2009

Gertrude Herbert Institute of

Art

Annual Report
6/17/2009
 GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART • 2009 ANNUAL REPORT

The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, established in 1937, exists to provide a creative
outlet
for all in Augusta and the surrounding area who wish to explore the visual arts.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009

Officers Advisory Board

Mr. David J. Hogg, Jr., Chair Mrs. Lynda Blanchard
Mrs. Mickey Williford., Vice-Chair Mr. Patrick G. Blanchard
Mrs. Heather W. Howington, Treasurer Mr. Clayton P. Boardman III
Mrs. Cammie Frank Jones, Secretary Mr. Jackson Cheatham
Mr. Joseph W. Gambill Jr.
Trustees Mr. James M. Hull
Mr. David Clayton Carrad Mr. J. Benjamin Kay III
Mr. Karl F. Fornes Mrs. Jane Kight
Mrs. Mary K. Houston Mrs. Lane Kimbrel
Mr. Harold V. Jones II Mr. Charles E. Knox II
Mr. Thomas N. Larsen Mrs. George-Ann Knox
Ms. Elizabeth K. Markwalter Mrs. Elizabeth Macuch
Mrs. Mary P. McDowell Mr. Finley H. Merry
Mr. Thomas V. Nakashima Ms. Pat Missar
Ms. Jennifer L. Onofrio Mr. Donald S. Powers
Mr. George A. Sancken III Mr. Quincy Robertson
Mrs. Christy Sanders Mrs. Trisha Sasnett
Mr. Michael N. Searles Mrs. Lucy Weigle
Ms. Rosanne Stutts
Mrs. Kathryn Walker
Mrs. Emmie S. Ward
Mrs. Lou Ann Zimmerman
STAFF
John T. Eckert, Preparator
Dorothy F. Eckmann, Education Director
Michelle Hagan, Outreach Education Specialist
Laura Neff, Administrative Assistant
Cynthia J. Rice, Administrative Manager
Mary E. Steketee, Administrative Assistant

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

The Institute’s Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff have spent the past twelve
months working diligently to fulfill its mission of commitment to art, education,
outreach, and preservation. In a year filled with changes and challenges, we have
positively impacted the lives of thousands of adults and children throughout our
community—fostering the creative potential of our students, introducing gallery
visitors to new and exciting examples of contemporary artwork, and sharing our
beautiful historic facilities with visitors from across the United States and beyond.
We know that these achievements would have been impossible without the support
of the many individual and corporate donors, private foundations, and tireless
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volunteers who have given so generously of their time and support, and gratefully
acknowledge their role in our success.
Exhibitions
The Gertrude Herbert’s Main Gallery played host to five major exhibitions during FY
2009, featuring more than fifty contemporary artists working in a diverse range of
styles and media. In September A Sense of Place 2008, the Institute’s 28th annual
juried fine art competition, attracted entries from almost 300 artists representing
every corner of the nation. The event also served as the Institute’s contribution to
Augusta’s inaugural Westobou Festival, held September 18 – 28, 2008. At the
exhibition’s opening reception juror Amanda Cooper of The Art Center, St.
Petersburg selected three particularly outstanding entries from a pool of almost
1,000 works of art for receipt of cash merit awards, generously sponsored by
Mercedes-Benz of Augusta.

In November and December the faculty of Augusta State University’s Art

Department mounted its third semi-annual exhibition at the Institute. These gifted
artists shared an inspiring body of work in media ranging
from paintings and prints to photography and sculpture.
The New Year opened with an exhibition of abstract and
figurative paintings by noted Anglo-Irish artist John
Kingerlee. Part of a three-year national tour, the collection
represented the first important presentation of the artist’s
work in the United States. Noted New York art critic
Dominique Nahas visited the Institute in conjunction with the exhibition’s opening to
host a gallery talk on Kingerlee and his oeuvre.

Columbia, SC ceramicist Virginia Scotchie brought her work to Augusta in April.

Combining simple organic shapes with colorful glazes and metallic finishes,
Scotchie’s abstract sculptures break from the ordinary to become truly
extraordinary. “Native” Commodity, a compelling and often ironic series of
photographs by Wisconsin artist Tom Jones, brought the exhibition season to a close
in June. A member of the state’s Ho-Chunk Indian tribe, Jones examines the use of
Native American symbols in advertising and popular culture and the often-
stereotypical, commercialized image of the American Indian that has resulted.

