ONEXHIBIT
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Winter 2020
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 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
President Treasurer
Vice President
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
Cover: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), Jan Asselyn, Painter (Krabbetje), ca. 1647, etching and drypoint with engraving on Japanese paper mounted to a second sheet, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Jean K. Weil in memory of Adolph “Bucks” Weil, Jr., 1999.7.103 Right: Photography of the installation of works from the Blount Collection at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama. Page 5: Photography of the installation of Cal Breed’s Water’s Interpretation of the Braille Sky (2019) in the 2019 exhibition Cal Breed: Signs of Lift at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama
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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
Bob Runkle Kathy Sawyer Adam Schloss Jennifer 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
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
Thank you, Corporate Partners! Your commitment provides critical support for acquisitions, exhibitions, and educational programs. Sustaining Guarantor Alabama Power Foundation
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Guarantor
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC
Rheem Manufacturing Company
Regions Bank
Sponsor
Jack Ingram Motors, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz Jackson Thornton
MAX Wealth Management Merrill Lynch
ServisFirst Bank of Montgomery
PowerSouth
UAB School of Medicine, Montgomery Regional Medical Campus
Adams Drugs
Hans Heating and Air
Stifel
Barganier Davis Williams Architects Associated
Raymond James and Associates Inc.
Synovus
BB&T
Renasant Bank
BBVA
River Bank and Trust
MAX Credit Union
Associate
Morgan Stanley
Advocate
Dentistry for Children, P.C.
Trustmark Valley National Bank Warren Averett
Welch Hornsby Investment Advisors
Government and Foundations
Thank you, Government and Foundation Sponsors! Your allocations and gifts provide critical support for operations and educational programs. Government
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Montgomery County Commission
City of Montgomery
Foundations
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Alabama Humanities Foundation
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
BBVA Foundation
Kiwanis Club of Montgomery Foundation
Central Alabama Community Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
Happy 2020 MMFA Members and Community!
As the new year comes into “20/20” view, so does a new season of MMFA exhibitions. Collectively, the exhibitions that ring-in 2020 plumb the diversity and depth of the Museum’s collection. In January, Hans Grohs: Land’s Edge focuses on the artist’s impressions of the rugged land of his native Germany. In February, Will Henry Stevens casts an evocative light across a very different landscape—that of the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains and South Louisiana’s bayous. In their work, both of these artists express, exalt even, the spirituality they and many of us find in nature. Also opening in February are The Golden Hour: Rembrandt’s Etchings and Societal Transformation in the Seventeenth Century and Pieces and Patterns: Quilts of West Alabama.These seemingly disparate exhibitions invite us to wrap ourselves in the wonders of winter—be it quilts from the American South meant to warm the body and soul or intimate scenes of daily life, many of which were lived against the backdrop of the largely gray days and long, dark nights of Northern Europe’s chilling winters! So, this winter, Grohs and Stevens remind us of the benefits of—on good days— bundling up and getting out for a walk in the woods or a stroll along the shore. Then— on those blustery winter days—The Golden Hour and Pieces and Patterns draw us back indoors to the Museum’s galleries. There, we can muse on the goings-on within the hearth-warmed homes of the Dutch Golden Age, or delight in the designs of quilts made by nimble southern hands to comfort their loved ones. We look forward to welcoming you to the warmth of the Museum in the days to come—
Angie Dodson Director
Pete Knight President, Board of Trustees 5
Spotlight | Art and the Automobile
Art and the Automobile
April 2–5, 2020 John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden Art and design—though distinct in purpose— share some common elements. In automobile design, for instance, line, texture, color, and space are all considered in sketches before clay sculptures are fashioned, presented, and critiqued. Models are then translated by engineers, who create precise specifications for what many car owners describe as works of art. To celebrate the decades-long passion of car enthusiasts, collectors, and lovers of design, the Museum will host a special exhibition featuring some of the most exquisite, vintage, and state-of-the-art cars in Montgomery and the surrounding areas. The display of these alluring automobiles will be set against the spectacular backdrop of the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden, creating a perfect showroom for this four-day event. RELATED PROGRAMS Private cocktail party with automobile owners and sponsors Thursday, April 2 | 6:30 to 9:30 PM $75 per person Tickets available in early March Public viewing of exhibition in the Garden Friday, April 3–Sunday, April 5 | 10 AM to 5 PM $10 per person Free admission for children 12 and under Art-making and other fun activities included in the ticket price. Advance exhibition tickets available in early March at mmfa.org. Same-day tickets sold at main Garden entrance, based on capacity. 1933 model 1247 (V-12, 147 inch wheelbase) custom LeBaron convertible Sedan from the collection of Knox Kershaw. Photography courtesy of High 5 Productions.
