I and the Telfair staff want to thank you for choosing to be a part of Telfair Museums’ team. By becoming a member, you are showing your support for our museum and for the visual arts in Savannah. And through your membership, you have unlocked a rich menu of special exhibitions, lectures, and other programs. I hope you will enjoy some of our many offerings this Fall.
In October, we will open The Art of the Character, an exhibition of highlights from the costume collection of the actor Glenn Close. Throughout her storied career, actress Glenn Close has collaborated closely with costume designers to help bring the characters she embodies to life. Inspired by the creativity and craftsmanship she saw in her film and theater productions, she began collecting and preserving costumes and accessories from her projects after her first movie, The World According to Garp (1982). In 2017, she donated her over 800-piece collection to the Sage Fashion Collection in the School of Art, Architecture + Design at Indiana University. The exhibition will feature the work of award-winning costume designers, including Anthony Powell (101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians), Ann Roth (The Stepford Wives), and James Acheson (Dangerous Liaisons), and highlight the craftsmanship of costume making workshops such as Barbara Matera Ltd (101 and 102 Dalmatians).
The next time I write to you, we will share information about our exciting winter exhibitions featuring Walter and Linda Evans Gallery of African American Art collection and Primary: Artists Working in Red, Yellow, and Blue.
As members, all of this is waiting for you. Please tell your friends and family about the benefits of membership and think about giving the gift of a membership to others.
In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you at Telfair!
David Brenneman Executive Director/CEO
COVER: James Acheson (b. 1946), designer; Traveling ensemble from Dangerous Liaisons, 1988; silk and cotton; The Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection, GC 2017.52.1 AB. Photo by Anna Powell Denton. THIS PAGE: Photo by Adam Keuhl Photography.
October
10–February 15,
2026 | Jepson Center
Throughout her storied career, actress Glenn Close has worked with costume designers to help bring the characters she embodies to life. Inspired by the creativity and craftsmanship she saw in her film and theater productions, she began collecting and preserving costumes and accessories from her projects after her first movie, The World According to Garp (1982). In 2017, she donated her over 800-piece collection to the Sage Fashion Collection in the School of Art, Architecture + Design at Indiana University.
First presented at the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University in 2021, The Art of the Character: Highlights from the Glenn Close Costume Collection will offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore the careful consideration and exacting details that teams of designers, drapers, and other craftspeople employed in over 50 ensembles and numerous examples of jewelry, shoes, and other accessories from 14 productions. James Acheson’s (b. 1946) and Van Broughton Ramsey’s designs for the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons and the 1990s Sarah, Plain and Tall television movies, respectively, reveal costume designers’ close attention to historic resources and garment construction for costume dramas. Ellen Mirojnick’s (b. 1949) selection of fashionable ready-to-wear items for Close’s iconic turn as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987) points to the specificity of costuming for productions set in their contemporary moment. Close’s many ventures with Ann Roth (b. 1931), from Garp to The Stepford Wives (2004), demonstrate the breadth of the legendary designer’s talent. Throughout the exhibition, the skillful execution of these designs by costume-making workshops like Barbara Matera Ltd and others underscores the collaborative nature of creating a character.
This exhibition is organized by Telfair Museums in partnership with the Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design of Indiana University.