Rotating student exhibitions held throughout the year complemented the Institute’s
educational mission, allowing aspiring artists to see their classroom efforts
presented in a gallery setting. In addition to hosting regular displays of artwork
created in its own studio and outreach classes, the Institute
partnered with a number of other area schools, including
Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, T.W. Josey High School,
and Augusta State University, to exhibit works by their
talented students. In February and March, the 30th annual
Agnes Markwalter Youth Art Competition and Exhibition
showcased award-winning artwork by over 70 area students
in grades K-12 from through public, private, and home schools throughout the
CSRA.

In early 2009 the Gertrude Herbert began preparations for a new Community
Artists’ Gallery on the third floor of Ware’s Folly, made possible through a generous
grant from the Creel-Harison Foundation. Completed in June, the space will serve as
a dedicated exhibition area for the CSRA’s resident artists, and will allow the
Institute to better promote awareness of this gifted but often underrepresented
sector of the visual arts community. Beginning in September 2009, the Community
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Artists’ Gallery will mount a series of five solo exhibitions annually. In addition, a
biannual group exhibition featuring each artist participating over the two previous
years will be held in the Main Gallery, with the initial group show scheduled for
November 2011.

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Education
As the CSRA’s oldest independent non-profit art school, the Institute remains a vital
resource for visual arts education and appreciation throughout the CSRA and
beyond. Over the course of the 2009 fiscal year adults and children of all ages
participated in studio art classes and workshops, summer art camp, professional
development opportunities, and outreach education
programming. Our ever-expanding studio art curriculum
introduced new courses in digital photography, raku
ceramics, large-format printmaking, and other exciting
learning options for students. The Institute’s 2008 Summer
Art Camp saw record-breaking attendance, with 98% of all
available seats filled throughout the six-week program.
Campers ages 5-11 delighted in lessons that stirred their
creativity and strengthened their skills in drawing, painting and sculpture.

The Institute continues to serve as one of only two sites in the CSRA certified by
both the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Georgia Department of Education to
provide Professional Learning Units (PLUs) for Georgia teachers, allowing educators
to advance their artistic knowledge and satisfy state-mandated continuing
education requirements through participation in studio art classes. In conjunction
with the Richmond County Board of Education the Institute also hosted a day of
staff development workshops in October, providing training opportunities for art
teachers in watermedia, ceramics, and basketry.

The Gertrude Herbert’s award-winning ArtVentures and Artist-in-Residence outreach

programs continued their tradition of service to the CSRA’s children during the
2008-2009 school year, bringing professionally taught visual arts classes to
hundreds of underserved youngsters throughout Richmond County. Our Artist-in-
Residence program moved to Glenn Hills Elementary School this year, where
Outreach Education Specialist Michelle Hagan offered weekly art classes to all
fourth- and fifth-graders from August through May. Glenn Hills students visited the
Institute in February, enjoying a tour of its galleries and participating in an exciting
hands-on art activity. Through the ArtVentures program Hagan also provided after-
school art instruction to students at eleven elementary schools, working with
children who have no other access to visual arts education. Exhibitions of work by
youngsters in both outreach programs were mounted in the Institute’s student
galleries in order to share their creative efforts with the community at large.

Community Events
The Institute’s third annual Artists’ Market and Festival was held in
March. This free community event provided a host of opportunities
for artists and art lovers of all ages and interests. A week-long
exhibition and sale featured works by over thirty of the Institute’s
talented member artists, and drew record crowds to its opening
reception. Almost 200 visitors from throughout the CSRA flocked to
the Institute for Saturday’s family festival, enjoying fun-filled art
activities for children, demonstrations by area artists, delicious refreshments and
more.

Always seeking new opportunities to promote the visual arts and the Institute’s
education, exhibition, and outreach programs to the community, faculty and staff
also took part in several events hosted by various other arts and non-arts-based
organizations. The Gertrude Herbert hosted information booths and activities at the
Columbia County Columbus Day Festival, the Columbia County Spring Art in the
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Park Festival, and the VA Medical Center Women’s Fair among others. In May the
Institute opened its doors to attendees of the Georgia Trust for Historic
Preservation’s annual conference, welcoming more than 150 guests to explore the
extraordinary architecture and history of Ware’s Folly.

