High to Host 24th Annual Latin American Film Festival

September 25 – October 31, 2009

The High Museum of Art will present the 24th annual Latin American Film Festival on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. The festival begins on September 25 through October 31, 2009, and features outstanding recent cinema from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Uruguay. Its twelve films represent the best in comedy, drama, thriller and documentary in Latin American film today, including the award-winning films “That’s It,” “Lion’s Den” and “Ballroom.”

The 24th annual Latin American Film Festival is sponsored by LAPTV. Program enrichment is made possible by a gift from Julie and Jerry Chautin. The Festival Program Consultant is Sandro Fiorin of FiGa Films.

“The High is excited to present its 24th year of the Latin American Film Festival as we continue to offer patrons a series deep in quality and breadth,” said curator of media arts Linda Dubler. “With our festival program consultant Sandro Fiorin, we have created a program that reflects the diverse film culture of Latin America. While themes of social and political justice are key with ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Lion’s Den,’ this year’s films are fascinating in their exploration of young people who are just discovering love and finding themselves, as well as elders for whom life still holds revelations and wonders.”

The Latin American Film Festival opens Friday, September 25, with “Insignificant Things.” Andrea Martinez’s ensemble cast offers up redemption in the small things that happen in daily life. This slice-of-life story set in Mexico City is a delicate and finely observed drama exploring the themes of forgiveness, mortality and both familial and romantic love. An opening-night reception sponsored by the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta will follow the screening in the lower lobby of the Promenade II building, located at 1230 Peachtree St. This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

Showing on Saturday, September 26, “Oblivion” is a humorous, biting and humanistic film by Heddy Honigmann. This film was praised by the International Film Critics Federation for its “poetical and Chaplinesque vision of the resilience of humanity.” An ode to Peru’s people who have been plundered by the powerful, the film is a song for the powerless who resist being consigned to oblivion. This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

On Friday, October 2, “Intimacies of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo” is a film by Yulene Olaizola. The film centers on the relationship that she and her maid Florencia had for many years with a strange, artistic young man named Jorge Rios, who roomed in her home. Evoking the gothic atmosphere of a Tennessee Williams tale, this real-life mystery uses what Variety’s Robert Koehler called “a placid, inviting style” to present “an everyday look into the bizarre.” This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

“That’s It,” on Saturday, October 3, is the set up for 21-year-old director Matheus Souza’s fresh romantic comedy about twenty-somethings falling in and out of love. Channeling mumblecore style by using digital video, seemingly improvised dialogue, non-professional actors and pop-cultural references, Souza’s film is rooted in Generation Y. Directed with surprisingly heart-warming sincerity, “That’s It” won the Audience Award for Best Film at the 2008 Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo Film Festivals. This film is in Portuguese with subtitles.

Showing on Friday, October 9, “The Good Life,” from director Andres Wood, won Spain’s Goya Award for Best Spanish Language Foreign Film in 2009. The moving drama, set in present-day Santiago, is the story of four characters whose lives cross during a search for their visions of the good life. This film is in Spanish with subtitles

On Saturday, October 10, “The Window,” from director Carlos Sorin, centers on 80-year-old Antonio, who, after a vigorous life, awaits what will probably be a final visit from his estranged son. He sees light and life, the past, the present and intimations of the future—a vision so compelling that he sneaks past his caregivers to take what might be a last walk in his fields. Through Antonio’s foray into both the corners of his own memory and the world beyond his shadowy room, Sorin evokes the elegiac and pastoral spirit of Ingmar Bergman’s “Wild Strawberries.” This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

In “Lion’s Den,” showing on Friday, October 16, Pablo Traper crafts a dark meditation on familial relationships and a searing critique of Argentina’s judicial system. Shot on location in a number of Argentinean penitentiaries and featuring many non-actors in supporting roles, the film tells the story of Julia, a 25-year-old student incarcerated for committing a murder she can’t remember. Martina Gusman, playing Julia, won the International Film Critics’ FIPRESCI award for Best Actress at the Palm Spring International Film Festival; the film was also nominated for the Palm D’Or at Cannes in 2008. This film is not appropriate for children. This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

