ONEXHIBIT
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Summer 2019
Visit Us
Our Mission
The mission of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art of the highest quality for the enrichment, enlightenment, and enjoyment of its public.
Board of Trustees Pete Knight
Mary Stowers Dunn
David Chandler
Leslie Sanders
President Treasurer
Secretary
Immediate Past President
Cathy Martin Vice President
Barrett Austin Cedric Bradford Karen J. Campbell Cassandra Cavness Ginny Cumbus Camille Finley William R. Ford Jason Goodson Myrtle Goore-Davis Lucy Martin Jackson Derek Johnson Rhon Jones Barbara Larson Rosetta R. Ledyard Allison Muhlendorf
Past Presidents Mrs. Harry S. Houghton* Judge Walter B. Jones* Mrs. H. Files Crenshaw, Sr.* Mrs. Houghton Smith* Mrs. Price C. McLemore* Mrs. William J. Mahoney, Jr.* Mrs. William B. Goodwyn* Mr. Frederick Gunster* Mr. Douglas G. Jackson* Mrs. Robert S. Weil* Mrs. Valerie Wilkerson Mr. James L. Sabel* Mr. Philip T. Murkett, Jr. Mrs. Vaughan Hill Robison* Mr. D. Phillips Carr* Mr. James M. Scott Mrs. Laura C. Luckett
Mary Lil Owens Catherine S. Porter Kerry Powell Susan Yvette Price Sheron Rose Bob Runkle Kathy Sawyer Adam Schloss Mark Snead Barbara W. Thompson Melissa Tubbs Griffith Waller Janet Waller Kelli Wise
Mrs. Peggy M. Mussafer Mrs. Caroline B. Novak Mr. John Walter Stowers* Mrs. Winifred Stakely Mrs. Camille Elebash-Hill Mr. Philip A. Sellers* Mr. Carlton “Carl” Barker Mrs. Margaret Lowder Laurie Jean Weil, D.V.M. Mr. Gordon Martin Mrs. Patricia Pinchback Mrs. Polly Hardegree Mr. Barrie H. Harmon III Mr. Roger Spain * Deceased
Cover: Minnie Sue Coleman (American, 1926–2012), Pig in a Pen Medallion, ca. 1970, polyester, Lent by Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection, IL2019.1.1; © 2019 Estate of Minnie Sue Coleman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photograph by Stephen Pitkin / Pitkin Studio / Art Resource, NY. Right: Installation of Charlie Lucas’ Self-Portrait: When the Left Side of the Brain Meets the Right Side of the Brain (ca. 2006) and James Surls’ I See Five and Nine (1987) at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
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Admission and Hours
Free admission and ample parking. The Museum is closed on Mondays as well as on state and federal holidays. To make the most of your Museum experience, go to mmfa.org/visit. Galleries, Caddell Sculpture Garden, and Parker Terrace Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm Thursday, Open Late until 9pm Sunday, Noon to 5pm
ArtWorks Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm Sunday, Noon to 5pm 334.625.4365
334.625.4333 Café M
Museum Store
Tuesday–Saturday, 11am–2pm Lunch
Tuesday–Saturday, 11am–4pm Sunday, Noon to 4pm
334.625.4339
334.625.4337
Location
Online
Blount Cultural Park One Museum Drive Montgomery, AL 36117
mmfa.org @MontgomeryMFA 3
Foreword
Members
Thank you to our many members at all levels. Your support enables us to offer an amazing array of exhibitions, programs, and special events. Need to renew or upgrade your membership? Visit mmfa.org/membership.
Corporate Partners
The Museum would like to thank our Corporate Partners for their commitment to our community by providing critical support for acquisitions, exhibitions, and educational programs, while allowing us to offer free admission. Sustaining Guarantor
Guarantor
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Regions Bank
Alabama Power Foundation
Sponsor
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC
Jack Ingram Motors, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz
Merrill Lynch
Jackson Thornton
Rheem Manufacturing Company
MAX Credit Union
ServisFirst Bank of Montgomery
Associate
Adams Drugs
River Bank and Trust
Barganier Davis Williams Architects Associated
Stifel
BB&T
Synovus
MAX Wealth Management
Trustmark
Oakworth Capital Bank
UAB School of Medicine, Montgomery Campus
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
Valley National Bank
Raymond James and Associates Inc.
Warren Averett
Renasant Bank
Welch Hornsby Investment Advisors
Advocate
Dentistry for Children, P.C.