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Exhibitions | Current
Charles Shannon
On view through January 5, 2020 Hughes and Wilson Galleries Charles Shannon (1914–1996) was one of the finest artists of the mid-to-latetwentieth century in the Alabama River Region. An important teacher and working artist, Shannon influenced art and artists over a career that spanned more than 50 years. Three of the works in this installation are rarely-seen paintings on loan from Mrs. Charles Shannon. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Sponsored by MAX Wealth Management.
Cal Breed: Signs of Lift On view through January 12, 2020 Weil Atrium
For Signs of Lift, Alabama artist Cal Breed (born 1972) created 14 sculptural glass works that are meditations on breath and water. In his stunning vessels and sculptures, Breed explores the changing forms of water and the patterns and systems found in nature as ways to interpret the beauty around us, contemplate the mysteries of the unknown, and reflect upon the brief gift of life. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Sponsored by The James W. Wilson, Jr. and Wynona W. Wilson Family Foundation. Additional support provided by sponsors Laura and Barrie Harmon and co-sponsors Dawn and Adam Schloss.
From Southern Shores to Northern Vales: Alabama Landscapes, 1819–1969
On view through January 26, 2020 Goldman, Richard, and Rushton Stakely Galleries and the Weil Graphic Arts Study Center Presented in honor of Alabama’s bicentennial of statehood, this exhibition includes more than 40 works of art surveying the state’s distinctive landscape over time. From the hills, rivers, and forests of North Alabama to the Gulf Coastal plain, these works document the artists’ many perspectives on Alabama’s natural environment. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama The exhibition was made possible in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, in celebration of the state bicentennial. Additional support provided by co-sponsor River Bank and Trust.
Photography of the 2019 installation of Power, Beauty, and Wisdom: Women in African Art from the Mehta Collection at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama.
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Power, Beauty, and Wisdom: Women in African Art from the Mehta Collection On view through January 26, 2020 Atrium, Blackmon, and Weil Galleries
The art of the Mehta Collection documents traditions and life-lessons from across the African continent and shows reverence for women’s roles in African society—the elderly as trailblazers and younger women as gateways to the future. The works celebrate womanhood in all its complexity—providing moral leadership, ensuring the continuity of future generations, and promoting the spiritual lives of their families and cultures. The 50 works of African traditional sculpture, masks, and assembled items in this exhibition are organized thematically to represent a virtual “life cycle” of women in traditional cultures across Central and West Africa. Organized by the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art | Atlanta, Georgia Curated by Amanda Hellman, Ph.D. Sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Additional support provided by co-sponsor Helen A. Till.
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Exhibitions | Upcoming Hans Grohs: Land’s Edge January 9 through March 29, 2020 Hughes and Wilson Galleries
Born in the coastal region of Dithmarschen, along the North Sea in Germany, Hans Grohs (German, 1892–1981) found inspiration in the land of his ancestors. The landscape mesmerized and energized him, and he immortalized the power and beauty found in nature with vivid and impressionistic scenes. This exhibition features works from throughout Grohs’ long career, depicting the province of Dithmarschen. Some are literal representations, while others are visionary interpretations of the sea shore. Each painting embodies a divine presence. A prolific artist and professor who served in World Wars I and II, Grohs’ work aligns well with the graphic style of German Expressionism; yet, with his watercolor landscapes of the storm-torn coast, he created a body of work that also evokes German Romanticism. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama
Above: Hans Grohs (German, 1892–1981), Süderoog in the Halligen, Evening Mood, 1967, watercolor, gouache, and ink on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association Purchase, 1996.17.4, © Frauken Grohs-Collinson Grohs Collection Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Opposite: Hans Grohs (German, 1892–1981), Land’s Edge, 1926, watercolor on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Nelson Brackin, 1996.19.4, © Frauken Grohs-Collinson Grohs Collection Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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Exhibitions | Upcoming
The Golden Hour: Rembrandt’s Etchings and Societal Transformation in the Seventeenth Century February 13 through April 19, 2020 Goldman, Richard, and Rushton Stakely Galleries
Rembrandt van Rijn’s name is synonymous with the greatness—even genius—of artistic expression that transcends time and space. After four centuries, his continuing recognition as one of the giants of art history resides in the masterful technique and content of his work, which embodies shared human beliefs and emotions. Producing over 200 print compositions, his reputation as a printmaker was secured in his lifetime and has only been enhanced over time. The seventeenth century in Holland and Western Europe was a time of rapid change in the spheres of class structure, economics, politics, and religion. Communication and trade across borders precipitated the spread of ideas that transformed societies, nurturing the earliest seeds of modernization. As an artist of that period, Rembrandt’s renown as a painter was heightened and spread by the prints he disseminated through impressions. This exhibition of 42 etchings from the Museum’s collection will focus on depictions of people and places that convey the state of 17th-century Dutch society as it evolved from a feudal, agrarian-based state to one informed by advances in commerce and technology. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Sponsored by Joan Loeb. Additional support provided by co-sponsors Laura and Michael Luckett.
Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), The Artist’s Mother in Widow’s Dress and Black Gloves, ca. 1632, etching and drypoint on laid paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Weil, Jr., in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Weil, Sr., 1991.8.3
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Exhibitions | Upcoming Pieces and Patterns: Quilts of West Alabama February 13 through May 10, 2020 Atrium, Blackmon, and Weil Galleries
The tradition of quilting within the communities of West Alabama dates back generations and reflects the importance of humble, utilitarian objects to quilters who originally made them for their families’ comfort and survival. Beginning at the end of the 20th century, hand-crafted objects—and particularly quilts—came to be valued for the integrity and creative spirit that their makers brought to their work, manifesting an appreciation not just for their craftsmanship, but also for their ingenuity in adapting and sustaining ancestral traditions. This exhibition of works from the Museum’s collection will examine the range of West Alabama quilt-making techniques. Beginning with the now wellknown practice of the quilters of Gees Bend (Wilcox County), the widespread traditions of West Alabama quilters—appliqué and pieced construction— demonstrate the distinctive characteristics of their creations and the varied patterns and themes they adapted to their individual practices of quilt-making. 14
Featured artists will include Plummer T. Pettway (1919–1983), Norah Ezell (1919–2007), Mary Maxtion (1924–2015), Mary Lee Bendolph (born 1935), and Yvonne Wells (born 1939). Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Additional support from co-sponsors Dr. and Mrs. Robert M. Combs.
Mary Maxtion (American, 1924–2015), Hotel Window, ca. 1996, cotton, cotton/polyester blend, wool, and taffeta, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Kempf Hogan in honor of Nadine and Walter Ludwig, 2004.20.4
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Exhibitions | Upcoming
Will Henry Stevens
February 13 through April 19, 2020 Weil Graphic Arts Study Center Although born and raised in Indiana, Will Henry Stevens (1881–1949) spent much of his adult life teaching in Louisiana and summering in North Carolina. Those environs—particularly the rivers and bayous of New Orleans and the mountains of Appalachia—inspired Stevens to capture the changing landscapes in works that range from representational scenes to non-objective images he termed “semi-abstract.” In pastels on paper created from pigments he mixed himself, Stevens merged the traditional with the avant-garde to become one of the South’s pioneering Modernist artists. Engaged in exploring the spiritual in art and nature, Stevens looked to American writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) and Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862). Later study into the Chinese landscape paintings of the Sung Dynasty (960–1279), along with the philosophies of such modern abstract artists as Wassily Kandinsky (Russian, 1866–1944) and Paul Klee (German, 1879–1940), helped refine Stevens’ artistic direction. The nine works in this exhibition will illustrate the artist’s personal and poetic vision of the Southern landscape. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama
Will Henry Stevens (American, 1881–1949), Untitled (Houses and Path), date unknown, pastel on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Andrew Glasgow in memory of Beulah Mae Glasgow, 2017.11
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Exhibitions | Upcoming Zelda
March 24 through May 31, 2020 Folmar and Newman Galleries The novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald referred to his wife Zelda as “the first American flapper.” For the public, their extravagant, well documented escapades of the 1920s still epitomize the Jazz Age. Zelda eventually turned her own creative energies to writing, dancing, and the visual arts, but her efforts were overshadowed by the acclaim accorded her husband. Eventually, an obsessive pursuit of perfection led to mental illness that haunted her for the rest of her life. Creating art was a valued means of personal expression and solace while she underwent treatment, and her paintings help viewers understand her eventful life. This exhibition will feature oil paintings made by the artist in Montgomery at the end of her life along with examples of her watercolor paper dolls. These works are part of the Museum’s permanent collection and include some of the paintings donated by Scottie Fitzgerald Smith, daughter of Zelda and F. Scott, in 1986. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Sponsored by Carolyn and Dr. Alfred J. Newman, Jr. Additional support provided by MAX Wealth Management. Above: Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (American, 1900–1948), Notre Dame, Paris, ca. 1944, watercolor and graphite on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Mrs. Frances Fitzgerald Smith, 1986.4.10. Right: Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (American, 1900–1948), Hope, ca. 1938, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of the artist, 1938.3
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Exhibitions | Upcoming
Two New Featured Installations in the Garden March 2020 through March 2022 John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden PATRICK DOUGHERTY North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty (born 1945) returns to the Museum following his 2009 installation, Lookin Good! Lookin Good!, set in the lawn near the main entrance, featured to the right. Dougherty will present a colossal new sculptural work from saplings gathered from around Montgomery. With the collaboration of Museum staff and community members, Dougherty will weave together truckloads of gathered sticks to bring to life a magical architectural wonder. This unique sculpture will last as long as nature allows. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Patrick Dougherty’s new installation is sponsored by Laura and Barrie Harmon. Additional support provided by sponsor John Caddell and co-sponsor Warren Averett.
