from the DIRECTOR
board of ADVISORS
Carl. W. Mullis III * Gloria B. Norris*** Randall S. Ott Sylvia Hillyard Pannell Gordhan L. Patel Janet W. Patterson Christopher R. Peterson, chair Rutledge Robinson Margaret A. Rolando * Julie M. Roth Alan F. Rothschild * Bert Russo Sarah P. Sams **
B. Heyward Allen Jr. * Rinne Allen Amalia K. Amaki ** June M. Ball Linda N. Beard Karen L. Benson** Jeanne L. Berry Sally Bradley Devereux C. Burch * Lacy Middlebrooks Camp Shannon I. Candler * Wes Cochran Harvey J. Coleman James Cunningham Martha Randolph Daura *** Todd Emily James B. Fleece John M. Greene ** Judith F. Hernstadt Marion E. Jarrell ** Jane Compton Johnson * George-Ann Knox * Shell H. Knox * Andrew Littlejohn D. Hamilton Magill, chair-elect David W. Matheny, immediate past chair Marilyn M. McMullan * Marilyn D. McNeely Ibby Mills
I am thankful for many things in my still-new position here at the Georgia Museum of Art.
D. Jack Sawyer Jr. * Henry C. Schwob ** Margaret R. Spalding Dudley R. Stevens Anne Wall Thomas *** Brenda A. Thompson William E. Torres Carol V. Winthrop * Gregory Ann Woodruff
Every day, I collaborate with an incredibly talented team of museum professionals, dedicated volunteers and brilliant students. Our gener- ous supporters help us bring our work to a diverse range of audiences, from students of all ages to community members from all walks of life. During my daily wanderings through our galleries, whether to find a new friend on the wall or to visit a familiar piece, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be surrounded by the creative output of some of the world’s greatest artists. The museum has gathered these works of art for your quiet contemplation, spirited debate or pure pleasure. The other day, as I took advantage of a break between meetings to see a few works in one of our current exhibitions, “Decade of Tradition: Highlights from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection,” I was struck by Louis Delsarte’s “The Gift” (pictured above). The complex explosion of color in Delsarte’s beautifully layered acryl- ic painting completely energized me and elevated my mood, while the enigmatic expression (if one can even call it an expression) of the central figure left me wanting to know more. Delsarte typically created his work over multiple sessions, and knowing this has always enhanced my appreciation for his art. It is also a strong reminder that creativity doesn’t necessarily arrive in a single burst like a bolt of lightning. As I contemplated Delsarte’s painting and his process, I suddenly thought of Katsushika Hokusai’s famous poem “A Poppy Blooms”:
Ex-Officio Linda C. Chesnut Bree Hayes S. Jack Hu David Odo Jeanette Taylor
* Lifetime member
** Emeritus member
*** Honorary member
Mission Statement: The Georgia Museum of Art shares the mission of the University of Georgia to support and to promote teaching, research and service. Specifically, as a repository and educational instrument of the visual arts, the museum exists to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret significant works of art. The W. Newton Morris Charitable Foundation Fund and the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art support exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art. The Georgia Council for the Arts also provides support through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA receives support from its partner agency, the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide additional museum support through their gifts to the University of Georgia Foundation. The Georgia Museum of Art is ADA compliant; the M. Smith Griffith Auditori- um is equipped for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors. The University of Georgia does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or mili- tary service in its administrations of educational policies, programs or activities; its admissions policies; scholarship and loan programs; athletic or other University-administered programs; or employment. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Equal Opportunity Office 119 Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Telephone 706-542- 7912 (V/TDD). Fax 706-542-2822. https://eoo.uga.edu/.
I write, erase, rewrite Erase again, and then A poppy blooms.
Hokusai was a highly accomplished poet, but he is better known for his stunningly creative woodblock prints, including “The Great Wave of Kanagawa,” which you can view an impression of in our collection. (Some of his prints are included in our traveling exhibition “Fleeting Pleasures: Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art.”) This poem of his feels particularly well suited to the museum, where we are part of a thriving, creative community of artists, students, teachers, researchers and others who work and rework their ideas until their poppies bloom. We hope you will visit us again soon, so that our exhibitions and programs may serve as inspiration for your own creativ- ity to bloom as Hokusai’s and Delsarte’s did.
Front and back cover: Nancy Baker Cahill, “Slipstream 006-01 AP” (detail), 2021. Archival pigment print, 38 x 38 inches.
David Odo, Director
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