Government and Foundations
These gifts provide critical funds for operations and educational programs. Government
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Montgomery County Commission
City of Montgomery
Foundations ALFA Foundation
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Alabama Humanities Foundation
Kiwanis Club of Montgomery Foundation
BBVA Compass Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
Central Alabama Community Foundation
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Dear Museum Community
In late May, the Board approved a new strategic plan to guide the work of the Museum over the next three years. While it identifies a number of priorities for the Board and staff, none is more important than the Museum’s redoubled commitment to better reflect the breadth and depth of identities and lived experiences of those who now reside in and visit Montgomery and the greater River Region. This work is reflected in the daily work of the Museum staff and is also evident throughout this quarter’s OnExhibit. Here, we will highlight just three happenings that reflect our commitment to better engaging with our visitors by raising the mindfulness of our practice with regard to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. In this issue, you’ll read about the Museum’s recent addition of five works by contemporary African-American artists to its permanent collection (page 10). While recent acquisitions of historic and contemporary work have positioned the Museum to mirror—more than ever—the visitors community we seek to engage, none have thrust us forward—towards a broader American art history narrative, a deeper Alabama cultural history—with more force than the addition of these five exceptional works of art to our permanent collection. You’ll also be reminded of the July 21 closing of the 43rd Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition (page 14). We hope you’ll make a point of seeing this exhibition before it ends as it is one of handsomest in this biennial exhibition program’s long history and exhibition juror David Reyes’ selections indeed reflect the increasing diversity of local artists and their creations. And, you’ll read about the date opening of the History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence exhibition (page 20). Like the Souls Grown Deep Foundation acquisitions, these large, bold graphics reflect the life experience of their maker and serve as windows onto lives of African Americans in America in during the great societal changes of the 20th century. These highlights are but three examples of our Museum’s practice at its best—when we welcome you to participate in exhibitions and programs that are “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” ones that we hope will draw you and other residents and visitors to the area deeper into the life of the museum…and draw us deeper into the life of the community. While we know that many of you will be traveling over the summer months, when home, we hope you’ll beat the heat in the Museum’s galleries, visiting all of these works that, collectively, tell the stories of our shared and unique experiences, all that distinguishes and unites us as the good people of this good place.
Angie Dodson Director
Pete Knight President, Board of Trustees 5
Spotlight | Director’s Circle Dinner
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A Fortunate Evening
Good fortune was enjoyed by all as we began the annual Director’s Circle Dinner in the beautiful John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden. Museum Director Angie Dodson welcomed guests into the outdoor gallery, where they enjoyed cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres while mingling and admiring the Mercedes-Benz vehicles displayed at the Garden entrance. Angie then led the lively crowd through the lower circle of the Garden to the Lowder Gallery, where they were treated to a seated dinner inspired by a work of art from the Museum’s permanent collection, Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, a mid20th century painting by American artist Charles Shepard Chapman (see page 8). Laura and Barrie Harmon graciously provided the wine for the evening, perfectly complementing the Asian-themed menu. The Museum could not offer the numerous captivating exhibitions, programs, and events it does, with free admission to all, without the philanthropy of these major donors. Likewise, we could not have such a lovely evening honoring these special patrons without the generosity of our long-time sponsors Gene and Ray Ingram/Jack Ingram Motors, Inc. and MercedesBenz and Margaret and Jimmy Lowder/The J. K. Lowder Foundation. Special thanks also to our Director’s Circle Dinner Committee members Camille Elebash-Hill, Lucy Jackson, and Winston Wilson Reese, who ensured a wonderful evening was had by all. 6
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1) Cathy Martin, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Board Vice President, Pete Knight, Board Chair, and Angie Dodson, Museum Director. 2) Peggy Mussafer, Milton Davis, and Myrtle Goore-Davis. 3) Mary Stowers Dunn and Camille Elebash-Hill.
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1) Director’s Circle Dinner Committee, Lucy Jackson, Camille Elebash-Hill, and Winston Wilson Reese 2) Jack and Lisa Terry, David and Susan Ingram, and Gene and Ray Ingram 3) Bruce Freitas, Gloria Rawlings, and Glenn Cain 4) Josh and Katie Lowder, Jimmy and Margaret Lowder, Harvi Sahota and Anna Lowder, and Sam and Emily Wootten 5) Alex and Julia Schreiber and Ben and Ginny Cumbus 6) Jim Scott, Mildred and Dr. Robert Combs
Charles Shepard Chapman (American, 1879–1962), Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, date unknown, oil on wood panel, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of the Estate of James L. Whitehead and Elliott P. Ellis, 1994.1.4
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Spotlight | New Acquisitions
Historic Acquisition of Works by African-American Artists
This summer, the Museum is celebrating the addition of five works by contemporary African-American artists from Alabama to its permanent collection. They will be acquired over the next two years under terms of an agreement with the Souls Grown Deep Foundation (SGDF) from Atlanta, Georgia. The pieces are a part of the Foundation’s William S. Arnett Collection and include a major work by Thornton Dial, Sr.; an early work by Jimmy Lee Sudduth; and three quilts made by Gee’s Bend quiltmakers Minnie Sue Coleman, Emma Mae Hall Pettway, and Joanna Pettway. Director Angie Dodson explained the significance of this acquisition, saying, “Acquiring these works allows the Museum to better reflect the breadth of identities and lived experiences of the residents and visitors to the city and region.” She added, “We praise the Foundation for putting the proceeds from the sale of these works towards the creation of a paid internship program for students of color to gain experience in the museum field. We very much hope to host and nurture SGDF interns in the many years to come, to