As Telfair Museums’ newly appointed Executive Director and CEO, I am writing to express my gratitude for your unwavering support of our museum. Your membership supports a multigenerational legacy of cultural enrichment for Savannahians and visitors from near and far.
I am eager to learn more about Telfair and its rich history, and explore its many connections with the art, history, and architecture of Coastal Georgia. I am exploring opportunities to celebrate the region’s unique qualities and to expand our programs to new ways of seeing and thinking about visual art. I welcome your insights about how we can better serve our community and enhance the cultural experience in the region.
In the coming months, you can expect a dynamic schedule of programs and exhibitions, beginning with an exclusive showing of Norman Rockwell & Peers: Illustrating Childhood, which opens on October 11. This exhibition, which will appear only at Telfair, brings together approximately 60 works that focus on childhood, as seen by some of the greatest twentieth-century illustrators, especially Norman Rockwell. Other notable illustrators featured in the exhibition include J.C. Leyendecker, Maxfield Parrish, Jessie Willcox Smith, N.C. Wyeth, and more. We look forward to welcoming your family and friends to explore this unique gathering of works that shaped how Americans thought about childhood in the first half of the Twentieth Century.
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I am also looking forward to a new signature fundraiser that celebrates the art of fine dining and art. On October 29, I invite you to join us for the Palette to Palate Competition, where chefs will present edible works of art in the Telfair Academy.
I am excited to be your director and feel privileged to lead an art museum with such a rich history. The Telfair Academy opened in 1886 as the first public art museum in the South and holds the distinction of being the first art museum in the United States founded by a woman. This legacy of pioneering spirit and commitment to art and culture is something we can all be proud of. I look forward to getting to know you and the greater Savannah community in the coming months.
Before televisions, computers, and high-speed internet, Americans engaged with image-based storytelling through illustration. Illustration is art created to be reproduced for books, magazines, periodicals, advertisements, and other printed media. Designed covers—based on finished paintings—by artists like Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) regularly reached thousands of homes via mass-produced publications such as The Saturday Evening Post. Celebrating the charming, wholesome, and seemingly commonplace, Rockwell enjoyed a successful career, which unfolded against a string of era-defining crises and revolutions, including two World Wars, the Great Depression, struggles over Civil Rights, and space exploration. Through illustration, Rockwell and his peers chronicled transformations and challenges to ideals in the 20th-century, sometimes using childhood to explore complex subject matter. By tapping into American adults’ nostalgia and lingering feelings of childhood innocence, these artists made subjects from consumer goods to wartime politics more appealing. Through advertisements and calendar illustrations, magazine covers, and story artwork, Norman Rockwell & Peers: Illustrating Childhood regards childhood as an expressive and revealing lens to view an evolving and often complex American society.
In partnership with the National Museum of American Illustration (NMAI), based in Newport, Rhode Island, this exhibition will feature over 60 works from NMAI’s collection by key figures in the history of American illustration, including Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish (1870–1966), J.C. Leyendecker (1874–1951), Ethel Franklin Betts (1877–1959), Jessie Willcox Smith (1863–1935), and N.C. Wyeth (1882–1945).
Investment provided by the City of Savannah and the Georgia Council for the Arts.
Major funding provided by Bob Faircloth, the Littlejohn Family Foundation, and Linda McWhorter.
Exhibition funding is provided by Inge A. Brasseler and Truist.
Additional exhibition funding is provided by Jacqueline and Ken Sirlin, Mrs. Rebecca Cheatham, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Davis, James O. and Chloë L. Dekle, Jim and Dottie Kluttz, Mrs. Robert O. Levitt, and Sylvia F. Severance.
Annual Exhibition Support by Director’s Circle Council Members: Anonymous, Mrs. Cynthia Willett, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Coker Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Hinnant, Leslie and Angus Littlejohn, Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Sayer, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Sheriff, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Bogert, Mrs. Inge A. Brasseler, Kerry and Lillian Breitbart, Leda Chong and Kevin Dewalt, Debbie and Dale Critz, Lila and Dale* Critz, Mr. Robert F. Faircloth, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Gantt, Lindsay and Brent Harlander, Kelley and Josh Keller, Wilson Morris, Mr. and Mrs. J. Herbert Ogden Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rabinowitz, Thomas V. and Susan G. Reilly, Cathy and Philip Solomons, Pamela L. and Peter S. Voss, and Ms. Susan A. Willetts and Mr. Alan K. Pritz.
October 9, 5:30pm reception, 6:15 lecture | Jepson Center
See page 17 for details.
Members Opening Reception & Lecture
October 10, 5:30pm reception, 6:15 lecture | Jepson Center
Free Family Day
October 19 | Jepson Center
See page 9 for details.
Lunch & Learn with Illustrator
Mike Wimmer
October 25, 1pm | Jepson Center
Jim Campbell: Thresholds of Perception
December 20–April 6, 2025
Telfair Museums presents a solo exhibition of iconic digital art by Jim Campbell (b. 1956), whose light-based works explore the limits of human perception. Holding degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics from MIT, along with patents for his work in the development of high-definition video, Campbell is widely known for his low-resolution moving images created by arrays of LEDs. This exhibition, Jim Campbell: Thresholds of Perception, offers a rare opportunity to see the San Francisco-based artist’s work in the Southeast and will coincide with Telfair’s 2025 PULSE Art + Technology Festival.