Opening Party
October 8, 5pm
Members' Preview Day
October 9, 10am–5pm
Director’s Circle Toast & Exhibition Tour
October 9, 5:30pm
Lunch & Learn
November 14, 11:45am
Free Family Day
November 8, 10am–5pm
Director's Circle Talk with Tracy Christensen & David Zyla
November 18, 5:30pm Film Series Film Series
October 10–February 2026. See p. 11. JOIN
PRESENTING EXHIBITION
SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:
William and Judy Klement
Carey Klement Daughtry
MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
Bob Faircloth
The Littlejohn Family Foundation
Linda McWhorter
MAJOR INVESTMENT PROVIDED BY: City of Savannah
EXHIBITION FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
Inge A. Brasseler, Richard Kessler, Elizabeth F. Stribling, and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous
ANNUAL EXHIBITION SUPPORT BY DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Mrs. Cynthia Willett, Leslie and Angus Littlejohn, Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Sayer, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Sheriff, Mrs. Inge A. Brasseler, Kerry and Lillian Breitbart, Mr. Robert F. Faircloth, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Gantt, Mr. and Mrs. David C. Johnson Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Doug Johnston, Ms. Lori Judge, Pamela and Marek Lewanda, Wilson Morris, Thomas V. and Susan G. Reilly, Cathy and Philip Solomons, Mr. and Mrs. Austin P. Sullivan Jr., Pamela L. and Peter S. Voss, Ms. Susan A. Willetts and Mr. Alan K. Pritz
Since the invention of photography almost 200 years ago in 1826, the medium has successfully served as a tool to capture and rethink our world. This exhibition explores the evolution of photography as a fine art form and its expanding presence in art museum collections, as seen in the growth of Telfair’s photography collection from 400 works in 2015 to over 1,100 today. Telfair’s collection features prominent figures like Joel Meyerowitz (b. 1938), whose adoption of large format color photography in the early 1970s influenced emerging practitioners. The exhibition also considers the success of women like Helen Levitt (1913-2009), who despite encountering obstacles in a field largely dominated by men,
captured engaging scenes of city streets in the 1940s. Unsurprisingly, the Southern landscape, and Savannah in particular, are frequent subjects of the works in the collection, like George Barnard’s (1819–1902) skillfully framed post-Civil War photographs of Savannah’s River Street. This exhibition also celebrates Savannah-based artists such as Jason Miccolo Johnson (b. 1956), a nationally recognized photojournalist whose image of a pastor in front of a burned down church stands for loss and resilience. Ultimately, this exhibition is a celebration of photography and its powerful presence in our culture.
This exhibition is organized by Telfair Museums and curated by Erin Dunn, curator of modern and contemporary art.
CLOCKWISE: Joel Meyerowitz (b. 1938); Savannah, Georgia, 1986, 1986; mid-vintage chromogenic print on Kodak RC paper; gift on an anonymous donor, 2021.28.2. Helen Levitt (1913-2009); New York, c. 1942; vintage gelatin silver print; gift of Mimi Muray Levitt, 2019.35. George N. Barnard (1819-1902); Savanah [sic], GA, No. 1, c. 1865 (printed 1866); albumen print on paper; gift of John and Virginia Duncan, 2022.29. Jason Miccolo Johnson (b. 1956); You Can Burn the Building but not the Spirit, 1996 (printed 2025); archival digital print on paper; museum purchase partially funded by Telfair’s Friends of African American Arts, 2025.18.
New Gallery at the Telfair Academy
Opens February 6, 2026 | Telfair Academy
In 2023, Dr. Walter and Linda Evans donated a transformational gift of 28 significant works by African American artists to Telfair Museums. Later this winter, the museum will debut an exciting new installation in the dining room at the Telfair Academy that centers on this collection. It will tell stories about the challenges that seminal figures like Robert Seldon Duncanson (1821–1872) and Nelson A. Primus (1842–1916) faced as artists of African descent working in the 19th century. It also will discuss artists’ mobility in the 20th century, from moving from the American South during the Great Migration to finding different hubs of artistic activity in cities through the Northeast and Midwest. Additionally, the installation will look at Telfair’s historic relationship with African American artists through the work of key figures in Savannah like Virginia Jackson Kiah (1911–2011) and Phillip Jewell Hampton (1922–2016), who created spaces for African American artists to exhibit their work and eventually, in 1959, persuaded Telfair to do the same.
Major support for the Walter and Linda Evans Gallery of African-American Art provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Robert Seldon Duncanson (1821–1872);
CLOCKWISE:
American Landscape, 1862; oil on canvas; gift of Walter and Linda Evans, 2023.21 2023.33_Lee-Smith (2): Hughie Lee-Smith (1915–1999); Three Shack Landscape, 1947; oil on board; gift of Walter and Linda Evans, 2023.33. 2023.37_Sebree: Charles Sebree (1914–1985); Portrait of Aunt Gertrude, 1949; watercolor on paper; gift of Walter and Linda Evans, 2023.37.
