ONEXHIBIT
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Fall 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
Cathy Martin
David Chandler
Mary Stowers Dunn
Barrett Austin Cedric Bradford Karen J. Campbell Cassandra Cavness Ginny Cumbus Camille Elebash-Hill William R. Ford Yvette Gilkey-Shuford Jason Goodson Myrtle Goore-Davis Lucy Martin Jackson
Derek Johnson Rhon Jones Barbara Larson Rosetta R. Ledyard Allison Muhlendorf Mary Lil Owens Catherine S. Porter Kerry Powell Susan Yvette Price Sheron Rose Bob Runkle
President Treasurer
Vice President
Immediate Past President
Secretary
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
Leslie Sanders
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 Mrs. Peggy M. Mussafer Mrs. Caroline B. Novak Mr. John Walter Stowers* Mrs. Winifred Stakely Mrs. Camille Elebash-Hill
Kathy Sawyer Adam Schloss Jenni Per Shaw Mark Snead Barbara W. Thompson Melissa Tubbs Griffith Waller Janet Waller Kelli Wise
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: John Kelly Fitzpatrick (American, 1888–1953), The Water Mill (detail), 1934, oil on Masonite, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of the artist, 1935.13 Right: Photography of installation in the 2018 exhibition Art in the Garden: The Inaugural Sculpture Garden Installation in the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden 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, 10 am–5 pm Thursday, Open until 9 pm Sunday, Noon to 5 pm
ArtWorks Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am–5 pm Sunday, Noon to 5 pm 334.625.4365
334.625.4333 Café M
Museum Store
Tuesday–Saturday, 11 am–2 pm Seasonal Lunch Menu
Tuesday–Saturday, 11 am–4 pm Sunday, Noon to 4 pm
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, Museum members! Your support enables us to offer an amazing array of exhibitions, programs, and special events. Visit our website at mmfa.org/membership to renew or upgrade your membership!
Corporate Partners
The commitment of corporate partners provides critical support for acquisitions, exhibitions, and educational programs. 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
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
Jackson Thornton
Rheem Manufacturing Company
MAX Credit Union
ServisFirst Bank of Montgomery
Merrill Lynch
Associate
Adams Drugs
Stifel
Barganier Davis Williams Architects Associated
Synovus
BB&T
Trustmark
MAX Wealth Management
UAB School of Medicine, Montgomery Campus
Raymond James and Associates Inc.
Valley National Bank
Renasant Bank
Warren Averett
River Bank and Trust
Wells Fargo
Advocate
Dentistry for Children, P.C.
Welch Hornsby Investment Advisors
Government and Foundations
These gifts provide critical support for operations and educational programs. Government
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Montgomery County Commission
City of Montgomery
Foundations
Alabama Humanities Foundation
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
BBVA Compass Foundation
Kiwanis Club of Montgomery Foundation
Central Alabama Community Foundation
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Dear Museum Community
The vast majority of this quarter’s exhibitions and programs celebrate Alabama’s bicentennial, each in a distinctly different way. From Southern Shores to Northern Vales reflects Alabama’s deliciously diverse landscape, something of the cultural changes—welcome and unwelcome—experienced in the state over the sweep of 200 years, and the array of artistic responses to this land and the chapters of its complex story. Similarly, Charles Shannon looks at this place and its people—lovingly and ever-so intimately—through just four of this native son’s most passionate mid-20thcentury masterworks, three of which have rarely been seen by the public. Laquita Thomson: Taking Flight and Bill Christenberry: Brownies offer another, more modern perspective, on Alabama’s storied natural environment and fading scenes of its back roads and byways. Also inspired by the natural world he experiences within and without his northwestern Alabama studio and its environs, the works in Cal Breed: Signs of Lift bring us to Alabama’s present through contemporary interpretations of natural phenomena expressed through studio art glass. This art and its artists, along with others who comprise the canon of Alabama’s art history, will be the focus of a symposium, Bearing Witness: Art of Alabama, which will take place November 14 through 16. We hope you will make time to see these exhibitions and participate in this once-in-a generation opportunity to explore—in detail—the cultural contexts for the rather astonishing array of creativity on view at the Museum…and beyond. The cultural scene of today’s Montgomery and River Region is one that, yes, is built on the backs of all those noted above, as well as so many other Alabamians of their ilk. But it is also the result of the generosity of others with an abiding passion for this place and sustained commitment to expanding our capacity to help visitors find their own stories and experiences in those of far-away people and places. Such is the case with Dileep and Martha Mehta. These Atlanta residents began gifting African art to the Museum in 2013, allowing Montgomery’s residents and visitors opportunities to explore the art and cultural traditions of an altogether different time, place, and peoples, but ones with important ties to the experiences of many living in today’s Alabama and greater southeastern region. In November we will welcome to the Museum Power, Beauty, and Wisdom: Women in African Art from the Mehta Collection. We hope you are able to join us for this exhibition that creates a space to explore visual and cultural expressions of the roles that women play across the life cycle in African cultures…and perhaps, in our own. With all of this just on the horizon, we hope to see you soon—and often—in the galleries and garden here at the MMFA!