The exhibition includes a sampling of Campbell’s low-resolution works spanning more than 20 years of his output. His captivating images engage the viewer in a primal act of looking and recognition, bringing physical materiality and humanizing elements to the digital realm. Works such as Color Home Movies, which incorporates found footage from anonymous home movies, are stripped down to animated pixels of light and rely on the viewer’s memory and imagination to complete the missing information. Recognition often comes from movement, for
example, the gait of an individual walking in Campbell’s Motion and Rest series. In one of Campbell’s major works, Eroding Wave, 3,456 LED lights extend into the viewers’ space, dispersing light in three-dimensional particles as silhouettes of swimmers move upward through a sculptural wave.
Jim Campbell’s art has appeared in numerous exhibitions in the US and abroad and is represented in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and others. His public art works include Day for Night (2018), a permanent moving image installation displayed across the top nine floors of Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.
This exhibition is organized by Telfair Museums and curated by Harry DeLorme, director of education and senior curator.
Investment provided by the City of Savannah and the Georgia Council for the Arts.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Jim Campbell (b. 1956); Eroding Wave, 2016, 3,456 LEDs, custom electronics, wire, steel. Transition, 2022; custom electronics, 768 LEDs, treated plexiglass. Color Home Movies, 2015; custom electronics, 520 LEDs. All images courtesy the artist.
RELATED PROGRAMS
PULSE Art and Technology Festival
Opening Lecture by Jim Campbell
January 16, 5:30pm Reception, 6:15pm Lecture
Jepson Center
Free to Telfair Members | $10 non-members
Lunch and Learn: Curator’s Tour with Harry DeLorme
January 24, 11:45am | Jepson Center
Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of
Liberation
Now–November 24
Jepson Center & Telfair Academy
Inspired by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, John Quincy Adams Ward (1830–1910) sculpted his famous work The Freedman in 1863. Positioned as though standing to free himself, the subject's remaining shackles hint that work still needed to be done. In response to Ward’s sculpture, seven contemporary artists tackle issues of race and emancipation in the U.S., collectively illuminating how a critical moment in history continues to have lasting legacies.
This exhibition is organized by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and Williams College Museum of Art and is presented by Telfair Museums.
Slavery and Freedom 8th Grade Program
Each fall, Telfair Museums welcomes eighth graders in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) for the Slavery and Freedom 8th Grade Program. Connected to Georgia’s history standards, this program offers students the opportunity to tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters and learn about the history of enslavement in an urban setting. The program also addresses Georgia art standards by encouraging students to take part in hands-on activities at the Telfair Academy. These activities creatively build on materials and themes explored in their tour.
Continuing Exhibitions
Lingua Flora Through September 8 | Jepson Center
A Measure of Time: Anila Quayyum Agha Through September 15 | Jepson Center
Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation Through November 24 Jepson Center & Telfair Academy
#art912: Of One Mind Through February 9, 2025 Jepson Center
Boxed In/Break Out: Dirt and Stardust Through April 27, 2025 | Jepson Center
One Museum, Many Facades Ongoing | Telfair Academy
Before Midnight: Bonaventure and the Bird Girl Ongoing |Telfair Academy
CAM: Exploring Impressionism Through Spring 2025 | Jepson Center
John Quincy Adams Ward (1830-1910); The Freedman, 1863; bronze; Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, 2000.15.
Speed interview with #art912 artists Autumn Gary and Alexis Javier
By Kylie de Jesus, Melaver Family Curatorial Intern, Summer 2024
The simplest questions are often the most difficult to answer. To get to know #art912 artists Autumn Gary and Alexis Javier (aka: Aje), I sat down with them for a speed interview to uncover the complex ideas behind seemingly simple questions. Learn more about Autumn and Aje by visiting their upcoming exhibition Of One Mind, on view July 19, 2024, through February 9, 2025.
For a deeper look into the artists’ minds, visit telfair.org/explore to read full interviews with Autumn and Aje.
What makes you smile?
Autumn: Love
Aje: Seeing others smiling
What is a skill you have always wanted to learn?
Autumn: Playing the drums
Aje: Wingsuit flying
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Autumn: My children
Aje: No one
What brings you peace?
Autumn: Acceptance
Aje: Being in love ... with life
Who is your favorite artist?
Autumn: Frida Kahlo
Aje: Jean-Michel Basquiat
How would you describe yourself?
Autumn: As everything
Aje: A cosmic explorer
Where is your favorite place to be?
Autumn: Outside in the water, sun, and wind
Aje: El Yunque National Forest
What is something you are proud of?
Autumn: My resilience
Aje: Staying true to my path
What is one thing on your bucket list?
Autumn: I don’t have a bucket list
Aje: A walkabout
How would you describe your art?
Autumn: Intuitive
Aje: Conversations with “God”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Autumn: Expanding my outreach by making sculpture, community art, and traveling
Aje: Using my experiences to help others find their creative voice and connect them to their humanity
What is a mantra that you have?
Autumn: If you want to be, be
Aje: Art is life, life is art
What makes you happy?
Autumn: The little mysteries and treasures that unfold throughout the day
Aje: Playing soccer
Who would you want to spend a day as?
Autumn: Me, but completely, unapologetically, fearless in this Earth suit
Aje: Why choose?
What is your spirit animal?