Since its inception in 1937, the Gertrude Herbert has been a vital and respected
part of Augusta’s cultural community. Our studio art classes, outreach programs,
exhibitions, historic buildings and continued commitment to quality visual arts
education have been shared by thousands of individuals, both young and old. We
take great pride in the dedication and hard work of our Board of Trustees, faculty
and staff over the past twelve months, and in the many positive achievements that
support our organization’s core mission. A partial listing of key activities follows.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS JULY 1, 2008– JUNE 17, 2009

EDUCATION – over 1,000 students and visitors

Studio Art Instruction
 Summer Art Camp 2008 –18 classes, 176 students registered
 Youth Classes and Workshops –17 classes, 114 students
 Adult Classes and Workshops –47 classes, 294 students
 Professional Learning Unit workshops – 3 workshops, 26 educators total
 Studio Class Scholarships – $490 to 14 students

Tours and Field Trips

 Brenau University
 Glenn Hills Elementary School
 Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
 Harlem High School
 Junior League of Augusta Sustaining Members
 MCG Summer Camp
 Elementary School Architectural Walking Tours (2)
 Westminster Schools Pre-K Program

OUTREACH –over 10,000 participants

Artist-In-Residence at Glenn Hills Elementary School – provided approximately 125

fourth and fifth-graders with weekly interdisciplinary visual arts instruction
ArtVentures – served 1,031 elementary school students at 11 sites
Community Fairs and Festivals:
 Columbia County Columbus Day Festival
 Columbia County Spring Art in the Park Festival
 VA Medical Center Women’s Fair
Freeman Schoolcraft Award – sponsored by the Institute and presented to an
outstanding Augusta State University art student
Georgia Governor’s Honors Program – served as selection site for exhibition entries
In-kind Donations by the Institute in support of local schools and community
organizations:
 American Cancer Society
 Aquinas High School
 Lake Forest Hills Elementary School
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 Our Lady of Peace School
 River Ridge Elementary School
 Safe Homes of Augusta

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Spring Artists’ Market and Festival 2009
 32 local artists exhibiting
 354 festival attendees and gallery visitors
Women on Paper – provided studio space to local artists’ group (10 visits to paint on
site)

EXHIBITIONS

Main Gallery – 6
Gallery Talks – 3
A Sense of Place 2008: National Juried Fine Art Competition and Exhibition
Augusta State University Art Department Faculty Exhibition
John Kingerlee: Recent Works
Third Annual Spring Artists’ Market
Virginia Scotchie: Ceramic Abstractions
Tom Jones: “Native” Commodity

Student Gallery – 15
30th Annual Agnes Markwalter Youth Art Competition
Art, Architecture and You
ArtVentures Exhibition
Artist-in-Residence Showcase: Glenn Hills Elementary School
ASU Senior Exit Show: Vanessa Baladad and Janice Flores
ASU Senior Exit Show: Charles Roland
Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Senior Exit Exhibition
Gertrude Herbert Faculty Exhibition
Gertrude Herbert Student Exhibition (2)
Melanie Miller Longshore
T.W. Josey High School
Ware’s Folly: An Architectural Perspective
Watercolor Pencil Creations
Abigail Wood Zwanziger: The Death Series

FINANCIAL

Operating
The Gertrude Herbert received over $106,000 in gifts from private foundations,
including a generous unrestricted gift from the Knox Foundation and almost
$43,000 from the Herbert Trust. Designated support included grants from the
Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Dorothy M. Buttolph Foundation, the
Creel-Harison Foundation, the Porter Fleming Foundation, the Cleon W. Mauldin
Foundation, and Target. Additional unrestricted gifts were received from the Agnes
S. and Victor Markwalter Foundation, the Metro Spirit, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta,
and Bi-Lo Corporation. Government support for general operating expenses was
provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts and by the Greater Augusta Arts
Council through appropriations from the City of Augusta.

The Institute’s annual fall fundraising event Oysters on Telfair garnered almost
$21,000 in income for the organization. Almost 200 individual and corporate
patrons were treated to a delicious dinner by the French Market Grille,
entertainment by the Crosstie Walkers and a silent art auction featuring works by
37 local artists and a raffle for an Augusta dining package and other prizes.

