Gibbes Museum Programming Guide | Winter/Spring 2022 by Gibbes Museum of Art

WINTER/SPRING 2022 PROGRAMMING JANUARY – MAY 2022

WINTER/SPRING 2022 EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING

IMAGE MATTERS: PICTURING POLITICAL AND CULTURAL LEADERS ( V I R T UA L ) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17 | 6PM From the bust of Julius Caesar to the Obama portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald respectively, there’s great power in picturing political leadership. Join us for a discussion about the influence of visual culture on how we remember and regard contemporary and historical political and cultural leaders. $10 Members | $15 Non-Members | $5 Students/Faculty with Valid ID I M AG E : Underground Railroad, ca. 1945, by William H. Johnson (American, 1901–1972). Oil on paperboard, 33 ⅜ x 36 ⅜ inches. Image courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation.

GIBBES ON THE GO ( I N P E R S O N ) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 | 11AM Discover more about William H. Johnson in his hometown of Florence, SC. Curator Stephen Mott will lead guests on a special tour of Florence County Museum’s Kindred Spirit: The Personal Worlds of William H. Johnson. After the tour, enjoy lunch at a local nearby favorite restaurant. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Florence, SC. $70 Members | $80 Non-Members

DEPTH OF FIELD: WILLIAM EGGLESTON ( V I R T UA L ) THURSDAY, MARCH 3 | 1PM Join us as we reprise our ongoing lecture series Depth of Field: Perspectives on 20th Century Photography. We’ll focus our lens on the father of American color photography, William Eggleston with Simon Constantine, Professor of Art History at Birkbeck University of London and contributor to the exhibition catalogue accompanying the Gibbes exhibition. $10 Members | $15 Non-Members | $5 Student/Faculty with Valid ID I M AG E : Untitled (Tricycle, Memphis, Tennessee), ca. 1970 by William Eggleston. Dye transfer print, 1970s, 12 x 17 ¾ inches.

MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD: WRITING INTO HISTORY ( I N P E R S O N ) THURSDAY, MARCH 10 | 6PM From Frederick Douglass and the abolitionists of the 19th century to James Baldwin, the power of the written word has always played a critical role in the pursuit of social progress. Inspired by the exhibition, Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice, and in partnership with local, woman-owned bookstore Itinerate Literate, we’ll discuss the historical influence of written discourse on social justice movements. $20 Members | $30 Non-Members | $10 Students/Faculty with Valid ID

NOW LET ME FLY: SONGS OF FREEDOM AND TRANSFORMATION ( I N P E R S O N ) NEW MUSE CONCERTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 31 | 6PM Music has been a universal expression of protest and powerful agent of change. Here, it gives voice to the heroic figures portrayed by William H. Johnson in the exhibit, Fighters for Freedom. Listen for hidden messages in songs from the Underground Railroad, hear new songs of freedom and transformation, and lift your own voice in call and response. $30 Members | $40 Non-Members | $15 Students/Faculty with Valid ID

CURATOR-LED TOURS are offered on the following select dates ( I N P E R S O N ) JANUARY 21 | 11AM Fighters for Freedom with Smithsonian American Art Museum Curator, Virginia Mecklenburg

FEBRUARY 3 2:30PM

MARCH 10 2:30PM

APRIL 14 2:30PM

A New Deal with Sara Arnold

William Eggleston with collector Jay Crouse

Permanent Collection with Becca Hiester

Free for Members. Included with admission for Non-Members.

G I B B E S C LO S I N G EXHIBITIONS

M U S E U M

O F

A R T

CLOSING JANUARY 9, 2022

CLOSING FEBRUARY 20, 2022

ROMARE BEARDEN: ABSTRACTION

LIGHT EFFECTS: THE FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS EXHIBITION PREVIEW THURSDAY, JANUARY 20

FIGHTERS FOR FREEDOM: WILLIAM H. JOHNSON PICTURING JUSTICE JANUARY 21 – AUGUST 7, 2022 | G A L L E R Y

6PM Fellows Preview 7PM All Members

William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international heads of state. Some of his Fighters—Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Marian Anderson, and Mahatma Gandhi—are familiar historical figures; others are less well-known individuals. Drawn entirely from the collection of more than 1,000 works by Johnson given to the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the Harmon Foundation in 1967, this exhibition is the first-ever presentation of this series in Johnson’s home state of South Carolina. Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum with generous support from Art Bridges, Faye and Robert Davidson, and the Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation. The presentation of this exhibition at the Gibbes is made possible through the generous support of the Wayne and Carolyn Jones Charitable Foundation, with additional support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Jane Smith Turner Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, South Carolina Arts Commission, and the Gibbes Women’s Council. I M AG E : Marian Anderson, ca. 1945, by William H. Johnson (American, 1901–1972). Oil on paperboard, 35 ⅝ x 28 ⅞ inches. Image courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation.

