2011–2012 ANNUAL REPORT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART // JULY 1 · 2011–JUNE 30 · 2012 2011–2012 ANNUAL REPORT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART // JULY 1 · 2011–JUNE 30 · 2012 CONTENTS THE YEAR IN REVIEW 5 EXHIBITIONS 9 Ralph D. Cook – Chairman of the Board EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS 17 Gail C. Andrews – The R. Hugh Daniel Director EVENTS 25 Editor – Rebecca Dobrinski Design – James Williams SUPPORT GROUPS 31 Photographer – Sean Pathasema STAFF 36 MISSION To provide an unparalleled cultural and educational experience to a diverse community by collecting, presenting, interpreting, and preserving works of art of the highest quality. FINANCIAL REPORT 39 Birmingham Museum of Art ACQUISITIONS 43 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. Birmingham, AL 35203 COLLECTION LOANS 52 Phone: 205.254.2565 www.artsbma.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES 54 [COVER] Jar, 16th century, Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Purchase with funds provided by the Estate of William M. Spencer III AFI289.2010 MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT 57 THE YEAR IN REVIEW t is a pleasure to share highlights from our immeasurably by the remarkable bequest of I 2011–12 fiscal year. First, we are delighted long-time trustee, William M. Spencer III. Our to announce that the Museum’s overall collection, along with those at the MFA Boston attendance last year jumped by an astonishing and Metropolitan Museum of Art, is ranked as 24 percent. While attendance is only one metric one of the top three collections of Vietnamese by which we gauge interest and enthusiasm Ceramics in North America. The show and for our programs, it is extremely validating catalogue, published by the University of as we continue to grow and explore new ways Washington Press, received generous national to engage our audience. In turn, we are also and international attention, including a lengthy pleased to report that our current financial and thoughtful review in the Wall Street Journal. status is sound. We have two years of coming in But certainly the most exciting press was when on budget as we have been able to slowly build Apollo, the British fine arts magazine, named more capacity. our 16th-century Vietnamese jar as the ninth As for our curatorial work, this year’s most important museum acquisition in 2011 exhibitions truly reflect the scholarly strengths (cover illustration), placing the Birmingham of our curators as well as the global nature of Museum of Art in the company of esteemed our collection and our commitment to bring institutions including the Louvre, the that great diversity of human expression to Metropolitan, and the British Museum. our public. This spectrum included Indian The Look of Love: Eye Miniatures from the sculpture, lithographs by Daumier, exquisite Skier Collection followed close on the heels of European jewelry, modern Danish ceramics, Vietnamese Ceramics. The exhibition attracted Alabama quilts, and the exciting Warhol and visitors from across the country, intrigued by the Cars, to name but a few. We capped the year little-known subject of lovers eyes, their beauty, with Future Perfect: The Birmingham Museum of history, and the fact that the Skiers’ collection Art at 60, the handsome installation of many of is the largest in the world. Appreciating the the gifts given or promised in honor of our 60th diminutive size of these objects, we took anniversary. These gifts, offered by so many advantage of modern technology to enhance of our friends and supporters, illustrate their visitors’ engagement with these tiny objects, commitment to seeing this institution continue resulting in the development of the Museum’s to grow and attain the areas of distinction and first app. We equipped our visitors with iPad specialization we all desire and envision. gallery guides, offering a new dimension to We will single out two of this year’s special the visitor experience. The exhibition received exhibitions; both made important contributions an enormous amount of press including The to their respective scholarly fields and both New York Times, Vanity Fair, Elle magazine, garnered outstanding accolades in the press. and Town & Country. Look of Love was hailed First, Dragons and Lotus Blossoms: Vietnamese by Architectural Digest as among the season’s Ceramics from the Birmingham Museum of Art best museum shows. The beautiful companion comprises a collection begun by the then newly- catalog, a small treasure itself, enjoyed best- formed Asian Art Society in the early 1970s. seller (in its category) status on Amazon.com This collection was thoughtfully developed for more than three weeks. We are delighted over the ensuing years and then strengthened to report that the show will live on, traveling 4 5 120,000 VISITORS MUSEUM: 119,231 WEBSITE: 188,658 307,889 100,000 80,000 60,000 PROGRAM ATTENDANCE OUTREACH: 6,834 ONSITE: 14,059 20,893 