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 Membership
As of June 15, 2009, the Institute had $19,168 in individual membership revenue
with 346 membership units. During FY 2009, more than 20 businesses held
memberships in our CEOs for Art program. Monetary and in-kind gifts valued
approximately $30,000 were received from the following corporate partners:

CEO Leader Augusta Capital, LLC

Hampton Inn, Augusta Club Car
Coleman Associates
Morgan Keegan Elanco
Phoenix Printing Olin Corporation
RiverNorth Subdivision
CEO Benefactor Sanford, Bruker & Banks, Inc.
Georgia Bank and Trust Shaw Industries
Green Expectations Sig Cox Heating and Air Conditioning
Rex Property and Construction Wachovia Securities
Management
Exhibition Sponsor
CEO Patron Mercedes-Benz of Augusta
First Bank of Georgia Sponsor for A Sense of Place 2008
Georgia Power Company Red Door Designs
Queensborough National Bank and Exhibition Invitation Designs
Trust Co.
SunTrust Bank, Augusta Media Sponsor
WRDW New 12 – My 12 Augusta
CEO Partner
A. B. Beverage Co., Inc.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

• Created a new rack card for dissemination to visitor information centers, hotels, and
other tourist destinations
• Distributed four catalogues and numerous brochures, flyers and postcards
throughout the greater Augusta community announcing classes and exhibitions
• Regularly distributed press releases and events calendars, generating articles about
the educational programs, workshops and exhibitions
• Purchased display ads locally announcing the 2008 Sense of Place Juried Fine Art
Exhibition, the Spring Artists’ Market and Festival, and the 2009 Summer Camp series
• Purchased display ad in Southern Living promoting the Institute as a heritage tourism
destination
• Featured in Comcast “Best of the Best” television spot
• WRDW News 12 served as our media sponsor for Oysters on Telfair.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

“Both of my kids are attending for their second summer and enjoy it very much again.
We have just added the fourth week because they want MORE! Thanks for running such
an educational and entertaining camp! – Parent of Summer Art Camp students
“We were so pleased with the instructor and the class.” – Parent of youth ceramics
student
“This was a lovely and enlightening experience.” – Adult ceramics student

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“One of the nicest instructors I’ve ever had. She wanted us to learn and enjoy her
course, and communicated that in each lesson.” – Adult drawing student
“I love taking classes at GHIA; it is a joy and a pleasure! It has really helped keep me in
the arts. I have continued to “create”, which is my goal, so thank you!” – Adult
photography student
“This was absolutely the best course I’ve ever taken at the Institute. [The instructor]
was prepared, started on time, built great relationships, and demonstrated excellence.”
– Adult drawing student

FISCAL YEAR 2009- 2010 MAJOR INITIATIVES

The following goals identify areas of greatest priority as we approach our 73rd fiscal year
of providing a creative outlet for all in the greater Augusta area who wish to explore the
visual arts.

Goal 1: To expand community support and participation in educational, instructional

and recreational programs.

Objective 1: To increase participation of local school children in educational and

instructional art programs.
Strategies
a. Continue day, evening and Saturday classes with consideration to
suggestions made on class evaluations
b. Schedule tours through communication with the public, private schools,
and home school groups
c. Continue to host youth exhibitions including the Agnes Markwalter
Youth Art Competition
d. Continue to offer Artist-In-Residence and ArtVentures programs in
Richmond County

Objective 2: To increase participation of area residents in educational, instructional and

recreational art programs
Strategies
a. Continue to present high quality contemporary exhibitions of emerging to
mid-career artists in the Main Gallery of Ware’s Folly
b. Continue day, evening and Saturday classes with consideration to suggestions
made on class evaluations
c. Improve community awareness of the Institute’s purpose and programs by
revising the marketing and public relations plan
d. Build upon website design to improve communication with the Institute’s
visitors and clients
e. Continue and expand collaborations with community organizations
f. Continue and expand programming associated with the Spring Artists’ Market
and Festival
g. Continue to offer and expand the Professional Learning Unit portfolio for
educators in the Central Savannah River Area
h. Promote Ware’s Folly as a heritage tourism destination
i. Continue to develop Community Artists’ Gallery program

Goal 2: To seek major financial funding to support education programming and facility
maintenance

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Objective: Raise funding to continue programs and to provide for necessary
maintenance of historic buildings
Strategies
a. Strengthen Membership: Increase corporate and individual membership
revenue by 25% through the development of membership events, retention of
current members and Board drives.
b. Special Event: Raise $29,000 through annual fall fundraiser
c. Studio Scholarships: Identify sponsor for the 2009-2010 scholarship fund in
the amount of $500
d. Contact ten regional and national foundations for operating and program
support
e. Identify Main Gallery Exhibition and Event sponsors

Goal 3: To develop a three – five year Strategic Plan

Objective: Develop short and long-term objectives in accordance with the Institute’s
mission.
Strategies
a. Assessment of all current projects and programs
b. Assessment of current internal operations
c. Create an outline of future programs

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