A NEW DEAL: ARTISTS AT WORK JANUARY 21 – AUGUST 7, 2022 | G A L L E R Y

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Roosevelt launched his ambitious Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs that sent millions of unemployed Americans back to work, including more than 5,000 artists. The Federal Art Project, formed under the WPA, afforded opportunities to a diverse group of artists, including women, African Americans, and recent immigrants. This monumental effort to put artists back to work resulted in a collection of artwork intended to uplift the national spirit and encourage creativity in the face of great challenges. The Gibbes is one of a select group of institutions across the country that houses an historic collection of Federal Art Project prints donated by the U.S. Government. I M AG E : The Farmer, ca. 1937, by Nicholas Panesis (American, 1913-1967). Lithograph on paper, 12 ¼ x 8 ½ inches. Gift of WPA, 1943.003.0090.

WILLIAM EGGLESTON: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE LAURA AND JAY CROUSE COLLECTION FEBRUARY 25 – OCTOBER 9, 2022 GALLERY 2 & 3

EXHIBITION PREVIEW THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24 6PM Fellows Preview 7PM All Members

It is often said that William Eggleston’s unique ability to conflate the epic and the everyday has made him one of the most impactful figures in late twentieth-century photography. Today his strikingly vivid, yet enigmatic images of parked cars, billboards, storefronts, diners, and other artifacts of the ordinary world are considered groundbreaking. The thirty photographs presented in this exhibition represent major landmarks in the artist’s career and are selected from the Laura and Jay Crouse Collection as part of the Gibbes’s Charleston Collects series. A full-color catalogue accompanies the show with an essay by art historian, Simon Constantine, Ph.D. I M AG E : Untitled (Hot sauce, Louisiana), 1980, by William Eggleston (American b. 1939). Dye transfer print, 1982, 12 x 18 inches. © Eggleston Artistic Trust, courtesy David Zwiner, New York.

K E Y:

V I R T UA L E V E N T

ON-SITE EVENT (IN PERSON)

LITERARY GIBBES BOOK CLUB ( I N P E R S O N ) SATURDAY, JANUARY 15 | 10:30AM

Join us for a book club discussion inspired by works in Light Eﬀects where conversaton will be shared on Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 | 10:30AM

Inspired by the works in Fighters for Freedom, we will discuss acclaimed Congressman John Lewis’s stunning graphic novel March.

Free, but requires advanced registration and does not include Museum admission.

BRIDGERTON COMES TO CHARLESTON ( I N P E R S O N ) CHARLESTON SYMPHONY CHAMBER GROUP

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 | 6–7PM Inspired by the Emmy-nominated original series and cultural sensation, Bridgerton, the Charleston Symphony returns to the Gibbes for a special performance based on the period drama’s stellar soundtrack, which takes a classical approach to contemporary pop hits.

M C G P H OTO G R A P H Y

$30 Members | $40 Non-Members | $15 Student/Faculty with valid ID

1858 WINTER PARTY ( I N P E R S O N ) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 | 8–11PM Join Society 1858 for its annual Winter Party, a celebratory evening in the Lenhardt Garden to toast the 1858 Prize winner for Contemporary Southern Art. Don your festive black tie for light bites, bubbly, and dancing from 8 until 11 PM. Purchase your tickets in support of this year’s prize, as well as exhibition and educational programming at the Gibbes. We cannot wait to see you there! Black tie | Tickets: $125

FA M I L I E S SATURDAY MORNING ART CAMP, AGES 7–10 (IN PERSON) M C G P H OTO G R A P H Y

FEBRUARY 5 AND MARCH 5 | 10AM–1PM Join teaching artist Janell Walker Smalls as she explores artwork, styles, and figures inspired by Fighters for Freedom. $55 Members | $65 Non-Members

SUMMER CAMP 2022 Registration for summer camp, ages 4–16, will open in early 2022. Check your email for details and dates.

SILVER WORKSHOP FOR AGES 14–18 ( I N P E R S O N ) MONDAY, APRIL 11 (SPRING BREAK) | 9AM–4PM Kick off your spring break with some new skills! In this introductory workshop with JoAnn Graham, students will learn the basics of silversmithing and will leave with a unique piece of jewelry for their own collection. All materials included. $180 Members | $210 Non-Members

KATY MIXON

MARIA WHITE

FEBRUARY 21 – APRIL 3

STUDIO ONE

STUDIO TWO

Katy Mixon’s paintings are inquiries into the surface of things—namely color and texture— for their power to emote and conceal.