Stay Awhile: Interiors in Art
On view through March 22, 2026
Telfair Academy
Stay Awhile: Interiors in Art encourages visitors to spend more time closely examining works of art from Telfair’s permanent collection that depict interior scenes. To protect sensitive materials, some of the works have been shown on a rotating basis. In December, another example of Savannah self-taught artist Robert Lindsey Walker’s (1909–1996) highly detailed drawings of enigmatic architecture will be placed on view. Likewise, Helen Levitt’s (1913–2009) 1939 photograph New York , which captures a woman and girl posing next to a sink, will be replaced with Susan Worsham’s (b. 1969) Light through Embalming Fluid , a still life with interplays of light and shadow among domestic objects. These small changes in the gallery offer new opportunities to visit favorite works from the permanent collection and study them from a different perspective.
This exhibition is organized by Telfair Museums and curated by Harry DeLorme, director of education and senior curator, and Dr. Elyse D. Gerstenecker, curator of decorative arts, with assistance from Renee Kelliher, former curatorial assistant for historic sites.
#art912 A Seat at the Table
January 9-December 6, 2026 | Jepson Center
A Seat at the Table is a solo exhibition of figurative paintings on canvas and a site-specific mural by artist Julia Roland (b. 2002). A recent graduate of SCAD who grew up in Savannah, Roland’s identity as a queer Black woman from the American South informs her practice, but she sees the works speaking broadly to the human need for community. The exhibition features painted figures and viewers meeting in quiet dialogue, sharing space around a table, both metaphorical and physical. Through expressive hairstyles, layered color, contrasting backgrounds, and shifting poses, each subject is unique, and their faces become focal points, meeting the viewer’s gaze with insistence—a site of recognition and resistance. A Seat at the Table invites all voices into the room, asking viewers not just to look, but to witness and empathize.
This exhibition is part of Telfair Museums’ #art912 initiative, dedicated to raising the visibility and promoting the vitality of artists living and working in Savannah. It is organized by Telfair Museums and curated by Erin Dunn, curator of modern and contemporary art.
Robert Lindsey Walker (1909–1996); Untitled, c. 1975; colored markers on drawing paper cover; museum purchase, 1997.3.2.
Julia Roland, mural proposal for A Seat at the Table, 2025-2026; courtesy of the artist.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September
7 The Moss Mystique and (Un)Grounded Exhibitions Close Jepson Center
17 FOT Lunchtime Tour 12pm | Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
18 FAAA Small Works Exhibition Opens Jepson Center
19 New Docent Training 10am | Jepson Center
25 FAAA Small Works Artist Talks 6pm | Jepson Center
October
8 The Art of the Character Opening Party 6:30pm | Jepson Center
9 Members' Preview Day 10am–5pm | Jepson Center
Director's Circle Toast & The Art of the Character Tour 5:30pm | Jepson Center
10 The Art of the Character Exhibition Opens Jepson Center 14 FOT Silver Chat with Helen Downing 5:30pm | Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
16 Lawrence Lecture 6:15pm | Jepson Center Art Start: In Reflection 10:30–11:30am | Jepson Center
21 FOT Afternoon Tour 4pm | Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
23 Film Series: Dangerous Liaisons 6pm | Jepson Center
See the costumes in action in their respective films in this series of four favorites starring Glenn Close. Costumes encouraged!
Dangerous Liaisons
(1988, 119 min., rated R)
October 23, 6pm
Come in your favorite 18th century garb. Prizes for winning costumes!
Guardians of the Galaxy
(2014, 121 min., rated PG-13)
November 20, 6pm
With guest introduction.
101 Dalmations
(1996, 103 minutes, rated G)
December 27, 2pm Holiday Matinee Screening
Fatal Attraction
(1987, 119 min., rated R)
February 13, 6pm
Friday the 13th/Valentine’s Eve Screening
Free Family Day: The Art of the Character
November 8 | Jepson Center 10am–5pm, Activities 1–4pm
Family days are FREE to residents of Chatham, Effingham, Bulloch, Bryan, Beaufort, and Jasper Counties.Investment is provided by the City of Savannah.
Families are invited to this special opportunity to enjoy the Glenn Close costume collection, participate in art activities, and see demonstrations and costumes by local fashion designers and students.
