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Medium The Magazine of the Birmingham Museum of Art Winter · 2020 Recent Acquisition 1880 Crow Peace Delegation
Hours Telephones
Contents Medium · Winter · 2020
Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm Main Office James Outland
Sunday, Noon–5pm 205.254.2565 Chairman of the Board
Closed Mondays and select holidays
Public Programs Graham C. Boettcher
Oscar’s at the Museum
205.254.2856 The R. Hugh Daniel Director
Tuesday–Friday, 11am–2pm Art + Exhibitions 6
Members receive a 10% discount Recent Acquisition
Museum Tour Laura Monroe
205.328.7850; oscars@artsbma.org Interact + Respond
205.254.2964 Editor
Last Call
Clarence B. Hanson, Jr. Library
Membership James Williams
By appointment: library@artsbma.org
205.254.2389 Designer
Programs + Events 16
The Museum Shop Ongoing Programs
Development Sean Pathasema
Open Museum hours Nina Campbell Talk
205.254.2600 Photographer
Members receive a 10% discount; Callahan Lecture
205.254.2777;
Facilities Rental Membership inquiries to: p. 18
museumstore@artsbma.org
Jestina Howard, Special Events membership@artsbma.org
News + Giving 20
205.254.2681; jhoward@artsbma.org
Volunteer Spotlight
Editorial inquiries to:
Conservation
lmonroe@artsbma.org
Q + A with Katie Paul
p. 7 Family Festival Recap
Board of Trustees
Community Partner Spotlight
CCCA Artist Award
Mr. James K. Outland, Chairman; Dr. Sanjay Singh, Vice Chair; Ms. Myla E. Calhoun, Secretary; Mr. Braxton Goodrich, Endowment Chair;
Museum Ball Chairs
Mr. Joel B. Piassick, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair; Mrs. Maye Head Frei, Governance Chair; The Honorable Houston Brown;
EAS Trip to Italy
Ms. Carol Clarke; Mr. Norman B. Davis, Jr.; Mr. Mark L. Drew; Dr. George T. French; Mr. C. Randall Minor; Mrs. Joyce Crawford Mitchell;
In Memoriam: Wynn Kramarsky
Mr. John Montgomery; Mr. G. Ruffner Page, Jr.; Ms. Kimberly Richardson; Mr. J. Andrew Robison; Mrs. Nan Skier; Ms. Sonja Q. Smith;
Tribute + Memorial Gifts
Mrs. Kelly Styslinger; Mrs. Patricia Wallwork
Visitors’ View
Chairmen Emeriti: Mr. Thomas N. Carruthers, Jr.; Mrs. Margaret Livingston Corporate Partners
p. 24
Annual Report 28
The Birmingham Museum of Art publishes the membership magazine, Medium, quarterly.
On the cover: Wendy Red Star, United States, Native American, Introduction
Crow, born 1981, Déaxitchish / Pretty Eagle from the series 1880
Crow Peace Delegation, 2014, inkjet print and red ink on paper; Impact
The mission of the Birmingham Museum of Art is to spark the creativity, imagination, and
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Estate of Clyde W.
Financial Statement
liveliness of Birmingham by connecting all its citizens to the experience, meaning, and joy of art. Oyster, 2019.31e
Acquisitions
Contributions
p. 31
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. A portion of the general operating budget is supported by the City of
Birmingham and a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
p. 27
2 3
Director’s A visit to a museum is
Letter
a search for beauty, truth,
and meaning in our lives.
Go to museums as often as you can.
Maira Kalman
Author and Illustrator
TEDxMet talk, October 19, 2013
Dear Member,
Recently, after 13 years of renting a one-room studio apartment on Highland Avenue, I finally
took the plunge and became a first-time homeowner, purchasing a unique mid-century modern
home in Crestwood. Through the process of getting settled in my new digs, I’m learning just how
much it takes to make a house a home. Two months in and I’m finally starting to feel a sense of
Gemütlichkeit, a German term used to describe a “state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and
good cheer,” but which also connotes “coziness, peace of mind, and a sense of belonging and
well-being.” Gemütlichkeit is difficult to translate, but suffice it to say that you know it when you
feel it.
Some of you may have already noticed our recent efforts to bring a sense of Gemütlichkeit to
our museum, not an easy task given that the size of the building and cold marble-clad surfaces
don’t exactly scream “cozy.” Still, there’s a lot that we can do to cultivate a sense of “at-homeness”
Above: @grahamboettcher posing in the interactive gallery for at the BMA: places to sit and relax with comfortable seating; free WiFi and charging stations so
visitors as part of Ways of Seeing: Portraits
that you can stay connected; and attractive, well-maintained facilities.
Over the course of the coming months, you’ll witness all of our public restrooms receive a
long-overdue reboot, including fresh paint, rejuvenated tiles, new sinks, Dyson hand dryers,
brighter lighting, additional changing tables, and new drinking fountains from which you can fill
a water bottle. I’m also pleased to announce that this past November, the City Council approved
funds for a wheelchair lift to our main lobby so that our building will soon be fully accessible from
both public entrances. I hope that these changes will enhance your museum-going experience,
and we will continue to identify ways to make our visitors feel at-home.
You will recall that last year, we presented The Original Makers: Folk Art from the Cargo
Collection in conjunction with the celebration of our state’s bicentennial. I'm thrilled to share
the good news that the publication accompanying the exhibition was recently accorded the
Exhibition Catalog Award by The Southeast Chapter of the Art Libraries Society of North As we begin the new year, I want to thank you for your continuing membership. In Up From Slavery,
America's (ARLIS/NA) LoPresti Award Committee. The chair of the committee wrote, "The judg- Booker T. Washington wrote, “I have found that the happiest people are those who do the most for others.”
es gave it high marks for usefulness to general visual arts collections, image quality, and design By that measure, our members must be the happiest folks around! Your generous support of the BMA has
quality. They also noted that the photographs really highlighted the beauty of the exhibition piec- a multiplied impact, enabling us to maintain free admission for more than 120,000 visitors each year and
es, were impressed with the recommended reading list, and the level of personal information continue to provide an exciting array of exhibitions and programs for our visitors to enjoy. Your giving en-
on the artists themselves. This book will be a wonderful addition to any visual arts collection." riches our entire community, and helps us to create a feeling of belonging for all of our visitors.
