I and the Telfair staff want to thank you for choosing to be a part of Telfair Museums’ team. As a member, you are showing your support for our museum and for the visual arts in Savannah. And through your membership, you have unlocked a rich menu of special exhibitions, lectures, and other programs. I hope you will enjoy some of our many offerings this summer.
In May, we will open a brand-new installment of Telfair Children’s Art Museum. Starting May 10, The World of William O. Golding will take young visitors on an imaginative journey around the globe as depicted by William O. Golding, a former sailor who traveled the world and later recorded his memories of his seafaring adventures in a series of charming drawings. These drawings serve as the basis for an entirely new immersive experience in which families will be able to take a virtual journey to see whimsical scenes above and below the ocean.
Also in May we will open two related special exhibitions, The Moss Mystique: Southern Women and Newcomb Pottery and (Un)Grounded: Raheleh Filsoofi The Moss Mystiqu e focuses on the Newcomb Pottery of New Orleans, Louisiana, its material and subjects, and their relationships to regional identity and change over time. In an adjacent gallery, (Un) Grounded , a solo exhibition of new work by Iranian American artist Raheleh Filsoofi, features a multimedia installation of ceramic vessels, sound, and video responding to the complexities of Newcomb pottery.
The next time I write to you, we will share information about our exciting fall exhibition season featuring the special exhibition, The Art of the Character , an exhibition of highlights from the costume collection of the actor Glenn Close.
As members, all of this is waiting for you. Please tell your friends and family about the benefits of membership. And think about giving the gift of a membership.
In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you at Telfair!
COVER: Henrietta Davidson Bailey (1874–1950), decorator; Tile with Cypress Swamp design, c. 1914; earthenware with underglaze polychrome ornament; Newcomb Art Museum, 2007.9. OPPOSITE: Telfair Academy. Photo by Adam Kuehl Photography.
May 30 – September 7 | Jepson Center
In 1895, administrators in the art department at the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in New Orleans, La., a women’s higher education institution that was joined to Tulane University, started a new commercial enterprise so that their students could put the skills they learned in their art and design courses into practice. A group of potters, mostly men, created a variety of objects out of clays sourced throughout the South, and women graduates of the art program painted them with images of flora and fauna. The Newcomb Pottery quickly received praise throughout the U.S. for the quality of its designs and the perceived authenticity of its representation of Southern regional identity, and these strong ties to location remain present today, long after the Pottery’s closure in 1939.
This exhibition focuses on Newcomb decorators’ chosen subjects, their relationships to both their identity as women and that of their region, and their changing approaches to these subjects
over time. Tasked with representing this place through their work, Newcomb designers earned a reputation for turning to their local environment for inspiration. This exhibition explores how designs that featured repeating, semi-abstract, and carefully selected plants such as waterlilies eventually transformed into muted landscapes of moss-draped oaks and cypresses, meeting consumers’ growing expectations for romanticized visions of the South. The Moss Mystique asks visitors to reconsider their ideas about what makes a place unique, and the stories we tell about the people who live within it. In an adjacent gallery, interdisciplinary artist Raheleh Filsoofi’s new multimedia exhibition (Un)Grounded will respond to the complexities of Newcomb pottery.
This exhibition is organized by Telfair Museums and is curated by Dr. Elyse D. Gerstenecker, curator of decorative arts, from the collections of the
sity. It is supported in part by a Dean F. Failey Grant from The Decorative Arts Trust.
INVESTMENT PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF SAVANNAH AND THE GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS. EXHIBITION SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE DECORATIVE ARTS TRUST’S DEAN F. FAILEY GRANT AND KATRINA A. SCHWAB. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY ERIC DIEFENBACH AND JAMES-KEITH BROWN.