Angie Dodson Director
Pete Knight President, Board of Trustees
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Spotlight | Symposium
Bearing Witness: Art of Alabama
Alabama artists have borne witness to the drama of American and world history, including the rise of agriculture and native ceremonial centers, immigration, wars, gold rushes, forced removal, emancipation, economic depressions, and the advent of motorized flight. All along, artists have participated in and documented the events that have shaped our state. Their work across this wide canvas of history will be examined at a major symposium hosted by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). Bearing Witness: Art of Alabama will be held Thursday, November 14 through Saturday, November 16, 2019. Bearing Witness will feature leading scholars such as Bridget R. Cooks, Katelyn Crawford, Bill Eiland, James Knight, and Richard J. Powell, discussing the breadth of Alabama visual arts from the Pre-Columbian period to the present. This will be the art history event of Alabama’s bicentennial celebration. Bearing Witness is the brainchild of recently retired MMFA interim director Ed Bridges. For more than a year, Dr. Bridges has convened a planning committee made up of representatives from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA), and the Landmarks Foundation. The group has reached out nationally to secure scholars who have researched and written on Alabama art. The result of their work is a symposium schedule spanning three days, offering lectures, gallery talks, an artist market, and a book fair all centered around the creativity of Alabamians. The heart of the Bearing Witness symposium will be the lectures. Dr. Vernon James Knight, professor emeritus from the University of Alabama, will address the art of native peoples, drawing upon his long archaeological career. William Underwood Eiland, director of the Georgia Museum of Art, will find in the faces of its peoples a portrait of Alabama through the ages. Dr. Michael Panhorst, retired executive director of the Landmarks Foundation, will speak on From Southern Shores to Northern Vales: Alabama Landscapes, 1819– 1969, the exhibition he guest curated at the MMFA. Dr. Katelyn Crawford, curator at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA), will address the art of Alabama industry, drawing upon her related research. Dr. Bridget R. Cooks, associate professor at the University of California, Irvine, will explore the art of the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, including works by artists in the MMFA’s collection. Dr. Graham C. Boettcher, director of the BMA, will provide an overview of significant early 20th-century women artists of Alabama, including Clara Weaver Parrish, Anne Goldthwaite, and Zelda Fitzgerald. Margaret Lynne Ausfeld, curator at the MMFA, will speak on Alabama’s painters of the New South and the Dixie Art Colony. Dr. Richard J. Powell, professor at Duke University, will examine the emergence of self-taught Alabama artists to national prominence. Chester Higgins, photographer and author, will reflect on the Tuskegee approach to Alabama photography and
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Chester Higgins (American, born 1946), Shugg Lampley at the Garden Gate, negative 1968, printed 2007, platinum print on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association Purchase, 2007.14
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Spotlight | Symposium
how Alabama shaped him as an artist. Dr. Elliot Knight, director of ASCA, will host a panel on public art in Alabama with Dennis Harper from the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Chintia Kirana from Expose Art House, Dana Lemmer from the Wiregrass Museum of Art, and Deborah Velders from the Mobile Museum of Art. This discussion will include everything from Confederate monuments and Works Progress Administration works to the new Alabama Bicentennial Park. A panel discussion on art in Alabama today, moderated by Amy Williamson, ASCA, will include Stan Hackney from the Mobile Museum of Art, Dr. Jennifer Jankauskas from the MMFA, Essie Pettway from Gee’s Bend, and Peter Prinz from Space One Eleven. The final session will explore the relationship between public art and social justice, beginning with the new National Memorial to Peace and Justice, located here in Montgomery. While at the symposium, attendees can view related exhibitions such as Alabama Landscapes; Cal Breed: Signs of Lift; and Charles Shannon. In addition to the exhibitions, select works by Alabama artists, including Chester Higgins’ photograph Shugg Lampley at the Garden Gate (negative 1968, printed 2007) featured on the previous page, will be on view in the galleries. To enhance this experience, gallery talks by guest scholars and artists will include Dr. Graham C. Boettcher from the BMA; Dr. Jennifer Jankauskas from the MMFA; Dr. Michael W. Panhorst from the Landmarks Foundation; Dr. Richard J. Powell from Duke University; Chester Higgins, Jr.; and Margaret Lynne Ausfeld from the MMFA. To underscore the centrality of the role of artists, during Bearing Witness the MMFA’s 10th annual Artist Market will be held on Saturday, November 16. The Artist Market kickoff reception for MMFA members and paid symposium guests will be on Friday evening. Read Herring will also be onsite Friday with books by speakers available for purchase.
Joey Brackner
Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture at the Alabama State Council on the Arts and one of the lead organizers of Bearing Witness.
