Welcome

Angie Dodson

Director Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

Each Montgomery Art Guild exhibition provides an opportunity for the Museum to celebrate both its origin story—we were founded by a group of area artists and arts educators—and, at the same time, the ever-deepening creativity and capacity of today’s regional artists. Of the 133 artists who submitted 443 works for inclusion, 74 works by 57 artists constitute this year’s exhibition. We thank juror Wendy Castenell for so generously bringing her head and heart to the selection of works which—individually and collectively—seem to speak to the diversity of experiences and perspectives the artists bring to their works. And, we applaud all of the entrants for their commitment to their craft…and for their courage in bringing it forward for public consideration.

This exhibition is the product of the juror and artists, yes, but also the team of MMFA staff and MAG leaders whose coordination underpins it. MMFA contributors include: Jennifer Jankauskas, Pam Bransford, Sarah Elizabeth Kelly, Sarah Graves, Brad Echols, Christen Napp, and Stephen Hayes. And, on the MAG side of the equation: co-chairs Sandra Polizos and Carol Ballard along with Alisa Koch, Bob Corley, and Warren Simons.

Finally, we thank our sponsors, without whom we could not bring this biennial exhibition to the River Region: AlaCOMP, Elizabeth Crump, Laura and Barrie Harmon, Lucy and Hans Luquire, Paula and Nelson Smith, Renasant Bank, Ann Hubbert, and Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Harris. Here, we also express our gratitude for the generosity of the many award donors for their support of this exhibition and its artists.

Clearly, it has taken a village to realize this 44TH Montgomery Art Guild Exhibition as well the attendant exhibition of works by featured artist Marguerite Edwards. Again, we applaud all the people of our “village” for their investment in and devotion to this longstanding cooperative effort of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Montgomery Art Guild.