OPPOSITE: Newcomb Pottery; Roberta Beverly Kennon (1877–1931), decorator; Joseph Fortune Meyer (1848–1931), potter; Tall vase with Iris design, 1905; earthenware with underglaze polychrome ornament; Newcomb Art Museum, 1982.415-C
JOIN US FOR THESE RELATED EVENTS. FULL DETAILS AT TELFAIR.ORG/EVENTS
The Moss Mystique Opening Reception and Lecture with Dr. Elyse Gerstenecker May 29, 5:30pm
Lunch and Learn: Joanna Angell on The Moss Mystique and (Un)Grounded June 27, 11:45am
Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane Univer-
PAGE,
Howard William
Cadmium Thrust, 1965; oil on canvas; gift of Dr. and Mrs. Jerome W. Canter, 2005.25. Nari Ward (b. 1963); Breathing Bars Diagonal Left, 2020; oak wood, copper sheet, copper nails, and darkening patina; Art Bridges. OPPOSITE: Jiha Moon (b. 1973); Yellowha, 2019; earthenware, underglaze, glaze, synthetic hair; courtesy of the artist and Laney Contemporary.
THIS
TOP TO BOTTOM:
Mehring (1931–1978);
A Decade of Collecting Photography
August 15–January 4, 2026 | Jepson Center
This exhibition spotlights Telfair Museums' focus on collecting photography, which began in 1996 and has grown to include over 1,100 photographs. Many key acquisitions were made in the last 10 years (2015–2025). This exhibition celebrates this versatile and accessible medium and includes highlights like Elaine Mayes’ autolandscapes and never-shown new acquisitions by pioneers in the field like Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind.
Tideland: Photographs by Parker Stewart
April 4–December 7 | Jepson Center
Tideland is an exhibition of black and white photographs by Savannah-based photographer Parker Stewart (b. 1992). Taken between 2020 and 2024, these evocative photographs document the coast of Georgia by transporting the viewer into the visceral and primordial atmosphere of the barrier islands and inland waterways. Fog shrouded marshscapes, summer thunderstorms, dockhouses held up by toothpick pilings and details, of old wooden shrimping trawlers are just some of the moments recorded by Stewart. These photographs depict a landscape of quiet grandeur, a place where the past whispers from the trees and the future is constantly being written on the tides.
Heroes and Hosts
June 13-April 26, 2026 | Jepson Center
The tenth annual Boxed In/Break Out is a collaboration between Savannah-based artists Lisa D. Watson and Dana Richardson. Watson is a native plant advocate with the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance and the Georgia Native Plant Society and serves as a guide for painter Richardson to explore indigenous plant habitats as inspiration for her paintings. Combining sculpture, painting, and text, the artists will transform each window into a theatrical narrative where fragile ecosystems take center stage. The scenes invite viewers to step into an immersive experience that bridges the divide between human-made and wild spaces. Unique stories are revealed to evoke a sense of wonder and urgency and education. By casting indigenous plants of the Coastal Plains as both hosts and heroic performers, the installation underscores their critical role in sustaining life while highlighting the precariousness of their existence.
CLOCKWISE: Elaine Mayes (b. 1936); Bus, Salt Lake, Autolandscape, 1971; archival pigment print; museum purchase with funds provided by Mrs. Rober O. Levitt, 2021.5. Mockup of Barnard Street windows for Heroes and Hosts proposal, 2025; courtesy of the artists. Parker Stewart; Summer Storm, Herb Creek. Isle of Hope. 2020; archival pigment print; courtesy of the artist.
These exhibitions are organized by Telfair Museums and curated by Erin Dunn, curator of modern and contemporary art. Tideland and Heroes and Hosts are part of the #art912 initiative, a platform dedicated to raising the visibility and vitality of artists living and working in Savannah.
Adult Classes
Relief Printmaking for Beginners with Laurie Darby
May 3, 10am–4:30pm
Members $175 | Non-members $195 | All materials provided Darby moved to Savannah in the early 1990s to teach art at the college level. Although formally trained as a painter, Darby turned her interest to printmaking and has since incorporated papermaking and bookmaking into her skill set. Students will learn the basics of printmaking. They will also be introduced to printmaking’s history and contemporary printmakers’ art.
Students will create 3–6 printed images. Explore the technical aspects of relief printmaking–transferring the image to the plate, inking the plate, printing on Japanese papers, and editioning. Students will leave with a working knowledge of how to make a linoleum print. For all levels.