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Bearing Witness: Art of Alabama Thursday, November 14 through Saturday, November 16, 2019
adult talks
+ lectures
On the occasion of Alabama’s 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. All symposium sessions are free to attend. Space is limited, and registration is required. Learn more and register online at mmfa.org/bearing-witness. Lead Sponsors
Alabama Humanities Foundation Alabama State Council on the Arts
Co-Hosts
Birmingham Museum of Art; Expose Art; Landmarks Foundation; Mobile Museum of Art; Space One Eleven; Wiregrass Museum of Art
Signature Event
Alabama Bicentennial Commission
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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Spotlight | Tisha Rhodes
A Familiar Face Returns to the Museum
The Museum is excited to welcome Tisha Rhodes back to the Museum family in her new role as Director of Development. Before leaving the Museum in 2014 to pursue an opportunity in private business, Tisha spent 17 years as the Director of Services. For the past two years, Tisha served as the Public Affairs and Development Director at the Family Sunshine Center. Tisha grew up in a military family and moved to Montgomery in junior high school. She has been married to Jason Rhodes for 26 years, and together they raised a daughter now starting her first year of college. What drew you to art? My parents did a great job of introducing me to the arts as a young girl, and I continued to be interested as I matured. I studied art in college, and in 1997 at the age of 25 I jumped at the opportunity to join the MMFA team. What brought you back to the Museum? I returned because of my love for the institution and a mission that strives to enrich, enlighten, and bring enjoyment to people’s lives through art. What is the best thing about working at a museum? I get to be around art and collaborative people who feed my spirit. What is the biggest change at the Museum since you last worked here? What has not changed at all? The biggest change is the leadership. I spent 17 years working with Mark Johnson, which I will always cherish, and now I have the privilege of working with and learning from Angie Dodson. The thing that remains constant is the spirit of the creative people who work for the Museum. I love the energy! What is your favorite work in the collection? I adore Kelly Fitzpatrick’s work because of the Southern regional subject matter and the amazing colors. I am lucky to have one of his paintings—one of my favorites—Alabama Foothills, hanging in my office. What do you want others to know about the Museum? I want locals to know that the Museum has free admission and that art is for everyone. With our great permanent collection, ArtWorks, and the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden, there is something to pique all interests. I want people outside of the area to know the MMFA has one of the finest collections of American art in the Southeastern US, and a trip to Montgomery is not complete without a visit to the Museum.
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What would people be surprised to learn about you? I think people see me as an extrovert because of the work I do and have done for 20+ years, but I am an introvert—peace, quiet, and alone-time energize me. Why do you feel art is important—for individuals, families, communities? Art introduces perspective and allows people the opportunity to achieve that perspective. I love the quote by John Lubbock, “What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” Perspective is key to one’s experience and art can be a catalyst for that outlook. Do you have a favorite story or memory about the Museum? One of my fondest memories is the 25th Anniversary in the Park Celebration Reception and the excitement that was in the air. It was such an exciting time with the Sculpture Garden on the horizon and so many monumental moments from the past 25 years in the current building to celebrate.
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1) Tisha and her husband Jason at the Director’s Circle dinner held earlier this year. 2) Museum group staff photo from 1997 featuring current employees Margaret Lynne Ausfeld (back row right), Percy Bowman (back row center), Pam Bransford (front row left), and Tisha Rhodes (center). 3) John Kelly Fitzpatrick (American, 1888–1953), Alabama Foothills, 1938, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of the artist, 1938.9
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Exhibitions | Current
History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence
Through October 27, 2019 Atrium, Blackmon, Goldman, Richard, Rushton Stakely, and Weil Galleries The Prints of Jacob Lawrence provides a comprehensive overview of influential American artist Jacob Lawrence’s (1917–2000) printmaking oeuvre. Featuring almost 100 works produced from 1963 to 2000, the exhibition focuses on major themes that the artist explored in his graphic works. Organizer
SCAD Museum of Art with support from the Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation
Related Exhibitions
Life in Pictures, p. 20
Related Programs Printmaking for Adults, p. 24; Discussion at Kress on Dexter, p. 28; Last Call, p. 30; Tales for Tots, p. 30
Bill Christenberry: Brownies Through November 10, 2019 Hughes and Wilson Galleries
Beginning in 1968, Bill Christenberry (1936–2016) traveled annually to his native state of Alabama from his home in Washington, D.C. On these visits, photographing with his trusted Brownie camera, he tracked changes in various buildings and the surrounding landscape. The resulting photographs poetically portray shifts in places over time and are iconic representations of the rural South. Related Programs
Gallery Talk, p. 34; Second Sundays, p. 36
Art in the Garden: The Inaugural Sculpture Garden Installation Through March 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 Botanical Drawing, p. 24; Evenings in the Garden, p. 40
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Laquita Thomson: Taking Flight Through October 13, 2019 Weil Graphic Arts Study Center
In her nearly 50 years of art-making and teaching, Laquita Thomson (born 1947) has been intrigued by imagery related to celestial spaces and activities that happen there. A new series of work focuses on various forms of flight.
Laquita Thomson (American, born 1947), Butterflies Escaping in Ginkgo Grove–Night, 2014, collograph on Arches paper, 4 colors, Lent by the artist
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Exhibitions | Upcoming Cal Breed: Signs of Lift
October 26, 2019 through January 12, 2020 Weil Atrium Alabama artist Cal Breed (born 1972) turned to an essential element as the basis of his newest body of work: air. As a glassblower, air is crucial to the creation of his pieces, as it is breath that brings to life the shape of the glass. In the exhibition Signs of Lift, Breed meditated on breath through beautiful and sensuous vessels and sculptures that evoke ice, water, and vapor taking forms such as igloos and clouds. Finding patterns in nature as a way to interpret the beauty around us and to find wonder at the brief gift of life, Breed believes that for each of us, “Last breath is inevitable, yet we are still searching for signs of lift.� Lead Sponsor The James W. Wilson, Jr. and Wynona W. Wilson Family Foundation Sponsor Laura and Barrie Harmon Related Programs Symposium, p. 9; Collectors Society, p. 26; Film, p. 40 Above: Cal Breed (American, born 1972), Cumulus (detail), 2019, blown glass, Lent by the artist. Photograph courtesy of Orbix Hot Glass studio. Right: Cal Breed (American, born 1972), Cycle of Breath, 2019, blown glass, Lent by the artist. Photograph courtesy of Orbix Hot Glass studio.