JAMEY GRIMES Alabama artist Jamey Grimes (born 1976) has also created a work inspired by nature: Teraxacum, 2019. Named for the genus of the common dandelion, Grimes uses geometrical forms to represent the dandelion in its seed pod form. Extending off the plinth, his individual aluminum seeds tumble across the reflecting pool. In home gardens, the dandelion is often considered as both a nuisance (a weed) and an object of wonder (blowing the seeds and making a wish). In the Sculpture Garden, the oversized Teraxacum will be a captivating and whimsical interpretation of this flowering plant. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts | Montgomery, Alabama Teraxacum is sponsored by the PowerSouth and ServisFirst Bank. Additional support provided by co-sponsors Gage and Mark LeQuire.
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Photography of the 2009 installation Patrick Dougherty: Lookin’ Good! Lookin’ Good! at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
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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. Find more information about submitting work at mmfa.org/student-artwork. Sponsored by Regions Bank.
Current Exhibitions Local Landscapes
On view through January 17, 2020 Students are invited, as part of the waning Alabama bicentennial celebration, to create landscape scenes for this sure-to-be-stunning exhibition. Student work will be featured in connection with the Museum’s larger display, Alabama Landscapes.
Upcoming Exhibitions
You Count: Student Response to the 2020 Census Artwork Due: Friday, January 17, 2020 Exhibition Dates: January 24 through March 27, 2020 Eligibility: Kindergarten through College
Students are invited to submit works that reflect upon community involvement, the meaning of citizenship, the importance of participating in the 2020 census, and the universal idea of “You Count.” The census is now more important to our state than ever! When all Alabamians respond to the census, we stand to gain several benefits, including learning more about our state population and guaranteeing critical representation and funding at the Federal level. Works will be on display in the Museum’s ArtWorks Gallery and at a downtown venue designated by our exhibition partner, the City of Montgomery.
Mary Carolyn Jones (John T. Morgan Academy, 11th Grade), Small Town Sunset, 2019, oil pastel, Lent by the artist
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Event Calendar
January 2 Thursday 10 am 2:30 pm
Winter in the Studios Earth’s Heart
3 Friday 10 am
Winter in the Studios
7 Tuesday
8:30 am Collectors Society Noon Short Course: Alabama Landscapes
8 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
Ekphrasis: Shocking Paris Muses
9 Thursday 2:30 pm 6 pm
Earth’s Heart Art After 5
12 Sunday 2 pm
Second Sunday
14 Tuesday
10 am Baby and Me 10:30 am Baby and Me Noon Short Course: Alabama Landscapes 4 pm Art Explorers
15 Wednesday Noon 1 pm 4 pm
Artful Yoga* See Me: Exploring Animals in Art Muses
16 Thursday 11 am Noon 2:30 pm 3:45 pm 4:30 pm 6 pm 6 pm
Divine Lunch Artist in Action Earth’s Heart Art Explorers Jr. Art Ed Central An Evening with Robin Poynor ArtTalk
17 Friday 1 pm
Homeschool Glass Workshop
18 Saturday 10 am 1 pm
Adult Fused Glass Workshop Highlights Tour
21 Tuesday Noon 4 pm
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Short Course: Alabama Landscapes Art Explorers
22 Wednesday 4 pm
Muses
23 Thursday 2:30 pm 6 pm
Earth’s Heart An Expressive Evening
28 Tuesday 4 pm
Art Explorers
29 Wednesday 4 pm
Muses
30 Thursday 2:30 pm 3:45 pm
Earth’s Heart Art Explorers Junior
February 1 Saturday 10:30 am
Botanical Art Workshop for Adults
4 Tuesday 10 am 10:30 am Noon 4 pm
Baby and Me Baby and Me Land’s End Gallery Talk Art Explorers
5 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
Artful Yoga* Muses
6 Thursday 2:30 pm 5:30 pm
Earth’s Heart Film: The Learning Tree
7 Friday Noon
Collectors Society
9 Sunday 2 pm 2:30 pm
Second Sunday Book Talk: Magic in Stone
11 Tuesday 4 pm
Art Explorers
12 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
Ekphrasis: Peacock & Vine Muses
13 Thursday 8:30 am 2:30 pm 3:45 pm 4 pm 5 pm
Coffee with the Curators Earth’s Heart Art Explorers Junior Opening Reception Opening Reception
15 Saturday
20 Friday
19 Wednesday
21 Saturday
20 Thursday
25 Wednesday
1 pm
Highlights Tour
Noon 1 pm 4 pm
Artful Yoga* See Me: Exploring Animals in Art Muses
2:30 pm 4:30 pm 6 pm
Earth’s Heart Art Ed Central ArtTalk
6 pm
10 am 1 pm 4 pm
Garden Opening Reception
Adult Printmaking with Lowe Mill artist, Debra Riffe Highlights Tour Muses
26 Thursday
26 Wednesday
2:30 pm 4:30 pm 6 pm
27 Thursday
29 Sunday
4 pm
Muses
2:30 pm 3:45 pm
Earth’s Heart Art Explorers Junior
2 pm
Earth’s Heart Art Ed Central ArtTalk An Afternoon with Zelda
March 4 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
Artful Yoga* Muses
5 Thursday 2:30 pm 5:30 pm
Earth’s Heart Film: Packed in a Trunk
8 Sunday 2 pm 3 pm
Second Sunday Film at Capri Theatre: Lucian Freud
10 Tuesday 10 am 10:30 am
Baby and Me Baby and Me
11 Wednesday Noon 4 pm
Ekphrasis: Rogues’ Gallery Muses
12 Thursday 2:30 pm 3:45 pm
Earth’s Heart Art Explorers Junior
18 Wednesday Noon 1 pm 4 pm
Artful Yoga* See Me: Exploring Animals in Art Muses
19 Thursday 2:30 pm 6 pm
Earth’s Heart Art After 5
save the dates
April
2 Thursday 2 pm
Arts for Autism
7 Tuesday
9:30 am The Art of Baking Puppet Show 10:45 am The Art of Baking Puppet Show
8 Wednesday
9:30 am The Art of Baking Puppet Show 10:45 am The Art of Baking Puppet Show
May
2 Saturday 10 am
Flimp Festival
Family Youth Teen Adult All Ages Fee 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. 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.