Pour Painting Workshop with Leroy Bolden
May 17, 10am–2pm
Members $175 | Non-members $195 | All materials provided Let your imagination flow as the vibrant colors swirl and blend into unexpected patterns. Join us for an acrylic pour painting workshop and discover the magic of fluid art! Pour painting or fluid art is a technique that involves pouring acrylic paint onto a surface to create a flowing design. This fun, hands-on workshop will explore strategies and processes of pour painting. Participants will create two original pieces of art. Paintings require 24+ hours to fully dry for optimal results; you will need to leave your artwork to cure in our studio overnight. For all levels.
Studio Art Club
Program Coordinator: Kip Bradley
Wednesdays, May 28–July 23
Mornings: 10am–1pm | Afternoons: 1–4:30pm
Members $65 | Non-Members $85 | Bring your materials
The tricky part of painting is not always the “how” but sometimes just the “when.” This studio program helps you set aside time each week, providing studio space for artists to work independently in a quiet and safe social setting. Each session includes a new, fresh, fun, still-life arrangement, or you can bring your inspiration and work with the media of your choice. A teacher will provide guidance when requested. For all levels.
Figurative Art Club
Program Coordinator/Instructor: Stephanie Tugurian
Thursdays, 2–5pm, May 29–July 24
Members $110 | Non-members $125 | Bring your materials
This open-figure studio provides a safe and social atmosphere in which to work independently or get help from a participating instructor as you make time for the much needed, and highly enjoyable practice of art. Time will also be provided for artists to work from a live model in the media of their choice while observing how others work as well. For all levels.
Life Portrait Art Club
Fridays, 11am-2pm, May 30–July 25
Members $120 | Non-members $135 | Bring your materials
This course is for intermediate painters who want the richer experience of working directly from a live model in an extended pose rather than from secondary sources. While no formal instruction will be provided, the interactive experience of working in a group is a valuable improvement tool. In addition, individual assistance will be available to those who desire it. Often, a second pair of eyes is needed for the work.
Plein Air Art Club
Program Coordinator: Kip Bradley
Fridays, May 30–July 25
Mornings: 9am–12pm | Afternoons: 2–5pm
Members $65 | Non-Members $85 | Bring your materials
Fresh air, sunshine, and art make for an inspired combination as you explore Plein Air techniques. All sessions allow painters to work independently but with a teacher to offer guidance when requested. Work in the media of your choice and grow in your talents as you see how others work. Participants can come to multiple sessions or change between sessions as needed. The class meets on-site around the greater Savannah area, with light walking. For all levels.
Drawing Basics
Mondays, 2–4:30pm | June 9–July 14
Members $175 | Non-members $195 | All materials provided This class will explore drawing techniques and a variety of drawing media. Each week will feature a different material and drawing process. It is a perfect drawing class for new artists wishing to improve their drawing skills and advanced artists looking for new challenges. Through demos and practice, students will learn to draw from direct observation, gaining a sound understanding of materials and processes.
Painting Space and Volume
Tuesdays, 2–4pm | June 10–July 15
Members $175 | Non-members $195 | All materials provided This class will work from still life and photo reference, both natural and architectural forms, to explore methods of creating space and volume. The class will examine techniques including linear and atmospheric perspective, color theory and scale, overlapping forms, and hard and soft edges to create a better sense of space and volume in painting. For all levels.
Youth Summer Camps
Telfair CAM Camp (Ages 4–6)
9am–12pm, Session 1: May 26–May 30 (sold out!)
Session 2: July 28–Aug 1 (sold out!)
Members $200 | Non-members $225 | All materials provided Stave off the summer doldrums! Exploring Telfair Museums’ three sites and exhibitions has never been so much fun. Each day, participants will tour a new exhibit and learn to create the same types of art seen in the galleries, finding inspiration with instruction in drawing, painting, and printmaking. Students will immerse themselves in innovative arts lessons taught by professional artists.
Youth Art Club
(Ages 9-12) Mondays, 2–4:30pm | June 9–July 14
(Ages 12–14) Tuesdays, 2–4:30pm | June 10–July 15
Members $150 | Non-members $175 | All materials provided
Set aside time each week to ensure art gets done. This studio program provides studio space for young artists to work independently in a quiet and safe social setting with a teacher on hand to provide guidance and make sure work is completed.