Catalogues are still available in our Museum Shop. Consider adding this superb volume to your
own library! Another recent accolade comes from TripSavvy, a popular travel advice website. We Yours in art,
recently received the news from its editors that out of 60,000 businesses reviewed, we were
one of only 620 to receive a 2019 TripSavvy Editors’ Choice Award naming us “Best for Culture
Vultures.” In addition to overall excellence and the quality of the visitor experience, winners were
judged of their “newsworthiness,” that is, we were “in the spotlight this year.” Thanks to the qual-
ity of our recent exhibitions and programs, we garnered our fair share of the limelight in 2019 Graham C. Boettcher, Ph.D.
and I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2020. The R. Hugh Daniel Director
4 5
Art +
Exhibitions
T his work by Wendy Red Star, entitled 1880 Crow Peace
Delegation, consists of ten historic photographs that have been
scanned and digitally manipulated. The original portraits were taken by
Charles Milton Bell, a studio photographer working in Washington, D.C.
in the late 1800s. The delegation of Crow chiefs and distinguished
leaders had traveled to Washington to discuss a treaty regarding the
boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation, and while there had their
portraits made in Bell’s studio.
Red Star, who is herself Crow, observed that the portraits, as with
many historic photographs of Native American people, had made their
way into the public domain with no identifying information about the
sitters, and were appropriated for use in commercial advertisements.
She discovered a photograph of one member of the delegation—Chief
Medicine Crow—used in an advertisement for Honest Tea. This appro-
priation has taken place for over a century, with Native American faces
and bodies used to sell everything from tobacco to cologne. Recent Acquisition
1880 Crow Peace Delegation
Wendy Red Star, United States, Native American, Crow, born
1981, Peelatchiwaaxpáash / Medicine Crow (Raven) from the se-
ries 1880 Crow Peace Delegation, 2014, inkjet print and red ink
on paper; Museum purchase with funds provided by the Estate of
Clyde W. Oyster, 2019.31a
6 7
In Red Star’s series, she has annotated the scanned photographs,
identifying the names of the sitters and details about their lives. She
researched each individual and provides commentary on their sta-
tus, accomplishments, relationships, and particularly the symbolic
Above: Wendy Red Star, United States, Native American, Crow, significance of their regalia. In the portrait of Peelatchiwaaxpáash/
born 1981, Déaxitchish / Pretty Eagle from the series 1880 Crow
Peace Delegation, 2014, inkjet print and red ink on paper; Museum Medicine Crow (Raven), she labels “Hair extensions made from peo-
purchase with funds provided by the Estate of Clyde W. Oyster,
ple in mourning,” and “Ermine on leggings, successful war leader.” In
2019.31e
some instances, her annotations give the sitters a first-person voice,
Opposite Page: Wendy Red Star, Apsáalooke (Crow),
Alaxchiiaahush/Many War Achievements / Plenty Coups from the se- such as Alaxchiiaahush/Many War Achievements/Plenty Coups who
ries 1880 Crow Peace Delegation, 2014, inkjet print and red ink on
states, “I was baptized Catholic as Henry Plenty Coups in 1929” and
paper; Museum purchase with funds provided by the Estate of Clyde
W. Oyster, 2019.31j Déaxitchish/Pretty Eagle, who says, “My body sold to a collector for
$500 and kept for 72 years at the American Museum of Natural
History. My people brought my remains back to Crow Country on June
4, 1994. My remains are now at Pretty Eagle Point, Bighorn Canyon.”
Some of Red Star’s annotations are imagined, and reflect her own hu-
mor, such as “I can kick your ass with these eyes,” or “I am not a fan of
the white man.”
In providing rich details of each man’s life, Red Star has illuminat-
ed their humanity and their individuality, and interrogated the pattern
of displaying “anonymous” Native American subjects. As well, she has
inserted herself as an artist and historian, engaging not only her trib-
al forbearers, but the broader experience of Native people past and
present.
This acquisition was made possible by the bequest of Dr. Clyde W.
Oyster, whose generous gift to the Museum has supported purchases
of work by contemporary Native American artists.
8 Art + Exhibitions | 9
Exhibitions Feature
Interact + Respond
T he Birmingham Museum of Art is committed to creating stronger visitor engagement
through new interpretative methods and experiential spaces in our galleries. The Museum’s
current exhibitions, all of which close in the next few months, encourage visitor participation and
response. These response areas offer opportunities to look closely, think critically, and, in many
ways, contribute to the exhibitions.
Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now
Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now originated at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in
Washington, D.C., and traveled to the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson before making its
final stop here in Birmingham. The exhibition highlights both historical and contemporary explo-
rations into the silhouette, revealing new pathways between our past and present.
BMA staff seized the opportunity to share a hands-on making process through this exhibition.
Visitors are invited to create their own silhouette by following a step-by-step process inspired by
the physiognotrace, a device used by artists to trace the shadowed outline of a person’s facial
Top to Bottom: Station for projecting a
features. The final step in the process prompts guests to either take their work home as a keep-
visitor’s shadow for tracing; Display area
for finished silhouettes; Station for reduc- sake or hang it in a frame on the response wall.
ing the silhouette tracing via pantograph.
“Using a tracing device to create a silhouette is not as easy as one might think,” said Curator
of Education Rachel White. “I hope visitors come away with renewed insight into the complexity
of this seemingly-simple medium, but also that they have a lot of fun making cut paper portraits
of friends and family.”
A digital screen displaying a scrolling feed of images from Instagram is located outside the
interactive room. Posts from public accounts that include the hashtag #blackoutbma appear in
the feed, and visitors are encouraged to tag images of silhouettes they see outside the Museum,
as well as the silhouettes they create in the exhibition.
10 Art + Exhibitions | 11
Left to Right: Digital screen featuring silhouette images found While silhouettes are unique in that their inherent high contrast nature lends are coming to the Museum for the first time. Others were more poi- sculptures by artist Celestia Morgan. Beginning in the 1930s, the
outside the Museum; The Sensory Empowerment Program Touch
Space in Black Out; The community response wall in REDLINE. itself well to viewers with low vision, for many people, touch remains the pri- gnant. One of my favorites came in a few weeks ago and said ‘Barbara Federal Housing Administration systematically denied mortgages
mary way to gain information about an object. The interactive Touch Space Millicent Roberts has had a huge impact on my life as a queer woman to prospective homeowners on the basis of race, religion, and immi-
featured in Black Out includes three-dimensional tactile models which are a in the south. At first, she taught me about femininity and the ideals gration status in order to prevent residents from building wealth. This
part of the Museum’s Sensory Empowerment Program Touch Tours. Although that a woman could achieve anything. Then, I realized I was gay and practice of housing discrimination was called redlining after the red
these tactile models are designed for visitors with low to no vision, we encour- just preferred the girl dolls." lines drawn by banks and government officials on housing maps.
