The Power of Preservation

Mary Franklin, an Athens native, was born on February 25, 1842. Throughout her lengthy career as an artist, Franklin trained all over the United States and in Paris. After decades of being a student, Ms. Franklin She eventually returned to her roots and taught with the Athens Art Association in Peabody Hall. She loved the University of Georgia so much that, upon her death, in 1928, she donated her entire estate to the school.  Part of this donation included a series of paintings that were hung throughout campus.

Some of Franklin’s works were hung in Soule Hall, where they were respected and admired for many years. During World War II, Soule Hall changed from a women’s dorm to a school for the navy, and the paintings were put into storage.

In the 1970s, these paintings reappeared at the Georgia Museum of Art, with little paperwork. While they had been cared for at one time, they did not arrive unblemished. The paintings suffered from surface loss, cracks, stains and unstable frames with gaping holes. Fortunately, they were about to have a change in luck.

This good fortune came in the form of Hildegard Timberlake, 92, and her son, Tom, 52. Ms. Timberlake had been both the editor and president of the Art Association over the years, and Tom shared her love of the arts. The pair wanted to do something about the condition of Franklin’s prized paintings and decided to make the admirable commitment to restore them to their former glory. They hoped to have the rest of the world enjoy the paintings as they had and found a way to sponsor the conservation.

“My favorite painting is ‘Nomad,’” said Hildegard. “‘Nomad’ is compelling because she acts as a caretaker. But a caretaker of what? Is it nature, is it history, is it political, or is it bonds to the family? The purpose of the caretaker is suggested but not imposing. Mary Franklin's composition of the painting is well done. The color theory is well applied, even outstanding, with its blending method. The expression of the caretaker is sincere with some pride looking down on the observer. Shadows reflect the observance of nature, climate and sunshine. Her body structure shows that she is carrying a burden, but is ready to carry it with pride and strength. A great painting!”

Susan Jones, a conservator from Atlanta, restored the paintings. Jones has a range of experience working with older paintings, including one by Klaus Molenear, a 17th-century Dutch artist. She explained both the challenges and rewards of conserving the Mary Franklin paintings: “Outside of getting the paintings stabilized, I would say that the texture of the canvas was the most difficult part. [Franklin] used a very heavy linen, and although she did not mind putting paint on the canvas, it still left a very rough texture and was a challenge to clean. Aside from that, I loved finally getting down to the original vibrant colors that she used and seeing the paintings come to life.”

“Nomad,” the largest of the paintings, was the first to be restored. The Timberlakes provided funding, and the museum sent the framed painting to Jones in Atlanta. “Nomad” came back in incredible form, and the Timberlakes decided to fund the conservation of another painting from the series, “Tunisian Perfume Market.” The two restored paintings were publicly unveiled and put on temporary display for others to enjoy for the first time in more than 40 years.

Visitors, students and scholars at the Georgia Museum of Art are now able to enjoy the work of Mary Franklin due to the contributions and dedication of the Timberlake family. Franklin gave the University of Georgia the gift of her works, and the Timberlake family gave the gift of preservation, a gift that will last for years.

Hildegard Timberlake's deep affection for the paintings of Mary Franklin caused her to donate funds for the conservation of two paintings in the permanent collection. At this event, the results were shared with the Timberlakes, museum supporters and staff. May 21, 2015.

New Show at Trace Gallery

Trace Gallery’s next show will feature artists Michaelene Walsh and Debbie Kupinsky. Beginning with an opening reception on November 12, from 7 to 9 p.m., this exhibition will run through December 3.

Michaelene Walsh is a ceramic artist and associate professor of art at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She draws inspiration from poetry, striving to “bring seemingly disparate, ordinary, or unremarkable images together to form something memorable,” much like a poet does with words.

Debbie Kupinsky works with the figure. She is ultimately interested in “how we reconcile the beauty and innocence in the world with the inevitable loss of innocence.” To symbolize this, Kupinsky chooses to incorporate “objects of nostalgia” such as thimbles, teacups, doll parts and pillboxes.

Trace Gallery is located in Athens at 160 Tracy St., in the Chase Park Warehouses. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m.

Art Around Athens

There are a lot of great local art events coming up, so don’t miss out!

Thursday, April 8

—Association of Graduate Art Students (A.G.A.S.) Lecture

Lamar Dodd School of Art (LDSOA), 5 p.m.

A.G.A.S. sponsors an annual lecture series featuring prominent art history scholars. On April 8, Dr. Susan Sidlauskas will present a lecture about John Singer Sargent titled “Sargent’s Bodies and the Unmaking of History.” Check out one of our earlier blog posts for more information.

—Printmaking Lecture with Lisa Bulawsky

LDSOA room N100, 5 p.m.

Lisa Bulawsky, associate professor in the Washington University School of Visual Art will be giving a lecture prior to the presentation of a collaborative project (see April 9) during her visit to UGA.

Friday, April 9

—Collaborative Project with Lisa Bulawsky

Downtown Athens and UGA campus, noon–1 p.m.