2025 Lawrence Lecture by Artist Nari Ward
For the 19th year of the Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Lecture, Telfair presents a talk by internationally renowned, New York-based artist Nari Ward, who is represented by a work in the current exhibition In Reflection: Contemporary Art and Ourselves . Ward is noted for mixed media wall works and for his sculptural installations, which re-contextualize cast-off objects collected in Harlem where he lives. Ward reuses objects including baby strollers, television sets, liquor bottles, and other found items to create his thought-provoking work. Some of his works, including his Breathing Bars Diagonal Left from the Art Bridges collection, shown at Telfair, make use of an African symbol representing the cycle of life that the artist saw in Savannah’s First African Baptist Church. This lecture, founded at Telfair by Dr. Walter O. Evans, is free and open to the public thanks to funding provided by the Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation. Additional funding thanks to investment provided by the City of Savannah.
Art Start: Stroller and Toddler Tours
Third Thursday of every month 10:30–11:30am | Jepson Center
$5 per child | Adults: members free, non-members $12
Great days start with art thanks to our new and combined programs! Once a month, our youngest patrons are invited to story time, a special tour, and an art activity. Strollers, boisterous babies, toddlers, and older siblings are all welcome here. Come play and learn with us!
Members $65 | Non-Members $85 | Bring your materials
The tricky part of painting is not always the “how” but sometimes just the “when.” This studio program helps you set aside time each week, providing studio space for artists to work independently in a quiet and safe social setting. Each session includes a new, fresh, fun, still-life arrangement, or you can bring your inspiration and work with the media of your choice. A teacher will provide guidance when requested. For all levels.
Plein Air Art Club
Program Coordinator: Kip Bradley
Friday Mornings: 9am–12pm | Afternoons: 2–5pm
August 15–October 10 | October 24–December 19
Members $65 | Non-Members $85 | Bring your materials
Fresh air, sunshine, and art make for an inspired combination as you explore Plein Air techniques. All sessions allow painters to work independently but with a teacher to offer guidance when requested. Work in the media of your choice and grow in your talents as you see how others work. Participants can come to multiple sessions or change between sessions as needed. The class meets on-site around the greater Savannah area, with light walking. For all levels.
Life Portrait Art Club
Fridays, 11am–2pm | October 24– December 19
August 15-October 10
Members $120 | Non-members $135 | Bring your materials
This course is for intermediate painters who want the richer experience of working directly from a live model in an extended pose rather than from secondary sources. While no formal instruction will be provided, the interactive experience of working in a group is a valuable improvement tool. In addition, individual assistance will be available to those who desire it. Often, a second pair of eyes is needed for the work.
Trump l'oeil Still Life Intro to Traditional Oil Painting
Mondays, 2pm–4:30pm | September 15–October 20
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided?
The French term translates to "deceives the eye". As beginner or intermediate painters, we hope to paint an illusion of reality. Trompe l'oeil is a painting technique that employs highly realistic imagery and perspective to produce the illusion of three-dimensional objects. It is perfect for the person who wants to paint but feels like they need to learn to draw first, or the intermediate painter who wants to
explore traditional painting processes to build new skills. Still-Life Painting Class
Tuesdays, 2pm–4:30pm
September 16–October 21 | November 11– December 16
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided
A fun still-life is an excellent way to learn to paint and build new skills. This beginner-to-intermediate class .will invite participatnts to bring in their own items for inspiration. Setting up a still life will launch the exploration, helping participants to see light and color before beginning to paint. You will learn painting application and color mixing to create the illusion of space and volume. This class is like going to the gym—only much more fun! Participants will build observational and creative muscles studying the things they love.
Drawing and Painting Food and Things in Gouache
Tuesdays, 10am–12:30pm | September 16–October 21
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided?
Tomato sandwiches, brie, donuts, wine, bread, coffee, and more. This fun class will teach drawing and painting with a focus on food. Gouache is the oldest painting medium. It is made like watercolor but functions a lot like acrylic and oil paint without the chemicals. Each day will feature new food items, a new lesson in drawing, and the application of color.