age everyone who visits this space to touch and empower their senses! Though redlining officially came to an end in 1968 with the passage
Ways of Seeing: Portraits of the Fair Housing Act, its impact continues to perpetuate the racial
Barbie: Dreaming of a Female Future Drawing primarily from the BMA’s permanent collection, Ways of income gap in the United States. Many of Birmingham’s communities
It is obvious upon stepping inside the 740-square-foot gallery that Barbie: Seeing: Portraits brings together various works from the Museum’s still suffer from the effects of redlining. The visitor response station in
Dreaming of a Female Future is an exhibition created inherently with social collections that consider the many ways artists have represented peo- this exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the neighborhoods in which
media and visitor interaction in mind. ple from the 1500s to the present day. From a rare Renaissance-era they live and share their personal experience with redlining by writ-
“
The works in the exhibition represent portrait drawing to contemporary photography, this show examines ing their answers on sticky notes and posting them on the wall. Some
Barbara Millicent Roberts has
artists’ interpretations of Barbie and are how artists have pictured themselves and others across time. have expressed that the exhibition opened their eyes to an issue of
had a huge impact on my life
presented as part of a life-size dream For this exhibition, Museum staff put their heads together to create a which they were previously unaware, while others have told of specific
as a queer woman in the south.
house. Photography is encouraged and photo booth response area after seeing the popularity of a previous in- hardships faced due to the impacts of redlining.
At first, she taught me about
the only objects off limits to touch are teractive in the Ways of Seeing series (Portraits is the current iteration “This exhibition is about Birmingham, so we felt it was important for
femininity and the ideals that a
hanging on the walls. The immersive of a six-part series that explores themes from across the Museum’s people to have the chance to respond about something that affects
woman could achieve anything.
space invites visitors to borrow a book global art collections. The next iteration, The Built Environment, opens everyone so deeply here,” said Ringle. “Having a response area tells
Then, I realized I was gay and
”
from Barbie’s bookshelf, take a seat on in April.) The 15 Minutes of Fame mini-photography studio is inspired our audience that the Museum is here to listen if they want to share.
just preferred the girl dolls.
her couch, and hang out around her din- by the work of Andy Warhol and his 1968 quote, “In the future, every- At its core this is a human space made up of the people who work
ing table. In taking the place of Barbie one will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” here and the artists whose work is represented on the walls and in the
in her home, visitors can consider their own relationship with the doll and the Museum visitors are invited to snap a photo in front of a Warhol- collection. We are not the cold, stagnant space so often associated
ways in which she may have impacted their perceptions of self. inspired background using their phones. To “hang” their portraits in with museums.”
While the hundreds of posts on social media about Barbie are one way to the exhibition for a few moments, visitors can share their portraits on In addition to visitor feedback in the gallery, on October 15, 2019, the
see our audience’s reaction to the exhibition, we wanted to take it one step Instagram with the hashtag #portraitsbma. Public posts then appear Museum hosted the Edward M. Friend and Hermione Friend Lecture, a
further. Using a digital touch screen at Barbie’s desk, visitors can respond to on a digital screen in the space, offering visitors their very own “15 biennial lecture focusing on contemporary artists, critics, and historians.
their experience by sending a letter. minutes of fame” experience. A departure from its typical format, the event included Birmingham artist
“This exhibition has been largely experimental and so Barbie's email has Celestia Morgan and a panel of local community activists.
been key in getting feedback from visitors,” Curator of Contemporary Art Celestia Morgan: REDLINE Prior to the panel discussion, each speaker shared their personal
Hallie Ringle said. “Some were funny, like those who apologized to Barbie for On view through February 16, Celestia Morgan: REDLINE explores experiences and thoughts on redlining and its effects on Birmingham.
cutting her hair when they were kids. Some are from our youngest visitors who redlining in Birmingham through a series of photographs and small The following excerpts highlight key points from their talk.
12 Art + Exhibitions | 13
Last Call Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now
Closes January 12 · 2020
Celestia Morgan, Birmingham artist: “What about the walls in our Richard Rice, attorney and community organizer: “We understand Don’t miss these exhibitions before they close.
communities? What about the walls in our education system? What that housing or a home is the number one indicator of one’s wealth,
about the walls in our healthcare system? What about the walls in our and so redlining has contributed drastically to the wealth gap between
government officials? What about the walls for artists in Hollywood? black and white communities that we see today. The black community
What about the walls in corporate America? Unfortunately, too many has but a fraction of the overall wealth of this nation to which it has
dreams are limited by where they come from and what they look like, contributed so much …
but there’s some good that can come out the hood. In some situations, Southtown is going to be redeveloped not as a mixed income com-
I find myself contained once again just like 55th Street [Morgan’s munity, but a mixed use community. Mixed use means residential and
childhood home where she first experienced racism], but I was told commercial space, meaning there is going to be hotels, shopping, and
as a child that the sky is the limit to some office space, which is great
Barbie: Dreaming of a Female Future
what I can have and the sky doesn’t in a lot of ways. We want to create
Closes January 26 · 2020
have borders. So if you feel like new value and new wealth, but my
society has held you back in any question is who does that wealth go
form or fashion, keep pushing, work to? Who does that value go to? Is
through it. If you feel like you have there opportunity for us to be able
it all together, help someone else to redistribute that in a way that
break through.” would help correct some of these
historic wrongs? Do we have a duty
Odessa Woolfolk, educator, pub- to those specific residents to make
lic administrator, and civic activ- sure to take into account their spe-
ist: “The thing about the red line is cific needs? These are the types of
that it was like a scarlet letter for questions that I think need to be
the people who were confined with- considered before we redevelop Celestia Morgan: REDLINE
in its boundaries because wherever these neighborhoods.” Closes February 16 · 2020
you went, you were associated with Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now has
whatever images people had of the T. Marie King, community activist been organized by the Smithsonian’s National
Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., and gen-
people who lived within the red lines. And you know, the folks who and educator: “A lot of times we have these conversations and we erously sponsored by the Thoma Foundation.
The local presentation of the exhibition is
grew up earlier when these laws were in effect were also limited to confront these issues and it’s easy to say, well, I’m not responsible and made possible by the Jack Warner Foundation.
