| From the Director |
Michele Bechtell, Director |
Madison Museum of Fine Art, Inc.
PO Box 814/ 300 Hancock Street
Madison, GA 30650 mbechtell@prodigy.net |
| 706-485-4530 |
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Letter From the Director
Posted February 27, 2004
On February 14, the Museum opened for a glorious informal sneak preview of the new facilities. Over 150 of us gathered to share food, wine, and good conversation. And all this, by word of mouth! Many thanks to Amici Café who provided the food and the inventive Social Committee members who provided red and white table cloths, candlelight, flowers, and jazz music to create a memorable evening. Committee members included the inimitable Frances Armstrong, Susan Kelly, Paulette Long, Rosie Becker, Cher O’Malley, and their husbands.
The highlight of the evening was the surprise guest of honor, Elizabeth Shearer from Winterville, who donated the second work to the Museum’s growing permanent collection, "Fig Vase" by Marguerite Friedlander Wildenhain (1896-1981). Wildenhain was one of only seven ceramics students at the Bauhaus in Germany and the only woman in the group. In the 1930’s she was expelled from a teaching position due to her Jewish origins. And in 1940 she settled north of San Francisco where she founded and managed Pond Farm artist colony for over forty years. Wildenhain is credited with elevating the status of pottery to an art form and her works are held in the collections of numerous museums throughout the United States. Thank you, Elizabeth, for bringing your cherished gift to our Museum.
For those of you who recently joined the Museum, our first donation to the permanent collection was the exquisite painting "Bootblack on Train" by Norman Rockwell's master, Joseph Leyendecker (1874-1939). This talented artist created over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post during his illustrious art career, and in the year 2000, the US Post office issued a commemorative stamp in his honor. This gift from Fitzhugh Fowke III of Atlanta is an elegant work, and it is has extra special meaning for our Museum since we are located in a region of Georgia with active train towns.
Be on the look-out for our next Museum event and our first fundraiser this spring on Saturday, May 15! The festive affair will include a series of afternoon art receptions with refreshments in private homes followed by a benefit dinner with live music that evening. We hope to have the tea terrace and bones of the sculpture garden in place by that date. So the evening will provide an opportunity to preview the new facilities. You will receive an invitation shortly as we know that many people make early plans for spring, and we are certain that you will not want to miss this exciting event. Spaces will be limited, so book early.
To all of you, many thanks for your wonderful and encouraging feedback on the Museum space as we work our way through this first year. We hope to open the Museum and Museum Store with regular but limited hours by Mother’s Day Weekend in May, so we need lots of volunteers. You, the members are our most important ambassadors for growing the Museum, and it is you who will make it all we want it to become. Please call us any time you wish us to open the Museum or Museum Store for you or your friends, as we are eager to show the space, expand awareness, and grow our membership base.
Most sincerely,
Michele Bechtell
Executive Director
Select a News Story
Aug 30, 2008:
Letter From the Director
Dec 8, 2006:
Letter from the Director
Sep 20, 2005:
Letter From the Director
Dec 28, 2004:
Letter from the Director
Sep 28, 2004:
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Feb 27, 2004:
Letter From the Director
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