do our part in changing the face of our profession, to better reflect the communities with whom we work.” The acquisition of these five objects is the realization of many years of thought and planning, which began in 2015 when the Museum partnered with the SGDF on History Refused to Die: The Enduring Legacy of the African American Art of Alabama—an exhibition and publication project the two institutions realized in conjunction with the Alabama Contemporary Arts Center in Mobile. During this collaboration, the Museum and Foundation discussed the importance of a commitment to eventually return some of this work to its origins, the place of its creation. The Museum joins some 16 other prestigious art-collecting institutions in the United States in adding examples of art by these Alabamians to their collections representing American art of the 20th century. Rather than only being relevant to us here in the state or region, these works have come to represent the many important themes that resonate in American history of the last century—those that relate to social changes represented by the Civil Rights Movement; the social shifts from the rural to the industrial and
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urban environment; and the economic shifts that increasingly came to divide America by race, class, and educational status. These works address these themes with innovation and ingenuity and deliver powerful messages about the America that we know today. The works being acquired include a major mixed-media assemblage by Emelle native Thornton Dial, Sr. (1928–2016). In Lost Americans (2008) the artist recognized that American society in the 20th century was characterized by a tendency for violence as a result of deep cultural discord, leaving some of her citizens lost, disconnected, and left behind, failing to achieve the happiness and prosperity others took for granted. This damage to America’s Jimmy Lee Sudduth (American, 1910–2007), Ferris Wheel at the Fairground, 1988, house paint and earth pigments on plywood, Lent by Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection, IL2019.1.5; © Estate of Jimmy Lee Sudduth; Photograph by Stephen Pitkin / Pitkin Studio / Art Resource, NY
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Spotlight | New Acquisitions traditional social compact has ramifications into the 21st century and beyond. Artist Jimmy Lee Sudduth (1910–2007) lived and worked in Fayette in West Alabama. He was known for the use of a highly unusual medium he called “sweet mud.” Ferris Wheel at the Fairground (1988) reflects the artist’s earliest combinations of paint and clay in which the dried clay medium is applied with a light touch (almost as pastel) and produced a magical, almost surreal quality. This work expands the representation of subjects that the Museum has by Sudduth, in which he used a technique that was distinctive in its masterful application of the clay. Finally, the Museum is adding three significant examples of work by members of the famed group of quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend in Wilcox County. A quiltmaking cooperative known as the “Freedom Quilting Bee” was formed on March 26, 1966, by some 60 quiltmakers in Gee’s Bend under the leadership of Minder Coleman, a quilter and community leader, and an Episcopal priest, Father Francis X. Walter. The Bee brought tangible economic benefits (such as washing machines and upgrades to electrical service or plumbing) to the families of the Bend through the sale of communally made quilts. Today these works are valued as extraordinary examples of design adapted from traditional sources but expressing a distinctly bold and vibrantly colorful vision. One of the quilts (see cover) is by Minder Coleman’s daughter, Minnie Sue Coleman (1926–2012). Pig in a Pen Medallion (ca. 1970) was one of the quilts included in the series of U.S. Postal stamps issued in 2006 that honored the quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend. 12
The other two quilts are by members of the Pettway family, often considered the leading family in the history of Gee’s Bend quilt making. Joanna Pettway (1924–1993) created one of the earliest examples of a quilt that is characterized by the classic elements of Gee’s Bend design—large rectangles of primarily solid color fabric in the “housetop” pattern—in about 1950. Emma Mae Hall Pettway (born 1932) made a rare double-sided quilt from corduroy scraps that were saved from the Bee after the sewing of pillow shams under contract for Sears, Robuck, and Company in the mid-1970s. The Museum is delighted to be able to bring these works of art “home” to Alabama. Both for the sake of preserving Alabama’s rich cultural heritage, as well as for the sake of easing the artists’ and their descendants’ access to this art in the future, we welcome these objects into our collection and our galleries. Related Program:
Gallery Talk: New Acquisitions
On Tuesday, August 6 at noon, Curator of Art Margaret Lynne Ausfeld will lead a discussion examining these newly acquired works.
Left: Thornton Dial, Sr. (American, 1928–2016), Lost Americans, 2008, mixed media on wood, Lent by Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection, IL2019.1.2; © 2019 Estate of Thornton Dial / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photograph by Stephen Pitkin / Pitkin Studio / Art Resource, NY Above: Emma Mae Hall Pettway (American, born 1932), Bars/Strips, ca. 1975, cotton corduroy, Lent by Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection, IL2019.1.3; © Emma Mae Hall; Photograph by Stephen Pitkin / Pitkin Studio / Art Resource, NY
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Exhibitions | Current
43rd Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition
Through July 21, 2019 Atrium, Blackmon, Goldman, Richard, Rushton Stakely, and Weil Galleries The Museum has partnered with the Montgomery Art Guild since 1960 to host this biennial exhibition featuring the work of some of the River Region’s most talented contemporary artists. The juror for this year’s exhibition was David Reyes, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at the Huntsville Museum of Art, and he selected 72 works of painting, sculpture, textile, and works on paper from more than 300 entries. Lead Sponsor
Laura and Barrie Harmon
Sponsors Margaret and Jimmy Lowder; Synovus; and Dan Harris, Montgomery County Commission
Richard Mills: inVISIBLE Montgomery Art Guild Featured Artist Through July 21, 2019 Folmar and Newman Galleries
The featured artist for this year’s Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition is Richard Mills, a retired professor of art at Auburn University at Montgomery for more than 30 years. Mills is known for his largely abstract compositions featuring watercolor and gouache with collaged elements. Like many artists, he is inspired by the landscape and the built environment, both that which is familiar, as well as the places he experiences during travel. His compositions are colorful, elegant, playful, and dynamic, revealing a world seen through the artist’s keen sensibilities.
