Athens Reporter

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia has been recognized with two awards from the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) during its annual conference in Milledgeville this February. The museum received the Special Project Award for its lobby drawings by Sol LeWitt and the Exhibition Award for “Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun.” These awards were presented by GAM president Rebecca Bush and awards co-chairs Karin Dalton and Natalie Smith.

Sol LeWitt, a prominent figure in conceptual and minimalist art, emphasized process over product, allowing others to execute his wall drawings based on his instructions. In fall 2024, two of LeWitt's wall drawings were installed in the museum's lobby. This project was partially funded by a grant from the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation and involved UGA students working alongside professional installers from the LeWitt estate, faculty from the Lamar Dodd School of Art, museum interns, and staff. The collaboration resulted in “Wall Drawing #869” from LeWitt’s “Copied Lines” series and “Wall Drawing #1038 Bars of Color within a Square (#3)” from his “Bars” series.

LeWitt's work encourages an approach where concepts are prioritized over final products, with creation involving collaboration. This initiative extended his belief that art can persist through collective involvement rather than as fixed objects. Student contributions revitalized these works, making them relevant today.

The exhibition “Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun” addressed nuclear trauma and healing through photography. It connected global histories related to Japanese survivors and American experiences with nuclear testing. Curated by Jeffrey Richmond-Moll, former curator of American art at the museum, it spanned five galleries featuring video, sound, cameraless photography, projected imagery, and elements related to Georgia's Savannah River Site.

Ito was born in Tokyo and has focused on examining impacts stemming from Hiroshima's 1945 bombing. His work draws on family history to confront global trauma while fostering reconciliation opportunities. The exhibition provided a platform for international conversation engaging students and faculty across various disciplines.

GAM is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting development and enhancing professional practices among museums statewide. Its annual conference offers museum professionals opportunities to exchange information and build connections across museums in Georgia.