Oil Painting Class: Intro to Landscape Painting
Thursdays, 9–11:30am | September 18–October 23
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided
There's no better way to enjoy the day than to paint it! In this class, participants will paint on location throughout downtown Savannah, with every class held in a different and beautiful area. Whether you've taken this class before and want more instruction, or you're entirely new to painting, there's fun for everyone! Start with the basic materials, add the right tools and techniques, and let painting outdoors become a lifelong passion as you learn to work in oils to create impressions of Savannah’s landscape. The class meets throughout the Savannah area, with light walking.
Making a Photo in Paint
Mondays, 10am–12:30pm | November 10–December 15
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided
In this beginning-to-advanced studio-based class, students will be guided through creating a painting from their chosen personal photo. This class will take a slow approach, first discussing design and composition with in-class exercises, then exploring color theory and color mixing strategies. Finally, the last three classes will be utilized to draw and slowly paint a finished work on canvas.
Patterns for Fabric, Paper, and More
Instructor: Erica Catherine
Mondays, 2pm–4:30pm | November 10–December 15
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided
Participants in this class will immerse themselves in the world of pattern design by examining the costumes included in the exhibit. This six-week course will introduce you to traditional and digital techniques for creating repeat patterns. This class will build upon your current drawing skills; however, artists of all levels are welcome. We will explore drawing, printmaking, and digital techniques to create patterns for fabric, paper,
and other products.
Traditions in Landscape Painting
Tuesdays 10am–12:30pm | November 11–December 16
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided
There is no better way to enjoy the day than to paint it. Painting on location throughout downtown Savannah, this fall session will focus on the combination of architecture and nature found in the views of our beautiful squares. Start with the basic materials, add the right tools and techniques, and let painting outdoors become a lifelong passion. Learn to work in oils to create impressions of Downtown Savannah. Explore painting techniques, composition, color, and creative expression in an upbeat and encouraging atmosphere. Learn brushwork, layering, applying paint to the surface, and color-mixing techniques, and use them to express yourself in color. The class meets on-site around the Savannah area, with light walking.
Drawing
Thursdays, 10am–12:30pm | November 13–December 18
Members $?? | Non-Members $?? | All materials provided
This class will explore drawing techniques and a variety of drawing media. Each week will feature a different material and drawing process. It is a perfect drawing class for new artists wishing to improve their drawing skills and advanced artists looking for new challenges. Through demos and practice, students will learn to draw from direct observation, gaining a sound understanding of materials and processes.
Veterans Guided Open-Studio Program
Saturdays, 1–4pm
For more information, contact Kip Bradley at 912.790.8823 or email bradleyk@telfair.org.
This program provides a calm, open-studio approach with guidance in drawing and painting by an experienced instructor and is open to all veterans. No prior experience making art is needed. Veterans also participate in occasional tours of major exhibitions. Artists can either work independently or with a teacher when guidance is needed.
Drop-In Studio
Saturdays and Sundays, 10am–2pm
Included in the cost for an admission ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
It's your turn to be the artist! Join us in our studios for a variety of artmaking projects. All ages and experience levels are invited to take part in an array of creative mediums including watercolors, collage, calligraphy, origami, coloring books, and more. Each month features a special project designed to connect with an exhibition at the museum. A studio assistant is always nearby for encouragement and guidance.
Youth Art Classes
Youth Art Club (Ages 9-12)
Mondays, 4:30–6pm
September 15–October 20
November 10 –December 15
Youth Art Club (Ages 12–14)
Wednesdays, 4:30–6pm
September 17–October 22
November 12–December 17
Members $150 | Non-members $175 | All materials provided This class is designed to help upper-elementary and middle school students improve their drawing and painting skills, build portfolios, and develop good art-making habits. Every day is a new creative exploration for seasoned preteen artists and newcomers. As naturally creative individuals, students will be given a voice in their growth while learning traditional drawing and painting skills. Lessons and projects will work onsite and at outdoor locations near the museum. Location details will be emailed to registrants a week before the first class.
Digital Photography Class
Fridays, 4:30–6pm
September 19 – October 24 | November 14 – December 19
We believe that all young people are artists! With that in mind, we will approach photography as professionals do, studying the elements of art. Meeting outside as much as possible, we will explore our environment in Telfair Square and other nearby locations. Location details will be emailed to registrants a week before the first class. We will use DSLR digital cameras and learn about exposure and a few historical methods involving film.