Autumn: Whatever my spirit needs at the time
Aje: A golden eagle
What is a book that has made a lasting impression on you?
Autumn: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Aje: Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Lecture by Dr. Kirsten Pai Buick
September 19, 6pm | Jepson Center
and the FAAA Members Small Works exhibition following the talk.
Telfair Museums and Telfair’s Friends of African American Arts present the 17th Annual Lawrence Lecture by Dr. Kirsten Pai Buick in conjunction with Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation. Dr. Buick will lecture in connection to her essay for the Emancipation catalogue entitled “A Controlled Burn: Discursive Emancipation, Abolitionism, and the Consolidation of ‘Race’ in Visual Culture.” She is currently chair of the Department of Africana Studies at the University of New Mexico and a scholar focusing on the visual and material culture of the British diaspora, African American Art, and Pro-and Anti-Abolitionist Images in the Atlantic World. Dr. Buick is the author of Child of the Fire: Mary Edmonia Lewis and the Problem of Art History’s Black and Indian Subject (Duke University Press). Among her many distinctions are the High Museum of Art’s David C. Driskell Prize for American Art (2015) and the College Art Association’s Distinguished Scholar award (2022).
4th Grade Students to Tour Norman Rockwell and Peers Exhibition
Telfair welcomes Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) fourth-grade students in October and November for discussion, tours, art-making, and writing in connection to the exhibition, Norman Rockwell and Peers: Illustrating Childhood. Close to 3,000 students will visit the Jepson Center to participate in the curriculum-based program taught by museum staff and docents. During their visit, each student will receive a family pass that offers free admission for their loved ones while their work is on view in the Jepson Center’s Community Gallery in February and March.
Making Marks in 2024
Telfair’s Making Marks exhibition is the essence of community art, showcasing works by diverse individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, and highlighting the empowering experience of creating. Artmaking provides opportunities for healing, transformation, and discovery, and brings people together to connect our community.
This exhibition includes artwork created during Telfair’s extensive outreach sessions with various community partners, including local health and social service organizations, as well as individual submissions from students, veterans, and the incarcerated. Telfair’s outreach for Making Marks drew inspiration from the work of Maya Freelon, seen in Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation. Themes found in this exhibition reflect the positive impact art can make in our lives.
Community partners include the following: St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital – Inpatient Rehabilitation; Georgia Infirmary and Movement Disorders Program; Union Mission, Inc.; Ben and Betty Barnes Center; Park Place Outreach, Inc.; Senior Citizens, Inc.; Ruth Byck Adult Day Health Center; Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision; Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Youth Intercept Program; EmployAbility; Savannah Speech and Hearing Center; Stroke Survivors’ Support Group; City of Savannah Therapeutics Program; City of Savannah Adult Day Care Program; Coastal Harbor Health System; LIFE, Inc.; Savannah VA Clinic; Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center; Georgia National Guard; Chatham County Public School System; and Department of Veteran’s Affairs – Savannah Veterans of the Arts.
Education investment is provided by the City of Savannah, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, PNC Foundation, Katrina M. Schwab, The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, and The William T. Morris Foundation.
The lecture is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation. Visitors are invited to view Emancipation
4th grade students visiting the Jepson Center in 2023
Artful Tales Story Time
Fridays at 10:30am | Jepson Center
Free for Telfair members and included with general museum admission
Let your little ones' imaginations soar during our new Artful Tales Story Time in the Telfair Children's Art Museum. This enchanting program is perfect for young art lovers and curious minds, combining the joy of storytelling with the wonder of art. Each week, our skilled storytellers will bring captivating tales to life, encouraging creativity and imagination in a vibrant, art-filled setting.
Art Start: Stroller and Toddler Tours
Third Thursday of every month
10:30–11:30am | Jepson Center
$5 per child | Adults: members free, non-members $12
Great days start with art thanks to our new and combined programs! Once a month, our youngest patrons are invited to the Jepson Center for story time, a special tour, and an art activity. Strollers, expressive babies, toddlers, and older siblings are all welcome here. Come play and learn with us!
CAM Impressions
September 19
Emancipation
October 17
Norman Rockwell & Peers
November 21
Holiday Special
December 19
Norman Rockwell and Illustration Free Family Day
October 19, 10am–5pm | Jepson Center
1–4pm: Family Activities
Free admission to local residents
Residents of Savannah and surrounding areas are invited to enjoy free admission to the Jepson Center for a day of engaging artist demonstrations and art projects! In celebration of the exhibition, Norman Rockwell and Peers, families are encouraged to come witness the talents of local children's book illustrators and discover their own inner artists with creative studio activities.
Investment for Free Family Days is made possible by the City of Savannah and the Georgia Council for the Arts.
Veterans Guided Open Studio Program
Saturdays, 1–4pm | Jepson Center
Are you a veteran ready to explore your artistic side? All veterans are invited to take part in this calming, open-studio experience of guided drawing and painting. Led by an experienced instructor, this is a special time to meet and create in a safe and social atmosphere. Occasional tours of major exhibitions are also offered as part of the program. No prior experience is needed.
For more information, contact Kip Bradley at 912.790.8823 or email bradleyk@telfair.org.