Richard Mills (American, born 1946), Strip Surge 7, 2009, watercolor, gouache, and embedded collage on illustration board, Lent by the artist
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Exhibitions | Current
Ben Shahn: Selections from For the Sake of a Single Verse Through August 11, 2019 Hughes and Wilson Galleries
One of the last projects completed by renowned painter, photographer, and printmaker Ben Shahn (American, born Lithuania, 1898–1969) before his death is the 1968 portfolio of lithographs, For the Sake of a Single Verse… (commonly known as The Rilke Portfolio). Each of the prints illustrates a particular phrase from Shahn’s favorite passage of poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s (Austrian, 1875–1926) autobiographical novel, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (1910). Shahn re-envisioned sections of Rilke’s prose through elegant and spare lines and washes of color. He also adroitly distorted scale and perspective in order to focus our attention on universal human actions, interactions, or emotions. Related Programs
Second Sundays, p. 32; Tales for Tots, p. 34; and Gallery Talk, p. 38
Pairs and Partners: Portals Through August 4, 2019 Weil Graphic Arts Study Center
Pairs and Partners is all about points of view—specifically the points of view of Museum staff. This series of exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s permanent collection, demonstrates the variety of ways in which works of art might be interpreted based upon an individual’s education, experience, and judgment. This second exhibition in the Pairs and Partners series is devoted to the concept of portals; that is, something which functions as a passageway from one place (or state of being) to another. Related Programs
Gallery Talk, p. 30
Art in the Garden: The Inaugural Sculpture Garden Installation Through Spring 2020 Caddell Sculpture Garden
Designed to highlight the cyclical progression of nature, the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden’s inaugural installation features the work of internationally distinguished artists as well as work by Alabama natives. Related Programs
Studio Class, p. 28
Craig Wedderspoon (American, born 1966), Oval (detail), 2018, welded aluminum, Lent by the artist
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Exhibitions | Upcoming Laquita Thomson: Taking Flight August 10 through October 6, 2019 Weil Graphic Arts Study Center
The aerial aspects of nature and humankind’s ever-evolving relationship to the skies have inspired printmaker Laquita Thomson for many years. This installation features a major, multi-panel monotype titled Crop Duster (2017) that captures the intersection of rural life and the modern mechanics of flight. Other works in the installation are collographs with imagery that suggests 18
the beauty created by the intersection of light and flying creatures, including butterflies and lightning bugs. Related Programs
Second Sundays, p. 32, and Gallery Talk, p. 38
Laquita Thomson (American, born 1947), Crop Duster, 2017, monotype on Canson Moulin du Roy paper; ten colors of ink applied with rollers and brushes on 5 Plexiglas panels, Lent by the artist
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Exhibitions | Upcoming
History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence
August 3 through October 27, 2019 Atrium, Blackmon, Goldman, Richard, Rushton Stakely, and Weil Galleries History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence provides a comprehensive overview of influential American artist Jacob Lawrence’s (1917–2000) printmaking oeuvre. Featuring more than 90 works produced from 1963 to 2000, the exhibition focuses on three major themes the artist explored in his graphic works. Lawrence began printmaking as an already well-established artist, and the medium suited his bold formal and narrative style exceptionally well. The relationship between his painting and printmaking was intertwined with the artist revisiting and remaking earlier paintings as prints. The inherent multiplicity of this medium also provided an opportunity for the artist to reach broader audiences. Primarily concerned with the narration of African-American experiences and histories, Lawrence rendered acute observations of community life, work, struggle, and emancipation during his lifetime alongside vividly imagined chronicles of the past. The past and present in his practice are intrinsically linked, providing insight into the social, economic, and political realities that continue to impact and shape contemporary society today. Organizer
SCAD Museum of Art with support from the Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation
Related Programs Homeschool Class, p. 28; Second Sundays, p. 32; Opening Reception, p. 38; Film, p. 40; Short Course, p. 42; Teen Workshop, p. 42; Art Ed Central, p. 44; and Last Call, p. 44 Related Exhibitions Prints from the Student Art Collection, p. 24; and Life in Pictures, p. 24
Jacob Lawrence, Revolt on the Amistad, silkscreen on paper, 40.125” x 32.125”, 1989. © 2019 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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Exhibitions | Upcoming
Bill Christenberry: Brownies August 24 through November 10, 2019 Hughes and Wilson Galleries
Using a Brownie camera, Bill Christenberry (1936–2016) captured the rural landscapes of his home state of Alabama, and he often focused his lens on Hale County, where he spent many summers as a child. Reflecting on the development of his work and style, Christenberry observed, “I wanted to deal with the landscape. What I call the landscape of my childhood, things I grew up with in Alabama, both the positive and the negative.” Traveling back every summer from his home in Washington, D.C. (since 1968), Christenberry tracked the changes in the environment by repeatedly photographing—from year to year—various buildings and the surrounding landscape. These images focus on the changes in what the artist termed “vernacular architecture,” primarily the rapidly vanishing structures from the 1920s and 1930s. The resulting photographs became detailed records of a particular time and place and are stunning representations of the rural South.
Right, top: William Christenberry (American, 1936–2016), Store with Signs, Greensboro, Alabama, negative 1975, printed 1995, chromogenic print on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Friedlander, 2004.15.12 Right, bottom: William Christenberry (American, 1936–2016), T.B. Hicks’ Store, Newbern, Alabama, negative 1973, printed 1996, chromogenic print on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Friedlander, 2004.15.13
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Student Exhibitions
ArtWorks Gallery
The ArtWorks Gallery is devoted to temporary exhibitions of student art inspired by work on view elsewhere in the Museum. Lead Sponsor
Regions Bank
Current Exhibitions
Growing Stronger Together Through August 4, 2019
his exhibition showcases one work of art from every third and fourth T grader at Wares Ferry Road Elementary School who participated in L earning Through Art this past school year. All works are inspired by pieces from the Museum’s collection and range from original paintings and vibrant collages to impressively constructed sculptures.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Throughout the year, the Museum juries and hosts themed shows with guidelines that encourage teachers to develop related lesson plans. To learn more about how to enter, visit mmfa.org/student-artwork.