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Exhibitions | Upcoming From Southern Shores to Northern Vales: Alabama Landscapes, 1819–1969
November 9, 2019 through January 26, 2020 Goldman, Richard, and Rushton Stakely Galleries and the Weil Graphic Arts Study Center The Alabama Territory was a destination for the westward expansion in the early 19th-century from the Atlantic Coastal region into what was then known as the Southwest Territories. Migrants created frontier societies that grew into a prosperous region based largely on an agricultural economy. Landscape paintings, drawings, and prints by artist-visitors, temporary residents, or itinerants record the earliest scenes, characterizing much of the state’s 19th-century art history. Over time, artists of the state consistently turned to Alabama’s distinctive and varied terrains—from the foothills of the Appalachians to the dunes of the Gulf Coast—as the subjects for their art. This exhibition includes over 40 images of the state created between 1819 and 1969. The exhibition is the final in a three-part series devoted to celebrating the bicentennial of Alabama’s statehood. Lead Sponsor
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Sponsors River Bank and Trust Alabama Bicentennial Commission Related Exhibitions
Local Landscapes, p. 20
Related Programs Symposium, p. 9; Collectors Society, p. 26; Tales for Tots, p. 30; Creativity Kits, p. 36; Opening Reception, p. 38; 16
Charles Shannon
November 14, 2019 through January 5, 2020 Hughes and Wilson Galleries In conjunction with the Museum’s celebration of the bicentennial and the symposium Bearing Witness: Art of Alabama, the Museum will install four paintings by Charles Shannon (1914–1996), one of the great artists of the mid- to late 20th-century in the River Region. An important teacher as well as working artist, Shannon’s influence on art and artists in Central Alabama over a career that spanned more than 50 years is represented in the works included in this installation. One of his paintings, The Lover (1937), became a part of the Museum’s permanent collection in 1986; the other three important works are on loan from Mrs. Charles Shannon. Together, these paintings represent the finest examples of Shannon’s ability as an artist with a sensitivity and passion for the American South and its people. Lead Sponsor
MAX Wealth Management
Related Programs
Symposium, p. 9; Gallery Talk, p. 40
Left: Anonymous American, View of Montgomery, ca. 1875, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery, Inc., by transfer, 2007.18 Above: Charles Shannon (American, 1914–1996), The Lover, 1937, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association Purchase and Gift of The Blount Foundation, Algie H. Neill, Fred Richard, Babette L. and Charles H. Wampold, Charlotte Weil, Jane and S. Roberts Blount, Martha and Tranum Fitzpatrick, Charlotte and George Goodwyn, Joan and Frank Loeb, Martha and John Cameron, Mary Lynne and Herbert F. Levy, Patricia and Al J. Sansone, Eleanor and Eugene Ballard, Kittie and Jack Norment, Edna M. Rosen, Hilda and Julian Slager, Melinda and Barry Wilson, Priscilla and Quentin Crommelin, and Anonymous Donor, 1986.6
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Exhibitions | Upcoming
Power, Beauty, and Wisdom: Women in African Art from the Mehta Collection November 9, 2019 through January 26, 2020 Atrium, Blackmon, and Weil Galleries
The roles of women in traditional African societies are reflected in each distinctive culture’s art, and this exhibition features more than 50 sculptures representing a virtual “life cycle” of women across Central and West Africa. These works celebrate womanhood in all its complexity: exercising moral leadership, ensuring the continuity of future generations, and promoting the spiritual lives of their families and cultures. The exhibition is rooted in the vision and generosity of Dileep and Martha Mehta of Atlanta, Georgia, who have built an extraordinary collection of art that demonstrates the arts, crafts, cultures, and traditions of peoples spread across the vast African continent. Since 2013, the Mehtas have supported the Museum’s collection of select works of African art. Organizer Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia Related Programs
Tales for Tots, p. 30; Evenings in the Garden, p. 40; and Short Course, p. 40
Yoruba Peoples (Nigeria), Olumeye, 20th century, wood and pigments, Lent by Dileep and Martha Mehta, 2017-10-22
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Student Exhibitions
ArtWorks Gallery
The ArtWorks Gallery is devoted to temporary exhibitions of student art inspired by works on view elsewhere in the Museum. Gallery Sponsor
Regions Bank
Current Exhibitions Life in Pictures
Through November 15, 2019 Stop by to enjoy this vibrant display of student art inspired by the prints of artist Jacob Lawrence. Chosen from submissions by students from all over the region, this exhibition reflects scenes of daily life that these young artists witness every day. Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 12
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.
