Alma Thomas Society members who joined or renewed within the last quarter.

RECIPROCAL Mr. Eddie Branch Barbara & David Brandenburgh Faye Carles* Betsy & Rick Covington Mr. & Mrs. Robert K. David, Jr.** Mr. & Mrs. Chris Eysel Kim Flournoy Mr. John F. Greenman & Ms. Alice Budge** Susan Schley Gristina** Stephen G. & Nancy N. Gunby Mr. & Mrs. David Hay* Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Holloway Mr. & Mrs. Stephen M. Howard** Mrs. Ben H. Hudson II** Mary S. Hurley Mr. & Mrs. John S. Knight, Jr.* Judge & Mrs. John T. Laney III** Mr. & Mrs. Scott McCranie Mike & Libby McFalls* Ms. Karen L. Noell Mrs. Ethel E. Patrick* Ronald & Jenda Pettigrew Teresa & Richard Philyaw Mr. & Mr. Robertson-Selser Mr. David Rothschild III** Ms. Gwendolyn H. Ruff Nancy & Kim Sheek Mr. & Mrs. John M. Sheftall

Julian & Chandler Singer Mr. & Mrs. Lance Tankersley* Lois M. Tryon** Jane Wilson Margaret G. Zollo** FAMILY PREMIUM Maureen & Michael Mullins Mrs. Jack H. Tinkler* FAMILY Cynthia East Mr. & Mrs. William A. Edwards III** Mr. & Mrs. Sean Finneran Mr. & Mrs. J. Hudson Garrett** Carol & Doug Harvey** Mr. & Mrs. Mitch Holman Michael & Haley Irby Dr. & Mrs. Chris Kiggins Franny & Paul Kilpatrick** Mrs. James B. Knight** Mr. & Dr. Andrew Krawchyk Julie Littlejohn** Luker Family Bobby & Judy McCarley** Paul McClung Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Moye Meaghan Myers Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Peebles** Mr. & Mrs. Julio Portillo Jr.* Teresa C. Sanders & William C. Sanders Mr. & Mrs. Frank Schley III** Mr. & Mrs. William Standard Lisa Turner Sarah K. Walden Mr. & Mrs. Mal Waldrep Thomas & Diane Waynick Kathleen Zschernitz SUPPORTING

Lynda M. Alford** Janette Ammerman Dr. Julia V. Ashley Rob & Bobbie Bankston Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Bickerstaff Ms. Stacey Boyd Ryan Bradley Ms. Judy Bryson Mr. Robert F. Burgin III** Linda & Michael Cavaliere Jan McGlaun Caves Erin Clark

Mr. Darryl Clarke Carla J. Collins Wimberly & Braxton Comer Jennifer Deal Claire Derr Ms. Liz DiQuattro Mr. & Mrs. Fred J. Dodelin Curtis Elver Polly & Wade Fowler Mr. & Mrs. Jason Gamache Allison Gardner Ms. Paula Goble Shane & Brooke Green Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Gridley Aly Grubb Deborah Hamric Ms. Lisa Herring Mary Ellen Hodurski David Horiuchi Tyler Horne Trevor Horne Melinda Hunter* Lori Kennedy Jean Kiralfy Kent** Mr. Phillip J. Linn* Brantley Manderson Steve & Pauline Marth Michele Mastrean Brian McNeil Martha & Will Meador Lydia Mullins Will Mullins Camille Needham Mr. & Mrs. Josh Neville Ms. Gail T. Newman** Caroline O’Connor Ms. Angie Paramore Cathryn Pease Mr. Hal S. Pope** Margie & Mark Riles Avery Mae Saltmarsh Leigh Anne & Eric Smith Edwina Smith & Sam Simmens Mrs. Cathryn Smitherman Ms. Wynne P. Stevenson** Rachel Strouse Ann Taylor Erin & Josh Trowell Mr. Ronald Veasey Ms. Sarah L. White Ms. Ann Williamson* Shannon Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Edward L. Witsell** Ashley Woitena & Amber Camp