Additional support provided by the Alabama
what they could do outside the red line. Because if you lived in the red you’re absolutely correct. You are not responsible for the things that
State Council on the Arts and the National
line, as I did, you came to the Birmingham Museum of Art on certain we are dealing with today, but because you know now, you are ac- Endowment for the Arts, the Barbara Shelton
Education Fund, the City of Birmingham, and
days. If you lived in the red line, there were places that you couldn’t go countable for change going forward … if we continue at the rate we’re Friends of Black Out.
or if you went, you were treated as an other, a lesser, an undeserved. at, we will continue to red line eachother out of each other’s lives … If
The red line was very profound.” we can deal with the truth and be honest about what we have done,
Celestia Morgan: REDLINE is presented by The Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family.
and come together and bring the people of these communities that
Additional support is provided by Dr. Graham C. Boettcher, Rebecca and
are being red lined out to the table to help create solutions, then the Jack Drake, the Sperling Family Charitable Foundation in memory of David
and Natalie Sperling, the City of Birmingham, the Alabama State Council Ways of Seeing: Portraits
sky won’t be the limit. It will just be the beginning.” on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Closes March 8 · 2020
14 Art + Exhibitions | 15
Programs
+ Events
Ongoing programs Art-Making Programs
Art After 5 ArtBreaks Visitas guiadas en español Drop-in Drawing
First Fridays through April Select Tuesdays · Noon · Free El segundo sábado de cada mes, a las Select Sundays · 2–4pm
5–9pm · Free Museum curators and guest speakers lead 11am · Gratis Free, no registration necessary
Unwind from the week with art, making, and visitors on a 30-minute exploration of art in El BMA se enorgullece de presentar visitas Looking for a last-minute art fix? Here’s
mixing. Each month, we’ll feature a new blend the galleries. Through a series of close-look- guiadas de su colección en español. No se an open invitation to explore your creative
of art and entertainment, featuring art activi- ing techniques and questioning, this free ex- requiere reserva previa para estos recor- sensibilities in a relaxed setting with inspi-
ties, local mixologists, and art history hacks perience helps build the visitor’s interpretive ridos gratuitos. Destinados a visitantes de ration from a pro. Make your own drawing in
with the experts. We’ll see you at Art After 5! skills across the comprehensive-range of todas las edades, cada mes, el recorrido the galleries under the guidance of teach-
Spring 2020 Schedule: art periods and canons represented by the se centrará en un tema y aspecto único de ing artist Jamison Harper. You provide the
Feb. 7 // March 7 // April 3 BMA’s collections. Stay for lunch at Oscar’s la colección del Museo. ¡Únete a nosotros creativity. We’ll provide the art supplies.
and they will throw in a free dessert! Our para explorar obras de arte de todo el Locations vary, see signs at entrances.
next program is on Tuesday, January 21. mundo!
Art and Conversation
Select Thursdays · 10:30am Studio School
$12 for Museum Members Sensory Empowerment Spanish Tours Studio School offers a wide range of art
$17 for Not-Yet-Members Program Second Saturday of every month classes for adults and children, including
This program is for people who want to Second Saturdays · 10am · Free 11am · Free painting, drawing, pottery, and more. Using
learn more about art in an informative and In this program for adults with visual im- The BMA is proud to offer monthly Spanish the Museum’s collection and exhibitions as
interactive setting. Lectures are led by cu- pairments and their companions, special- language tours of its collection. No reser- inspiration, explore your own creativity while
rators or guest speakers, and attendees ly trained docents present the Museum’s vation is necessary for these free walk-in discovering new techniques. Whether you’re
are encouraged to ask questions, share collection by means of verbal descriptions, tours. Open to visitors of all ages, each tour interested in a laid-back craft night or an in-
thoughts and ideas, and actively partici- three-dimensional tactile models based on focuses on a unique theme and aspect of depth course, Studio School has something
pate in the learning process. Coffee and original works of art, and sculpture. The ex- the Museum’s global collection. Join us to for you.
light refreshments are available at 10am. perience may be enhanced by related music explore artwork from around the world! New classes begin in February. BMA
2020 Schedule: and/or art-making to provide multi-sensory members receive a 10% discount on all
February 6 // March 5 // April 2 // May 7 access to the visual arts. Advance reser- This program is brought to you by the Dora Studio School classes. To see more infor-
June 4 // July 2 // August 6 // September 3 vations are required; space is limited. SEP and Sanjay Singh Endowment for Global mation and to register, visit artsbma.org/
October 1 // November 5 tours are also available for school-age or Arts, Culture, and Education. studio-school.
adult groups. To reserve your spot or learn
more about group tours, call 205.254.2964.
Slow Art Sundays
Sundays · 2pm · Free The Sensory Empowerment Program is sup-
Slow food, slow living, slow … art? Unlock the ported in part by a grant from The EyeSight
secrets of works in the Museum’s collection Foundation of Alabama.
by cultivating the art of looking slowly. Our do-
cents ask and answer questions to help guide
your slow art experience and foster conversa-
tion. Leave the Museum feeling inspired—not
tired!
To learn more about our ongoing programs and what we have planned for each event, please visit our online calendar at artsbma.org/events.
16 17
Special Event
Nina Campbell Callahan
Lecture + Reception Lecture
Beyond the Lotus: Flora in the Arts of India
Interior Decoration:
Elegance and Ease
February 4 · 6PM · $55
Join us for an evening with internationally Nina established her own interior design
renowned interior designer Nina Campbell. practice and studio where she creates a
For nearly 50 years, Nina has created vi- successful fabric and wallpaper collection
brant, imaginative spaces seeped in quintes- internationally distributed by Osborne &
sentially English style for clients around the Little. She has retail shops for home acces-
world, from rock stars to royalty. For her talk, sories and gifts in London’s Knightsbridge
Nina offers a personal tour of her colorful and Design Center East, Chelsea Harbour
career with highlights from her most recent which also houses her extensive furniture
book, Nina Campbell Interior Decoration: collection. Nina is the author of six books on
Elegance and Ease. interior design. Her many awards and hon-
February 29 · 6:30pm · Free
Following the lecture, please join us for ors include an Honorary Doctorate from the
a reception and book signing in our Main University of Middlesex (2001), the Royal
Throughout India the language of foliage is profound. Learn the secrets of
Lobby. Copies of Nina Campbell Interior Oak Timeless Design Award (2003), the
this scented language as rendered in the visual arts through a discussion with
Decoration: Elegance and Ease will be avail- American Fashion Award for ‘the woman
Katherine Anne Paul, Ph.D., The Virginia and William M. Spencer III Curator of
able for purchase in the Museum Shop. who has most influenced style internation-
Asian Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and Tushara Bindu Gude, Ph.D.,
Nina’s career began at 19 when she ally’ and she became a Legend of the Pratt
Associate Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art, Los Angeles County
went to work for John Fowler at Colefax & Institute in 2015. She is a Trustee of Bath
Museum of Art.