Prints from the Student Art Collection August 10 through September 22, 2019
This exhibition will feature a selection of works created over the past 25 years from the Museum’s Student Art Collection that represent different printmaking techniques, materials, and subjects. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Life in Pictures
Artwork Due: Friday, September 20, 2019 Exhibition Dates: September 28 through November 15, 2019 Eligibility: Kindergarten through College Jacob Lawrence, known for his depictions of African-American life, created a vast portfolio of works during his career. In addition to depicting the experiences and work of those around him, Lawrence created a series of historical narratives that will also be on view. Students are invited to submit works of art that reflect daily life and work that happens around us. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Emma Murray, Mother and Child, 2011, print on paper, former student at the Saint James School, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Student Art Collection, 2013.6
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Event Calendar
July
8 Monday
13 Saturday
9 Tuesday
14 Sunday
1pm
Noon 1pm
n Teen Camp n Gallery Talk: Pairs and Partners n Teen Camp
10 Wednesday 1pm
n Teen Camp
11 Thursday 1pm 2:30pm
n Teen Camp n Earth’s Heart
12 Friday 9:30am 1pm
n Botanical Drawing Class n Teen Camp
August
2pm
n Botanical Drawing Class n Second Sundays
17 Wednesday 10:30am 11am Noon 1pm
n n n n
Tales for Tots Tales for Tots Artful Yoga* See Me
18 Thursday 11am Noon 2:30pm
n Divine Lunch n Artist in Action n Earth’s Heart
1 Thursday
14 Wednesday
6 Tuesday
15 Thursday
2:30pm 6pm Noon
n Earth’s Heart u Opening Reception n Gallery Talk: New Acquisitions
7 Wednesday Noon
n Artful Yoga*
Noon
2:30pm 5:30pm 1pm
11 Sunday
10:30am 11am Noon 1pm
2pm
n Earth’s Heart n Second Sundays
13 Tuesday Noon
n Gallery Talk: Taking Flight
September
u Ekphrasis: The Age of Disenchantments n Earth’s Heart n Film: Sky Ladder
17 Saturday
8 Thursday 2:30pm
n Highlights Tour
21 Wednesday n n n n
Tales for Tots Tales for Tots Artful Yoga* See Me
4 Wednesday
11 Wednesday
5 Thursday
12 Thursday
Noon 4pm
2:30pm 3:30pm 5:30pm
n Artful Yoga* n Muses n Earth’s Heart n Young Artists n Film: Jacob Lawrence
8 Sunday 2pm
n Second Sundays
10 Thursday 3:30pm
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9:30am
n Young Artists
Noon 4pm
2:30pm
u Ekphrasis: The Last Castle n Muses n Earth’s Heart
17 Tuesday Noon
n Short Course
18 Wednesday 10:30am 11am Noon 1pm 4pm
n n n n n
Tales for Tots Tales for Tots Artful Yoga* See Me Muses
20 Saturday
26 Friday
22 Monday
30 Tuesday
1pm
8:30am
n Highlights Tour n Summer Camp
8:30am Noon
n Summer Camp n Gallery Talk: Ben Shahn
23 Tuesday 8:30am
n Summer Camp
24 Wednesday 8:30am
n Summer Camp
25 Thursday 8:30am 2:30pm 6pm
n Summer Camp n Earth’s Heart n ArtTalk
22 Thursday 2:30pm 5:30pm
n Earth’s Heart n Military Open House
24 Saturday 10am
n Calligraphy for Adults
29 Thursday 2:30pm 6pm
n Earth’s Heart n ArtTalk
31 Saturday 10am
n Calligraphy for Adults
Opening Reception Thursday, August 1; 6pm Learn more on page 38.
19 Thursday 2:30pm 6pm
n Earth’s Heart n Evenings in the Garden
20 Friday 1pm
n Historical Storytelling Through Art
21 Saturday 1pm
n Highlights Tour
26 Thursday 2:30pm 4pm 4:30pm 6pm
n n n n
Earth’s Heart The Art of Storytelling Art Ed Central ArtTalk
27 Friday 1pm
n Historical Storytelling Through Art
24 Tuesday Noon 4pm
n Short Course u Annual Membership Meeting
Jacob Lawrence, Two Rebels, lithograph on Rives paper from a plate hand-drawn by the artist, 30 x 20 1/8”, 1963; © 2019 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
n Family n Youth n Teen n Adult n All Ages n Fee u Members Only *Artful Yoga is free for Museum members
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Programs | Studio Classes
Studio Classes
All materials are provided unless otherwise noted. For more information and to register, visit mmfa.org/studio-classes.
