Hidden away from the public in an extra 6,000 square feet of space is the Morris Museum of Art’s vault.
The 6,000 square feet is divided into two different spaces in the building where the museum is located, and the permanent collection holds most of the museum’s gems, according to Kevin Grogan, the museum’s director.
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“Only four to five percent of the collection – 200 of the pieces of the permanent collection – are on display,” he said.
On Feb. 4, the museum, which has been open during the pandemic, opened an exhibition of Jonathan Green’s works from the permanent collection. The museum has about 40 of the Charleston, S.C. artists paintings which represent Gullah culture and African-American life on the coast.
A few of Green’s paintings, such as “Daughters of the South” are on display in the main gallery.
This exhibition showcases his art that is usually locked away.
The Morris Museum of Art was founded in 1985, but it didn’t open its doors until September 1992.
The museum got its focus in 1989 when William S. Morris III purchased 230 paintings from Dr. Robert Powell Coggins, who had an extensive collection of Southern art.
The museum has older paintings as well as contemporary pieces. In addition to paintings, there are other media as well. One permanent exhibit is the Eugene Fleischer Collection of Studio Art Glass. A longtime Augusta resident who died in 2018, Fleischer collected the glass for about 25 years.
About three years ago, it was announced that the museum would move to the corner of Seventh and Broad Streets in the former Citizens and Southern National Bank building; however, that is still to become a reality.
Moving there would mean a tremendous increase in space. The museum currently operates in 37,000 square feet, but the former bank building would give 77,000 square feet of space.
Until the museum moves, it will continue to operate in its current location.
As with most cultural activities, the pandemic has curtailed much of its programming. The museum offered regular fare such as Artrageous, a monthly program combining arts and a children’s activity, and a regular slate of small musical performances. One large scale event is the annual gala held in early March. This year, the gala is going virtual.
In spite of that, people can still visit the museum and tour the artwork on display as well as visit the gift shop.
Members of the Authors Club of Augusta are working on a book based on the works at the museum. The authors will write a poem, essay, short story or play based on one of the pieces.
Grogan said the club looked at a similar concept 15 years ago, but it was too costly. The original pieces submitted for that book will be included in the current edition. Starkey Flythe and Jim Hudson were among those who created pieces for the first book.
The Morris Museum of Art is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth between the ages of 13 and 17, senior citizens, military and students; children 12 and younger are admitted free. Admission is free for everyone on Sundays.
For more information, call (706) 724-7501 or visit www.themorris.org.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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