Fowler. She soon set up her own decorat- Spa University.
ing business where her first commissions Unknown artist, Himachal Pradesh (formerly the
Kingdom of Kangra), India, Krishna and Radha by
included a castle in Scotland and Annabel’s This lecture and reception is sponsored by
a Lotus Pond, about 1800, Ink, color, gold on pa-
private members’ club in London. In 1974, Carolyn Wade. per; Museum purchase with funds provided by the
Advisory Committee, 1988.19
18 Programs + Events | 19News +
Giving
Volunteer Spotlight
Nancy Sloan
Nancy Sloan is a talented art educator and caring volunteer who has enriched the Museum’s vol-
unteer and docent programs since she joined in 2009. Nancy’s long career in art education be-
gan when she earned a BA in Art from the University of Nevada with a focus on Gallery Practices.
While she was in school, Nancy volunteered
as an educator for multiple organizations in
Las Vegas, including the Junior League’s
Suitcase Gallery where she brought art
history lessons to 5th grade classes, The
American Nevada Institute where she led Conservation at the BMA: XFR Scanner
tours of J. Seward Johnson’s bronze sculp-
tures, and as a gallery educator for vari-
ous exhibitions at the Nevada Institute of
As stewards of one of the most diverse collections of art in the Southeast, the Birmingham Deep Dive: How it Works
Contemporary Art. After graduating, Nancy
Museum of Art has a duty to ensure each work of art is properly cared for. Representing
was employed as a Gallery Educator by the
5,000 years of global civilization, the Museum’s collection of more than 26,000 objects The Bruker Corporation XRF (X-ray fluorescence)
Nevada Institute of Contemporary Art and
serves as the cornerstone for hundreds of free lectures, programs, and workshops each year. analyzers have quickly become the industry stan-
then as a Gallery Assistant for the Crockett
A highly technical process blending both art and science, art conservation involves research- dard for investigatory art conservation. During the
Gallery in Las Vegas before landing the role
ing and assessing the needs of the works of art, implementing preventative treatments, re- examination process, the XRF analyzer uses X-rays
as Gallery Director for the City of Las Vegas.
pairing damaged or deteriorating objects, and ultimately ensuring the pieces in our collection to displace electrons from their atomic orbital po-
In this role, she screened and contracted
remain intact and accessible for generations to come. sitions, releasing bursts of energy characteristic of
artists for three fine art galleries, installed and maintained exhibitions, managed the budget, and
Technological advances have been integral in addressing one of the greatest challenges a specific element. The sample is bombarded with
developed educational programs for exhibitions. Nancy is also an artist herself who started paint-
of art conservation: correctly and safely identifying the composite materials of a given work X-rays, which excites the sample to generate X-ray
ing and drawing from a young age but discovered her true love, photography, while in college.
of art. In keeping with the latest technology, the Museum’s Conservation Department was fluorescence. The X-rays “shoot” individual electrons
She is a prolific photographer whose work has been shown in multiple exhibitions and she has
recently awarded a grant from the Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust to purchase a portable out of the atoms of the elements, primarily out of
won several awards for her work.
XRF (x-ray fluorescence) scanner. The XRF device uses non-destructive, elemental analysis the inner atomic shells K and L. The resulting va-
Nancy moved from Las Vegas to Birmingham in 2006 to help with her granddaughter. Once
to examine works of art, quickly providing data regarding its elemental composition so as to cancies are filled up again by electrons from higher
her granddaughter started elementary school, Nancy decided to sign up as a volunteer at the
ascertain authenticity, fabrication technology, and provenance, as well as alerting the user energy shells. The excess energy of these electrons
BMA where her background in art education served her well. She first volunteered as an Ask Me
to the presence of dangerous heavy metals, ensuring the personal protection and safety of is then emitted in the form of X-ray fluorescence
Volunteer for the Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness exhibition where she would answer
Museum personnel who handle objects. radiation. This radiation is characteristic for each
questions and engage in conversations with visitors about works of art in the exhibition. After
The Museum’s XRF scanner has already produced incredibly useful information. Some element like a fingerprint and independent of the at-
some encouragement from docent Fay Hart, Nancy joined the docent program in 2011. The
results are fairly benign—such as confirming the proprietary recipe for jasperware you’d ex- om’s chemical bond. The intensity of the radiation is
artwork that she chose as her practice piece during training, George Merle’s The Sorceress, is
pect to find in a piece of Wedgwood or determining the metal leaf on a 19th-century frame proportional to the concentration of the element in
still one of her favorite artworks. She attributes her love for this mysterious piece with her love
is made of copper, not gold, as previously thought—while other scans have alerted to the the sample. This release of energy is then recorded
of spy novels. Nancy’s favorite aspects of being a docent are giving tours to children and the
presence of toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead. For example, one of our Native by the XRF, which in turn categorizes the energies
friendships she has made with other docents. After serving on the docent council for several
American headdresses tested positive for the presence of arsenic, while a Lonnie Holley and provides an analytical reading. With training on
years, she is now the Docent Chair for the 2019–2020 year. Nancy is loved and appreciated by
sand sculpture suspected of containing hazardous materials was found to have none, only use and analysis, the conservator is then able to
the BMA’s Education Department and the docent body for her ability to connect visitors with art,
sulphur. Going forward, this technology will directly impact our ability to study, conserve, and make conclusions about the work of art, its origin,
leadership and organization skills, and positive outlook. We are lucky to have her!
further preserve our collection of paintings, Wedgwood ceramics, European porcelain, and composition, and much more.
Asian ceramics.
20 21In August 2019, Dr. Katherine Anne Paul joined the BMA as The Virginia and William M. Spencer
III Curator of Asian Art. Prior to her appointment, Paul served as curator of the Arts of Asia at the
Newark Museum, where she helped create and shape the vision of the collections, exhibitions,
research, and publications for the Arts of Asia and the Pacific, a collection of more than 33,000
Q+A objects. At the BMA, she will oversee a permanent collection of approximately 4,000 works of
Katherine Anne Paul, Ph.D. art from diverse cultures throughout Asia dating from the 5th century BCE to the present.