Unleash Your Creativity in the Drop-In Studio
Saturdays and Sundays, 10am–2pm
It's your turn to be the artist! Join us in our studios for a variety of artmaking projects. All ages and experience levels are invited to take part in an array of creative mediums including watercolors, collage, calligraphy, origami, coloring books, and more. Each month features a special project designed to connect with an exhibition at the museum and a studio assistant is always nearby for encouragement and guidance. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Adult Classes
Studio Art Club
Program coordinator: Kip Bradley
Listed costs cover all classes offered in each course. Choose Session 1 or Session 2 where applicable.
Sometimes the tricky part of painting is not “how to” but “when to.” Make it a part of your regular routine by setting time aside each week. This program provides studio space for artists to work independently in a quiet and safe social setting with a teacher on hand to provide guidance when requested. Each session includes a new, fresh, funthemed still-life arrangement, or you can bring your inspiration and work with the media of your choice. Bring your own materials.
Figurative Art Club
Program coordinator/instructor: Stephanie Tugurian
Thursdays, 2–5pm
Session 1: Aug. 22–Oct. 17|Session 2: Oct. 24–Dec. 19 (no class 11/28)
Members $110 | Non-members $125
This open-figure studio provides a safe and social atmosphere in which to work independently or get help from a participating instructor. During this program, artists will have time to work independently from the live model in the media of their choice and see how others work as well. Artists are encouraged to attend weekly to hone their skills as they work from the figure. Bring your own materials.
Experience painting and drawing outside of the studio and let the outdoors inspire you! In the Plein Air Art Club, class meets on-site and then ventures around the greater Savannah area to find that just-right spot (come prepared to enjoy some light walking). Work in the media of your choice with a teacher nearby to offer guidance as needed. Bring your own materials.
Life Portraiture Art Club
Fridays | 11am–2pm
Session 1: Aug. 23–Oct. 18 | Session 2: Oct. 25–Jan. 3 (No class 11/1 or 12/6)
Members; $120 | Non-Members $135
This course is for intermediate painters who want the richer experience of working directly from a live model in an extended pose rather than from secondary sources. While no formal instruction will be provided, the interactive experience of working in a group is a valuable improvement tool. In addition, individual assistance will be available to those who desire it. Bring your own materials.
Fall Things: Themed Still-Life Painting Class
Instructor: Kip Bradley
Tuesdays, Sep. 3–Oct. 8 | 10am–12:30pm
Members $175 | Non-members $195 Materials Provided.
If the colors, textures, and crisp breezes of fall excite your senses, then this class is for you! Featuring a fresh-themed still-life arrangement inspired by the fall season, you'll learn techniques such as paint application, color mixing, and understanding the structures that create the illusion of space and volume. Materials will be provided.
Figure Drawing for All Levels
Tuesdays, Sep. 3–Aug. 8 | 2–5pm
Members $175 | Non-members $195 Materials provided This figure-drawing course provides a practical, hands-on approach to mastering the human form. Drawing from live models, students will engage directly with the challenges of capturing the human figure. They will learn to capture gestures and later explore foreshortening, quality of line, shading, weight, volume, hands, and feet. All materials will be provided. Participants in this course are also invited to six untutored Figure Drawing Art Clubs on Thursdays from 2–5pm, at no additional charge, as long as space is available and only while enrolled in this class.
Traditions in Landscape Painting Studio Class
Mondays, Sep. 9–Oct. 14|1–4:30 pm
Members; $175 | Non-Members $195 Materials provided In this beginning-to-advanced studio-based class, students will be guided through the process of creating master copies from a variety of artists to study their technical processes and mark-making. Working in oil paint, students will learn to transfer images from photos and estimate working processes by making studies from early English and French plein air artists to contemporary painters.
Each class will explore an individual artist or genre style with a discussion of unifying or key techniques of each artist or style. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the development of landscape painting while exploring individualized painting approaches and personal styles.
Members $175 | Non-members $195 Materials provided There is no better way to enjoy the day than to paint it. Painting on location throughout downtown Savannah, this fall session will focus on the combination of architecture and nature found in the views of our beautiful squares. Start with the basic materials, add the right tools and techniques, and let painting outdoors become a lifelong passion. Learn to work in oils to create impressions of Downtown Savannah. Explore painting techniques, composition, color, and creative expression in an upbeat and encouraging atmosphere. Learn brushwork, layering, applying paint to the surface, and color-mixing techniques, and use them to express yourself in color. The class meets on-site around the Savannah area, with light walking.
Drawing Basics for All Levels
Mondays, Sep. 21–Nov. 25 | 1–4:30pm
Members $175 | Non-members $195 Materials provided This class will explore drawing techniques and a variety of drawing media. Each week will feature a different material and drawing process. It is a perfect drawing class for new artists wishing to improve their drawing skills and advanced artists looking for new challenges. Through demos and practice, students will learn to draw from direct observation, gaining a sound understanding of materials and processes.
Warm and Comfy: Themed Still-Life Painting Class
Instructor: Kip Bradley
Tuesdays, Oct. 22–Nov. 26th | 10am–12:30pm
Members $175 | Non-members $195 Materials provided
Inspired by the winter season, this still-life class is an excellent way to learn to paint while building new skills. Each week, participants will have a new winter-themed still-life arrangement as their muse and with each brush stroke they will be learning paint application, color mixing, and a deeper understanding of the structures that create the illusion of space and volume.
FEATURED ARTIST WORKSHOPS
Karen B. Wilharm: Drawing the Portrait from Life
November 1–3 | 10am-4pm
Members $460 | Non-members $480 Bring your own materials.