Winter in the Studios Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3 10 am to noon
family art making
Families are invited to spend time in the Museum studio creating their very own winter-themed art projects! Both studio days will feature a different theme and project. This activity is free, and pre-registration is not required. Supplies are limited, so come early! Sessions led by Museum staff.
Art Explorers Tuesday, January 14, 21, 28, February 4, and 11 4–5 pm
youth art making
Students aged 6 to 12 are invited to join us for a new gallery and studio experience that fuses storybooks with art making. Students will read and discuss an art-based storybook then create exciting artworks inspired by the book. $45 for the series. Series led by visiting artist Sally Chambliss.
Art Explorers Junior Thursday, January 16, 30, February 13, 27, and March 12; 3:45–4:30 pm
family art making
Artists aged 3 to 5 are invited to join us for a new gallery and studio experience (like the Art Explorers class, above) that combines storytelling with art-making. Participants will listen to various stories then create their own artworks that connect art basics like color and shape to sight words and sounds. $15 per class | $45 for the series Series led by Assistant Curator of Education Kaci Norman.
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Programs | Studio Classes Homeschool Glass Workshop Friday, January 17; 1–3 pm
youth art making
Homeschoolers (aged 8 and older) are invited to join us and learn about the scientific process of fusing glass while making their own works of art. Participants will learn what happens, chemically, to different types of glass when heated and put through different processes. Each student will complete at least one glass piece. $60 for the class, led by glass artist Jo Taylor. Space is limited, so register early!
Adult Fused Glass Workshop Saturday, January 18; 10 am–1 pm
adult art making
Artists (aged 14 and older) are invited to join us in the Museum’s studio to learn the art of fused glass. In celebration of the Museum’s stunning glass exhibition, Signs of Lift, participants will learn what happens in the glassfusing process, and each participant will complete at least one glass piece. $65 for class, led by glass artist Jo Taylor. A boxed lunch from Café M is available for purchase.
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Botanical Art Workshop for Adults Saturday, February 1; 10:30 am–2:30 pm
adult art making
Artists and flora-lovers (aged 14 and older) are invited to join us in the studio for a winter session of the Museum’s botanical drawing series. Participants will create art inspired by floral works in the Museum’s collection and by live camellias, Alabama’s winter-blooming state flower. $25 for class, led by Assistant Curator of Education Laura Bocquin. A boxed lunch from Café M is available for purchase.
Adult Printmaking with Lowe Mill artist, Debra Riffe
adult art making
Saturday, March 21; 10 am–5 pm Printmakers (aged 16 and older) are invited to join us in the Museum studio to work with Debra Riffe of Lowe Mill (Huntsville) for this one-day workshop. Known as the “Printmaker with a Purpose,” Riffe creates visual narratives of the African American experience by using woodcuts and linoleum block relief prints. Participants will learn linoleum printmaking techniques, and no prior drawing or carving skills are necessary. $150 for class, led by Debra Riffe, printmaker, Lowe Mill, Huntsville. A boxed lunch from Café M is available for purchase. Some materials are supplied by the Museum and artist. An additional supply list will be provided upon registration.
