Athens, Ga. – The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia will reopen with a weeklong celebration, Art Expands, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5. The museum has been closed since March 2009 for construction of its Phase II expansion and renovation project.
GMOA broke ground on the project in 2009, after raising $20 million in private support to fund the entire construction. The addition to the existing facility will include more than 16,000 square feet in new galleries, an outdoor sculpture garden, expanded lobby and additional storage space. The new gallery space will allow for continual viewing of the museum’s permanent collection.
Another major addition to GMOA will be the Study Centers in the Humanities. Partially funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the centers will contain archives from the museum’s collections and consist of the C.L. Morehead Jr. Center for the Study of American Art, the Henry D. Green Center for the Study of the Decorative Arts, the Jacob Burns Foundation Center and the Pierre Daura Center. Curators of each collection will have offices in the corresponding study center, making information and archives easily accessible to students and researchers.
GMOA will kick off Art Expands, with the official university ribbon-cutting ceremony and the museum’s annual fundraiser gala Elegant Salute XII: Metamorphosis. Activities will continue throughout the week with a special lecture, musical performances, Family Day and events for UGA faculty, staff and students. All event listings and times can be found on the museum’s website at www.georgiamuseum.org.
Georgia Museum of Art Grand Weeklong Reopening: Art Expands
Saturday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
Elegant Salute XII: Metamorphosis and ribbon-cutting ceremony
Elegant Salute XII: Metamorphosis is the official reopening celebration of the Georgia Museum of Art. The ribbon cutting ceremony with UGA President Michael F. Adams, Museum Director William U. Eiland and the GMOA family of supporters will take place during the gala. For the first time, guests will dine in the new M. Smith Griffith Grand Hall, which accommodates up to 300 people. The event will begin with cocktails, followed by dinner catered by Epting Events, and later guests will dance in the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden until midnight to the music of Grogus. Throughout the evening, attendees can explore the new Georgia Museum of Art. Tickets for Elegant Salute XII: Metamorphosis are $250 per person. For reservations, call 706/542-0437.
Sunday, Jan. 30, 1-3 p.m.
Friends Preview
Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art will have exclusive access at this private reception before the public reopening. Docents and curators will offer tours of the galleries. Persons who join before the grand reopening will receive a 20% discount on memberships up to and including the family level or may join at the door at the regular rate. To join the Friends or to RSVP, call 706/542-0437.
Monday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
GMOA Open to the Public/UGA Faculty and Staff Day
The museum doors will be open for the first public viewing of the new Georgia Museum of Art. Curators and docents will be available in the galleries for tours throughout the day. University of Georgia faculty and staff will receive special discounts on memberships to the Friends of the Museum and in the Museum Shop with an UGACard all day.
UGA Faculty Lunch at Learn at GMOA, noon
All UGA faculty are invited to a Lunch and Learn as GMOA educators demonstrate how to utilize the permanent collection in the classroom. Box lunches may be reserved in advance or bring your own sack lunch. To RSVP or reserve your lunch, call 706/542-0442.
Reception for UGA Physical Plant and Support Staff, 3 p.m.
All UGA Physical Plant and support staff are invited to join museum staff for a special reception as they are honored for their work at UGA. The reception will be held in the Educational Outreach Center on the first floor of the museum.
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
GMOA Open to the Public
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 6 p.m.
GMOA Special Reopening Lecture with Artist Beverly Pepper
Ramsey Hall, Performing Arts Center
The museum will officially recognize Beverly Pepper, distinguished guest and world-renowned sculptor, as her sculpture “Ascension” is presented as a new addition to its permanent collection. The sculpture will be installed in the Performing and Visual Arts Complex quad and on view for the first time during the museum’s reopening.
Thursday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m. – midnight
UGA Student Day at GMOA
UGA students will receive shop and membership discounts all day with an UGACard. Docents and curators will be available in the galleries for tours.
7 p.m. – midnight
All students are invited to GMOA’s college night, a GMOA Student Association-sponsored event. The evening will include music, refreshments, door prizes and tours of the galleries. For more information, call 706/542-0437.
Friday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.
Young at Art presents Modern Skirts
The Young at Art committee of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art will sponsor Modern Skirts live in concert. Admission is $15 for Friends members, $20 for non-members, or interested persons can join at the Young at Art membership level at the door or in advance and attend the concert free of charge. Young at Art membership is $20 in addition to the regular individual or family membership price. Individuals may join during the charter period and receive a 20 percent discount. Formed in early 2004, Modern Skirts quickly gained popularity in the Athens music scene due to the buzz created by their high-energy live shows in the Athens area, mostly at the 40 Watt Club. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 706/542-0437.
Saturday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
GMOA Family Day: Reopening Celebration
The Georgia Museum of Art will celebrate its reopening during a Family Day extravaganza. Families can visit the galleries for docent-led tours and activities, and create art based on works from the museum’s collection. Picasso People, an interactive program for children that includes music, mime and puppetry, will be featured in the M. Smith Griffith Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 706/542-4662.
Museum Information
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at theGeorgiaMuseumof Art is provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Thecouncil is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide additional museum support through their gifts to the Arch Foundation and theUniversityofGeorgia Foundation. TheGeorgiaMuseumof Art is located in the Performing and Visual Arts Complex on the East Campus of theUniversityofGeorgia. The address is90 Carlton Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602. The museum’s galleries and shop will reopen Jan. 29-Feb. 5. For more information and event times and locations, see www.georgiamuseum.org or call 706/542-4662.