In this three-day workshop, Karen will demonstrate her process of drawing a portrait from life. She will explain and give strategies for design, proportion, massing shapes, rendering form, and creating sensitive edges. Her process is essentially the search for an accurate block in through gesture, massing in darks, and wiping out lights. Once an accurate head is in place, she refines forms, subtleties, and overall design. Students will complete one to two drawings, depending on skill level and refinement. All levels are welcome. Learn more about Karen and see her work at karenbwilharm.com.
Melinda Borysevicz: The Costumed Figure in Oil
December 6–8 | 10am-4pm
Members $460 | Non-members $480 Bring your own materials.
When we paint a person, we also paint a story. Often, something in the expression or in the person’s gesture elicits a feeling in us that we try to capture. While these tend to appear in our work regardless of intention, we can also address them deliberately, creating an image that fleshes out a narrative or some aspect of the human experience. One objective of this course is to further our skills, but we’ll also look to deepen our experience, consciously applying the narrative quality of painting the clothed figure. We’ll work to bring out the story we’d like to tell and how to thoughtfully “set the stage” with our live, clothed model.
Includes class demonstrations and plenty of individual hands-on guidance. Although this workshop is designed for those with some painting experience, all levels are welcome. Learn more about Melinda and see her work at melindaborysevicz.com.
Sketchbook Studies in Gouache
Instructor: Kip Bradley
Thursdays, Oct. 24–Dec. 5|10-12:30 (no class Nov. 28)
Members $175 | Non-members $195 Materials provided This class is for beginners or intermediate artists looking to further their learning through study. This studio-based class will introduce and build drawing and painting skills using a drawing method called planar analysis. This process simplifies complex curved surfaces into flat planes using straight lines, helping students think about the volume of objects. In each class, the students will execute a drawing and painting of a single object using gouache.
Youth Classes
Youth Painting & Drawing
Instructor: Autumn Gary
Ages 9–12 years | Mondays, 4:30–6pm
Session 1: Sep. 9–Oct. 14
Session 2: Nov. 4–Dec. 9
Members $115 | Non-members $135 Materials provided This afternoon class is designed to help upper-elementary and middle school students improve their drawing and painting skills, build portfolios, and develop good art-making habits. Every day is a new creative exploration for seasoned preteen artists and newcomers. As naturally creative individuals, students will be given a voice in their growth while learning traditional drawing and painting skills. Lessons and projects will work onsite and at outdoor locations near the museum. Location details will be emailed to registrants a week prior to the first class.
Youth Painting and Drawing
Instructor: Autumn Gary Ages 12–16 years
Wednesdays, 4:30–6pm
Session 1: Sep. 4–Oct. 9
Session 2: Nov. 6–Dec. 11
Members $115 | Non-members: $135 Materials provided Modeled after our Youth Painting and Drawing class for ages 9-12, this class is geared toward slightly older students in middle and high school grades. Students will tap into their naturally creative abilities while exploring traditional drawing and painting techniques. Lessons and projects will work onsite and at outdoor locations near the museum. Location details will be emailed to registrants a week prior to the first class.
Members $115 | Non-members $135 Materials provided
At a time when the most widely used cameras are those in smartphones, this class will open students' eyes to the possibilities only true cameras can provide and approach photography as professionals do. The class will meet outdoors as much as weather permits as we study the elements of art and explore the outdoors in Telfair Square and other nearby locations. Students will use DSLR digital cameras to learn about exposure, and a few historical methods involving film. Location details will be emailed to registrants a week prior to the first class.
Holiday Tree Lighting
December 5, 5:30pm | Telfair Academy
This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged. Visit telfair.org/museum-events to register.
Telfair invites Savannah and surrounding communities to kick off the holiday season at its annual tree lighting celebration. Join us at the Telfair Academy to enjoy a hot cocoa bar, delicious cookies, and family-friendly art activities. While you're here, be sure to pick up holiday gifts in the museum shop! Our brilliantly colored Delftware ornaments, representing Telfair's three sites, are available for purchase and would love to become part of your family's own decorating tradition. The holiday tree will be on view until January 8, 2025.
Museum Membership is the Perfect Holiday Gift for Art Lovers
The gift of art keeps giving. A Telfair membership offers engaging exhibitions, exclusive events, and more for an entire year!
In addition to gaining entry to all your favorite thought-provoking exhibits and special offerings, your contribution also funds programming that makes art accessible for everyone. By being a member, you help us present worldclass exhibitions, provide arts education for people of all ages, preserve the permanent collection and historic sites, fund lectures and programming for art lovers, and support our mission of Art for All. You're not just giving a present. You're investing in your community and supporting inventive programming that benefits thousands.
To purchase a membership, visit telfair.org/membership, stop by any one of our three sites, or call our membership office at 912.790.8807.
Member Spotlight: Quentin Bronstein
The first time an artist's work is displayed is nerve-wracking yet rewarding. My art was first displayed in Telfair’s 2023 teen art contest. I was notably insecure, touching up every detail until the last second, however, my piece finally came to life seeing it on the white museum wall. Like patrons, I had to observe it from afar to view it through an objective lens.