Local Landscapes
Artwork Due: Friday, November 15, 2019 Exhibition Dates: November 22, 2019 through January 17, 2020 Eligibility: Kindergarten through College Celebrate Alabama’s bicentennial one last time by submitting work for this sure-to-be stunning student art exhibition. In connection with the Museum’s larger exhibition, Alabama Landscapes, students are asked to create landscape scenes inspired by the world around them. Related Exhibition
Alabama Landscapes, p. 16
Bill Traylor’s and My World at Kress on Dexter
Artwork Accepted: Wednesday, October 16 and Thursday, October 17 from Noon to 6 pm; Kress on Dexter, Suite 114 Exhibition Dates: Thursday, October 24, 2019 Eligibility: Students of Any Age In his drawings, Traylor reflected his own life experiences and the world he lived in, from rural Alabama to life in the capital city. Students are invited to share their views of their own worlds and the beings that inhabit them. Artists are encouraged to work in their own whimsical styles or that of Traylor. Host 20
Montgomery Arts Project
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Event Calendar
October
2 Wednesday
8:15 am u Collectors Society Noon n Artful Yoga* 4 pm n Muses
3 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 5:30 pm n Film: Book of Life 6 pm n College Night
5 Saturday 10 am
Adult Botanical Drawing
7 Monday
5:30 pm n Talk at Kress on Dexter
9 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
3 Sunday
Film at Capri Theatre: Leonardo: The Works
5 Tuesday 3:45 pm
Art Explorers
6 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
n Artful Yoga* n Muses
7 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 3:30 pm Art Explorers Junior 5:30 pm n Film: 리틀 포레스트 [Little Forest] (2018)
December 4 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
n Artful Yoga* n Muses
5 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 3:30 pm Art Explorers Junior 5:30 pm n Film: Glas
8 Sunday 2 pm
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2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 5:30 pm n Last Call
13 Sunday 3pm
n Autumn Artfest
15 Tuesday 3:45pm
Art Explorers
16 Wednesday 10:30 am 11am Noon 1 pm 4 pm
n n n n n
Tales for Tots Tales for Tots Artful Yoga* See Me: Exploring Landscapes Muses
u Ekphrasis: Sara de Vos n Muses
November 3 pm
10 Thursday
n Winter Wonderfest
8 Friday 9 am 6 pm
u Collectors Society Groovin’ in the Garden
10 Sunday
2 pm n Second Sundays 3:30 pm n Book Talk: 100 Things to Do in Alabama Before You Die
12 Tuesday 3:45 pm
Art Explorers
13 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
u Ekphrasis: The Art of the Con n Muses
10 Tuesday Noon
n Short Course
11 Wednesday 4 pm
n Muses
12 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart
15 Sunday 2 pm
n Gallery Talk: Charles Shannon
17 Thursday 11 am Noon 2:30 pm 4:30 pm 5:30 pm
n n n n
Divine Lunch Artist in Action Earth’s Heart Art Ed Central Artists on Tap
19 Saturday 10 am 1 pm
Adult Printmaking n Highlights Tour
24 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 6 pm n In the Arts 6 pm ArtTalk 7 pm n Film: Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts
29 Tuesday
Noon n Gallery Talk: Recollections of William Andrew Christenberry 3:45 pm Art Explorers
20 Sunday
30 Wednesday
22 Tuesday
31 Thursday
Noon
Adult Printmaking
3:45 pm
Art Explorers
4 pm
n Muses
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart
23 Wednesday 4 pm
n Muses
14 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 6 pm Symposium 7 pm u Opening Reception
15 Friday
8:30 am Symposium 5:30 pm u Artist Market Preview Party
16 Saturday 9 am 10 pm 1 pm
Symposium n Artist Market n Highlights Tour
19 Tuesday 3:45 pm
10:30 am 11 am Noon 1 pm 4 pm
n n n n n
Tales for Tots Tales for Tots Artful Yoga* See Me: Exploring Landscapes Muses
21 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 3:30 pm Art Explorers Junior 4:30 pm n Art Ed Central 6 pm ArtTalk 6 pm n Evenings in the Garden
Art Explorers
18 Wednesday 10:30 am 11 am Noon 1 pm 4 pm
20 Wednesday
n n n n n
Tales for Tots Tales for Tots Artful Yoga* See Me: Exploring Landscapes Muses
19 Thursday
Noon n Short Course 2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 3:30 pm Art Explorers Junior 4:30 pm n Art Ed Central 6 pm ArtTalk
21 Saturday 1 pm
n Highlights Tour
26 Thursday
2:30 pm n Earth’s Heart 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. To register, visit mmfa.org/ studio-classes.
Botanical Drawing for Adults Saturday, October 5; 10 am–2 pm
adult art making
Enjoy the changing season while sketching and relaxing in the Museum’s beautiful outdoor gallery. A box lunch is available for purchase from Café M. $25 FOR CLASS Led by Laura Bocquin Related Exhibition
Art in the Garden, p. 12
Printmaking for Adults Saturday, October 19; 10 am–4 pm Sunday, October 20; Noon to 4 pm
adult art making
Alabama artist Darius Hill will lead a two-day printmaking workshop in our studios. Most materials will be supplied; more information is available on our website. A box lunch is available for purchase from Café M for Saturday’s class. $150 FOR SERIES Led by Darius Hill Related Exhibition
The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 12
Art Explorers Tuesdays, October, 15, 22, 29 and November 5, 12, 19 3:45–4:45 pm
youth art making
Calling all students ages 6 to 12! This new studio class fuses storybooks with art-making. Participants will read and discuss an art-based storybook, then create exciting artworks inspired by the book. $45 FOR SERIES Led by Sally Chambliss
Tuition cost will be refunded if a class is canceled. For a full refund or credit, cancellations must be made no later than two weeks before the program begins. After that time a 25% administrative fee will be charged.
