Thanks to R.E.M.

Every Athenian and music lover is well aware that R.E.M. has decided to call it quits after playing together for 31 years. The alternative rock band has donated endless time and nods to Athens in its long career, and we at the Georgia Museum of Art could not be more thankful.

Here at GMOA, R.E.M. has continued its support throughout the years with donations and sponsorships and by showcasing the permanent collection. In 1991, R.E.M. used three paintings from the Georgia Museum of Art’s permanent collection in its video for “Low,” including “La Confidence” by Elizabeth Jane Gardner. The paintings were intertwined with real models and editing technology to enliven the images and helped to attract a new audience to the museum.

Among numerous Elegant Salute events at the museum, the band also sponsored several exhibitions over the years: “Lord Love You: Works by R.A. Miller from the Mullis Collection” in 2009, “Weaving His Art on Golden Looms: Paintings and Drawings by Art Rosenbaum” in 2006 and “Becoming a Nation: Americana from the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State” in 2003.

To Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Mike Mills and Peter Buck, thank you for years of support and artistic interpretations of this beautiful town of Athens.

Here is a last look at the "Low" music video including images from the Georgia Museum's permanent collection.

"You, Me and the Bus"

If you live in the Athens area, you may have noticed that some of the bus shelters stand out a little more than others. These unique bus stops are part of “You, Me and the Bus.” The campaign is a collaborative effort between the Athens Area Arts Council (AAAC), The Athens Transit System and the Athens-Clarke Unified Government.

Recently, the bus shelters have received national attention. R.E.M. has donated their music and time urging public support to complete the bus shelters, which are intended to transform ordinary bus stops into creative, functional, public art that will inspire the people who use public transportation.

R.E.M. and AAAC have released a video highlighting the successful installation of the first nine artist-designed shelters in Athens. The video will be featured on the R.E.M. website for the month of June.

For more information, contact Valerie Aldridge, Valerie676@charter.net.

GMOA in the News

If you missed Nash Boney's lecture yesterday, Lee Shearer has a nice article in the Athens Banner-Herald this morning that recaps some of it.

Over in the Living section of the ABH, Julie Phillips mentions the museum's big painting "La Confidence," by Elizabeth Jane Gardner, in an article on R.E.M.'s 30th anniversary, which falls on Monday. The painting is featured prominently in the video for "Low," which we're embedding below.

GMOA in the News

R.E.M. was also nice enough to post a news story on their Web site about the opening of Lord Love You. It includes a link to the "Left of Reckoning" video, which we're working on screening during the opening reception next Saturday.

Seven Chinese Brothers

We thought you'd enjoy seeing R.E.M.'s video for "Seven Chinese Brothers," which features the band on R.A. Miller's whirligig-filled hillside, in preparation for the opening of the exhibition this Saturday.