What is one of your top priorities in your like learning foreign languages. I love to try
new position? different foods and to travel and meet new
Katherine Anne Paul: My top priorities re- people. I am mesmerized by how different
Community Partner Spotlight:
flect a three-way tie. First, getting to know places look, sound, and smell and how food
2019 Family Festival Series Recap Better Basics
the many communities of Birmingham. tastes so different in many places. This is
Second, reviewing the collections in detail, how each local culture—whether here in
and third, working with the Museum team Alabama or elsewhere in the world—makes
to rethink and refresh the galleries and cre- every experience distinct. When I learned The BMA is proud to bring diverse communities together to share in The Birmingham Museum of Art strives to be an active civic partner in
ate exciting and dynamic exhibitions and that studying Asian art was a way to do so one another’s heritage during our quarterly heritage festivals. Last our community. We find productive and meaningful ways to respond
publications that will hopefully inspire, ed- many of my favorite things I was sold. year, 5,578 visitors joined us to celebrate cultures and traditions from to and address issues that affect our city, such as declining arts edu-
ucate, and entertain Birmingham’s diverse around the world. cation in our schools. We serve on committees and partner with other
audiences of today and tomorrow while si- How would you describe your curatorial We kicked off the season in January with the Japanese Heritage organizations to further our reach and strengthen the impact we make
multaneously enhancing the Museum’s col- style? Festival, inspired by our Japanese art collection. Visitors of all ages with students and the community. Over the past two years, we have
lections for the future. KAP: I strive to promote understanding and enjoyed a variety of activities, including a special Sailor Moon-themed expanded upon a longstanding relationship with Better Basics—a
connections that are facilitated through en- scavenger hunt in the galleries, hands-on brush painting, paper-lan- literacy intervention and enrichment organization—to provide af-
Is there an object or area of the Museum’s gaging visual art. Learning about different tern making, and an anime screening in the Steiner Auditorium. The ter-school art instruction at their HOPE 21st Century Community
Asian art collection that you are particularly histories and cultural solutions to basic hu- highlight of the day was a traditional tea ceremony demonstration by Learning Centers. Located at CJ Donald, Glen Oaks, and Robinson
excited about right now? man needs and questions I believe has the the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Birmingham Association. Elementary Schools, these centers provide an environment in which
KAP: The Birmingham Museum of Art’s power to improve life. Viewing both historic Over 2,400 people joined us in March for the 9th Annual Holi children explore their interests, express themselves artistically, receive
collections of Asian art are full of rare and and contemporary artworks (solo and with Festival, the Indian Celebration of Color. Guests filled the auditorium extra academic support, and enjoy a healthy dinner.
fantastic works! I am deeply thankful to the others) promotes different kinds of learning. for traditional Bollywood and classical dance performances, and en- When Better Basics needed volunteers for their annual Birmingham
generosity of many Museum patrons and the Because the only constant is change, I be- joyed tasty dishes from Taj India and the Hyderabad Dum Zone food Reads program, many BMA staff members were quick to answer the
amazing work of my predecessors (especial- lieve continued learning best prepares peo- truck. The day concluded with the traditional throwing of the colors in call. Birmingham Reads is the largest literacy event in Birmingham
ly Dr. Donald Wood!). Asking to choose only ple to better understand themselves and the Museum’s parking lot. and allows members of our community to connect with the students
one object or area is like asking to single out others in the wider world. In June, we celebrated the vibrant cultures found throughout the of Birmingham City Schools. Each year, Better Basics recruits and
a favorite child. What I am most excited about African diaspora at our African Heritage Festival. The event featured a places over 600 volunteer readers in every pre-kindergarten through
is having these amazing collections connect You’ve been in Birmingham for a few powerful performance by Atlanta-based African drumming and dance fifth grade class in the Birmingham City School System. Our BMA
with viewers in creative ways. months now. What do you think about the group Giwayen Mata. Guests explored the African art gallery, enjoyed staff members were assigned to read Pete the Cat’s Train Trip and
Magic City so far? delicious African cuisine from Catering By LaNetta, and made their Alexander & the Wind Up Mouse to first and second graders at Minor
What inspired you to become a curator and KAP: I am loving getting to know own African art-inspired crafts throughout the day. Elementary. After engaging the students with some reading compre-
study Asian art? Birmingham. It has so much to offer. The Our final festival of the year was our Annual Latinx Heritage hension questions, volunteers were able to present each student with
KAP: I was raised as a museum-goer even people here have been very warm and wel- Festival in November. Miami Fusion Cafe hosted a pop-up restaurant, the book to take home and add to their own library. In total, Better
before I could walk. My mother enlisted my coming. The food culture is so vibrant. The and guests enjoyed tours and storytelling in both Spanish and English. Basics’ volunteers read to 12,230 students and gave away just as
sister and me to play imagination games variety of artists and performers who live As we look back on an incredible year, we hope you will make plans to many books.
in museum galleries where we would pre- and work here is astonishing. The streets join us for the 2020 Family Festival series! We are grateful to have Better Basics as a community partner and
tend to “shop” choosing what objects we are full of beautiful buildings. The landscape The 2018–2019 Family Festivals Series is presented by Medical encourage anyone interested in volunteering to visit their website and
would like to “have.” Then she would make is majestic and the history is profound and Properties Trust. complete a volunteer form.
us explain why we liked those works. We transformative. I can see why it is called the
always visited the Asian galleries. I actually Magic City.
22 News + Giving | 23Collectors Circle for 64th Annual Museum Ball Chairs
Contemporary Art Artist Sallie Johnson and Sumner Johnson Rives
Award Garland Smith and Lindsay Smith Puckett
The Museum is proud to announce the recently The Birmingham Museum of Art is pleased to announce the co-chairs for the
established Collectors Circle for Contemporary Art 2020 Museum Ball: Sallie Johnson and Garland Smith along with their daugh-
Artist Award, a $1,500 annual prize given to an ters, Sumner Johnson Rives and Lindsay Smith Puckett respectively. The co-
artist of exceptional skill and merit working locally. chairs’ devotion to the Museum is evident in their years-long support of the
The award is currently funded by a private donor Museum. Garland Smith co-chaired the Museum Ball in 1981, just two short
and artists are nominated by active members of weeks before the birth of her daughter, Lindsay. Sallie is a long-standing sup-
CCCA. porter of the Museum, whether it be through her championship of American
Debra Eubanks Riffe is the first recipient of the art or through the endowment of the James Milton and Sallie R. Johnson
CCCA Artist Award, which was presented at the Deputy Director position.
group's annual dinner on November 21, 2019. Riffe The 64th Annual Museum Ball: Beyond the Ordinary will be held on
The European Art Society in Tuscany
has been a practicing printmaker, illustrator, and Saturday, May 2, 2020. Described by the co-chairs as the most fabulous social
graphic artist for over 30 years. Her prints often event of the year, guests will enjoy fine dining by local chef George McMillan
include figures performing activities and routine of FoodBar while immersed in the galleries of one of the city’s crown jewels.