Botanical Drawing for Adults
adult
Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13 9:30–11:30am
art making
Discover the natural beauty of summer during one or both mornings in the ever-evolving natural landscape of the Caddell Sculpture Garden. $15 PER CLASS | $25 FOR SERIES (IF REGISTERED BY JULY 8) Led by Laura Bocquin Related Exhibition
Art in the Garden, p. 16
Calligraphy for Adults
adult
Saturday, August 24 and 31 10am–2pm
art making
Participants will learn the basics of calligraphy in the first class and then go deeper into the craft, exploring techniques and tools, in the second class. $30 PER CLASS Led by Maria Hager-Freedman
Young Artists
family
Thursday, September 5, 19 and October 3, 17 3:30–4:15pm
art making
You and your child (ages 3 to 5) will enjoy learning the fundamentals of art together while creating wonderful works of art that you can take home. $15 PER CLASS | $45 FOR SERIES Led by Kaci Norman
Historical Storytelling Through Art for Homeschool Students
youth art making
Friday, September 20 and 27 1–4pm Jacob Lawrence often used his prints and paintings to chronicle the lives of African Americans. Using his works as inspiration, students (ages 8 to 16) will create their own narrative artworks from our state’s history. $20 FOR SERIES Related Exhibition 28
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Memb e 25% o rs enjoy ff all cl and ca asses mps! Join or
renew mmfa.o today at rg/join
Summer Camp
Whether your child already has a love of art or is just getting started, everyone will enjoy a week of art-making. Each week-long camp is $160 for half days or $250 for full days—Museum members save 25% off these rates! Early dropoff and late pick-up are available for an additional fee. For questions or to register, contact Brandy Morrison at bmorrison@mmfa.org or 334.625.4365.
Animals in Art July 22–26 8:30am to Noon | 1–4:30pm | Half or Full Day
youth art making
This camp is all about animals! Campers (ages 6 to 13) will enjoy exploring works of art in the galleries that feature all sorts of creatures and will create their own animal-inspired works of art.
Color & Pattern
teen
July 8–12 1–4:30pm | Half Day
art making
Our teen camp will explore how color and pattern are used to create beautiful works of art. This camp is perfect for all experience levels. 29
Programs
Earth’s Heart
family
Every Thursday 2:30pm
art making
Take a trip around the world with ArtWorks Educator Kelly Bazan and discover the arts of Ireland in July; Jamaica in August; and Jordan in September. During this free program, young learners (ages 2 to 5) will master simple greetings; have fun comparing visual arts; and groove to traditional music of the different countries.
Gallery Talk: Pairs and Partners Tuesday, July 9 Noon
adult talks
+ lectures
Museum Director Angie Dodson and Sculpture Garden Superintendent Jeff Dutton, guest curators of the exhibition Pairs and Partners, will discuss the works they selected and how the works speak to the theme of portals. Related Exhibition
Pairs and Partners, p. 16
A.P. Art History
teen
Last Day to Enroll: Wednesday, August 7
class
Held at the Museum on school days at 7:30am, this college-level course challenges students to critically analyze art within diverse global, historical, and cultural contexts. The class is free and begins in August. Contact Alice Novak at anovak@mmfa.org or 334.625.4361 if you or someone you know is interested in enrolling. Sponsor
BBVA Compass Foundation
members only
Become a Docent
adult
Applications Due: Monday, July 15 Begins: Fall 2019
volunteer
This year-long program prepares you to lead tours for Museum visitors and students—including experiences in the galleries, studios, and ArtWorks. No experience is required, just a passion for the arts, learning, and sharing. To learn more visit mmfa.org/docents or contact Elisabeth Palmer at epalmer@mmfa.org or 334.625.4362. Sponsor
BB&T Bank
Installation of the 2018 exhibition Journey of the Islander: The Life and Art of Walter Inglis Anderson at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
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Programs
Second Sundays Sunday, July 14; August 11; and September 8 2–4pm
tour
all ages
art making
music
Join us for a vibrant mix of art and entertainment on the second Sunday of every month. This event is designed to engage visitors of all ages through artmaking, music, and exploration. Family Art Affair July Inspired by the dynamic artwork of Ben Shahn, visitors will create works of art using oil pastels and black watercolors in the studio.
Related Exhibition
Ben Shahn, p. 16
August Using the printmaking techniques of artist Jacob Lawrence, visitors will create their own masterpieces in our studio.
Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
September Experiment with sunprints, also known as cyanotypes, in our studio and use the elements of nature to design a unique print based on the work of Laquita Thomson.
Related Exhibition
Taking Flight, p. 18
Jazz Jams Enjoy lively performances by local musicians and bands in the galleries. For up-to-date information about performers, visit mmfa.org/second-sundays. Sponsor Trustmark Talking Points Learn more about your Museum! Docents will lead you in exploring the artistic treasures on view during these free, 20-minute tours. Tours will begin every half-hour in the Museum’s lobby.
Ben Shahn (American, born Lithuania, 1898–1969), One Must Know the Animals, 1968, from the portfolio, For the Sake of a Single Verse... (The Rilke Portfolio), lithograph on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Lawrence A. Fleischman, 1993.7.8.1, © 2019 Estate of Ben Shahn / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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Programs
Tales for Tots
family
Wednesday, July 17; August 21; and September 18 10:30am and 11am
art making
Children (ages 2 to 5) and their caregivers are invited for a story and craft in the galleries while supplies last. No reservations are required. July Enjoy a beautiful story about flowers by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich and create a colorful tissue paper flower in the Museum’s galleries.
Related Exhibition
Ben Shahn, p. 16
August Sitting in front of Severin Roesen’s Still Life with Mixed Flowers and Bird’s Nest (ca. 1851–1859), we will read Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth and then create a ladybug paper collage to take home. September Listen to a story by renowned children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle below our Blue Dog painting by George Rodrigue in ArtWorks, then create your own art project to take home.