Youth Photography Camp
(Ages 9-12) June 16–20 | 9am–1pm (sold out!)
(Ages 12-14) July 14–18 | 9am–1pm (sold out!)
Members $200 | Non-members $225 | All materials provided Photography is fun and accessible to everyone! This half-day camp will spend most of the morning outside encouraging students to develop their skills as a photographer. Students will spend as much time as possible exploring our environment in Telfair Square and other nearby locations. We will use DSLR digital cameras and learn about exposure and a few historical methods involving film.
Youth Art Classes
Youth Art Club (Ages 9-12)
Mondays, 2–4:30pm | June 9–July 14
Members $150 | Non-members $175 | All materials provided This program provides studio space for young artists to work independently in a quiet and safe social setting with a teacher on hand to provide guidance.
Youth Art Club (Ages 12–14)
Tuesdays, 2–4:30pm | June 10–July 15
Members $150 | Non-members $175
This program provides studio space for young artists to work independently in a quiet and safe social setting with a teacher on hand to provide guidance.
Youth Drawing and Painting Camp
(Ages 12-14)
9am–1pm Session 1: June 23–27
Session 2: July 21–25
Members $200 | Non-members $225 | All materials provided This class is designed to help upper-middle school and high school students improve their drawing and painting skills, build portfolios, and develop good art-making habits. Every day is a new creative exploration for seasoned preteen artists and newcomers. As naturally creative individuals, students will be given a voice in their growth while learning traditional drawing and painting skills. Lessons and projects will be onsite and at outdoor locations near the museum.
Crafters Camp
(Ages 7–9) June 30–July 4 | 9am–1pm (Ages 9-12) June 9–June 13 | 9am–1pm
Members $200 | Non-members $225 | All materials provided
The Ultimate Crafty Kids Camp is packed with various projects: screen printing, knitting, friendship bracelets, calligraphy, paper crafts, and more. In this weeklong camp, students will explore and learn techniques in various crafts that will inspire and develop their desire to be independent makers.
Veterans Guided Open Studio Program
Saturdays, 1–4pm
For more information, contact Kip Bradley at 912.790.8823 or email bradleyk@telfair.org.
This program provides a calm, open studio approach with guidance in drawing and painting by an experienced instructor and is open to all veterans. No prior experience making art is needed. Veterans also participate in occasional tours of major exhibitions. Artists can either work independently or with a teacher when guidance is needed.
Remembering Lila W. Critz
On January 18, 2025 Telfair Museums lost a dear friend and honorary trustee Lila Critz. Lila will be truly missed by the Telfair Museums family. She had a deep love for the museum and historic preservation, serving on the museums’ board and presiding as president from 1977–1981. Lila championed for the museums and secured a million dollar grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. She also oversaw the museums’ first accreditation, and helped to launch the inaugural Telfair Ball, which is now in its 46th year. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the many memorial gifts the museum has received in memory of Lila; they will be thoughtfully used to ensure Telfair Museums remains just as she would want it–a place she loved.
Gifts Given in Memory of Lila W. Critz
October 15, 2024 to March 12, 2025
Charlotte and Andy Anderson
Rhoda and Roger Berkowitz
Gale and Gene Cartledge
Dolly Chisholm and Graham Sadler
Lilla Lane Clark
Vicky Coxe Commander
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Compton Jr.
Ms. Lisa Danzig
Craig and Merrell Grant
Sandy Hadaway
Fran and Myron Kaminsky
Mr. Don Kole
Ms. Calli J. Laundré
Leslie and Angus Littlejohn
Patti and Henri Monsees
John F. Morgan Sr. and Frances O. Morgan
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Muller
Dr. and Mrs. Morgan W. Murray
Karen and Jim Pannell
Natalie Proctor and the Reunion Marketing Team
Mr. John M. Rivers Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Rose
Ms. Swann Seiler
Ken and Jackie Sirlin
Mrs. Helen R. Steward
Lindsey Tweed
Mrs. Cynthia E. Willett
Sue and Harry Woolley
Dale Critz Jr., Lila Critz, Dale Critz Sr., and Stephen Rabinowitz at the Jepson Center
We are truly grateful to each of our Director’s Circle members for their generous support. Their annual gift to Telfair represents an important investment in our children, our community, and the cultural arts scene in Savannah and the region. Director’s Circle patrons enjoy greater access to the museum and its curators through an array of enhanced benefits, and experience the joy of knowing they are helping to sustain the museum for future generations.