40,000 24% 20,000 FY 2010–11 FY 2011–12 INCREASE IN MUSEUM ATTENDANCE 2010–2012 0 COLLECTION OBJECTS ACCESSIONED: 1,753 TOTAL: 23,924 25,677 FAMILY PROGRAM ATTENDANCE ADULT PROGRAM ATTENDANCE 7,000 6,000 5,000 MEMBERS AND FRIENDS 4,000 MEMBERSHIPS: 4,775 FACEBOOK FANS: 8,000 TWITTER FOLLOWERS: 2,800 15,575 3,000 2,000 FY 2009–10 FY 2010–11 FY 2011–12 FY 2009–10 FY 2010–11 FY 2011–12 1,000 TOURS 0 SELF-GUIDED: 468 DOCENT-LED: 574 1,042 INCREASE IN FAMILY PROGRAM INCREASE IN ADULT PROGRAM 85% ATTENDENCE 2009–2012 75% ATTENDENCE 2009–2012 to other museums including the University project was made possible by the fundraising today, such as critical thinking, creativity, and Therefore, we are consciously making more of Georgia Museum of Art, the Minneapolis efforts of the Red Mountain Garden Club and a communication. Our education department use of new technologies. We know people learn Institute of Arts, and the Winterthur Museum, generous gift by Mayer Electric. continues to work directly with teachers both the best by doing, and there is an increased Garden and Library. Our annual fundraiser, the Museum Ball, in the Museum and in the classroom. Field trips desire by people today to “do” in addition to Beyond our exhibitions and collection, was an incredibly special evening and we want and associated instruction remain free to area “view.” Thus, we are implementing a variety of we worked to complete several successful to acknowledge the exceptional leadership schools, but transportation costs remain an issue learning strategies: we will be loading even more projects this year. In May, we unveiled Bart’s of Museum Ball co-chairs Penny Page and for schools with tight budgets. Last year, our gallery tours on the iPads; cell phone tours now ArtVenture—our new, beautiful, interactive Katharine Patton. Penny and Katharine created docents stepped up to create a Bus Fund to help incorporate many voices to bring more people family gallery. The gallery now plays an an evening that was perfect in every way, but underserved schools offset some of the travel into conversations about works of art; and we important role at the Museum, serving all ages more importantly, it secured the highest amount costs to and from the Museum. continue to develop and refine our website to from toddlers and crawlers to teens and adults. ever raised in the Museum’s 60-year history. As we look to the year ahead, we are careful attract more visitors. The changing art activities and stations were We are so very grateful to the Ball chairs, Men’s not to lose perspective as the world around These are just a few highlights from a year designed to connect to our collection and help Committee, and all who worked to make this us rapidly changes. Thus we are spending filled with art and the many ways we engage visitors begin to develop their appreciation of event a success. significant time and resources trying to with our visitors and our community. We hope art. Just beyond our new family gallery, another Working in area schools with students and understand our audience, engage that audience, you enjoy this look back at 2011–12. significant project reached fruition in The Red teachers is a major aspect of carrying out our and harness their ideas, feedback, and Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden—the mission as a museum. As arts education in our participation in a much deeper way than ever trees, pools by Valerie Jaudon, and our collection schools sadly diminishes, we have ramped up before. of sculpture now glow with the brilliant designs our educational programming and are working In the same spirit, we understand that in Gail C. Andrews Ralph D. Cook THE R. HUGH DANIEL DIRECTOR CHAIRMAN of New York lighting designer Charles Stone to fill this void. Museums are well-equipped order to thrive as a traditional institution in and local collaborators, ArchitectureWorks. The to foster the type of learning skills needed an increasingly modern world, we must adapt. 6 7 EXHIBITIONS AFRICAN ARTISTRY IN IRON AND CLAY A STITCH IN TIME: SOUTHERN QUILTS IN THE MARCH 28, 2010—SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 AFRICAN-AMERICAN TRADITION African cultures value iron and clay for their practical use: tools, weapons, currency, and MAY 15, 2011—SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 vessels; but, more importantly, also for their The art of quilting enjoys a long and rich spiritual potency. This installation explores heritage within African American communities, iron and clay as created for rites of passage, particularly in the Deep South. Drawing from healing rituals, divination, governance, religious the Museum’s permanent collection of American practice, and conflict mediation. quilts—among the largest in the country—this In many parts of Africa, blacksmiths are exhibition explored the African American born to their occupational specialty and marry quilting tradition from vibrant patterns to women from other blacksmith families.