See Me: Exploring Still Life
special needs
family
tour
art making
Wednesday, July 17; August 21; and September 18 1pm
Led by ArtWorks Educator Kelly Bazan, individuals with special needs (ages 6 and older) will explore still-life works in the galleries and then create mixed-media still-life artwork. This program is free; however, registration is required. Special arrangements may be made for groups. To register, visit mmfa.org/see-me.
Artful Yoga Wednesday, July 17; August 7 and 21; and September 4 and 18 Noon
adult wellness
Come experience a yoga class inspired and surrounded by works of art and engage in a practice that centers around balance, focus, and strength. Classes are suitable for all levels; beginners are welcome. Guests are reminded to bring their yoga mats and wear comfortable clothing. Register online at mmfa.org/artful-yoga. $10 PER CLASS | FREE FOR MEMBERS
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Programs
Divine Lunch
adult
Thursday, July 18 11am–2pm
café m
Gather your friends or colleagues and enjoy a seasonal dining experience featuring a prix fixe menu created by chef Jennie Weller and paired wine tastings. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Café M at 334.625.4339. Preview the menu at mmfa.org/cafe. $20 PER PERSON | $8 PER ADDITIONAL GLASS OF WINE Partner
United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama, Inc
Artist in Action
all ages
Thursday, July 18 Noon to 2pm
museum store
This quarter see local artist Mary Beth Farris, whose work includes paintings and prints. Items will also be available for purchase in the Museum Store.
Highlights Tour
all ages
Saturday, July 20; August 17; and September 21 1pm
tour
Join one of our docents for a tour of the permanent collection highlighting some of the Museum’s most treasured works. Tours are free and offered on the third Saturday of every month; visitors should meet in the Museum’s lobby.
ArtTalk
adult
Thursday, July 25; August 29; September 26; October 24; November 21; and December 19 6pm
affinity group
This monthly artist critique continues through the summer, offering opportunities for participants to receive feedback on both completed artwork and works in progress while enjoying camaraderie with fellow aesthetes. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and refreshments are served; wine and beer are available for purchase. To register, visit mmfa.org/arttalk. $5 PER CLASS Partner
Montgomery Art Guild
Thornton Dial, Jr. (American, born 1953), Leap Into the Freedom, 1989, oil on wood panel, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association Purchase, 2012.14.6, © 2019 Thorton Dial, Jr. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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Programs
Gallery Talk: Ben Shahn
adult
Tuesday, July 30 Noon
talks
+ lectures
Curator of Art Jennifer Jankauskas will lead a discussion on painter, photographer, and printmaker Ben Shahn and his use of line and distortion of scale and perspective to illustrate Rainer Maria Rilke’s verses. Related Exhibition
Ben Shahn, p. 16
members only
Opening Reception Thursday, August 1 6pm
social
adult talks
+ lectures
To celebrate History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, Storm Janse van Rensburg, the exhibition curator and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) head curator of exhibitions, will share insights about organizing the exhibition and examine Jacob Lawrence’s oeuvre and legacy. Reception to follow. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Gallery Talk: Taking Flight Tuesday, August 13 Noon
adult talks
+ lectures
Explore Laquita Thomson: Taking Flight with Curator of Art Margaret Lynne Ausfeld as she discusses the ideas of light and flight found in Thomson’s use of aerial imagery, lightning bugs, butterflies, and aircraft. Related Exhibition
Taking Flight, p. 18
Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang
adult film
Thursday, August 15 5:30pm Known for his pyrotechnic displays, Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this documentary. Introduction and post-show discussion led by Museum staff. Free popcorn with soft drinks, water, wine, and beer available for purchase. Rated TV-MA
Laquita Thomson (American, born 1947), Sweeping Fireflies with a Long Broom, 2017, collagraph on Rives BFK white paper; 5 colors, Lent by the artist
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Programs
members only
Ekphrasis
adult affinity group
Led by Museum staff, this monthly book club contextualizes art historical fiction and nonfiction through a lively discussion. To pre-order a lunch, visit mmfa.org/book-club. Wednesday, August 14; Noon Elisabeth Palmer will lead a discussion on The Age of Disenchantments by Aaron Shulman with a special remote interview with the author. Wednesday, September 11; Noon Alice Novak and guest Jim Barganier, the Museum’s architect, will lead a discussion on The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan. Partner
Read Herring
Military Open House Thursday, August 22 5:30–7:30pm
art making
all ages
music
special event
The Museum’s way of honoring our servicemen and women, this event invites active-duty and reserve military, veterans, and their immediate families for a summer evening of art-making, music, and dinner. Enjoy music by PreSputnik and food by Dreamland Bar-B-Que. Sponsor Dreamland Bar-B-Que
Muses
teen
Wednesday, September 4, 11, and 18 4pm
affinity group
The Muses are a teen arts council that enjoys creative experiences and collaborates to help shape the Museum’s teen program offerings. For more information and to register, visit mmfa.org/muses.
