mma2.jpg

    For 40 years, Meridian Museum of Art has consistently featured high-quality exhibitions, education programs and special events, remaining true to its mission to promote and support the art and artists of East Mississippi and West Alabama.

     “We give the community a visual arts element that’s not available in too many other locations,” said Kate Cherry, the museum’s executive director.

     MMA’s past as well as future successes will be celebrated during the annual Museum Gala event on Dec. 1. The gala combines the Museum Members Show and the Annual Art Auction.

    “We’ll have everything in one place,” says Krilecia Gianakos, the event’s chair. “From the time you arrive until the event ends you’ll be able to relax and enjoy a special night out.”

     In addition to art, food, drink, music and the auction, the evening will include the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year Award to the museum’s “Most Valuable” for 2010.

    “Supporters who built the museum and have kept it alive for 40 years will be remembered and honored,” Cherry said.

     Previous honorees are:  Pat Wright, Lila Thomas and Florida Lusk, 1998; Sylvia Follis, 2000; Kate Cherry, 2001; B.J. Hatten, 2002; Bob Bresnahan, 2003; Bill Harper, 2004; Debbie Ford, 2005; Deb Bresnahan, 2006; Ann Blackledge, 2007; Charlotte Massey, 2008; and Judie Miller, 2009

History

 

    The museum began with the formation of the Meridian Art League, which was composed of local and regional artists. Mrs. M. L. Jones was the first president. During this period, exhibitions were also held at the Lamar Hotel.

     The League first exhibition was held in February 1933 at the Meridian Civic Center, and featured the works of Charles Le Clair, director of the art department at the University of Alabama.

    In 1949, the League changed its name to the Meridian Art Association and held its first exhibit under its new name on March 8, 1949, on the second floor of Marks Rothenberg Company. The show featured 30 paintings by 17 New Orleans artists.

     Over the next two decades, the Art Association held exhibits, gallery talks and workshops around the city. Places such as the public library, the alley behind the Strand Theatre, Alex Loeb Department Store, First National Bank, Merchants and Farmers Drive-In Bank, Sears and Broadmoor Shopping Center were used, however the home for most exhibitions was Weidmann’s Restaurant’s 1870 Room. The first exhibit in the 1870 Room featured the works of Caroline Durieux of New Orleans.

     In October 1956, The Painters Group formed to provide local artists an opportunity to share and learn together, as well as to select paintings to hang in the 1870 Room. Cornelia Mitchell served as the group’s first president.

     In 1958, the Meridian Art Association changed its name to the Meridian Area Art Association in recognition of its many out of town members. The Association’s first art auction was held in October at the Fabric Fair on 22nd Avenue. Twenty-five original paintings by local artists were on the bidding block.

    When the Meridian Public Library moved into its new building in 1967, the old Carnegie Library Building (constructed in 1912-13) was left vacant. In January 1968, the Meridian Area Art Association met in the meeting room of the Carnegie Library to discuss plans to renovate the facility into a permanent home gallery for the Association.

    In December 1968, Harold Cross was hired as the first director of the newly planned museum.

     With seed money from the Association’s membership, and bond money from the city of Meridian, the museum was set to officially open in January 1970. However, a devastating fire on December 23, 1969, did severe damage to the facility and forced postponement of the opening. (A plaque inside the museum’s front doors honoring those who contributed the seed money still bears the scars of the fire.)

     After a year of holding temporary exhibitions at First National Bank and in the Buckingham Building, the official opening was held Oct. 16, 1970, and the facility was named the Meridian Museum of Art.

     In June of 1971, the main gallery upstairs was dedicated in memory of Henry Weidmann, who, over the years, had generously allowed the 1870 Room of Weidmann’s to be used as a gallery for the Association.

     In February 1974, the museum held its first annual Bi-State Art Competition, featuring the work of the finest artists in Mississippi and Alabama. The oldest juried art competition in the region, the Bi-State remains the cornerstone of the museum’s exhibition programs.

     In March 1992, the original Painters Group was renamed the Artists Group, with Les Green elected as the group’s first president. In June and July of 1992, MMA held its first annual People’s Choice Art Competition.

     On Oct. 30, 1993, the museum returned to the auction field, holding its first major art auction fundraiser after inheriting the event from the Meridian Arts Council.

     In December 1994, the first floor East Gallery was renamed the Burdette Gallery, honoring Anna Burdette for her longtime support of the museum and the arts.

Evening of fun

     The evening will also include door prizes and cocktails throughout the event. The silent auction, featuring over art of all types, styles, sizes, and price ranges, will end at 8:30 p.m.

    “Your Christmas shopping problems are over,” said Sharon Busler, the auction’s chairperson.

    “If you’re looking for a special, one-of-a-kind gift, nothing beats an original work of art,” Busler said.

    Available artwork will include oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, pottery, photographs, mixed media, jewelry and stained glass. Artists featured in this year’s auction and Members Show are: Winki Allen, Orville “Shorty” Anderson, Neubern Atkinson, Cynthia Baugh, Peggy Billups, Libba Blue, Norma Bourdeaux, Bonnie Busbee, Charlie Busler, Amber Carraway, Olinda “Lin” Carruth, Greg Cartmell, Eleanore Catledge, Terry Cherry, James Connor, Brianna Dearman, Denise Denger, Edwin Downer, Keith Englen, Sylvia Follis, Mike French, Kris Gianakos, Bebe Gianakos, Mandy Goldman,  Dawn Gray, Joy Greer, Malissa Hamilton, Jill Hammes, Peggy Harmon, B.J. Hatten, Millie Howell, Peyton Long Hutchinson, Ana Iverson, Marsha Iverson, Katy Iverson, Bob Jeffares, Chloe Marie Johnson, Louane Jordan, F. W. Kahlmus, Patricia Kent, Dave Kimbrell, Ron Koehler, Nancy Landrum, Alex Loeb, Rhea Espey Mabry, Jan Mardis, John Marshall, Jeanne Mathews, Debbie Matthews, Doris McKinney, Anne Meyer, Charles Munoz, Diane Oliver, Diane Oliver, Jeanne Poetker, Wanda Price, Clo Ann Rabb, Mike Reich, Mouise Richards, Sarah Ellen Riley, Mary Secrest, Don Shaffer, Kay Shaffer, Martha Stennis, Terrell Taylor, Patsy Temple, Larry VanDyke, Paul Varela, Marcia Via, Julie Walker and Diane Wilson.