Maria White is inspired by forms, textures and patterns that she finds in the natural world. Working primarily in porcelain, light is an integral part of her work.

I M AG E : Sprinkle by Katy Mixon, oil paint and used hand rags on muslin, 72 x 84 inches.

I M AG E : Pod Luminary by Maria White, translucent, cast and hand-carved porcelain, 5” diameter.

JAMELE WRIGHT, SR.

SARDINE PRESS

MAY 2 – JUNE 12

STUDIO ONE

STUDIO TWO

Through the utilization of found and natural materials, Jamele Wright Sr. explores and creates conversation concerning the Black American vernacular experience.

Collaborative duo, Allison Koch and Leigh Sabisch, intertwine their work through the exploration of movement, chaos, and the shared physicality within their printmaking practice.

I M AG E : FLAT SPLAT just like THAT by Jamele Wright, Sr., mixed media on found Canvas, 60 x 60 inches.

I M AG E : Getting to Know You by Sardine Press, hand-colored monotype on paper, 25 x 34 inches.

M C G P H OTO G R A P H Y

SESSION II

SESSION I

VISITING ARTISTS

RUTH AND BILL BAKER ART SALES GALLERY AS THE TWIG IS BENT… PAINTINGS AND COLLAGE BY PAST VISITING ARTIST FRANCIS SILLS DECEMBER 10, 2021 – JANUARY 30, 2022 Gallery Talk: Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 3pm I M AG E : Terrapin by Francis Sills, 2021, oil on linen, 40 x 32 inches.

FLUENT FORM PAINTINGS BY MARINA DUNBAR FEBRUARY 4 – MARCH 20, 2022 Gallery Talk: Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 3pm I M AG E : Origin by Marina Dunbar, 2021, mixed media on paper, 46 x 72 inches.

A WEEKLONG CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS MAY 9–13, 2022 Join the Gibbes Museum of Art for its inaugural, weeklong celebration of the visual arts called Art Charleston. Four major events anchor the week’s activities beginning with the Amy P. Coy Forum, an opportunity to introduce the avant garde of contemporary Southern art; Art of Design, a glorious daytime lunch and lecture; Soirée, a formal, art-inspired, intimate dining experience with world-renowned chefs; and Gibbes on the Street, a fun-filled, culinary street fair experience featuring Charleston’s best restaurants. In addition to these signature events, guests will partake in a myriad of activities ranging from artist lectures, gallery walks, professional workshops, exhibition tours with experts, and an art auction. This year’s theme “Creative Freedom” is inspired by the major exhibition entitled Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice.

C H A R L E S TO N WA L K I N G TO U R S

(IN PERSON)

PHOTOGRAPHING CHARLESTON WALKING TOUR

REAL RAINBOW ROW TOUR GARDENS AND GAZEBOS WITH HARLAN GREENE WALKING TOUR

MONDAY, MAY 9 9–11AM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 9–11AM

FRIDAY, MAY 13 9–11AM

Inspired by William Eggleston, explore highlights of Charleston’s historic district and discover the best locations to capture stunning photographs on your phone or camera.

See the homes of some of Charleston’s most noted LGBTQAI+ artists and writers on this guided walking tour.

Visit lavish gardens and architectural wonders, guided by local horticulturalists and architectural experts.

$50 Members | $60 Non-Members

THE NEW SOUTH AND MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY ( V I R T UA L ) MONDAY, MAY 9 | 1PM What defines the “New South,” a term that means something different depending on who you ask? And how are the concerns, appetites, and lifestyles of the “New South” reflected in the work of its emerging photographers? Inspired by the trailblazing color photography of William Eggleston, join Mark Long, co-curator of the landmark 2018 Halsey Institute Exhibition Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South, as we consider contemporary photographic works and perspectives of photographers included in Southbound. $20 Members | $30 Non-Members | $10 Students/Faculty with Valid ID

AMY P. COY FORUM ( I N P E R S O N ) MONDAY, MAY 9 | 6PM

A R T I S T C O N V E R S AT I O N

PRESENTED BY SOCIETY 1858 OF THE GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART

Recognizing the achievements of regionally and nationally renowned artists, while exciting and educating up-and-coming art patrons about the diverse range of objects created in the South, the Amy P. Coy Forum offers stimulating conversation with the 1858 Prize winner for Contemporary Southern Art. Awarded each year by the Gibbes young collector’s auxiliary group, Society 1858, the prize and forum recognize an artist whose work demonstrates the highest level of artistic achievement in any media, while contributing to a new understanding of Southern art. 2021 PRIZE WINNER S T E P H A N I E J. W O O D S

Tickets: $45