Showing on Saturday, October 17, Gabriel Medina’s “The Paranoids” is a deadpan comedy centered on Luciano, a hangdog twenty-something whose life is defined by his endless anxieties. His paralyzing angst is inspiring to Manuel, a smooth-talking producer who has launched a successful Spanish television series based on his friend’s miseries. To complicate matters, Manuel’s insomniac girlfriend Sofia starts crashing at Luciano’s place, and the stage is set for a very neurotic romance. This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

Showing on Friday, October 23, “Café de los Maestros,” directed by Miguel Kohan, is a valentine to the elder statesman of Argentina’s treasured musical form, the tango. Kohan unites talented musicians for a magnificent performance at the famed Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires and captures the gentlemen as they rehearse and reminisce. This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

On Saturday, October 24, Mariana Chenillo’s “Nora’s Will” is a poignant, understated comedy about the legacy that Nora, a longtime sufferer of depression, leaves her loved ones when, after many suicide attempts, takes enough pills to end her life right before Passover. Mariana Chenillo’s first feature, loosely based on her own family history, won audience awards at the Morelia, Miami and Cine Las Americas film festivals. This film is in Spanish and Hebrew with subtitles.
Showing on Friday, October 30, “Ballroom” is the story of love and life unfolding in one of São Paulo’s most popular ballrooms. Director Laís Bodanzky’s finely acted ensemble film introduces us to a cast of diverse characters and features a fabulous soundtrack with performances by singers Elza Soares and Marku Ribas. The film won the Audience and Best Director awards at the Brasilia Film Festival. This film is in Portuguese with subtitles.
In “Ocean,” showing on Saturday, October 31, Russian filmmaker Mikhail Kosyrev-Nesterov mixes operatic emotion, realist acting and a fearlessly inventive visual style in an ode to Cuba and its people. The action alternates between a small fishing village that is home to a protective mother and her three sons, and Havana, a metropolis where the eldest son believes any dream can come true. As its title suggests, “Ocean” explores the fluid, fierce undertow of passion and ties it to an edenic tropical landscape whose beauty is as intoxicating as a first kiss. This film is in Spanish with subtitles.

Film Series Schedule
All films are screened at 8 p.m. in the Richard H. Rich Theatre, *unless otherwise noted. The Richard H. Rich Theatre is located in the Memorial Arts Building, adjacent to the High at Peachtree and 15th Streets in midtown Atlanta. All films are in their original language with English subtitles. Most films are for mature audiences. Please contact us at highfilm@woodruffcenter.org if you have questions about whether or not a film is appropriate for children.

“Insignificant Things” / “Cosas Insignificantes”
Friday, September 25

“Oblivion” / “El Olvido”
Saturday, September 26

“Intimacies of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo” / “Intimidades de Shakespeare y Victor Hugo”
Friday, October 2

“That’s It” / “Apenas O Fim”
Saturday, October 3

“The Good Life” / “La Buena Vita”
Friday, October 9

“The Window” / “La Ventana”
Saturday, October 10

“The Lion’s Den” / “Leonera”
Friday, October 16

“The Paranoids” / “Los Paranoicos”
Saturday, October 17

“Café de los Maestros”
Friday, October 23

“Nora’s Will” / “Cinco Dias Sin Nora”
Saturday, October 24

“Ballroom” / “Chega de Saudade”
Friday, October 30

“Ocean”
Saturday, October 31

Tickets
Please note that LAFF films sell out early and advance purchasing is advised. Tickets are $7 for the public and $6 for Museum members, students and seniors. Patron-level members enter free. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.High.org, by visiting the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office or by calling 404-733-5000. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the night of the screening. Phone and internet orders will incur a $1-per-ticket service fee.