tasks as means of representing African American The Annual Museum Ball is the Birmingham Museum of Art’s largest From October 4 through October 15 last year, 19 European Art Society priceless masterpiece or two, from Michelangelo’s David to Ghiberti’s
experiences, histories, and narratives in the South. fundraiser and serves as an important opportunity not only to showcase the members explored Tuscany and the rich artistic heritage of this region. Baptistry doors, from Masaccio and Masolinos frescos in the Brancacci
A Tupelo, Mississippi, native, she earned her BFA Museum’s beautiful collection, but also to highlight the programs and events We spent two nights in Siena at the beginning of the trip where one of chapel to the Pazzi chapel designed by Bruneleschi. We spent a day
from Howard University College of Fine Arts in the BMA brings to Birmingham. From school tours and community outreach, to the many highlights was a visit to a local neighborhood (“contrada”) to in Bologna where one of the highlights was the private Magnani pal-
Washington, D.C., and has lived in Birmingham for innovative exhibitions and public programs, funds raised by the Museum Ball learn about the palio, the biannual horse race that takes place on Siena’s ace with a ceiling decoration by the Caracci from the late 16th century.
over 20 years. provide essential support for hundreds of educational initiatives carried out by historic Piazza del Campo and is such an important part of Sienese cul- One day we followed the trail of Piero della Francesca in Arezzo, San
the Museum each year. ture and identity. We then transferred to Florence and stopped on the Sansepolcro, and Monterchi. In Arezzo we saw his stunning Finding of
As co-chairs of Birmingham’s longest-running event fundraiser, Sallie, way in San Gimignano, the famous small medieval hill town where many the True Cross fresco cycle. All along—not surprisingly—we ate amazing
Sumner, Garland, and Lindsay anticipate a smashing fundraising success for of the original tower houses still stand and which is today a UNESCO food. My personal favorite was perhaps a cozy lunch in Arezzo known
one of Birmingham’s most popular social events, and a Museum Ball that guar- World Heritage Site. We marvelled at the Collegiate Church with its for its mushrooms, which they use in incredible pasta dishes. And, of
antees to be Beyond the Ordinary. largely intact interior fresco decoration, which dates from the 14th and course, there was always cold cuts and cheese galore and the occasion-
If you would like to make your reservation for the 2020 Museum Ball, con- 15th centuries. In Florence, we stayed at the luxurious, artsy Gallery al gelato! Our farewell dinner took place at the Gondi palace just next
tact Erin Everett, Development Events Manager, at eeverett@artsbma.org or Art Hotel barely a stone’s throw from Ponte Vecchio. Our first visit in to the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. We had drinks and appetizers on
205.297.8062. Florence was to the prints and drawings department at the Uffizi where their private rooftop terrace overlooking the city. It was a beautiful night
we looked at a wonderful selection of Italian Renaissance drawings and a fitting way to end a special trip filled with wonderful and unique
that their curator, Laura Donati, had pulled for us. Each day we saw a experiences.
24 News + Giving | 25Tribute + Memorial Gifts Visitors’ View
Gift date range for this edition of Medium is July 1, 2019–September
From thoughtful reflections to silly self-
30, 2019
ies and everything in between, we love to
see the Museum through your eyes. Share
In Honor of:
your BMA experience with us on Instagram
Amanda S. Adams and Wilson Green: Mr. Alan K. Zeigler
for a chance to be featured in our next
Gail C. Andrews: Dr. Nancy E. Dunlap and Mr. John D. Johns; EBSCO
Visitors’ View! These selfies were taken in
Industries, Inc.; Mrs. Peter T. Worthen
the Barbie: Dreaming of a Female Future
Olive Arvin: Mrs. Kristie Arvin
exhibition.
Margaret K. Burnham: Mr. and Mrs. William J. Rushton IV
Alexa Coleman: Ms. Carolyn L. Sherer and Dr. Jean O’Neal
Aubrey Coleman: Ms. Carolyn L. Sherer and Dr. Jean O’Neal
Dixie Mae Delgreco: Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Delgreco, Jr.
Merrily Delgreco: Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Delgreco, Jr.
@petitnchic2577
Dede Driscoll: Mr. and Mrs. David M. Driscoll
In Memoriam: Wynn Kramarsky Lillian Gamble: Mrs. Molly F. Gamble
Mary Bartley Goodrich: Mr. and Mrs. Braxton Goodrich @seejavaciawrite
By Michael Straus, President of the Art Fund of Birmingham Inc., Mary Ruth Goodrich: Mr. and Mrs. Braxton Goodrich
Board of Directors Marion Alexis Luna: Ms. Alexis Medina
Ms. Lisa P. Morgan: Ms. Emily Morgan
Wynn Kramarsky, a consummate and passionate collector of con- Frances Rosentiel: Ms. Carolyn L. Sherer and Dr. Jean O’Neal
temporary drawings, passed away late last summer at the age of 93. Julia Rosentiel: Ms. Carolyn L. Sherer and Dr. Jean O’Neal
Wynn was a Lifetime Trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, the for- Meg Rushton: Dr. and Mrs. Francis E. Rushton, Jr. @brianalene_
mer Chairman of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and Nicole Watts Rushton: Dr. and Mrs. Francis E. Rushton, Jr. @mcacbham
the former Chairman of the Drawing Center in New York. A native of Elizabeth Ann Sewell: Mrs. April Sewell
the Netherlands, he and his family fled Europe on the eve of World Mr. Kelsey “Rocket” Shorts: Mrs. Monique Shorts
War II and settled in New York, where he spent most of his life. Lane Stanley: Ms. Jennifer Hubka
Although based in New York, he was far from parochial in his think- Annegret Tarrasch: Dr. Anne Forschler-Tarrasch and Mr. Jürgen Tarrasch
ing or in his involvement in the arts. Wynn thus visited Birmingham Louisa Tarrasch: Dr. Anne Forschler-Tarrasch and Mr. Jürgen Tarrasch
over 10 years ago when he brought an exhibition to the Museum of Teen BMA Program: Dr. and Mrs. David J. Landy
numerous drawings by Mel Bochner from his collection, also leading Ms. Mary Vines: Mrs. Melissa Dameron-Vines and Mr. Adam Vines
@xogabriellexo
a lively public panel discussion here together with the artist as well as
the show’s curator, Ruth Fine. And beyond that, he and his wife Sally In Memory of
gifted 43 exquisite works on paper to the Museum, greatly enriching Mr. Melford T. Cleveland: Mrs. Linda C. Cleveland
our collection. Many of the artists whose works were donated to us Mr. Roy C. Green, Jr.: Dr. Graham C. Boettcher; Dr. and Mrs. James Kamplain;
are well-known, such as Roni Horn and William Anastasi, but most Mr. Henry S. Lynn, Jr.; Ms. Martha J. Pezrow; Ms. Marianne Schoel; Babbie @aleciavera
are not. This was in fact a hallmark of Wynn’s involvement with artists: and Waid Shelton; Dr. and Mrs. Charles L. Watkins
he greatly championed the works of younger artists, acquiring works Mrs. Caroline Keith Kidd: Ms. Miriam J. McClung @sunlovesthemoon
early in their careers when they were – as he liked to call them – still Mrs. Henry Sprott Long: Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Goings
“newbies,” and then expanding his holdings as they continued to devel- Mrs. Claire Martin: Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Goings; Mr. and Mrs. James Wilder
op. As he did here, Wynn regularly shared works from his collection at Kelley
curated exhibitions across the country. And over the years he donated Mr. Jack Martin: Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Goings; Mr. and Mrs. James Wilder
literally thousands of drawings to our nation’s cultural institutions, in- Kelley
cluding of course his gifts to the Birmingham Museum of Art. Mrs. LaVona Price Rushton: Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Bainbridge, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs.
