The Georgia Museum of Art has been honored with two accolades from the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) during its annual gathering, which took place in Milledgeville this past February.
GAM president Rebecca Bush along with awards co-chairs Karin Dalton and Natalie Smith awarded the museum the Special Project Award (Category #3: $25,001 – $99,999) for its lobby artworks created by Sol LeWitt, as well as the Exhibition Award (Category #3: $25,001 – $99,999) for “Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun.”
LeWitt, a prominent artist in both conceptual and minimalist movements, emphasized the importance of the artistic method over the final piece, allowing others to bring his wall drawings to life by following his precise guidelines. In the autumn of 2024, the museum showcased two wall drawings by Sol LeWitt in its lobby. This initiative received partial funding from a grant provided by the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, allowing UGA students to partake in crafting artworks that will remain exhibited for a duration of three years.
Skilled installers from the LeWitt estate worked alongside students, faculty from the Lamar Dodd School of Art, and museum interns and staff to create “Wall Drawing #869” from LeWitt’s “Copied Lines” collection and “Wall Drawing #1038 Bars of Color within a Square (#3)” from the “Bars” series.
LeWitt’s creations inspire contemplation about a perspective on art where ideas are valued more than the end result, and where the act of creation is collaborative. This endeavor expanded upon LeWitt’s notion that art can persist through communal engagement rather than merely existing as a static entity. The involvement of students revitalizes the pieces, ensuring their relevance and importance in contemporary society.
The exhibition “Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun” delved into themes of nuclear trauma and recovery through visual imagery. It connected various global narratives, addressing both Japanese survivors and American encounters with nuclear tests. Curated by Jeffrey Richmond-Moll, the museum’s previous curator of American art, the exhibition occupied five galleries and integrated video, sound, cameraless photography, and projected visuals. It also included aspects relating to the Savannah River Site in Georgia, which is involved in the refinement of nuclear materials.
Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Ito has devoted his career to addressing the ramifications of the Hiroshima bombing in 1945. Drawing inspiration from his family’s history, his artistic endeavors tackle global trauma and create avenues for reconciliation. The exhibition acted as a forum for worldwide dialogue and engaged students and faculty from various fields, including public and international affairs.
GAM is a private, nonprofit entity dedicated to advancing the growth and improving the professional standards of museums and nonprofit galleries throughout the state. The annual conference serves as a venue for museum practitioners, board members, volunteers, and advocates to share knowledge and nurture relationships among museums and galleries across the region.
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