Wanting something similar for other teen artists, I created the competition Young Artists Supporting Charity. Artists were showcased at a local coffee shop and all works were for sale. Proceeds went to the non-profit Visual AIDS, supporting artists with HIV/AIDS and raising awareness. It was an arduous yet eye-opening experience. Now I understand how much time and effort goes into providing a platform for new artists.
Yoga at the Telfair
5:30pm | Telfair Academy (Doors open at 5:10pm)
$15 for Members (Telfair or Savannah Power Yoga) | $20 Drop-in Please pre-pay online to save time: savannahpoweryoga.com/ workshops. Bring your own mat.
Join us for an all-levels flow yoga class in the rotunda at Telfair Academy. This class invites you to move and breathe in one of the most beautiful spaces in all of Savannah. An experienced teacher from Savannah Power Yoga will guide you through a flowing sequence designed to open your body, mind, and heart to beauty.
Photo courtesy of Quentin Bronstein
telfair affinity groups
Gari Melchers Collectors’ Society
GMCS supports and promotes the expansion of the museum’s permanent collection and provides its members with exclusive programs and educational opportunities to enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of art. For more information, visit telfair. org/melchers. Further event details, including addresses, will be communicated in a forthcoming e-newsletter.
Private Collection Visit
October 15, 5:30pm | Offsite
Members are invited to the private home of long-time GMCS members to view their downtown collection of art plus family objects and documents dating back to the 1750’s, a rare treat for both art and history lovers.
December Party
December 12, 6pm | Offsite
Kick off this festive season with us! The December Party, a cherished GMCS tradition, is an opportunity for merriment while mingling with friends and staff.
Friends of African American Arts
FAAA members enjoy social and cultural activities that allow participants to expand their personal networks, foster appreciation for African American art and culture, and experience the remarkable cultural landscape of the Southeast. For more information, visit telfair.org/faaa
Annual FAAA Members Small Works Exhibition
September 19–November 17 | Jepson Center
Explore new work by a diverse group of established and up-and-coming FAAA member artists from the Savannah community in the Jepson Center’s Morrison Community Gallery. Inspired by the Emancipation exhibition, this year’s FAAA exhibition is themed “Freedom: An Artistic Proclamation.”
Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Lecture
September 19, 6-8pm | Jepson Center
See page 8 for details.
FAAA Artists Gallery Talk
October 17, 6pm | Jepson Center
Free and open to the public
Kenneth & Theresa Martin Studio Visit
November 13, 5pm | Offsite
FAAA members only, pre-registration required. For more information and to register, visit telfair.org/faaa
A special visit with painter Kenneth Martin and fibers mixed media artist, Theresa Martin.
Shirley Robertson Coppett Studio Visit & FAAA Holiday Gathering
December 6, Time TBD | Offsite
Free to FAAA members, pre-registration required. For more information and to register, visit telfair.org/faaa
Telfair Contemporaries
Led by contemporary art enthusiasts, Telfair Contemporaries (TC) welcomes anyone with an interest in modern and contemporary art to come meet with fellow contemporary artists in their studio environments. The mission of TC is to promote the museum's goals and its commitment to developing awareness, understanding, and appreciation of modern and contemporary art. For more information, visit telfair.org/tc
TC Excursion: Atlanta Art Week
October 2–5 | Atlanta, GA
TC members-only; RSVP to membership@telfair.org
TC members are invited to join curator of modern and contemporary art, Erin Dunn, to explore Atlanta Art Week. Members will enjoy the Art Fair at Pullman Yards along with a VIP tour of the Mildred Thompson artist home and residency in Grant Park with Curator of the Mildred Thompson Estate, Melissa Messina.
Friends of the Owens-Thomas House
FOT members are especially interested in architecture, decorative arts, and history. Their contributions support continued preservation and interpretation efforts at the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, public programming, and emerging scholarship. Members enjoy special access to tours and lectures, invitations to events, and exclusive visits to museums, historic homes, and private collections. For more information, visit telfair.org/fot
FOT Presents: Modern Lingua Flora September 5 | Jepson Center 5:30pm Reception, 6:15pm Conversation
Free and open to the public; pre-registration is encouraged; register at telfair.org/museum-events
The Friends of the Owens-Thomas House will help close the exhibition Lingua Flora with a roundtable discussion about how contemporary artists and designers in the Savannah area incorporate floral subjects in their designs. Dr. Elyse Gerstenecker, curator of decorative arts, will moderate a conversation with Christina Lemon, studio jewelry artist and professor of art jewelry and small metals at Georgia Southern University; Larissa Miller, textile artist and owner of design company, RissaLaRue Co.; and Ksenia Phillips, designer and owner of stationery brand, Darling Lemon. Sponsored by FOT.
FOT Bourbon Wassail
December 10, 5:30pm | Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
Free for FOT members | $15 for Telfair Members | $30 for yet-to-be members Register at telfair.org/museum-events
Celebrate the season in sparkling style at this annual favorite event presented by FOT. Enjoy spiced beverages, seasonal treats, and festive music as you kick off the holidays at this glamorous event!
Embraced by the deep, dark velvet of night, the aroma of blooming lavender follows each step of your promenade onto a Provencial stage. Music mingles with the bubbling chatter of attendees, draped in haute couture, aglow with candlelight and the spirit of friendship and fellowship. An opulent evening in the French countryside that blends clinking crystal, lively conversation, and culinary delights–all revelry in celebration of a centuries-old institution that holds a dear place in our hearts and in the city of Savannah.
