Alabama State Council on the Arts awards grant to WMA

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jun 19 2017 10:56 AM

DOTHAN, Ala. - June 19, 2017 - The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is pleased to announce it has received grant funding in the amount of $33,000 from the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) for exhibitions to celebrate Alabama's bicentennial. The money will be spent on bicentennial-related projects through 2019. The grant, funded by the Alabama Legislature through ASCA, requires a one-to-one match by the museum through privately raised cash or in-kind contributions.

WMA has planned exhibitions during the next three years to reflect bicentennial themes set by Alabama's Bicentennial Commission - Discovering our Places (2017), Honoring our People (2018), and Sharing Our Stories (2019).

"The Alabama State Council on the Arts has been a wonderful partner to WMA over the years and continues to provide valuable support for arts organizations around the state to create meaningful dialogue around the arts," said WMA Director and Curator Dana-Marie Lemmer. "We are excited about the opportunity this funding provides to showcase the exemplary work of Alabama artists and to connect with our visitors through unique storytelling as it relates to the celebration of Alabama's 200 years of statehood."

In July of 2017, WMA will recognize the theme "Discovering Our Places" through an exhibition by Seale, Alabama-based artist Butch Anthony. The museum will collaborate with Anthony to re-create components of his art environment in Seale through site-specific installations in the museum's galleries and various exterior locations to highlight the importance of place and its connection to the creative process. Specifically, the exhibition will re-imagine Anthony's Museum of Wonder and Drive Thru Museum to expand the physical exhibition space and reach new audiences.

An exhibition of work by Doug Baulos, an assistant professor of drawing and bookmaking at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will represent the "Honoring Our People" theme in 2018. The exhibition will consist of seven mixed media "portraits" of contemporary Alabama artists, including Pinky Bass, Merrilee Challiss, Jon Wolley, Chiraru Roach, Bonard Hughins, Darianna Dervis, and Matt Grubb. WMA will also collaborate with the artists represented in the exhibition through various programs, including a performance piece and an interactive digital component in the gallery.

A public sculpture project to be displayed from the summer of 2018 through 2019 will conclude WMA's observance of the bicentennial to represent the final theme, "Sharing Our Stories." The project will combine the efforts of local creatives, including an artist/craftsman, an architect, and a designer. The sculpture will be installed in an outdoor location to serve as a natural point of connection and conversation for residents of the Wiregrass. The piece, intended to foster communication among strangers, will promote art, craft, and function as a conduit for cultural sharing and connecting within a community.

"The Alabama State Council on the Arts enthusiastically supports artistic programming in the Wiregrass region that will celebrate Alabama's bicentennial and showcase artists from around the state," said ASCA Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight. "We are proud to partner with the Wiregrass Museum of Art on these special bicentennial exhibitions. I look forward to exploring Alabama's creative landscape by attending the exhibitions and related programming that will take place at the WMA over the next three years."

About the Alabama State Council on the Arts

The Mission of the Alabama State Council on the Arts is to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality for all Alabamians by providing support for the state's diverse and rich artistic resources.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts is the official state arts agency of Alabama. The staff of the Council, directed by Al Head, administers the grants programs and provides financial assistance in arts planning and programming. The Council receives its support through an annual appropriation from the Alabama Legislature and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

About the Wiregrass Museum of Art

The Wiregrass Museum of Art inspires a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts by providing innovative educational programs that engage diverse audiences through the collection and exhibition of quality works.

Since its founding in 1988, WMA has offered educational programs, nationally-acclaimed art exhibitions and community events throughout the year. Its Board of Trustees guides the long-term vision and strategic goals, while its membership, City and County support, and grant funding provide the resources needed to fulfill its mission. Because of the scarcity of art education in schools, the WMA Board of Trustees and staff have the responsibility to provide quality, accessible exhibitions and to reach out into the community through art education efforts. WMA fills crucial cultural needs in the Wiregrass area.

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