The public may call the High’s film hotline at 404-733-4570 for up-to-the-minute information about visiting directors, receptions, changes or cancellations. The museum’s website is www.High.org
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Bank of America Cardholders Vist the High Museum of Art Free

High Museum of art Joins Bank of America Museums on Us® Program

Program Offers Free Museum Access to Bank Cardholders at the High and More Than 120 Museums Across the U.S. on the First Full Weekend of Each Month

The High Museum of Art is now part of Bank of America’s “Museums on Us” (MOU) program, which offers Bank of America cardholders the opportunity to visit the High free of charge on the first full weekend of every month. The High joins more than 120 museums and cultural institutions already participating throughout the United States, including five in Atlanta—the Atlanta History Center, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Zoo Atlanta and the Millennium Gate.

To qualify for the Museums on Us program, Bank of America customers simply present their ATM, credit or check card and a valid photo ID to gain free general admission* to any participating institution. For a complete listing of participating museums and other program information, visit www.bankofamerica.com/museums.

“We are proud to partner with the High Museum,” said Rena M. DeSisto, Arts and Culture Executive, Bank of America. “Bank of America is committed to strengthening artistic institutions in the communities we serve across the country, and Museums on Us provides a free cultural resource at a time when it’s needed most. The program benefits our museum partners and our communities by providing access to the arts and creating new opportunities to attract visitors.”

Bank of America is also sponsoring the exhibitions and programming of the High’s “MoMA Series,” which includes the current exhibition “Monet Water Lilies.” The High’s presentation of “Monet Water Lilies” launches a multi-year, multi-exhibition collaboration between the High and The Museum of Modern Art, New York, that will feature two major exhibitions and four focus exhibitions now through 2013.

*MOU is not valid for special exhibitions, fundraising events or ticketed shows. Not to be combined with any other discounts or offers. Free admission does not guarantee reservation. Offer valid the first full weekend of each month through December 4 and 5, 2010.
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Art Partners Hosts Third Annual Vive Le Polo!

Polo Match and Event to Benefit High Museum of Art

Art Partners will host the third annual Vive le Polo! on Saturday, June 14. This event will kick off summer in Atlanta with a polo match and a festive crowd donning their best hats and displaying their decorative picnics, all benefiting the High Museum of Art. Held at Chukkar Farm & Scuppernong Polo Club in Alpharetta, two competing polo teams will put on a high-energy match for this event. Awards will be given for Best Hat, Best Picnic Theme, Best Entrée, Best Dessert and Best Beverage. Vive le Polo! is one of four annual fundraisers held by the High Museum’s Art Partners organization.

Vive le Polo! will also feature a live and silent auction featuring unique items and experiences, informal modeling of the latest summer fashions and live music by Spree Wilson. The media sponsor for Vive le Polo! is Flavors Magazine and the media partner is Spaulding Communications.

WHEN: Sunday, June 14, 2009 (Rain date: June 28)
Gates open at 12 noon; match begins at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Chukkar Farm & Scuppernong Polo Club
1005 Little River Way, Alpharetta, Georgia

TICKETS: General Public: $30 in advance; $40 at the gate
Art Partners: $25 in advance; $30 at the gate
Reserve: www.high.org/polo or 404-733-4521

Please note: Tickets will not be mailed. All tickets will be held at the check-in table at the event.

Art Partners at the High Museum of Art
Art Partners is a dynamic social and volunteer organization that supports the Museum through fundraisers and events. Participants enjoy exclusive programs planned around a variety of interests and schedules, and educational opportunities that include visits to local artists’ studios, intimate gatherings in the homes of private collectors and private tours of both local galleries and Museum exhibitions. There are also socials and other events specifically geared toward singles and young professionals. Art Partners holds four annual fundraisers for the Museum: High Arts Day, The Big Finish, The Artful Garden Tour and Vive le Polo!

