Letter from the Director – Fall

Dear WMA Members and Friends,

As we come to the end of a very busy summer at the museum, I hope that you had a chance to visit us during one of our many programs or events.

We hosted over 330 students during summer camps this year and have been planning new classes and workshops for the upcoming school year. In an effort to better connect visitors with the museum’s collection and exhibitions, youth and adult classes now feature an in-depth look at what’s on display at WMA, learning about the artists and their work before crafting their own masterpieces in similar styles and mediums. As we look ahead to the new school year, we are also preparing for a new year of Bus on Us. If you know a Dothan City or Houston County teacher, remind them that we provide free transportation for students to visit the museum on field trip.

The permanent collection at the Wiregrass Museum of Art is the basis for many of our programs and activities. We often teach with the collection, as mentioned above, using the stories, techniques, and styles to create cross curricular lessons for area educators to use in the classroom. Did you know that we also use the collection to inform our exhibitions schedule –  exploring and expanding on the knowledge we have about artists and their peers?

This quarter, we are working with the Alabama Women’s Caucus for Art (ALWCA), based in Huntsville, Alabama, to exhibit work based on the museum’s diverse holdings. Our collection is a resource for students, researchers, and artists, and members of ALWCA have made selections from our permanent collection in order to create new work inspired by and in conversation with those works in the collection. Featuring over 20 artists, Echoes: A response to objects in WMA’s permanent collection by the Alabama Women’s Caucus for Art highlights the important work of museums in preserving and interpreting a permanent collection for generations to come.

Your membership to WMA each year supports the care of our permanent collection, as well as the many programs and events we hold for the public. Remember, admission is always free. We hope to see you soon, and often. Bring a friend!

Best,

Dana-Marie Lemmer

Director and Curator