Mr. & Mrs. Johannes Wolber Dr. Beverly V. Woods CIVIC Bucky Bowles** Esther Bowman Amy Buchanan Mr. Philip Chan Kat Cole Lisa Drazez Ms. Vicki Franklin Lynn Hunter Griley** Sandra Hawthorne Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Hopper Katie & Josh Howe The James Family Michael A. Jarvis** Myra & Jeff Josefsberg Joseph E. Kmiecik Ms. Abigail Littleton Sally Lord Luise May Mr. & Mrs. William Pettey Ms. Anne Plott Marilyn Crafton Smith Sylvia Tatum Suzanne Taylor* ALMA THOMAS SOCIETY Darren & Becky Horne Mrs. Ethel E. Patrick Ms. Gwendolyn H. Ruff Mr. & Mrs. Wade H. Tomlinson III Lisa Turner Bob & Liz Wolverton

The Columbus Museum gratefully acknowledges the following contributions in honor or in memory of special friends.

In honor of Jack Flournoy’s 21st birthday Mr. & Mrs. John F. Flournoy, Jr.

The Columbus Museum gratefully acknowledges the following friends for their contributions.

Donation of artwork Gift of Mrs. Sally Q. Gates

continues on next page ...

THE MUSE FALL 2025 // 17

Members & Contributions

Donation of two lithographs Gift of F. Hawryliw Donation of artwork by Robert Jerome (Jerry) Walden, Sr. Gift of Robert Walden Donation of artwork by Judy Tuwalestiwa Gift of Chris Henson Donation of items related to Dinglewood Gift of Edwin Hinde, Gregory Hinde, & Lorraine Hinde-Reed Donation of glass items Ruth Laney Donation for the African American Art Fund Keith Gaby Donation for Bradley Olmsted Garden The Lemon Tree Garden Club Mr. & Mrs. W. Michael Ogie The Tea Olive Garden Club Donation for Susan Cochran Bus Fund Dr. & Mrs. A. C. Alvarez Catherine & Rennie Bickerstaff Ms. Patricia A. Butts Mr. & Mrs. Jack Ceccato Mrs. Carol T. Flournoy Mr. & Mrs. Kerry W. Hand Robbie Keith Holt

Ena G. Hunt Dr. William P. Kendall Taylor Sennet Dr. Thomas A. & Sherry F. Wade, Jr. Donation for education programs Georgia Council for the Arts The Walter Alan Richards Foundation, Inc. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley Donation for general acquisition Mrs. Donald F. Broda, Jr. Bobsie Swift Donation for general operations The Cliboca Foundation Robin Ericksen Bea Haledjian Corinne Joyner Mr. & Mrs. Stephen A. Melton The Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens Anna Whitney Sponsorship of the America Fantastica: Memories, Dreams, and Chance exhibition Art Bridges Learning & Program Grant Sponsorship of Hadieh Shafie: Beautiful Words exhibition Ovissi Foundation

2025 Racing for COMU Trifecta Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. William C. Woolfolk, III 2025 Racing for COMU Win Sponsor Mrs. Donald M. Leebern, Jr. 2025 Racing for COMU Place Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Richard Y. Bradley Mrs. Lovick P. Corn Nora & Gardiner Garrard Ms. Nancy Lampton Mr. & Mrs. John C. Martin II Ms. E. Worth Williams 2025 Racing for COMU Band Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Tim Gregory 2025 Racing for COMU Show Sponsor Dr. & Mrs. A. C. Alvarez Joe & Marie Arnold Mr. & Mrs. Samuel L. Buracker III Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth H. Callaway Dr. & Mrs. Hunter Champion Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Chancellor III Mr. & Mrs. James R. Farrar James E. & Kelli Hall Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Hare Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Hecht Mary Ellen Hodurski Dr. & Mrs. Thornton F. Jordan Mrs. Erwin D. Key Emily Moody

