Athens, Ga. – The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia won an outstanding exhibit certificate and three publication awards from this year’s Southeastern Museums Conference annual meeting, held earlier this month in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The museum’s exhibition “Cercle et Cerré and the International Spirit of Abstract Art” won the 2014 Certificate of Commendation at SEMC, an award celebrating excellence in research, design, development, educational value and effectiveness in museum exhibitions.
“This award is particularly gratifying to us,” said William Underwood Eiland, the museum’s director. “It recognizes staff-wide achievements and collaboration at the museum, as well as honors the commitment of the Pierre Daura Center to European art of the 20th century. It is the first of many Daura Center projects to follow.”
The museum also earned a silver award in the newsletter category for Facet, its quarterly publication featuring current and upcoming events and exhibitions. Facet received top awards from the same competition in 2012 and 2013 and first prize in the American Association of Museums Publication Competition last year.
In the books and catalogues category, “Exuberance of Meaning: The Art Patronage of Catherine the Great (1762-1792),” a catalogue for an exhibition of the same name, earned an honorable mention. The catalogue contains full-page color images of nearly every object, such as books, porcelain and jewel-encrusted vessels, in the exhibition, which was organized by Asen Kirin, associate professor of art at UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art.
A catalogue created on behalf of the state of Georgia’s art collection, “Inspired Georgia: 28 Works from Georgia’s State Art Collection,” also took home an honorable mention in the gallery guides category.
All three publications were developed in collaboration with The Adsmith, an Athens advertising agency that has designed material for the museum for five years.
“It’s a designer’s dream to work on projects that involve great art,” said Kirk Smith, president of The Adsmith. “The fact that these projects for the museum are so varied-and the kinds of art are so varied-keeps us exploring and learning and developing new ways to showcase the work.”
Facet has been a project for the Adsmith since the agency created the layout and approach to highlight the museum’s exhibitions and special events.
“The museum is a jewel for this city, the state and the South,” said Smith. “We consider it a privilege to use Facet as a way to tell the museum’s story through the artists and the exhibitions. The art also inspires us and educates us-allowing us to grow as designers.”
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 the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency, 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 St., University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602-6719. For more information, including hours, see http://www.georgiamuseum.org or call 706-542-4662.