Medium THE MAGAZINE OF THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART WINTER // 2018 Magic City Realism RICHARD COE’S BIRMINGHAM MEDIUM // WINTER / SPRING // 2018 HOURS CONTENTS Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm The Birmingham Museum of Sunday, Noon–5pm Art publishes the membership 4 Special Feature magazine, Medium, quarterly. Closed Mondays and select holidays Don Wood Retires Dear Member, Honoring an Expert TELEPHONES It is both a pleasure and a privilege to write to you for the first time as the R. Hugh Daniel Director of the Birmingham Museum Art, where I have served for the past Main Office, 205.254.2565 8 Exhibitions eleven years. I am excited for this opportunity and grateful for the kind words of Public Programs, 205.254.2571 Accredited by the American Magic City Realism support and advice that I have received from so many of you. There is naturally a Museum Tours, 205.254.2964 Alliance of Museums. A portion great deal of curiosity concerning my future plans for the Museum. As a supporter American Modern Membership, 205.254.2389 of the general operating of our Museum, I’d like to share those plans with you. My first priority is to make Development, 205.297.8214 budget is supported by the Third Space Rotation our building a place of which we can all be proud. Our beloved Museum has served City of Birmingham and a its visitors well, but is beginning to show its age. Fresh paint, vibrant and creative Oscar’s at the Museum grant from the Alabama State signage, and renewed attention to amenities will go a long way toward continuing Tuesday–Friday, 11am–2pm; 12 Programs + Events Council on the Arts and the to make it an inviting and enjoyable space for our visitors for years to come. For the 205.328.7850; [email protected]; National Endowment for the next five years, we hope to serve an additional 12,000 visitors each year, with the Members receive a 10% discount Ongoing Programs One’s destination is never a place, Arts. ultimate goal of increasing our annual attendance from 120,000 to 180,000 visitors. but rather a new way of looking at things. Facilities Rental Asian Heritage Festival These visitors will not only experience a welcoming space filled with exceptional and Jestina Howard, Special Events: Chapter 04 — From Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch thought-provoking art, but also new methods for discovering and understanding our 205.254.2681; [email protected] The mission of the Birmingham (1957), by Henry Miller (1891–1980), American writer collections, including the multimedia experience provided by our smartguide, which Museum of Art is to spark the Callahan Lecture Clarence B. Hanson, Jr. Library enables individuals to easily access with their smartphones a rich trove of informa- creativity, imagination, and By appointment: [email protected] Rushton Concert tion about the works on view. liveliness of Birmingham by Holi Festival The Museum Store connecting all its citizens to We will also strive to create a greater sense of place at the BMA—to emphasize for visitors that our location in Open Museum hours; the experience, meaning, and Photo by Beau Gustafson Birmingham, Alabama is one of the things that makes us special and unique. Recently, I was reminded of how much Members receive a 10% discount; joy of art. 14 News + Giving this matters when Holland Cotter, co-chief art critic of the New York Times, named our Third Space exhibition to the 205.254.2777; [email protected]; “Best Art of 2017,” writing: www.birminghammuseumstore.org New Deputy Director Named Third Space, at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama, is technically an installation of contemporary Volunteer Spotlight art from the collection. But it’s more than that: It’s at least partly a nuanced look at what it means to be Museum Ball Chairs Announced black in America, and specifically in the South...The show would be moving in any setting, but nowhere James Outland – Chairman of the Board else would it feel the way it does in this museum, just a few blocks away from where the [16th Street Family Festivals Recap Graham C. Boettcher – The R. Hugh Daniel Director Baptist] church still stands. Laura Monroe – Editor Opulence in Disguise Opening While a sense of place can be achieved through connecting our exhibitions with Birmingham’s history—even its James Williams – Designer Afterlife Opening most poignant moments—it is equally accomplished through celebrating the achievements of our city and state’s Sean Pathasema – Photographer Gift for Gail most accomplished artists. This year we will open two exhibitions that do exactly that. Coinciding with Alabama’s Support Groups bicentennial, we will present Magic City Realism: Richard Coe’s Birmingham (opening March 24), a look at an Membership inquiries to: [email protected] exceptional Selma-born artist working in our city during the height of the Great Depression, and The Original Corporate Partner Spotlight Editorial inquiries to: [email protected] Makers: Folk Art from the Cargo Collection (opening June 17), which will explore our state’s rich tradition of vivid and innovative work by self-taught artists. There’s a lot happening at the BMA and the coming year will be filled 23 Annual Report with many exciting changes as we work even harder to serve you. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Director’s Introduction Speaking of changes, it is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Meghan Ann Hellenga to the role of the James Milton and Sallie R. Johnson Deputy Director. Meghan Ann joined the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Mr. James K. Outland, Museum Board Chairman; Ms. Myla E. Calhoun, Secretary; Financial Report development department in 2014, most recently serving as associate director of development. In that role, she has Mr. Braxton Goodrich, Endowment Chair; Mr. Joel B. Piassick, Treasurer & Finance Chair; Acquisitions been an invaluable asset to this institution and I look forward to working with her and the rest of the BMA’s talented Mrs. Maye Head Frei, Governance Chair; The Honorable Houston Brown; team to take our Museum to even greater heights. Mr. Mark L. Drew; Dr. George T. French; Mr. John O. Hudson III; Contributions Mrs. Joyce Crawford Mitchell; Mr. G. Ruffner Page, Jr.; Mr. Sanjay Singh; Wishing you a happy, healthy, and art-filled new year, Mrs. Nan Skier; Mrs. Kelly Styslinger; Mr. Larry D. Thornton; Mrs. Patricia Wallwork Cover: Jefferson County Chairmen Emeriti: Mr. Thomas N. Carruthers, Jr.; Mrs. Margaret Livingston Richard B. Coe, American, 1904–1978, Courthouse, (detail), etching; Lent by John Peter Crook McCall T.2014.687 Graham C. Boettcher, Ph.D. The R. Hugh Daniel Director 2 3 Tribute to Don Wood By Chief Curator and Marguerite Jones Harbert and John M. Harbert III Curator of Decorative Arts Anne Forschler-Tarrasch, Ph.D. After more than 30 years as Curator of Asian Art at Don also published two catalogues on the Asian col- the Birmingham Museum of Art, Dr. Donald A. Wood lection while at the BMA. He worked closely with the retired on December 29, 2017. Museum’s Asian Art Society and more recently with the Indian Cultural Society to promote the arts of all Don started college with an interest in music and his- Asian nations and to increase their profiles within our tory. Spending his Junior Year abroad in Osaka, Japan community. Don’s final project Afterlife: Asian Art from encouraged him to rethink his future. He went on to the Weldon Collection brought together highlights receive his bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from the renowned Henry and June (“Jimmy”) Weldon at Wittenberg University in Ohio, and his Masters, Collection, a gift to the Museum by long-time patrons, Masters of Philosophy and Ph.D. in Asian art history supporters, and friends of Don. Through his discerning from the University of Kansas with a focus on Japan knowledge and incredible dedication to the BMA, Don and China. established its exquisite collection of Asian art as the finest in the Southeast. Don’s museum career started at The National Palace L to R: Mr. Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan; Dr. Donald A. Wood; Museum in Taipei, Taiwan. He also worked at the In special recognition of his distinguished service to Consul General Takashi Shinozuka Spencer Museum of Art and at the New Orleans the Museum, the Board of Trustees of the Birmingham Right: The First Emperor Museum of Art before starting at the BMA in 1987. He Museum of Art appointed Don Curator Emeritus of was only the second Curator of Asian Art at the BMA. Asian Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art. He was appointed The Virginia and William M. Spencer III Curator of Asian Art in 2000, and served as Chief Don’s illustrious career was capped on December 15, Curator from 1996 to 2008. 2017 upon receiving one of Japan’s most prestigious honors in the world of culture. Takashi Shinozuka, Often called a most “acquisitive curator”—considered Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, conferred on by Don a compliment of the highest order—he has, Don the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, over the course of three decades, worked on a vari- a rarely awarded national decoration that recognizes ety of projects and made numerous acquisitions. He Don’s dedication to cultural exchange and promotion organized the acclaimed exhibition The First Emperor: of the arts of Japan. Treasures from Ancient China, as well as Kamisaka Sekka: Rimpa Master—Pioneer of Modern Design, The BMA staff is grateful for Don’s collegiality, leader- which established Don as an expert in the field of ship, and friendship over the years.