For more information about joining Director’s Circle, please contact Laruen Grant 912.790.8866 or grantl@telfair.org
Membership begins at $1,500.
Director’s Circle members receive all standard membership benefits, plus:
Unlimited guest passes
Exclusive exhibition previews, receptions, and dinners
Eligibility to purchase tickets to Telfair Ball
Domestic and international travel opportunities with the museum director and curators
Facility rental eligibility at the Telfair Academy and Jepson Center
And so much more!
45 th Annual Telfair Ball Raises Over $1 Million
Patrons and sponsors experienced
Le Printemps en Provence
at The Riverfront at Eastern Wharf on February 22, 2025. Within a week, the park transformed into a breathtaking springtime celebration of Provence. The air was filled with the delicate fragrance of lavender, and the vibrant hues of blooming florals set the perfect scene for a memorable night. Guests were treated to beautifully crafted cocktails, the joy of reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones, and a true sense of appreciation for Telfair Museums.
Ball Chairs Dolly Chisholm and Graham Sadler welcomed guests into a stunning countryside chateau before settling into the French garden where the Provencal life was transplanted along the Savannah River. A live auction kept the energy high, led by the mesmerizing Lydia Fenet, who helped guests to raise essential funds for the museum’s most significant fundraiser of the year. All proceeds directly fund educational outreach, exhibitions, and related programming for the over 215,000 people who visit Telfair throughout the year.
Photos by Kelli Boyd Photography
Slavery and Freedom 8th Grade Program
Each fall, Telfair Museums welcomes eighth graders in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) for the Slavery and Freedom 8th Grade Program. Connected to Georgia’s history standards, this program offers students the opportunity to tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters and learn about the history of enslavement in an urban setting. The program also addresses Georgia art standards by allowing students to take part in hands-on activities at the Telfair Academy that creatively build on materials and themes explored in their tour. This unique experience promotes active engagement, exploration, and appreciation of history and the arts in our community.
Education investment is provided by the City of Savannah, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and PHN Foundation.
Gifts Given in Tribute
October 15, 2024 to March 12, 2025
MEMORIAL GIFT
In Memory of Claire E. Lietz
Ms. Kathleen Shannon
Invaluable Support through Grants
Telfair Museums is thrilled to have been recently awarded several prestigious grants for upcoming exhibition projects. Grant seeking is very competitive, and funding organizations are faced with a difficult task of determining what projects to support from hundreds of applications. Matching the correct project with a foundation is just the start of the process; the grant request must be persuasive, unique, concrete, moving, and involve a compelling story. We are honored that the following foundations selected our upcoming exhibition projects for their invaluable support, which will allow us to offer original and dynamic programs in 2025–2026!
William T. Morris Foundation for PULSE Art & Technology Festival
The Decorative Arts Trust: Dean F. Failey Grant for The Moss Mystique Southern Women and Newcomb Pottery
The Frances and Beverly M. DuBose Foundation for Off the Coast of Paradise: Ossabaw Island, Georgia, 1961–Now
VIA Art Fund for Venus of Ossabaw by Allison Janae Hamilton as part of Off the Coast of Paradise: Ossabaw Island, Georgia, 1961–Now
Henry Luce Foundation Grant for Off the Coast of Paradise: Ossabaw Island, Georgia, 1961–Now
Henry Luce Foundation Grant for The Walter and Linda Evans Gallery of African American Art
HONORARY GIFTS
In Honor of David Brenneman
Bob London
In Honor of Dolly Chisholm
Ms. Swann Seiler
In Honor of Leslie and Angus Littlejohn Alan Kornberg
In Honor of Susan Willetts
Mr. and Mrs.
John K. Nelson
On Behalf of Jeanne Spell Megan Spell
8th graders enjoy touring the Owens-Thomas House and Telfair Academy
