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.

Virtual Mount Rushmore

If a quick trip to South Dakota seems a little out of reach, have no fear. With the help of three-dimensional laser technology, Internet goers are now able to take an in-depth tour of Mount Rushmore from the comfort of their own home. The monument was scanned in 2010 as a part of a five-year project with help from the Kacyra Family Foundation. The foundation has documented nearly 50 different historical sites in an effort to promote education and aid in preservation. What’s interesting is that cyber visitors may, in fact, have a more in-depth experience than those who visit the actual site. Even the most remote locations are available for exploration online.

May 18th - International Museum Day

Established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Museum Day is a day on which people around the world take a moment to reflect upon the important role that museums play. ICOM is made up of more than 30,000 museums in over 100 different countries. From Costa Rica to Malaysia, museums in many different countries are taking a day to open their doors and educate the public.

This year’s theme is “Museum and Memory: Objects Tell Your Story,” which highlights the role that objects play in society’s collective memory. Museums aren’t just big buildings filled with old junk; they are visual showcases of humanity’s time spent on this earth. History builds upon itself, and the absence of the precious artifacts housed in museums would be indescribable. Restoration, conservation and curatorship are all integral parts of museums. So on May 18, take an hour or two to visit your local museum (like the Georgia Museum of Art) and appreciate the beauty that has been preserved and displayed for the benefit of you, your community and the future members of society.

Also, don't forget to stop by the gift shop after your visit to the GMOA. We're offering a 20% discount in the shop, both online (with the code MUSEUMDAY) and in person.

Haiti: Art and Remembrance

Following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that brought much of Haiti to shambles, several thousand died and approximately 3 million are still displaced. As efforts to remove the rubble, administer necessary medical aid and distribute basic necessities such as food and water continue, in terms of future historic preservation for a country so deeply rooted in unique cultural traditions, one question remains: What about the art?

Art plays a significant role in the culture and economy of Haiti, where the majority of people live in abject poverty, in part due to an 85% unemployment rate. With few functioning institutions and outlets for self-expression, when artists paint they paint their lives. Art serves as a primary source of cultural preservation depicting spiritual practices, the connections Haitians share with their environment and their history as a people who went from the first black country to gain independence in 1808 to increased suffering under dictatorships and failed governments. Haiti is now the poorest country in the Americas.

The Centre d’Art, which launched Haiti’s Art movement in the 1940s, is severely damaged. The Musee d’Art Nader, which housed over 12,000 works from Haiti’s largest private art collection, collapsed. Murals in the Trinity Cathedral, painted by some of Haiti’s best-known artists, have crumbled.

Gerald Alexis, leading Haitian art historian and curator, notes that because of the consistent political turmoil and instability, Haiti has always had difficulty preserving its art. However, he believes its preservation is of utmost importance because art “will tell future generations who they are and where they come from. It's our heritage. And although people think that in poor countries such concepts are unnecessary, they are indeed the only thing we have. Our cultural heritage is our pride."

Collectively, several countries have pledged millions of dollars in aid over the next few years. However, amidst so much despair and chaos, the restoration and rescue of damaged art remains the responsibility of individual artists and gallery owners. Ultimately, there is no telling how much art remains irreparable. Artist Levoy Exil, whose technique includes using beets and beans to create paint, reflects on this unfortunate reality and says, “It’s a great loss for all of us. But life continues and we will continue to create.”

Countdown to the 1000th blog post: 3 to go!

Old Athens Cemetery Restoration

Brave the heat this Sunday to learn about the restoration efforts taking place in the Old Athens Cemetery on Jackson Street. The beautiful, historic burial ground hosts the final resting places of the earliest residents of Athens. Bought in 1801 by Governor John Milledge for the University, people were allowed to be buried there for free. Many interesting people rest there, from Revolutionary soldiers to Dr. Moses Waddell, president of UGA from 1819-1829. The large trees and serene atmosphere make it a place to reflect on history and nature.

Janine Duncan, a campus planning coordinator for the UGA grounds department, will lead the discussion and walking tour following. Discoveries, clean up, and restoration will be discussed in room 116 of the Visual Arts building (the old Lamar Dodd building), directly to the north (towards Downtown). This will be an informative and interesting event to attend if you are curious about the state of the cemetery and its restoration.

The event is sponsored by the Athens Historical Society and the Georgia Museum of Art. Please meet in room 116 at 3:00 p.m. this Sunday, June 20. For more information on the cemetery, go to http://bit.ly/9ei5rG.

Old Building, New Look

Please join the Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation’s Athenaeum Club for a tour of the Urban Sanctuary and Spa on Thursday, May 27, 2010, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. During the tour, you can see and learn more about the historical building.

The Urban Sanctuary and Spa, located at the intersection of Chase Street and Boulevard in Athens, was renovated recently to its current state after becoming run down from disuse. The building, which houses the spa, was built in the 1930s as a Sunday school annex for the Young Harris Memorial Methodist Church (presently located on Prince Avenue). Chris Peterson, board member of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, bought the building after the exterior had been improved and continued to work on the interior renovations.

With a changing history, this building makes for an interesting landmark in Athens’ timeline. Plan to meet at the main entrance a little before 6:30 pm; from there, the tour will go throughout the building, with Peterson in attendance to answer any questions. Happy-hour drinks will be provided following the tour.

Please RSVP to the event by emailing athenaeumclub@gmail.com. The event is free to ACHF members/ $10 for non-members. Call Jan Levinson at 706.542.5788 for more information.

Director of GMOA inducted into Sigma Pi Kappa

On Friday, April 16, William U. Eiland, director of the Georgia Museum of Art, was inducted into Sigma Pi Kappa, the only national honor society focused entirely upon preservation. Founded in 1991 on the University of Georgia campus, Sigma Pi Kappa has 13 chapters across the United States.

Eiland was nominated for his efforts in identifying and preserving all aspects of creative art, in particular paintings, sculpture, and all of the decorative arts. He is also commended for his professional leadership in raising awareness and understanding of the values of art preservation as well as promoting education about the importance of art to society. One of his most significant contributions is the expansion of the Georgia Museum of Art, which will provide more space to preserve and display its growing collections.

The induction ceremony was held in the historic Demosthenian Hall on UGA’s North Campus and was followed by the “April is Preservation Month @ UGA” barbecue and the annual preservation lecture.

Chris Peterson, a member of the board of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, was also inducted into Sigma Pi Kappa at this time.