Athens, Ga. – The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia has received two national awards for publications, one from Foreword Reviews and one from the American Alliance of Museums.
The museum’s exhibition catalog for “Exuberance of Meaning: The Art Patronage of Catherine the Great (1762-1792)” earned an honorable mention in the category of Art (Adult Nonfiction) at Foreword Reviews’ 2013 IndieFab Book Awards.
The scholarly catalog, published in 2013, features art and books commissioned by Catherine the Great as gifts as well as examples of historic precedents for the empress’s choices and objects representing major events in the history of Russian art in the 17th and 18th centuries. The publication examines the role of patronage in 18th-century Russia and the influence of both Byzantine culture and neoclassicism. Asen Kirin, associate professor in and associate director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art, served as the book’s primary author and the exhibition’s curator.
Foreword Reviews’ IndieFab Book of the Year Awards are judged by a select group of librarians and booksellers from across the country who evaluate over 1,500 entries in 60 categories to determine the best work from today’s indie authors and publishers.
“Cercle et Carré and the International Spirit of Abstract Art” earned an honorable mention in the Exhibition Catalogue category of AAM’s 2014 Publications Design Competition.
It accompanied the first major exhibition dedicated to the art and activities of the artistic group Cercle and Carré (Circle and Square) and focuses primarily on the works displayed in the group’s 1930 exhibition in Paris or those featured in the group’s self-titled periodical. Featuring a dynamic assembly of works not seen as a group or discussed together for more than 80 years, the exhibition made an important contribution to understanding international abstract art. The catalog, designed by Roy Brooks of Fold Four, took the group’s commitment to modern design and abstraction as inspiration, with black-gilded edges and two different text stocks, each used to represent a different section of the book.
AAM’s Museum Publications Design Competition has evaluated and awarded graphic design of museum publications for more than 25 years. Its panel of graphic designers, museum professionals and publishers judge publications based on overall design excellence, creativity and ability to represent an institution. Winners of the competition will be featured in a special section of the November/December issue of AAM’s bimonthly magazine, Museum.
Museum Information
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art is provided by the W. Newton Morris Charitable Foundation and the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art. 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 St., University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602-6719. For more information, including hours, see http://georgiamuseum.org or call 706-542-4662.
