GMOA in the News

Press post-Speakeasy is starting to roll in, thanks to the wonderful press release our intern Amanda wrote, which appears below.

Speakeasy raises funds for the Georgia Museum of Art

Athens, Ga. – Speakeasy, a major fundraising event for the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art (GMOA), was held Saturday, February 6, 2010, at the home of C.L. Morehead Jr., who also served as the largest sponsor of the event.

This rare opportunity to view Mr. Morehead’s home and extensive art collection included dinner, tours of the collection conducted by GMOA curators, a wonderful jazz performance by Faith and an exclusive silent auction.

About 100 guests attended, and the auction brought in nearly $5,000, which will be used to fund the museum’s educational programs and services. The top selling lots at the auction were a framed oil painting by Mary Hardman titled “Transition” and Jim Fiscus’ photograph “Doll Cabinet.” In all, 11 lots were donated and auctioned.

Speakeasy was sponsored by C.L. Morehead Jr., Blount Photo, Walton Media Services and Interactive Attractions.

To download photographs by Blount Photo from Speakeasy, visit our Web site at http://www.uga.edu/gamuseum/friends/event_photos.html or visit our Flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmoa to view a slideshow.

Arts Across Georgia picked it up, and we expect to see a few more mentions trickle in. The museum also received a mention in the Athens Banner-Herald for its Luce Grant for "Advancing American Art," and the exhibition of works from Jason Schoen's collection at the Westmoreland continues to garner press notice. Finally, Kate Kretz, who received her MFA from UGA, blogs about the film "Who Does She Think She Is?" which the museum will be screening in association with Women's History Month on March 24 at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Go ahead and mark your calendars for that one.

Speakeasy Photos

We've got all the photos from Speakeasy up on our Flickr page, and the slideshow is embedded above. Beware. This could take up half your day, as we've got nearly 300! We extend our most heartfelt thanks to Blount Photo, which supplied photography for the event and served as one of our generous sponsors. They did a wonderful job with both candid and posed shots, and we can't recommend them enough. Thank you, as well, to everyone who attended the event, which was a very successful fundraiser in addition to being a fun evening and a great excuse to get costumed up for many of our guests. Despite frigid temperatures, some of you were kind of enough to pose outside with one of Todd Emily's vintage automobiles, and the photos were worth it. These events take a lot to put together, but it's all worth it when we can see the results!

Art Around Athens

We'd thought the opening reception for White Tiger Gourmet's new art exhibition of paintings by ex-MFA student Jeremy Hughes wasn't until February 12, but the Athens Banner-Herald had a nice article yesterday that said it's tonight (Friday, February 5) at 6 p.m. You might as well try tonight, and if the reception's not going on, you could just pick up some dinner (White Tiger is primarily a restaurant) and return a week later. Hughes's work is a lot of fun, and if he's going to be there he has intelligent things to say about it.

Saturday, February 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., the Athens-Clarke County Library will present "How to Properly Price Your Art," a $20 workshop by retired banker, finance and marketing man Lee Nelson.

And, of course, GMOA will hold Speakeasy at 7 p.m. It's been a long time coming and a lot of planning, but we are so excited about this event. It should be a unique and fun-filled evening, with tours of C.L. Morehead's art collection by GMOA curators, drinks, dancing, live music, a silent auction and more. We can't wait to see you there in your 1920s finery.

GMOA in the News

The Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau is promoting Speakeasy very nicely on their Web site. Remember, this event is less than a week from today, and while space is limited, we still have openings, so please call 706.542.0437 to RSVP and purchase your tickets. It's also highlighted in the Athens Banner-Herald's calendar.

Allison Floyd spotlighted the upcoming "A Soulful Celebration," GMOA's Black History Month event, in her Athens Banner-Herald article on what to do during Black History Month.

And the Banner-Herald also mentioned Buddy and Lucy Allen's award from GAMG on Sunday.