Jacob Lawrence: The Glory of Expression Thursday, September 5 5:30pm
adult film
This documentary provides a close-up view of Jacob Lawrence at work and his depictions of the African-American experience. Introduction and postshow discussion led by Museum staff. Free popcorn with soft drinks, water, wine, and beer available for purchase. Not Rated Related Exhibition
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The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
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Programs
Short Course: History, Labor, and Life Tuesday, September 17, 24, and October 1 Noon
adult talks
+ lectures
In conjunction with the exhibition History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, Curator of Art Jennifer Jankauskas and Educator Elisabeth Palmer will focus on the exhibition’s three themes. Over the course of this three-week program they will demonstrate how Lawrence linked the past and present to tell stories of the African-American experience through observations of community life, work, struggle, and emancipation. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Evenings in the Garden Thursday, September 19; October 17, and November 21 6pm
wellness
adult
art making
music
Join us for a vibrant mix of art and entertainment in the Caddell Sculpture Garden. This free event will feature outdoor yoga led by instructor Frank “Breeze” Smith, music, and a fun art-making activity. Drinks will be available for purchase. In the event of rain, activities will be moved indoors. members only
Annual Membership Meeting Tuesday, September 24 4pm
adult special event
All members are invited to the annual members meeting to hear about the highlights of the past fiscal year, meet newly appointed trustees and staff and have a preview of upcoming exhibitions and programs. A cocktail hour in the Garden will follow the meeting.
The Art of Storytelling Thursday, September 26 4pm
teen workshop
Hosted by the Muses, this workshop will focus on the process of storytelling and draw inspiration from works on view in the exhibition History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Jacob Lawrence, The Builders (Family), silkscreen on paper, 34” x 25.75”, 1974; © 2019 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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Programs
Art Ed Central
adult
Thursday, September 26 4:30pm
workshop
Start the new school year off with a tour of History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence followed by an engaging art lesson to take back to the classroom. This monthly workshop for art educators is held throughout the school year and offers the opportunity to earn certification hours from the Alabama Art Education Association. For more information and to register, visit mmfa.org/art-ed-central. Related Exhibition Partner
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20 Alabama Art Education Association
Last Call
music
Thursday, October 10 5:30–7:30pm
adult social
The Museum’s Junior Executive Board invites you to come and take a final look at the exhibition History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 20
Sponsors Ronda Walker, Montgomery County Commission Vice Chairman; Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc.; Vintage Year; EMERGE Montgomery; and Troy University members only
Collectors Society Begins Fall 2019
adult affinity group
Interested in collecting art and furthering the mission of the Museum? We hope you will consider joining Collectors Society! Participants will visit museums and art collections, attend special events, and hear from experts, artists, and other collectors. Dues cover programs, meals, and transportation as well as help support the acquisition of works for the Museum’s permanent collection. Stay tuned for the 2019–2020 schedule, which will be posted on the Museum’s website and emailed to Museum members later this summer. $350 FOR DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE MEMBERS $400 FOR GENERAL MEMBERS John Kelly Fitzpatrick (American, 1888–1953), Saturday Morning, 1935, oil on Masonite, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Works Progress Administration, 1935.7
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Bearing Witness: Art of Alabama Thursday, November 14 through Saturday, November 16, 2019
adult talks
+ lectures
On the occasion of the bicentennial, this symposium will celebrate the rich visual arts traditions of the state—from the creations of Alabama’s native peoples to those of today. Space is limited; to pre-register for the symposium, contact Brandy Morrison at bmorrison@mmfa.org or 334.625.4365. A schedule of events and lectures will be available on our website later this summer. Lead Sponsors
Alabama Humanities Foundation Alabama State Council on the Arts
Co-Hosts Birmingham Museum of Art Huntsville Museum of Art Landmarks Foundation Mobile Museum of Art Wiregrass Museum of Art Signature Event
Alabama Bicentennial Commission 45
Museum Staff
Administration Angie Dodson Director
Curatorial
Operations
Senior Curator
Assistant Director for Operations
Margaret Lynne Ausfeld
Steve Shuemake
Jennifer Jankauskas, Ph.D.
Janet Carroll
Pam Bransford
Vernell Watts
Sarah Elizabeth Kelly Assistant Registrar
Maintenance
Sarah Graves, Ph.D.
Building Maintenance Supervisor
Curator
Registrar
Collections Information Specialist
Brad Echols
Accountant
Receptionist
Percy Bowman
Service Maintenance Staff
Alice Carter
Kristen Albright Douglas Beachem Walter Johnson
Education
Jeff Dutton
Curator of Education
Museum Store
Preparator/Designer Librarian
Alice Novak
Kaci Norman
Assistant Curator of Education, Youth and Family Programs
Sculpture Garden Superintendent
Ward Chesser Associate
Elisabeth Palmer
Melan Clinton
Laura Bocquin
Cecilia Moore
Kelly Bazan
ArtWorks Educator
Security
Jill Byrd
Chief of Security
Assistant Curator of Education, Docent and Adult Programs Assistant Curator of Education, Community Outreach
Tour Coordinator
Brandy Morrison Education Assistant
Development Kecia Kelso
Development Assistant
Aaron Ganey
Special Events Coordinator
Communications Cynthia Milledge
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Stephen Hayes
Digital Media Manager
Meg Hall
Associate Associate
Ken Nielsen
Security Officers Zackery Allen Ryan Baugh Adam Blythe Irease Bowman Ritchie Burdette Daniel Chaney Willia Flanning Christine Hall Charles Harris, Jr. Dwayne Lacy Evelyn Pettis Rickie Posey Wilma Robinson Kevin Wallace
Volunteer Coordinator
The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, a department of the City of Montgomery, is supported by funds from the City of Montgomery, with support from the Montgomery County Commission and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association. Programs are made possible, in part, by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Learn more on page 40.
Thursday, August 22; 5:30–7:30pm
Military Open House
Electronic Service Requested
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