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S SAVE R E B MEM N ALL 25% O ES! CLASS
at today w e n e r Join or a.org/join mmf
Art Explorers Junior Thursdays, November 7, 21 and December 5, 19 3:30–4:15 pm
family art making
Like the new Art Explorers, this class also combines storybooks with artmaking but for our littlest artists, ages 3 to 5, and their caregivers. Participants will listen to various stories, then create beautiful artworks that connect art basics to sight-words and sounds. $15 PER CLASS | $45 FOR SERIES Led by Kaci Norman 25
Programs
members only
Collectors Society October 2019–February 2020
adult affinity group
Collectors Society members hear from artists, collectors, and specialists; enjoy behind the scenes experiences related to the Museum’s exhibitions; and help support the acquisition of works for the collection. All Museum members are eligible to join Collectors Society. For more information about the 2019–2020 schedule and to join, visit mmfa.org/collectors-society. $400 PER PERSON Related Exhibitions
Cal Breed, p.14; Alabama Landscapes, p.16
Artful Yoga Wednesday, October 2, 16; November 6, 20; December 4 and 18 Noon
adult wellness
Come experience an art-inspired yoga class surrounded by works of art while engaging in a practice that centers around balance, focus, and strength. Classes are suitable for all levels; beginners are welcome. Register online at mmfa.org/artful-yoga. $10 PER CLASS | FREE FOR MEMBERS
Muses Wednesday, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; November 6, 13, 20; December 4, 11, and 18 4 pm
teen affinity group
The Muses are a teen arts council whose members enjoy creative experiences while collaborating to help shape the Museum’s teen program offerings. For more information and to register, visit mmfa.org/muses.
Earth’s Heart
family
Every Thursday 2:30 pm
art making
Take a trip around the world with ArtWorks Educator Kelly Bazan and discover the arts of Venezuela in October, followed by Canada in November, and Kenya in December. 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. Photography of installation of the 2019 exhibition 43rd Annual Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
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Programs
Book of Life (2014)
family
Thursday, October 3 5:30 pm
film
Book of Life is an animated story that combines Mexican folklore, ancient mythology, and pop culture from producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez. Introduction and post-show discussion led by Museum staff. Free popcorn with soft drinks and water available for purchase. Rated PG
College Night: Art Song
adult
Thursday, October 3 6 pm
special event
College Night returns to the Museum with this free art- and music-filled night! Kick back and mingle with fellow students while enjoying performances and art by students from Alabama State University (ASU). Partner
Alabama State University
History, Labor, and Life in Montgomery Monday, October 7; 5:30 pm Offiste at the Kress on Dexter
adult talks
+ lectures
Join Dr. Joe Caver, Adjunct Professor of history at ASU, and Alice Novak, Curator of Education, in examining Lawrence’s representations, connecting to life in Montgomery, and discussing artistic representations of African-American experiences and community life on view in the capital city today. Partner
Related Exhibition
Alabama State University The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 12
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. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos Wednesday, October 9; Noon Discussion by Sarah Graves, Collections Information Specialist. The Art of the Con Wednesday, November 13; Noon Discussion by Alice Novak, Curator of Education. Partner 28
Read Herring
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Programs
Last Call
adult
Thursday, October 10 5:30–7:30 pm
social
The Museum’s Junior Executive Board invites you to come 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. 12
Sponsors Ronda Walker, Montgomery County Commission Vice Chairman; Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc.; Vintage Year; EMERGE Montgomery; and Troy University
Tales for Tots
family
Wednesday, October 16; November 20; and December 18 10:30 am and 11 am
art making
Children (ages 2 to 5) and their caregivers are invited for storytime with an accompanying craft in the galleries while supplies last. No reservations are required. Learn more about the books and crafts at mmfa.org/tales-for-tots. Related Exhibitions The Prints of Jacob Lawrence, p. 12; Alabama Landscapes, p. 16; Women in African Art, p. 18
See Me: Exploring Landscapes
special needs
family
tour
art making
Wednesday, October 16; November 20; and December 18 1 pm Led by ArtWorks Educator Kelly Bazan, individuals with special needs (ages 6 and older) will explore landscapes in the galleries and then create their own landscape artworks. This program is free; however, registration is required. Special arrangements may be made for groups. To register, visit mmfa.org/see-me.
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Autumn Artfest Sunday, October 13 3–6 pm
art making
all ages
music
special event
Join us on the Parker Terrace by Newel Lake for our first annual fall festival! Celebrate the changing of the seasons and enjoy an afternoon of pumpkin decorating, autumn-themed art activities, ghost stories, music, and fall foods. Local artists will also be demonstrating their pumpkin carving skills. Learn more at mmfa.org/autumn-artfest.
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Programs
Divine Lunch
adult
Thursday, October 17 11 am–2 pm
café m
Gather your friends and colleagues to enjoy a seasonal dining experience featuring a prix fixe menu created by Chef Jennie Weller with paired wine tastings. Reservations are recommended; call 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, October 17 Noon to 2 pm
museum store
Meet artist Barbara Davis and see her in action in the Museum Store, where she will be painting some of her signature pieces. Artwork will be available for purchase.
Artists on Tap Thursday, October 17 6 pm
wellness
adult
art making
music
Hosted by the Museum’s Junior Executive Board, this event gives artists throughout the River Region a means to share their original creativity and showcase their work while giving young professionals a venue to connect with their community. This event will also feature yoga led by Frank “Breeze” Smith, artist demonstrations, and a fashion show. Purchase your tickets at artistsontapmgm.com. Partners 21 Dreams and S.H.E. Agency $10 IN ADVANCE | $20 DAY OF EVENT
Highlights Tour Saturday, October 19; November 16; and December 21 1 pm
all ages 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 foyer.