During Bulawsky’s visit, LDSOA will be making prints on magnets to be attached to cars and driven around downtown Athens and on campus while playing Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” loud enough to attract attention and “lightheartedly disrupt” routine. The prints will then be attached to other magnetic surfaces.

—Material World–Art Meets the Runway!

Hotel Indigo, reception at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.

The Athens Area Arts Council is hosting a fundraiser, “Material World—Art Meets the Runway!” for Celebrate the Arts 2010 in conjunction with blvd magazine’s Weekend Fashion Affair. The event will start with a reception at Mercury Art Works, followed by a wearable art show on the runway and then dancing in the Rialto Room. The event is free and open to the public with a cash bar and free appetizers. VIP tickets are available online.

—Opening Reception for Kind of Blue

Mercury Art Works (in Hotel Indigo), 7–11 p.m.

The reception for “Kind of Blue,” a collection of John Ahee's figurative oil paintings is in conjunction with Celebrate the Arts 2010. Also opening is an installation by Helen Farmer in the glass cube adjacent to the entry of Hotel Indigo.

—Revealing the Invisible

LDSOA, opening reception at 5 p.m.

This exhibition includes work by the undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the art education studio techniques course. These students “seek to reveal the impact of race on the ways in which both students and educators understand each other and the world around them.”

—Opening Reception for the Annual Georgia Sculptors’ Society Members Show

William J. Thompson Gallery, S. Thomas St., 6 p.m.

See the work of local sculptors and make your own relief sculpture to be poured in iron (see April 10). The reception is free and open to the public (bring $15 to create a sculpture).

Saturday, April1 0

—The Annual Georgia Sculptors’ Society Iron Pour

William J. Thompson Gallery, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Works created by artists and attendees of Friday’s opening reception will be poured in iron. Free and open to the public. Register here.

—The Collectors’ Hard Hat Tour

Georgia Museum of Art, 5–7 p.m.

The Collectors will enjoy a reception in the first-floor atrium of the Lamar Dodd School of Art and go on hard-hat tours of the new GMOA. $40 per person. For more information or to RSVP call 706.542.0437. Click here for more information on joining the Collectors.

Sunday, April 11

—Opening Reception for “Coast to Coast”

Lumpkin Café, 1700 S. Lumpkin St., 1–7 p.m.

“Coast to Coast” features handmade jewelry and recent paintings from artist Ann Hamlin’s travels to Florida and California. Free and open to the public. Call 706.543.3122 for more information.

Art Around Athens

It's a busy Friday for the Lamar Dodd School of Art in particular, which has at least three events going on this evening. In the Bridge Gallery of the East Campus building, there will be an opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. for an exhibition titled "Material Response: New Work by Melissa Walter," which is only up for a week (until February 25). We don't know much about Walter's work or the exhibition, but it's sure to be interesting.

On the third floor of the building, in the South Wing, from 7 to 10 p.m., the MFA Candidates in Drawing and Painting will host an open house, so you can see their work in progress. And in the same area and at the same time, MFA candidate Marie Porterfield will execute the the performance-art piece "Specters."

This Sunday, February 21, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Lyndon House Arts Center will host the opening reception for its 35th Annual Juried Exhibition, which is always a good time and shows a tremendous range of art in all media from across the community. "Don your finest French Quarter attire in celebration of Mardi Gras and enjoy the festive refreshments!" they say. We've always found it a great buying opportunity as well, as many of the works on display are also for sale. See you there!

Art Around Athens

If you're looking for a list of art events in the area this weekend, the Railroad Arts District blog beat us to the punch.

Terry Rowlett at Ciné

Terry Rowlett’s latest vivid portrayals of Renaissance and Baroque settings surrounding a contemporary image, are on view at Ciné from now until October 19. The exhibition, Moments and Times, is a "a historical look at the human occupation of the planet as seen in the paintings of Terry Rowlett, a late era artist (circa 21st century)," according to the Ciné Web site.

Terry Rowlett is a native of rural Arkansas, who was stationed as a patrol guard in West Germany and came to Athens after edifying trips to Europe and a religiously inspired expedition to Israel. He a cool world view equipped with remnants of bygone religious convictions and pessimistic outlooks on a sinful modern world. His earlier paintings depict “Christian characters inserted into decidedly American landscapes littered with the detritus of modern existence," says local arts writer Melissa Link on the artist's web site. His more recent paintings, however, have changed in theme but not in style. They are now infused with “a newfound joie de [vivre] which the artist has renounced his guilty past and celebrates life for all its song, dance, and debauchery. Such images still borrow upon the familiar themes and compositions of the Old Masters, but the paintings now serve as allegories of playful reality rather than sermons on God’s word.The work offers the artist’s ultimate statement on the true teachings of love and understanding that exist in the Christianity which he once embraced and the heartbreak that has ensued as the violence, hypocrisy, and heresy of American imperialism prevail to open up countless oozing wounds around the world.”

For an interview with Terry Rowlett about one of his pieces that ended up on local musician Elf Power's album cover, click here

Here is a glimpse at the Rowlett exhibition at Ciné on Flickr