The Morris Museum of Art is stepping back into the program zone with artist Leo Twiggs giving a talk via Zoom March 11.
Although the museum is open to guests, the pandemic has curtailed in-person events. The museum has had some prerecorded video to use in conjunction with many of the exhibitions, but this will be the first interactive program since the pandemic.
“He’s going to talk, and then he’ll answer questions,” said Matt Porter, the museum’s curator of education.
Twiggs’ work has been on display since Dec. 5; the exhibition is set to close March 14.
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The 86-year-old is regarded as one of South Carolina’s most important artists, according to Twiggs’ biography on the museum’s website. Twiggs became the first African-American to earn a doctorate in art education from the University of Georgia. He established South Carolina State University’s first art department.
Twiggs primarily works in batik, which is a fabric-dying process, said Porter.
Porter said the most exciting part of the program to him is the interaction with the artist himself, to get to know what Twiggs was thinking when he created a certain work. He said that is something he’s missed during the past year.
The title of the Twiggs’ exhibition is “Messages from Home: The Art of Leo Twiggs.”
Porter said there’s a 3D tour of the Twiggs’ exhibition available at the Morris Museum’s website.
Twiggs’ talk is free. It will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Zoom Meeting ID is 870 5647 5939, and the invite link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87056475939.
One in-person event that has been canceled this year is the annual gala, which is the organization’s signature fundraiser. Proceeds from the annual March gala provide the museum’s operating expenses, according to an email from Kevin Grogan, the museum’s director and curator.
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In a typical year, a tent outside the building provides extra space for about 600 people to don their most elegant attire and enjoy an evening at the museum.
This year, they are selling sponsorships.
Donors giving between $250 and $500 will receive their choice of a Brent Cline print; donors at the $1,000 level will receive a limited edition serigraph called “Dormer” by Edward Rice; $2,500 will receive the serigraph plus an invitation for two to a cocktail party at the home of Caroline and Will Morris; $5,000 will receive the serigraph, reservations for four to the cocktail party; $10,000 will receive reservations for eight to the cocktail party, party-in-a-box featuring a bottle of champagne, sweets and a flower arrangement.
In addition, donations greater than $1,000 will be recognized on the 2021 donor wall, be mentioned in an ad in Augusta Magazine and receive museum memberships among other incentives.
Grogan said the sponsorships would be received over the next few months.
A sponsorship form is available at the museum’s website, themorris.org.
Grogan said he hopes the gala will return next year bigger and better than ever.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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