FEBRUARY 22, 2025 | THE RIVERFRONT AT EASTERN WHARF
Le Printemps en Provence
will unveil a captivating evening inspired by the idyllic aromas, flavors, and landscapes of Provence. An atmosphere of pure enchantment the spirit of joie de vivre a coalescence of support for this treasured institution’s education programs, community outreach, exhibitions, and more.
Contact Lauren Grant today for sponsorship opportunities or to purchase your tickets: grantl@telfair.org | 912.790.8866
Jump into the Director's Circle
We are truly grateful to each of our Director’s Circle members for their generous support. Their annual gift to Telfair represents an important investment in our children, our community, and the cultural arts scene in Savannah and the region. Director’s Circle patrons enjoy greater access to the museum and its curators through an array of enhanced benefits, and experience the joy of knowing they are helping to sustain the museum for future generations.
For more information about joining Director’s Circle, please contact Rana Edgar at 912.790.8865 or edgarr@telfair.org
Membership begins at $1,500. Director’s Circle members receive all standard membership benefits, plus:
Unlimited guest passes
Exclusive exhibition previews, receptions, and dinners
Eligibility to purchase tickets to Telfair Ball
Domestic and international travel opportunities with the museum director and curators
Facility rental eligibility at the Telfair Academy and Jepson Center
And so much more!
UPCOMING EXCLUSIVE EVENTS:
Director’s Circle Reception & Lecture
Norman Rockwell & Peers:
Illustrating Childhood
October 9, 5:30pm Reception, 6:15pm Lecture Jepson Center
Cocktail attire. RSVPs are required by October 2 to Keeley O'Conner at 912.790.8869 or oconnerk@telfair.org
Director’s Circle members are invited to a complimentary reception and lecture by Judy Goffman Cutler, Co-Founder and Museum Director of the National Museum of American Illustration, New York City, NY.
An Evening with Robert M. Edsel, Bestselling Author of The Monuments Men
November 21, 5:30pm Reception, 6:15pm Lecture Jepson Center
Director’s Circle members only. RSVPs are required by November 14 to Keeley O'Conner at 912.790.8869 or oconnerk@telfair.org.
Director’s Circle members are invited to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from Robert M. Edsel. Edsel is recognized today as one of the world’s foremost advocates for art preservation. While living in Florence, Italy, he developed a great passion for art and architecture and became curious as to how so many of the monuments and great works of art survived the thefts and devastation of World War II. Edsel founded the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, and his work has resulted in numerous honors including the National Humanities Medal, America’s highest honor for work in the humanities, presented by the President of the United States at a White House ceremony.
The evening will begin with a reception in the Jepson Center’s Eckburg Atrium followed by the lecture. An elegant complimentary dinner will be held at the Telfair Academy following the lecture for Director’s Circle members at the $2,500 Steward level and above.
Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Jepson Jr. and Dr. and Mrs. William T. Moore
Welcome David Brenneman, the Telfair Museums' New Executive Director/CEO
Telfair Museums is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. David A. Brenneman as its new Director and CEO, starting September 1, 2024. With an impressive track record in museum leadership and a deep dedication to cultural stewardship, Brenneman is poised to guide Telfair Museums into a new era of growth and community engagement, inspiring us all with his vision for the future.
Brenneman joins Telfair from the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, where he spearheaded a transformative $30 million renovation of the museum's iconic I. M. Pei building. Under his leadership, the museum's extensive collection of over 45,000 artworks became more accessible and engaging for the Indiana University community and southern Indiana residents. Before his tenure at Eskenazi, Brenneman spent two decades at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, serving as Director of Collections and Exhibitions before his departure in 2015.
Throughout his career, Brenneman has cultivated significant institutional partnerships and led high-profile projects, including the Louvre Atlanta exhibitions, which introduced many of the Louvre's masterpieces to U.S.
2024–25 Board of Trustees
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Josh Keller, Chairman
Susan Willetts, Chair-Elect/Co-Treasurer
Rebecca Ogden, Secretary
John Neely III, Esq., Legal Counsel
Swann Seiler, Immediate Past Chair
Kendall McCurry, Vice-Chair
Tom Reilly, Vice-Chair
Vincent West, Vice-Chair
TRUSTEES
Kerry Breitbart
John Cay IV
Dolly Chisholm
Ron Gantt
Charlie A. Hinnant
David C. Johnson Jr.
Catherine V. Johnston
Lori Judge
Richard C. Kessler
Diane vS Levy
Pamela Lewanda
Leslie Littlejohn
Quentin L. Marlin
Roger Moss Jr.
C.B. Richardson
Nancy A. Reardon Sayer
Alan Sheriff
Kimberly Smith
Courtland Stevens
Marti B. Sullivan
Stephen Taylor
Matt West
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Dale Critz Jr.
Lila Critz
Robert F. Faircloth
Alice A. Jepson
Robert S. Jepson Jr.
Ann Miller
William T. Moore, Ph.D.
Frida Moore Sinkler
Ken Sirlin
Cathy Solomons
Helen Steward
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Dolly Chisholm & Graham Sadler,
Chairs 45th Annual Telfair Ball
Amanda Everard, Chair, FOT
Linda McWhorter, Chair, GMCS
Kim Dubois, Chair, FAAA
audiences for the first time. His contributions to this project earned him France's esteemed Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2008. At Indiana University, Brenneman was instrumental in creating outreach positions for K-12 education and establishing the first art therapist role at an American university art museum.
