Recent Events at STMA

Artoberfest.
Thursday, October 11th, 6:00 - 9:30 PM.
STMA will welcome the autumn season with Artoberfest, the museum’s annual Fall Fund-raiser as well as the opening event of the 2007 Georgia’s Lake Oconee Music Festival. The evening features a back-by-popular- demand performance by renowned jazz vocalist Melanie Massell and her band. Guests will also enjoy a wine tasting provided by Habersham Winery, heavy h’ors d’ouevres and beer plus an exciting silent auction and raffle. Reservations (admission) cost $25. Please call the museum at 706-342-7557. They may also be made at the Lake Welcome Center, 5820 Lake Oconee Parkway, 706-453-1630.

Proceeds from all STMA events benefit the museum and its Arts Outreach Program©, dedicated to providing ongoing educational opportunities to students, families, organizations and individuals in the tri-county area.

Pictures at an Exhibition.
Petrovich Mussorgsky, the great 19th century Russian musician, drew artistic inspiration from both the performing and visual arts. One of his greatest compositions, Pictures at an Exhibition, is in fact a series of piano pieces describing paintings in sound. On Sunday, July 1st, his masterpiece was performed at an all Russian program presented at STMA. Surrounded by the genius of Steffen Thomas, the event starred the dynamic young pianist Ilya Yakushev, first prize and gold medal winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. Christopher Rex, the Artistic Director of the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, accompanied him on the cello. The concert was part of the 2007 Madison Chamber Music Festival, presented by the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center.

Founder’s Day.
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art celebrated two momentous occasions on Saturday, July 7th during Founder’s Day, an annual event honoring the creation of the museum and its many educational programs. First and foremost, Sara Douglass Thomas, the widow of the great German Expressionist Steffen Thomas, marked her 100th birthday this year. The festivities also observed the 10th anniversary of STMA; a decade ago, Sara established a 13,000-square-foot facility to display and preserve her husband’s remarkable art.

The party was a great success! Over 175 guests, from as far way as New Orleans and Wilmington, NC, attended. Several speakers paid tribute to Sara and the museum; they included Drs. Andrew and Hathia Hayes, Dr. Bruce Prince and STMA’s Museum Director, Mary Nell McLauchlin.

Elizabeth d’Huart, STMA’s new Deputy Director, introduced herself to the museum’s community. “The superb quality and staggering quantity of [Thomas’s] work … conveys an overwhelming sense of delight,” d’Huart stated. “For that reason, I see my new position here as a gift, and something that I hope I have been preparing for all my adult life.”

An engraved medallion in honor of the event was presented to Sara. It was added to a necklace decorated with commemorative medallions from past Founder’s Days.

Museum docents gave a gallery talk on selected works included in the current temporary exhibit, “Sara’s Favorites,” curated by the Hayes.

Docents’ Doings
STMA’s team of dedicated docents meets on the third Tuesday of every month. At the August 21st meeting, the group discussed the contents of a tour invitation packet to be sent to other museums, art bureaus and guilds, as well as public institutions in the tri-county area. Each docent, acting as an ambassador for the museum, will be responsible for establishing contact with these organizations. The group also made plans to initiate a junior docents program by recruiting youngsters now attending other after-school activities.

On August 30th, the docents enjoyed a field trip to the State Capitol. They toured the Capitol Museum, and viewed the numerous Steffen Thomas sculptures on display. If you would like to visit or join our docents group, please contact Lisa Conner at the museum; 706-342-7557.

Workshops at STMA

STMA’s Art Outreach Program provides family workshops for art enthusiasts of all ages one Saturday a month at the museum. All sessions are scheduled for 10 AM to noon. Upcoming workshops are:

January 26, 2008, 10 am - Noon -- A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
The workshop will focus on using the visual arts, specifically gouache paintings, to promote the importance of water conservation. Participants will learn about the flora and fauna of local rivers and streams. Our Lead Teacher -- Lindy Burnett -- has a degree in Fine Art from Wesleyan College and an Associate Degree in Illustration from the Portfolio Center in Atlanta, where she has taught for many years. She has been commissioned as an artist by Fortune 500 companies and has illustrated five award-winning children’s books. In 1998, Lindy designed a poster for the High Museum’s first annual wine auction. Her work was met with great acclaim; the original poster was subsequently sold for several thousand dollars. As a result, she was inducted into the Society of New York Illustrators and included in the Commercial Arts Illustration Annual.

Admission for the workshop is $8 adults, $6 children; STMA members receive a $2 discount.
Reservations are required; please call 706-342-7557.
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead, GA.

February 16, 2008, 10 am - Noon -- European Memories
Participants will use oil pastels to create designs inspired by drawings and paintings that Steffen Thomas created on his 1972 European trip (featured in STMA’s 2008 Calendar, European Memories). Teacher -- Susan Pelham -- is a well-known Monroe, GA artist, who currently mentors other artists in a weekly group setting in Madison, GA. Susan has taught numerous workshops at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art. Admission for the workshop is $8 adults, $6 children; STMA members receive a $2 discount. Reservations are required; please call 706-342-7557. The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead, GA. March 8, 2008, 10 am - Noon No Place like Home: Designing Your Dream House or Room. Pen and ink will be used to create design ideas for houses or rooms. Photographs of homes and rooms designed by Steffen Thomas will be available for inspiration. Taught by professional architectural draftsman, Eric McKay; renowned international architect, Liselott Johnsson, will advise.
Admission is $8 adults, $6 children; STMA members receive a $2 discount.
Reservations are required; please call 706-342-7557.
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead, GA.

March 8, 2008, 10 am - Noon -- No Place like Home
Designing Your Dream House or Room. Pen and ink will be used to create design ideas for houses or rooms. Photographs of homes and rooms designed by Steffen Thomas will be available for inspiration. Taught by professional architectural draftsman, Eric McKay; renowned international architect, Liselott Johnsson, will advise.
Admission is $8 adults, $6 children; STMA members receive a $2 discount.
Reservations are required; please call 706-342-7557.
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead, GA.

All workshops are held from 10am to noon at:
Steffen Thomas Museum & Archives
4200 Bethany Road
Buckhead, GA 30625 (this is the Real Buckhead)
All workshops cost $8 per adult and $6 per child ($2 discount offered for STMA members.) STMA requests you make your reservations in advance so we have enough supplies on hand -- 706.342.7557

Steffen Thomas Museum of Art
4200 Bethany Road   Buckhead, Georgia 30625
(706) 342.7557   Fax (706) 342.4348
email us, click here --> info@steffenthomas.org

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) is located at 4200 Bethany Road, Buckhead, GA 30625.
STMA is 60 miles east of Atlanta; 5 miles southeast of Madison.
From I-20 take Exit 121, turn south to Stop Sign. Right on Bethany Road for 1 mile to museum.

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