Athens, Ga. – The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia won four awards at the Southeastern Museums Conference annual meeting, held Nov. 7-9 in Williamsburg, Va. The museum received two gold awards for publications (one for its newly redesigned visitor guide and one for Facet, its quarterly newsletter, which also won first place in the American Association of Museums Publications Design Competition), the Best in Show award, also for Facet, and a certificate of excellence for the exhibition “Georgia Bellflowers: The Furniture of Henry Eugene Thomas.”
Both Facet and the visitor guide were designed by The Adsmith, an Athens firm that has helped craft much of the museum’s new look.
“Georgia Bellflowers” focused on the cabinetry of Gene Thomas (1883-1965), an antiques dealer and furniture maker in Athens. Ashley Callahan, an independent curator, organized the exhibition and wrote its accompanying book, which documents Thomas’ career and provides context for his work in the Colonial Revival. The exhibition was supported in part by a Craft Research Project Grant from The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design.
“I am thrilled for ‘Georgia Bellflowers’ to receive this honor and for the recognition to bring additional attention to Gene Thomas and his work. Thanks to the generous help of so many members of the Athens community and of Thomas’ family, the project was a pleasure from beginning to end, and this is such a nice way to celebrate everyone’s efforts,” said Callahan.
SEMC is a nonprofit organization comprising museums, museum staff, independent professionals and corporate partners who work to provide educational and professional developmental opportunities, improve the exchange of ideas and information and encourage respect and collegiality. SEMC focuses on Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Museum Information
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art is provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The council is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide additional museum support through their gifts to the University of Georgia Foundation. The Georgia Museum of Art is located in the Performing and Visual Arts Complex on the East Campus of the University of Georgia. The address is 90 Carlton Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602-6719. For more information, including hours, see http://www.georgiamuseum.org or call 706/542-GMOA (4662).