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ArtTalk
adult
Thursday, October 24; November 21; and December 19 6 pm
affinity group
Artists and art-lovers alike are invited to these friendly critiques, during which one work of art from each participating artist is viewed and discussed. Enjoy an atmosphere of creative discussion while noshing on complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Beer and wine are available for purchase. To register, visit mmfa.org/arttalk. $5 PER SESSION Partner
Montgomery Art Guild
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Programs
Art Ed Central
adult
Thursday, October 17; November 21; and December 19 4:30 pm
workshop
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. Partner
Alabama Art Education Association
In the Arts
teen
Thursday, October 24 6 pm
special event
The Muses host this annual arts-related career night for River Region teens. Professionals from community arts organizations and creative businesses showcase their work and answer questions about their education and career paths.
Gallery Talk: Recollections of William Andrew Christenberry
adult talks
+ lectures
Tuesday, October 29 Noon In conjunction with the exhibition Bill Christenberry: Brownies, this gallery talk will be filled with personal stories from those who knew and loved the artist and about their time spent with Bill and the Christenberry family. Related Exhibition
Brownies, p. 12
Leonardo: The Works
adult
Sunday, November 3; 3 pm Offsite at the Capri Theatre
film
Five hundred years after his death, explore one of the world’s most wellknown, beloved, and intriguing artists. Leonardo: The Works takes a fresh look at the artist’s life through the lens of all of his known paintings. Curator of Education Alice Novak will introduce the film and talk about connections to the Museum’s collection. $10 PER PERSON
Bill Traylor (American, 1853–1949), Rabbit, ca. 1940–1942, watercolor and graphite on cardboard, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Charles and Eugenia Shannon, 1982.4.10
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Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts
film
Thursday, October 24; 7 pm Offsite at the Capri Theatre
adult talks
+ lectures
Join us for a screening of the groundbreaking documentary about artist Bill Traylor (1853–1949), who captured scenes of life in Alabama, from his rural roots in Dallas County to Montgomery’s Monroe Avenue (now Street), where he lived and made his extraordinary drawings. Following the film, Museum Director Angie Dodson will moderate a discussion among filmmaker Jeffrey Wolf, historian Dr. Howard Robinson, curator Margaret Lynne Ausfeld, and the audience. Several of the artist’s works, which are also featured in the film, will be on display at the Museum from October 12 through 27. Reservations are required; please contact Brandy Morrison at 334.625.4365 or bmorrison@mmfa.org by October 10. Look for further information in an upcoming e-newsletter, including plans for the dedication of a new historical marker commemorating Traylor and his work. Sponsor
Alabama Humanities Foundation
Partners Alabama State University; Breakaway Films; Capri Theatre; Kress on Dexter; and Landmarks Foundation 35
Programs
리틀 포레스트 [Little Forest] (2018)
adult
Thursday, November 7 5:30 pm
film
The latest film from pioneering female director Yim Soon-rye is the heartwarming story of a young woman (Kim Tae-ri) who abandons city life for her remote childhood home. Introduction and post-show discussion led by Museum staff. Free popcorn with soft drinks, water, wine, and beer available for purchase. Rated PG-13
Carryout Creativity Kits
youth
art making Lead a museum-designed art experience in your own classroom. The Museum offers opportunities for elementary and middle school educators to check out art projects inspired by works on view in the galleries. All project supplies and lesson plans needed for a class of up to 30 students are provided in the kits—for free!
Alabama Landscapes Kit Available for checkout November 11, 2019 through January 20, 2020 Learn about drawing in perspective and painting with watercolors by creating original landscape paintings inspired by Alabama’s natural surroundings. An included lesson plan walks teachers through instructing students how to make watercolor landscapes. For more information, visit mmfa.org/carryout-creativity-kits. Related Exhibition Alabama Landscapes, p. 16
Second Sundays Sunday, November 10 2–4 pm
tour
all ages
art making
music
Looking for a fun way to spend a fall weekend afternoon? There is something for everyone on Second Sundays! Discover the evolution of hidden Alabama treasures in the Bill Christenberry: Brownies exhibition, jam with some live local jazz, take a docent-led tour, or visit the studio to create your own minihouse inspired by Christenberry’s work. Related Exhibition
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Brownies, p. 12
Photography of the 2019 unveiling of Vincent Buwalda’s (American, born 1965) The Children’s Gate (2019) at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Buwalda’s work was revealed by summer camp students at a press conference held by Mayor Todd Strange.