High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art, founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, is the leading art museum in the southeastern United States. With more than 11,000 works of art in its permanent collection, the High Museum of Art has an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American art; significant holdings of European paintings and decorative art; a growing collection of African American art; and burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, photography and African art. The High is also dedicated to supporting and collecting works by Southern artists and is distinguished as the only major museum in North America to have a curatorial department specifically devoted to the field of folk and self-taught art. The High’s Media Arts department produces acclaimed annual film series and festivals of foreign, independent and classic cinema. In November 2005 the High opened three new buildings by architect Renzo Piano that more than doubled the Museum’s size, creating a vibrant “village for the arts” at the Woodruff Arts Center in midtown Atlanta. For more information about the High, please visit www.High.org.

The Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center is ranked among the top four arts centers in the nation. The Woodruff is unique in that it combines four visual and performing arts divisions on one campus as one not-for-profit organization. Opening in 1968, the Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art and Young Audiences. To learn more about the Woodruff Arts Center, please visit www.woodruffcenter.org.

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Works Newly Attributed to Leonardo da Vinci to be Unveiled at High Museum

Recent Restoration of Verrocchio’s Relief for the Silver Altar Led to Findings; Will be Displayed in Atlanta for the First Time Outside of Florence

“Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius” First to Explore Leonardo’s Significant Role in Renaissance Sculpture; Will Feature 20 Drawings by Leonardo

The High will unveil two works newly attributed to Leonardo da Vinci with the opening of “Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius” in October 2009. The recent cleaning of Andrea del Verrocchio’s “Beheading of the Baptist” (1477–1483) relief for the Silver Altar of the Florentine Baptistery has enabled a detailed examination of its individual components, revealing that two of the figures were made very differently than the others. Gary Radke, guest curator of the exhibition and Dean’s Professor of the Humanities at Syracuse University, recently proposed that the two figures, each of which is no more than eight inches high, were created by Leonardo da Vinci and not Verrocchio, who was his teacher. All the figures in the relief were created separately and inserted into the background, allowing for more than one artist to have contributed to the composition.

The new attribution is based on comparisons of the figures in the relief to one another and to similar works by Verrocchio and Leonardo. Two figures, the youth with the salver at the far left and the turbaned officer with a baton seen from the rear on the right, stand out from the other five. Unlike the other figures, which are all posed parallel to the relief plane and chased with insistent linearity, the youth and officer are conceived and modeled with remarkable three-dimensionality and naturalistic detail. As a youth Leonardo was already renowned for his obsessive observation of the world around him, leading Radke to conclude that the two figures were most likely produced by Leonardo just as he was becoming an independent artist.

On view for the first time outside of Florence, the relief will be a focal point of “Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius,” which will provide visitors with the tools to make their own comparisons and learn more about Radke’s rationale for attribution. The exhibition will shed new light on Leonardo’s seminal role in the development of Renaissance sculpture and the work of artists who followed him through an examination of the sculpture that Leonardo studied, the sketches and studies he created for his own sculptural projects (the majority of which were never realized) and his interactions with other Renaissance sculptors.

“Leonardo da Vinci: The Hand of the Genuis” will explore Leonardo’s profound interest in and influence upon sculpture and will feature more than 50 works, including more than 20 sketches and studies by Leonardo, some of which will be on view in the United States for the first time. The exhibition will also feature work by Donatello, Rubens, Verrocchio and Rustici—including Rustici’s three monumental bronzes from the façade of the Baptistery in Florence comprised by “John the Baptist Preaching to a Levite and a Pharisee” (1506–1511), which has never left Florence. Also included are works from world-renowned collections, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Musée du Louvre, the British Museum and the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence.

Organized by the High Museum of Art, “Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius” will premiere in Atlanta October 3, 2009, and will be on view through February 21, 2010. A modified version of the exhibition will travel to the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles (March 23 through June 20, 2010).

“Proposing a new attribution to Leonardo is not something I take lightly,” said Radke, “but when I saw the relief after it was recently cleaned and had the privilege of looking at the figures from both front and back, two of them jumped out at me. Verrocchio, who was Leonardo’s teacher, was a great artist and mentor, but these figures stand apart from the others. They are brilliantly posed and extraordinarily modeled down to the last detail. They pay homage to a very special teacher/student relationship and collaboration, recalling the presence of Leonardo’s splendid angel kneeling in the foreground of Verrocchio’s ‘Baptism of Christ.’”