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Programs
Short Course: Alabama Landscapes Tuesday, January 7, 14, 21; Noon
adult talks
+ lectures
In celebration of Alabama’s bicentennial, and in conjunction with the exhibition Alabama Landscapes, Curator of Art Margaret Lynne Ausfeld and Curator of Education Alice Novak will focus on Alabama’s landscape in art and the artistry of those who pictured it. Featured Alabama artists will include Clara Weaver Parrish (1861–1925), Anne Goldthwaite (1869–1944), and Kelly Fitzpatrick (1888–1953). members only
Ekphrasis Ekphrasis is a monthly book discussion group for Museum members, devoted to the history of art.
adult affinity group
Participants are encouraged to order lunch from Café M (mmfa.org/book-club) at least a week ahead, and buy books for discussion at the Read Herring bookstore in downtown Montgomery (105 S. Court Street).
Shocking Paris by Stanley Meisler Wednesday, January 8; Noon Following artists from other countries working in Paris before WWII, such as Chaim Soutine, Meisler looks at how they changed modern art and survived the Nazi occupation. Discussion led by Assistant Curator of Education Laura Bocquin.
Peacock & Vine by A. S. Byatt Wednesday, February 12; Noon Byatt explores the textile designs of two great minds of the nineteenth century: one offering a relatively simple response to the natural world in England, and the other working in the glamour of Venice. Discussion led by Curator Jennifer Jankauskas.
Rogues’ Gallery by Michael Gross Wednesday, March 11; Noon The subtitle of Gross’ non-fictional work tells a lot: The Secret Story of the Lust, Lies, Greed, and Betrayals That Made the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In this work (originally published in 2009 and now reissued), Gross takes a tour of the Met’s then-138-year history, focusing on its illustrious leaders and donors, along with other colorful characters, such as artists, collectors, and forgers. Discussion led by Curator Margaret Lynne Ausfeld.
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Art After 5
adult
Thursday, January 9 and March 19; 6 pm
social
Young adults and the young at heart are invited to join the Museum’s Junior Executive Board for this new, themed-evening series of art, music, activities, and more. Participants will enjoy works of art, discover their inner art-maker, and take home their own refrigerator masterpieces! Participants can also stretch out in the galleries with yoga—or sip a specialty cocktail crafted by a local mixologist—while enjoying the sounds of a local band with friends. This series, formerly known as Last Call and Evenings in the Garden, is a free night of fun and entertainment. Series sponsored by Trustmark.
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Programs
Earth’s Heart
family
Every Thursday; 2:30 pm
art making
Young Learners (aged 2 to 5) are invited to take a tour around the world and uncover the arts of Austria in January; the Philippines in February; and the Bahamas in March. During this program, participants will create a work of art, master simple greetings, have fun comparing visual arts, and enjoy traditional music from the different countries discussed.
Second Sundays Sunday, January 12, February 9, and March 8; 2–4 pm
tour
all ages
art making
music
Families and friends are invited to spend the second Sunday of each month at the Museum enjoying the sounds of live jazz, making an art project in the studio, or taking a short docent-led tour—or all three! January 12: Listen and watch an African-inspired dancing and drum circle and make your own African-inspired mask, inspired by the ones featured in our Women in African Art exhibition. February 9: Come and make a print in our studio inspired by works in the Hans Grohs exhibition. March 8: Explore the Museum’s Pieces and Patterns quilt exhibition, then come visit the studio to create your own work inspired by those on view. For up-to-date information about jazz performances, visit mmfa.org/second-sundays. Series sponsored by Trustmark.
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Baby and Me
family
Tuesday, January 14, February 4, and March 10 10 am and 10:30 am
art making
Infants (aged 10 to 36 months) and their caregivers are invited to join us in the studio for visual stimulation and connection to the art world. This new class focuses on colors, textures, and shapes and will help set a foundation for curiosity and art basics. The class is free, but registration is required online at mmfa.org. Sessions led by Museum staff.
Artful Yoga
adult
Wednesday, January 15; February 5, 19; March 4 and 18; Noon
wellness
Exercise enthusiasts and beginners are invited to join us in the galleries and participate in an art-inspired yoga class in the galleries. Participants will engage in yogic practice centered around balance, focus, and strength. $10 per class | Free for members Register online at mmfa.org/artful-yoga. Classes are suitable for all levels. Guests are reminded to bring their yoga mats, and wear comfortable clothing.
See Me: Exploring Animals in Art
special needs
family
tour
art making
Wednesday, January 15; February 19; and March 18; 1 pm Individuals with different abilities (aged 6 and older) are invited to explore the galleries, point out animals in art, and then create a mixed-media artwork of an animal. See Me is a program that is designed for people with disabilities. The class is free, but registration is required (mmfa.org/see-me). Sessions led by ArtWorks Educator Kelly Bazan. Arrangements may be made for groups.
Muses Wednesdays; No meeting on January 1; 4 pm
teen affinity group
Muses Teen Council members are invited to enjoy creative experiences while collaborating to help shape the Museum’s teen program offerings. For more information and to register, visit mmfa.org/muses. Sessions led by Assistant Curator of Education Elisabeth Palmer.