We therefore honor him for his lifetime of commitment to the visual Ehney A. Camp III; Mr. Patrick Cather; Mr. Henry S. Lynn, Jr.; Mrs. Claude
arts and most particularly for the generosity he showed to the people C. White
@courtney__weaver @aconlinagram @montanaelle
of this city and state. Mrs. Dorothy Rice Stewart: Mr. Patrick Cather
26 News + Giving | 27Corporate Partners Corporate Partner Spotlight
Davis Architects
Founder’s Circle Chairman’s Circle
Neil Davis Q+A
Altec Industries, Inc.
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Known for designing transformative and engaging spaces, Davis Architects is a nationally rec-
Butler Snow LLP ognized architecture, design, and planning studio that has set itself apart as a leader in academic
Davis Architects facility design. As the oldest active architecture firm in Birmingham, Davis Architects has played
Encompass Health Corporation an integral role in shaping the built environment of the city. The dozens of talented, dedicated
Jemison Investment Co., Inc. team members are led by Neil Davis who, as the son of two architects, was almost certainly
New Capital Partners, Inc. predestined to go into the family business. In fact, his mother, Helen Sellers Davis, was the first
Sustainer’s Circle Red Diamond, Inc. licensed female architect in the state of Alabama.
Regions Bank
Stewart Perry Construction Currently located at the former Birmingham design team accumulated information from The field of architecture is certainly scien-
Electric Battery Company warehouse, Davis staff and directors of the museum, as well tific, but it also requires an equal degree of
Director’s Circle Architects has been continuously headquar- as gathered responses to a poll of persons creativity. What architects do you admire for
tered in downtown Birmingham since its affiliated with the Museum, to create and their artistry?
Kinetic Communications
founding in 1912, so it’s safe to say you’re establish a Building Program that could be- ND: A living architect I really admire is
Ram Tool and Supply Company
not a fair-weather supporter of the area. come a guideline for the expansion. It was Mario Botta. Some examples of his work in
Thompson Tractor
What excites you most about the current re- important to evaluate the existing buildings, the United States include the San Francisco
vitalization of downtown and the surround- study the available land for future buildings, Museum of Modern Art in California and
Curator’s Circle
ing neighborhoods? and consider the vision of the expanded the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in
Arlington Properties, Inc. Neil Davis: Simply put, that it’s happen- building palette cohesively. Charlotte, North Carolina. He uses simple,
Dobbins Group ing. There’s been substantial progress in a geometric shapes to create really interest-
Dunn investment Company short period of time and there’s still plenty In addition to the BMA, Davis Architects has ing spaces. I’m also inspired by Mies van der
Synovus Bank of opportunities for more development. The worked on projects with Sidewalk Theatre, Rohe and his steadfast commitment to re-
Marx Brothers, Inc. city has great bones. If there is to be a silver the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, straint in design. Each project we work on at
Precision Graphics lining in the fact that Birmingham was not and the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Davis is guided by the philosophy that build-
growing in the 60’s and 70’s, it’s that we still Visual Arts, to name just a few. Why is it im- ings should enhance the human experience
Benefactor’s Circle have many beautiful old buildings; whereas portant for you to support arts and cultural and exist in harmony with the surrounding
Each year, our Corporate Partners provide critical support for the Museum’s programs, exhibi- Atlanta, for example, had a booming econ- institutions in our community? environment. One of our core beliefs is
tions, and most importantly, keeping the Museum free of charge for our visitors. Ranging from Brookmont Realty Group LLC omy during that time period and the city ND: Community centers of arts and culture that exceptional design transcends style to
our hands-on interactive space, Bart’s ArtVenture, to family festivals, school tours, studio classes, Christie’s razed many of their pre-war buildings to are where society finds common bonds, serve the core needs of the people who in-
and more, Corporate Partners are vital to ensuring that our Family and Youth Programs allow Four Corners Custom Framing Gallery make room for skyscrapers. where we strengthen our appreciation of habit the space.
nearly 35,000 children each year to create, read, dance, and explore while celebrating cultures Hughes and Scalise, P.C. history, and where we celebrate our love
and traditions from around the world. Thank you to our Corporate Partners for helping to con- Kassouf & Co., P.C. Which project have you enjoyed most in of beauty. Each museum, gallery, church, or What about a favorite visual artist?
nect all of Birmingham to the experience, meaning, and joy of art. Levy’s Fine Jewelry, Inc. partnership with the BMA? venue that we design represents the dis- ND: My favorite artist is, without a doubt,
National Cement Company of Alabama, Inc. ND: In 2015, wHY and Davis worked with tinct identity and needs of those that inhabit Vincent van Gogh. I’ve been to the Van
For more information about the BMA’s Corporate Partner membership program or to involve your O’Neal Industries the Museum to assess the current building the space. Birmingham is fortunate to have Gogh Museum in Amsterdam three times
company, please contact Meghan-Ann Hellenga at 205.297.8071 or mhellenga@artsbma.org Pizitz Management Group facilities, infrastructure, and areas to devel- the BMA as both a cultural and community now and would happily go back three
Precision Grinding, Inc. op a program of areas and needs in order resource. Not only is the permanent collec- more times. I have a particular love of
Williams-Blackstock Architects to establish relationships and potential op- tion outstanding, the services the Museum Impressionist and Modern art across the
tions of physical re-use and expansion of provides are equally impressive - my grand- board because it’s not easily understood
the building. The current Museum buildings children especially enjoy playing around in and, therefore, challenges me to really study
were built variously over the years and our Bart’s ArtVenture. the piece.
28 News + Giving | 29You can also read