After School Character Drawing/ Development (Ages 9–12)
Tuesdays, 4:30–6pm | September 16–October 21
Inspired by the imaginative costumes featured in Glenn Close’s movie roles, this class invites students to create and illustrate their own unique characters. Using traditional media such as colored pencils, pen and ink, and markers, students will learn the fundamentals of character design, costume detail, and expressive storytelling, while giving their screens a rest and building real-world drawing skills.
Telfair Contemporaries
Led by contemporary art enthusiasts, Telfair Contemporaries (TC) welcomes anyone with an interest in modern and contemporary art to come meet with fellow contemporary artists in their studio environments. The mission of TC is to promote the museum's goals and its commitment to developing awareness, understanding, and appreciation of modern and contemporary art. For more information, visit telfair.org/tc.
Collection Visit
November 6, 6pm | Offsite
Telfair Contemporaries members only. Pre-registration required.
Telfair Contemporaries are invited to visit the home of a fellow TC member who will share insight into their personal art collection and interests, ranging from modernist prints to contemporary abstraction. Additional details will be provided in an eblast.
Friends of African American Arts
FAAA members enjoy social and cultural activities that allow par ticipants to expand their personal networks, foster appreciation for African American art and culture, and experience the remarkable cultural landscape of the Southeast. For more information, visit telfair.org/faaa.
The Rise Within Exhibition
August 15–September 27
Otis Johnson Cultural Arts Center
Explore the realities of mental health and wellness through the shared perspectives of a group of artists. We invite you to engage with the complexity of mental health as seen through a collective lens.
Gari Melchers Collectors’ Society
FAAA 2025 Small Works Members' Exhibition
September 18 – November 23 | Jepson Center
FAAA artists will also have the opportunity to showcase their artwork in the annual Small Works Exhibition, hosted in the Morrison Community Gallery at the Jepson Center.
FAAA Small Works Artist Talks
September 25, 6pm | Jepson Center
This program is free and open to the public.
Exhibiting FAAA members will discuss their work.
GMCS supports and promotes the expansion of the museum’s permanent collection and provides its members with exclusive programs and educational opportunities to enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of art. For more information, visit telfair.org/melchers.
Gallery Visit
November 5
Melchers Society members only. Invitations will be emailed.
Members are invited to tour the exhibition on view at Laney Contemporary. Gallerist Susan Laney will discuss the Tori Tinsley exhibition as well as give a tour of the works on paper gallery, featuring the work of Jack Leigh. She will give an overview of her history working with Jack Leigh and managing the estate.
December Party
December 16, 6pm | Offsite
Kick off this festive season in style! The December Party, a GMC favorite, is an opportunity for merriment with friends and staff.
Friends of the Owens-Thomas House
FOT members are especially interested in architecture, decorative arts, and history. Their contributions support continued preservation and interpretation efforts at the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, public programming, and emerging scholarship. Members enjoy special access to tours and lectures, invitations to events, and exclusive visits to museums, historic homes, and private collections. For more information, visit telfair.org/fot.
FOT Curator Tours of the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
September 19, 12pm
October 21, 4pm
November 21, 12pm
Capacity is limited to 12 attendees.
FOT members can now register for special exclusive tours of the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters with Dr. Elyse D. Gerstenecker, Curator of Decorative Arts.
Silver Chat with Helen Downing
October 14, 5:30pm | Carolyn and John Luck Board Room, Jepson Center
Free for FOT members. Attendance is limited, so register early!
Helen Downing has been collecting Southern silver for decades. She will share her immense knowledge, and perhaps even a glimpse of her collection, in a special talk for FOT members.