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Programs
100 Things to Do in Alabama Before You Die
adult talks
+ lectures
Sunday, November 10 3:30 pm Join us for a book talk with Mary Johns Wilson, history buff and author of 100 Things to Do in Alabama Before You Die. Wilson honors Alabama’s Bicentennial by providing this thoughtful guide that’s sure to make visitors’ and Alabamians’ experiences across the state memorable. Participants will hear about the author’s research and some of her favorite things. Books will be available for purchase and signing. members only
Opening Reception
adult social
Thursday, November 14 7 pm
Join us for an opening reception celebrating From Southern Shores to Northern Vales: Alabama Landscapes, 1819-1969, the last of three major bicentennial-themed exhibitions organized by the Museum. Please note, on this evening the symposium Bearing Witness will be underway. If you are interested in participating in the symposium, please visit mmfa.org/bearing-witness. Related Exhibition
Alabama Landscapes, p. 16
Related Program
Bearing Witness, p. 9
Artist Market Member Preview Party Friday, November 15; 5:30–8 pm
museum store
adult special event
General Public Saturday, November 16; 10 am–4 pm Join us for our 10th annual Artist Market! Shop local and support the River Region’s artist community. In addition to our outstanding Museum Store artists, we’ve invited some new regional artists to join the Market this year. Museum members are invited to join us for an exclusive preview party Friday evening. The Market opens to the public on Saturday so be sure to bring your friends and family to this once-a-year event that’s perfect for holiday shopping! Sponsor Stifel
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Groovin’ in the Garden
adult
Friday, November 8 Gates Open at 6 pm; Music at 7 pm
music
The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Junior Executive Board is proud to invite you to experience a new annual concert featuring regional bands in the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden. The VIP experience will include the opportunity to meet the musicians prior to the concert as well as a selection of food and drinks for your enjoyment. This event will take place rain or shine; in the event of rain, some activities may be altered or canceled. Food and beverage will be on sale throughout the evening. Attendees are required to have a valid ID to purchase alcohol. Chairs and picnic blankets are encouraged, but no outside food or beverage is permitted. Purchase tickets at mmfa.org/groovin-in-the-garden. EARLY BIRD AFTER NOV 1
$15 GENERAL | $50 VIP $20 GENERAL | $60 VIP
Photograph of 2017 Art in Concert featuring Tank & the Bangas at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
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Programs
Evenings in the Garden Thursday, November 21 6 pm
wellness
adult
art making
music
Join us for a new, exciting event featuring art and entertainment in the beautiful Caddell Sculpture Garden. The evening will kick off with a free outdoor yoga class led by instructor Frank “Breeze” Smith, followed by live music, an art-making activity inspired by Women in African Art, and an artist demonstration by painter Deborah Shedrick. Drinks will be available for purchase. For more information, visit mmfa.org/evenings-in-the-garden. Related Exhibition
Women in African Art, p. 18
Glas (1958)
adult
Thursday, December 5 5:30 pm
film
Winner of the 1959 Academy Award for Best Short Documentary, Bert Haanstra’s Glas compares glass-blowing techniques used inside the Royal Leerdam Glass Factory in the Netherlands with automated bottle making machines. Introduction and post-show discussion led by Museum staff. Free popcorn with soft drinks, water, wine, and beer are available for purchase. Rated PG-13 Related Exhibition
Cal Breed, p. 14
Short Course: Women in African Art Tuesday, December 10 and Thursday, December 12 Noon
adult talks
+ lectures
Join us for a lecture and discussion of works in the exhibition Women in African Art. Led by Curator Margaret Lynne Ausfeld and Assistant Curator of Education Elisabeth Palmer, each session explores different topics related to the role of women in African culture. Related Exhibition
Women in African Art, p. 18
Gallery Talk: Charles Shannon Sunday, December 15 2 pm
adult talks
+ lectures
Curator Margaret Lynne Ausfeld will lead a gallery talk on one of the great artists in the River Region, Charles Shannon, and his influence, legacy, and portrayal of the American South and its people. Related Exhibition
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Charles Shannon, p. 17
Winter Wonderfest Sunday, December 8 2–4 pm
art making
all ages
music
special event
Come celebrate the wonder of the season with us! Find inspiration in the festive decor, music, and treats as you make your way through the galleries. Create your own winter-themed art projects and enjoy making a memory in our merry photobooth. The Museum Store will be open for seasonal shopping. Sponsor
BBVA
members only
Members Appreciation Week Sunday, December 8 through Saturday, December 14
adult special event
We want to show you how much we value your support! Members will receive an extra 10% discount (a total of 20% off!) at both CafĂŠ M and the Museum Store. Need to renew? Sign up during this week and you will save 20% when renewing at the Contributor Level ($150) or higher.
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Museum Staff
Administration Angie Dodson Director
Curatorial
Communications
Senior Curator
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Margaret Lynne Ausfeld
Cynthia Milledge
Jennifer Jankauskas, Ph.D.
Stephen Hayes
Pam Bransford
Meg Hall
Sarah Elizabeth Kelly Assistant Registrar
Operations
Sarah Graves, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Operations
Curator
Registrar
Collections Information Specialist
Brad Echols
Preparator/Designer
Digital Media Manager Volunteer Coordinator
Steve Shuemake Janet Carroll Accountant
Christen Napp
Maintenance
Alice Carter
Building Maintenance Supervisor
Assistant Preparator Librarian
Education
Percy Bowman
Service Maintenance Staff
Alice Novak
Curator of Education
Kristen Albright Douglas Beachem Walter Johnson
Kaci Norman
Jeff Dutton
Elisabeth Palmer
Assistant Curator of Education, Docent and Adult Programs
Museum Store
Laura Bocquin
Associate
Assistant Curator of Education, Youth and Family Programs
Assistant Curator of Education, Community Outreach
Kelly Bazan
ArtWorks Educator
Jill Byrd
Tour Coordinator
Brandy Morrison Education Assistant
Development Tisha Rhodes
Director of Development
Kecia Kelso
Development Officer
Aaron Ganey
Special Events Coordinator
Sculpture Garden Superintendent
Ward Chesser Melan Clinton Associate
Cecilia Moore Associate
Security
Ken Nielsen
Chief of Security
Security Officers Zackery Allen Ryan Baugh Adam Blythe Ritchie Burdette Daniel Chaney Willia Flanning Christine Hall
Charles Harris, Jr. Dwayne Lacy Evelyn Pettis Rickie Posey Wilma Robinson Kevin Wallace
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 41.
Winter Wonderfest Sunday, December 8; 2–4 pm
Learn more on page 31.
Autumn Artfest Sunday, October 13; 3–6 pm
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