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Programs
Divine Lunch
adult
Thursday, January 16; 11 am–2 pm
café m
Friends and colleagues are invited to join us to enjoy a seasonal dining experience featuring a prix fixe menu created by Café M chef Jennie Weller, accompanied by a paired wine tasting. $20 per person | $8 per additional glass of wine Reservations are recommended by calling Café M (334.625.4339).
Artist in Action
all ages
Thursday, January 16; Noon to 2 pm
museum store
Lovers of African art are invited to join us for a chance to meet artist Jennie Kennedy and see her in action. She will be making dolls that commemorate African heritage and culture. Items will be available for purchase in the Museum Store.
Art Ed Central
adult
Thursday, January 16, February 20, and March 26 4:30 pm
workshop
Art educators are invited to join us for this collaborative professional development experience. Admission is free, but registration is required (mmfa.org/art-ed-central). Sessions led by the Museum and Alabama Art Educators Association (AAEA)
An Evening with Robin Poynor Thursday, January 16; 6 pm
adult talks
+ lectures
African art-lovers are invited to join us and hear from African Art scholar Robin Poynor, Ph.D. in a discussion of the portrayal of beauty on view in the exhibition Women in African Art. Dr. Poynor will explore the ideas of physical and inner beauty through the objects, the people portrayed in these objects, and the ways these objects were used.
ArtTalk Thursday, January 16, February 20, and March 26 6 pm
adult affinity group
Artists and art-lovers are invited to participate in these friendly critiques, enjoy an inspiring atmosphere, and dine on complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Artists are encouraged to bring one work of art each for viewing and discussing. $5 per session | $50 for the series of 12 meetings. Register online at mmfa.org/arttalk. Presented in partnership with the Montgomery Art Guild.
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An Expressive Evening Thursday, January 23; 6 pm
teen special event
Muses parents, friends, and supporters are invited to enjoy a free evening of teen creativity at the Museum! Join the Muses, the Museum’s teen council, as they organize and host this annual event, which includes a tableau of artistic expression presented by local students. Past acts have included poetry, vocal, dance, and instrumental performances. Participant registration deadline: Monday, January 13 Dress rehearsal: Wednesday, January 22 at 3:30 pm
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Programs
Highlights Tour
all ages
Saturday, January 18, February 15, and March 21 1 pm
tour
MMFA new-comers are invited to join one of our docents on a special tour of the collection, highlighting some of the featured treasures on view. Admission is free, and registration is not required. Participants should meet in the lobby of the Museum.
Land’s End Gallery Talk Tuesday, February 4; Noon
adult talks
+ lectures
Landscape art admirers are invited to join Assistant Curator of Education Elisabeth Palmer in the exhibition Hans Grohs. The discussion will focus on Grohs’ connection with nature as shown through his paintings, which depict the coastal region of Dithmarschen through literal and visionary interpretations.
The Learning Tree (1969)
adult
Thursday, February 6; 5:30 pm
film
Film fans are invited to join us for a Black History Month viewing of this classic film, written and directed by acclaimed photographer Gordon Parks. The film, based on Parks’ semi-autobiographical novel, follows a year in the life of Newt Winger, an African American teenager in a small Kansas town in the 1920s, as he learns about love, fear, violent racial injustice and—during an emotional murder trial—his own capacity for honor. Rated R | Content suitable for adult audiences Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Book Talk: Magic in Stone, by Ruth Beaumont Cook
adult talks
+ lectures
Sunday, February 9; 2:30 pm Followers of Alabama history are invited to join us as we welcome Alabama author Ruth Beaumont Cook for a book talk celebrating her newest work, Magic in Stone: The Sylacauga Marble Story. Cook’s book celebrates Alabama’s renowned marble artistry and industry. Participants will learn about the author’s research, the history of the Sylacauga quarry, and some of the most important sculptures created from this world-famous resource. The book talk is free. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
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members only
Coffee with the Curators Thursday, February 13; 8:30–10 am
adult social
Members are invited to join us for coffee and conversation with the curators of The Golden Hour, Pieces and Patterns, and Will Henry Stevens exhibitions. members only
Winters North and South Celebration Thursday, February 13; 4–5 pm
adult social
Museum members are also invited to gather with us for a celebration of winters north and south. Participants will cozy up on the terrace, sip on specialty cocktails, and enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres. They will have an opportunity to engage with the new exhibitions in unique and exciting ways by hearing from artists and having their portraits captured, all while enjoying the sounds of live music. The public is invited to join in on the celebration at 5 pm.
Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson (2015)
adult film
Thursday, March 5; 5:30 pm Mystery-lovers are invited to join us at the museum to view the filmed story of artist Edith Lake Wilkinson, who was committed to an asylum in 1924 and never heard from again. All her possessions were packed away and shipped to a relative in West Virginia, where they sat in an attic for 40 years. Wilkinson’s great-niece, Emmy Award-winning writer and director Jane Anderson, grew up surrounded by Wilkinson’s paintings. The film follows Jane in her decades-long journey to find the answers to the mystery of Wilkinson’s buried life, return the work to Provincetown, and have Edith’s contributions recognized by the larger art world. Not Rated | Free admission
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Programs
Exhibition on Screen: Lucian Freud: A Self-Portrait (2020)
adult film
Sunday, March 8; 3 pm Offsite at the Capri Theatre Art and film-lovers are invited to join us as Curator of Education Alice Novak introduces this film and draws connections to the Museum’s collection. The film, which represents an important collaboration between the Royal Academy of Arts in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, is a virtual exhibition of more than 50 of Freud’s paintings, prints, and drawings. It spans nearly seven decades of work and gives fascinating insight into the artist’s technical and creative development, as well as the role of aging in selfrepresentation. Not Rated | $10 per ticket at the Capri
New Garden Installations Opening
adult
Friday, March 20; 6 pm
social
Fans of outdoor-art are invited to join us in celebrating the latest additions to the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden and see new works by North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty and Alabama artist Jamey Grimes. Come out and meet both artists, hear from Dougherty about his installation, and stay for the reception that follows in the Garden.
Arts for Autism Thursday, April 2; 2–4:30 pm
special needs
family special event
Friends and family are invited to gather in support of those among us on the spectrum. April is National Autism Awareness Month, and we will kick it off with a series of fun activities throughout the Museum to help raise awareness and increase communications. Those activities will include make-and-take art projects, Ask-Me docents in the galleries, and dancing in front of the Tannenbaum screen. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Opposite left: Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (American, 1900–1948), Gretel (Costume), ca. 1941, watercolor and graphite on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Mrs. Frances Fitzgerald Smith, 1986.4.4.1. Opposite right: Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (American, 1900–1948), Morgan Le Fay (Costume), ca. 1941, watercolor and graphite on paper, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Mrs. Frances Fitzgerald Smith, 1986.4.6.1
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An Afternoon with Zelda Sunday, March 29; 2–4 pm
family special event
Music aficionados and the young-at-heart are invited to join us in celebrating the opening of the Zelda exhibition with an afternoon of jazz music, an art project inspired by her famous paper dolls, and curator-led tours of the galleries.
The Art of Baking Puppet Show Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8 9:30 am and 10:45 am
family special event
Children (aged 3 to 6) and their families are invited to join us as we introduce this fun visual and performance event. Participants will be engaged as they visit a bakery run by colorful animals from different parts of the world in the Museum’s auditorium. The characters show children how it takes everyone working together to turn the bakery’s yummy treats into art using color, shape, and line. Shows are by reservation only, and admission is free. Register online by completing the form at mmfa.org. For more information contact Jill Byrd at 334.625.4359, or email tours@mmfa.org.
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Weddings at the Museum Make Your Special Day A Work of Art
Wedding parties are invited to make bridal dreams come true at the MMFA! The Museum, with its ample indoor and outdoor venues, is an elegant and sophisticated setting for the rehearsal dinner, formal ceremony, and reception. The John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden provides a spectacular backdrop for warmer weather events, including two stunning water features. View some of the amazing possibilities, request a wedding consultation, and arrange a tour of the facilities at mmfa.org/weddings! Craig Wedderspoon, Oval, 2018, welded aluminum, Lent by the artist. Photograph by Anna Goodwin Photography. Aneesah Duke, model. Makeup by BeYoutifull Creations. Hair by Kimberly Birmingham. Floral/Design by Laura Bocquin. Dress from I Do Bridal.
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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Distinguished Benefactor Level ($5,000+) | Enjoys a complimentary facility or Garden rental and an array of universal and Director’s Circle benefits. Major Benefactor Level ($2,500+) | Enjoys a complimentary facility rental and an array of universal and Director’s Circle benefits. Advocate Level ($500) | Enjoys 15% discount on facility rental fee in addition to an array of universal benefits. Learn more about membership benefits, tax advantages, and others ways to support the Museum by visiting mmfa.org/directors-circle
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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 Alice Novak
Percy Bowman Jeff Dutton
Sculpture Garden Superintendent
Service Maintenance Staff
Kaci Norman
Kristen Albright Douglas Beachem Walter Johnson
Elisabeth Palmer
Assistant Curator of Education, Docent and Adult Programs
Museum Store
Laura Bocquin
Associate
Curator of Education 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
Cassandra Cavness Development Assistant
Aaron Ganey
Ward Chesser Melan Clinton Associate
Cecilia Moore Associate
Security
Ken Nielsen
Chief of Security
Security Officers Zackery Allen Ryan Baugh Adam Blythe Ritchie Burdette Willia Flanning Christine Hall
Charles Harris, Jr. Dwayne Lacy Evelyn Pettis Rickie Posey Wilma Robinson Kevin Wallace
Special Events 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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Saturday, May 2, 2020; 10 am–2 pm For more information visit mmfa.org/flimp
Flimp Festival
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