4th Grade and Youth Lens Programs Highlight
In Reflection Exhibition
Numerous youth and school education programs have connected to Telfair’s current exhibition In Reflection: Contemporary Art and Ourselves . This summer, Telfair led an intensive photography workshop in collaboration with Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club in a project funded by the Art Bridges Foundation. Students studied photo composition, learned to use digital SLR cameras with noted photographer Jason Miccolo Johnson, and visited historic sites including the Beach Institute and First African Baptist Church. At the historic church, students learned about and photographed an African symbol that inspired Nari Ward’s work Breathing Bars Diagonal Left in the In Reflection exhibition, loaned to Telfair by Art Bridges. Students selected some of their best photographs, which will be on view at the Jepson Center August 18–November 23. This fall, some 2,500 4th Grade Students of the Savannah-Chatham County Public schools will participate in free tours of In Reflection and produce a related art project.
Education investment provided by the City of Savannah, Critz Auto Group, Evans General Contractors, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Georgia Power, Kim Lyle Commercial Real Estate, PNC Foundation, and Staci Donegan, Seabolt Real Estate.
Museum Membership is the Perfect Holiday Gift for Art Lovers
Give the gift that inspires all year!
Gift a Telfair Museums membership–a whole year of engaging exhibitions, exclusive events, and more! A Telfair membership doesn’t just come with access to all your favorite thought-provoking exhibits and special offerings—your contribution also funds programming that makes art accessible for everyone. By being a member, you help us present world-class exhibitions, provide arts education for people of all ages, preserve the permanent collection and historic sites, fund lectures and programming for art lovers, and support our mission of Art for All. By gifting a Telfair membership, you're not just giving a present. You're investing in your community and supporting inventive programming that benefits thousands.
To purchase a membership, visit telfair.org/membership, stop by any one of our three sites, or call our membership office at 912.790.8807.
Making Marks Celebrates Community
Opening program December 7, 3pm
For more than three decades, Telfair’s annual Making Marks exhibition has celebrated community art making, highlighting the work made by individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Artmaking provides individuals in a range of circumstances with opportunities for self-expression, creative development, and healing. Much of the art is made in group environments as part of a series of outreach workshops at community partner sites across Savannah. Other work in the exhibition represents local students, veterans, and incarcerated individuals. Telfair’s outreach for the 2025 Making Marks exhibition drew inspiration from works in the exhibition In Reflection: Contemporary Art and Ourselves By experiencing art in Telfair’s exhibition and creating their own responses, participants were able to reflect on the positive impact art can make in our lives. The exhibition opens with a program of testimonials and performances by participating artists and partner groups. The opening celebration is free and open to the public.
Major support for Telfair's outreach programs is provided by VyStar Credit Union.
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UPCOMING
EXCLUSIVE DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE EVENTS
Director’s Circle and Toast Tour of The Art of the Character: Highlights from the Glenn Close Costume Collection
October 9, 5:30pm | Jepson Center
Director’s Circle members only. Cocktail attire. RSVPs are required by October 2 to Maria Sleight at 912.790.8808 or sleightm@telfair.org.
Directors’ Circle members are invited to toast the opening of The Art of the Character and enjoy an exclusive tour with Executive Director Dr. David A. Brenneman and the exhibition’s curator, Kelly Richardson, Director & Curator of The Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection at Indiana University
Directors’ Circle Evening with Tracy Christensen and David Zyla
November 18, 5:30pm | Jepson Center
Director’s Circle members only. Cocktail attire. RSVPs are required by November 10 to Maria Sleight at 912.790.8808 or sleightm@telfair.org.
Director’s Circle members are invited to a complimentary reception and lecture with Tracy Christensen the renowned Broadway costume designer for the revival of Sunset Boulevard and David Zyla, Emmy Award-winning costume designer & best-selling author.
director's circle
We are truly grateful to each of our Director’s Circle members for their generous support. Their annual gift to Telfair represents an important investment in our children, our community, and the cultural arts scene in Savannah and the region. Director’s Circle patrons enjoy greater access to the museum and its curators through an array of enhanced benefits, and experience the joy of knowing they are helping to sustain the museum for future generations.
For more information about joining Director’s Circle, please contact membership at 912.790.8807 or membership@telfair.org
Membership begins at $1,500.
Director’s Circle members receive all standard membership benefits, plus:
Unlimited guest passes
Exclusive exhibition previews, receptions, and dinners
Eligibility to purchase tickets to Telfair Ball
Domestic and international travel opportunities with the museum director and curators
Facility rental eligibility at the Telfair Academy and Jepson Center
And so much more!
A
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