"I am deeply honored and excited to lead Telfair Museums into its next chapter," Brenneman said. "The museum's rich history and commitment to artistic excellence offer a unique opportunity. I look forward to working with the staff, board, patrons, and the Savannah community to enhance Telfair's role as a cornerstone of Georgia's cultural life."
Brenneman's passion for building art collections, curating compelling exhibitions, and enhancing the educational impact of art museums has been a hallmark of his 30-year career. His extensive experience includes organizing exhibitions featuring works by Claude Monet, Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo, and Glenn Close's costume collection, among others. Telfair’s Board of Trustees and staff welcome the new era of leadership and direction.
Honorary Trustee, Dale Critz Jr.
On May 16, Telfair’s Board of Trustees named one honorary trustee and welcomed three new board members. For his lifelong dedication to Telfair Museums, Dale Critz Jr. was named honorary trustee. Critz Jr. served extensively during his multi-year tenure as a trustee, Chairman of the Board, and Telfair Ball Chair. In addition, Diane vS Levy, Nancy Reardon Sayer, and David C. Johnson Jr. were voted in as trustees, each bringing expertise and commitment to the institution.
Gifts
Given in Tribute
March 6 through July 19, 2024
HONORARY GIFTS
In Honor of Laurie Halloran
Gary Bagnall
In Honor of Courtney & Matt West
Cathy and Philip Solomons
In Honor of Cynthia Willett
Mr. and Mrs. Irvin J. Macdougall Jr.
In Honor of Calvin Woodum
Jacqueline and Ken Sirlin
MEMORIAL GIFTS
In Memory of Mr. Dale C. Critz Sr.
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Wistar Lewis
Corporate Spotlight: Ryan Martin, Savannah Market
President, Truist
Ryan Martin joined Truist in November 2022 after the merger of SunTrust Bank and BB&T. Truist’s predecessor bank was a decades-long supporter of Telfair and a capstone supporter of the Jepson Center building. With a Savannah banking career that spans more than 20 years, Martin joined the Truist team in part because he admired the company’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. He also appreciates that Truist encourages every teammate to find and cultivate their own purpose. Personally, supporting the arts in Savannah and being active in Truist’s sponsorship of Telfair matches Ryan’s desire to see that art is accessible to anyone in the community to appreciate.
Ryan would never profess to be an expert in the field; however, he does understand the power of viewing a great piece of art and spending time to let the beauty and complexity of the piece speak to him, knowing that his understanding
of the artwork may be completely different from the artist’s purpose.
The actual artmaking process is also critical. Seeing how impactful Telfair’s outreach programs are to Savannah’s diverse community speaks to how important taking time to create can be to mental health and the community’s well-being. What excites Ryan and Truist is their ability to be hands-on in their support. Truist volunteers helped at multiple Free Family Days in 2021. They especially enjoyed the Juneteenth Celebration Day where they were able to assist with studio art projects and experience amazing programming. This year, Truist selected to support the Norman Rockwell & Peers: Illustrating Childhood exhibition, which opens this fall. Ryan and the Truist team look forward to the opening of this exciting exhibition as they continue lending their support of Telfair Museums, furthering their mission to be purposeful in community engagement.
Palette to Palate Competition: Creativity Meets Cuisine
October 29, 5:30pm | Telfair Academy
Tickets start at $55 with special discounts for members. Pre-registration is encouraged. Register at telfair.org/museumevents
Step into a world where the mastery of flavors harmonizes with the beauty of art.
Join us for an evening with FARM Hospitality Groups’ chefs from Common Thread, FARM Bluffton, Strange Bird, Flora and Fauna, and Wildflower Café, as they battle in Telfair Museums’ first Palette to Palate competition! Who will create the most delicious and original bite inspired by a work of art in Telfair’s collection? Contestants will deftly blend traditional techniques with avant-garde innovations, weaving together ingredients as though they were strokes on a canvas, creating edible works of art that dazzle both the eye and the palate.
Wandering through the Telfair Academy, you will be treated to visual splendor and an unforgettable sensory experience. Cast your vote for your favorite culinary masterpiece with a winner being crowned that evening.
Sponsored in part by Hancock Askew & Co., LLP
Cheers to a Year of Spectacular Museum Events!
2024 was a year packed with exciting moments of celebration, fellowship, learning, and a shared love of art. Here are just a few highlights. We hope you'll join us for even more adventures in 2025!
1. PULSE Art + Technology Festival
Held Jan. 26–27
2. 44th Annual Telfair Ball Held February 24
3. Frank Stewart’s Nexus Members' Reception & Lecture Held February 8
4. FOT Garden Party w/ Emily McCarthy
Held April 25
5. Frank Stewart's Nexus Free Family Day
Held April 27
6. Art of Fashion with Jet Shenkman, Eponine London
Held May 8
7. Tibetan Monks Residency at Telfair Academy
Held May 14-18
8. Free Family Photo Day to Celebrate CAM’s 1st Birthday
Held July 27
TELFAIR
LEARN MORE AT TELFAIR.ORG FOLLOW US @TELFAIRMUSEUMS OFFER SUPPORT AT TELFAIR.ORG/SUPPORT
Please help us thank our corporate and foundation partners for educational, programming, and exhibition support.