Mr. E. Warner Neal, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Patton Mr. & Mrs. William Roland Peek Mr. & Mrs. William C. Pound D. Steven Sharp Mr. & Mrs. John W. Walden, Jr. 2025 Racing for COMU donations Mrs. Julia S. Alexander Mr. & Mrs. Donald W. Beck, Jr. Minnie R. Bradley Mr. & Mrs. Lance Brooks Mr. Robert F. Burgin III Mr. & Mrs. Gill Cargill Mr. & Mrs. William Wade Cliatt Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth L. Coolik Mr. & Mrs. Robert K. David, Jr. Mrs. Richard C. Edge James E. & Kelli Hall Mr. & Mrs. Kerry W. Hand Barbara G. Haneman Susannah Hardaway & Scott Rossi Mr. & Mrs. Calvin M. Holman Mr. & Mrs. Randolph B. Jones III Mr. & Mrs. Brock Jones Barbara Kamensky Mr. & Mrs. P. Elliott Kirven Dr. & Mrs. W. Blake Lane, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. L. Pierce Miller Cathryn Pease Mr. & Mrs. F. Houser Pugh Ms. Marianne Richter Bobsie Swift Dr. & Mrs. George S. Voltz, Jr. Katherine & Wright Waddell Dina Woodruff

SUPPORT THE ARTS WITH A GIFT TO THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM 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 year-end gift to the Museum this upcoming holiday season.

Give online at comuga.org/support/donate or scan the QR Code.

18 // THE MUSE FALL 2025

Trustees & Staff Fall 2025

Board of Trustees 2025 – 2026 James E. Hall President

Daniel P. Amos Vice President

Florene Dawkins Corresponding Secretary

Museum Staff Director

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Lacey Yeend

Kristen Hudson

Marianne Richter

Assistant to the Director

COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS

Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Marcolm Tatum Graphic Designer

Jonathan Frederick Walz Director of Curatorial Affairs & Curator of American Art

Cesar Colon Torres Marketing & PR Coordinator

Rebecca Bush

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Museum Director/Recording Secretary

Curator of History & Exhibitions Manager

Kimberly Beck

Tyler Townsend, CFA

Aimee Brooks

Treasurer

Collections Manager

Chris Henson

Miles Kirkpatrick

Marianne Richter

Immediate Past President

Daniel P. Amos, Kathelen V. Amos, Mary B. Bradley, Kay Broda, Lance Brooks, Lark Champion, Brad Clements, Florene Dawkins, Ivey Evans, Mint Flowers, Gail B. Greenblatt, James E. Hall, Pace Halter, Donna S. Hand, Chris Henson, 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, Elizabeth C. Ogie, Gwendolyn H. Ruff, Jack Schley, Bobsie Swift, Tyler Townsend, Thomas Wade, Jr., Whitni Waldrop, Elizabeth Wolverton, Blair Woodruff

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

Paula Evans Accounting Specialist

Associate Collections Manager

Brooke King

Keith Smith

Gift Shop Manager & Volunteer Coordinator

Lead Preparator/Art & Artifacts Handler

Benny Weldon

Samantha Wooden Visitor Services Representative

Associate Preparator/Art & Artifacts Handler

Emily Gutowski

EDUCATION

Julia Wagers

Lucy Kacir

Rick McGowan

Director of Education & Engagement

Jessamy South Youth & Family Programs Manager

Rachel Vogt Christine Hull

Deputy Director for Operations

Academic Programs Manager

Carter Eldridge Community Outreach Coordinator

DEVELOPMENT

Visitor Services Representative Visitor Services Representative Security Chief

Al Johnson Security Deputy

Matthew Thompson Horticulturist

Edward Diamond Maintenance Engineer

Alice Holmes Custodian

Morgan Wilson Membership Manager

Julie Garner HONORARY TRUSTEES:

Event Sales Manager

James H. Blanchard Representative Calvin Smyre J. Barrington Vaught

Landy Cartledge

Dorothy Walker Custodian

Rita Palm Custodian

Grants & Sponsorships Officer

Kim Thomas Development Assistant

THE MUSE FALL 2025 // 19

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT # 65 COLUMBUS, GA

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 – the National Endowment for the Arts.

Home delivery of The Muse 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.