The High has partnered with a number of Italian museums and institutions in the past, including the Casa Buonarroti, the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, the restoration laboratories of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure and the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, from which the silver relief comes. Some of these collaborations have resulted in conservation and new scholarship, and many have brought renowned works of art to Atlanta. The restoration of the Silver Altar from the Florentine Baptistery and the ensuing discovery of new Leonardo works follows the High’s 2007 exhibition of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise from Florence. As part of extensive scientific and art historical collaborations in preparation for the exhibition, the High helped to fund the restoration of the Silver Altar, which originally stood inside the Florentine Baptistery for which Ghiberti’s Gates were made.
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High Museum - Film Feature August 1st- Man on Wire

Man on Wire
August 1, 8 p.m.
Rich Theatre
$7 general admission; $6 students, seniors, and Museum members. Patron level members enter free.

Films at the High is pleased to present a special preview of Man on Wire, an extraordinary film about daredevil Philippe Petit, who amazed the world when he illegally danced across a high wire strung between the World Trade Center Towers in New York in 1974.

Winner of both the Audience and Jury Awards for Best Documentary at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, James Marsh's portrait of Petit, who also walked a wire across the towers of Notre Dame and the Sydney Bridge, has won unanimous praise from critics.

In Variety, Robert Koehler called the film "one of the most wildly entertaining documentaries of recent years... an adventure tale that astonishes in every respect." The film’s hypnotic, propulsive score was written by minimalist composer Michael Nyman, a frequent collaborator with British director Peter Greenaway.

(Britain, 2007, 102 minutes.) In English and French with subtitles.

Driskell Prize Recipient: Xaviera Simmons Lectures at the High Museum of Art

July 25, 2008, 6-8 p.m.

Hill Auditorium

Brooklyn-based artist Xaviera Simmons is the 2008 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History. Simmons will discuss her work, which combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation.

This program is free and is offered in conjunction with the National Black Arts Festival.

Named after the renowned African American artist and art scholar, the Driskell Prize recognizes a scholar or artist in the beginning or middle of his or her career whose work makes an original and important contribution to the field of African American art or art history. Simmons’ work combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation.

“Innovation and exploration are key components of a Driskell Prize winner’s artistic practice,” said Michael E Shapiro, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Director of the High. “Xaviera Simmons’ work challenges existing ideas regarding history, community and art by allowing viewers and artists to participate in the environments she creates. We are pleased to honor Simmons’ fresh perspective in the field of African American art by awarding her this recognition.”

Xaviera Simmons thoroughly examines and engages a range of familiar topics, including landscape, history and community. In her newest photography series, titled “A New Era Americana,” she photographs passersby in front of pastoral backdrops on city streets, creating an uncertain and conflicted portrait. In works like these, Simmons uses visual cues to challenge the notion of a constructed identity.

Simmons’ most acclaimed work is an installation piece commissioned in 2006 by Art in General for its storefront in New York City. Originally titled “How to Break Your Own Heart: Visitors Welcome,” the piece transformed the gallery’s project space into a “jazz salon.” This area featured felted floors, seating, a DJ booth, impromptu performances and a 24-hour video presentation. Simmons treated the walls with vintage jazz LP covers and scheduled musical performances, including her own DJ sets. Since its initial installation, “How to Break Your Own Heart” has tripled in size and traveled to the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, Texas, and the Zacheta National Art Gallery in Warsaw, Poland.

Born in 1974, Xaviera Simmons became a Cave Canem Poets Fellow in 2002 and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from Bard College in 2004. She completed a two-year actor-training conservatory program with Maggie Flanagan in 2005, as well as a studio residency with the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program in New York City. In 2007 Simmons was awarded a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant and an “In the Public Realm” commission from The Public Art Fund. In 2008 Simmons will show works at March Gallery, New York City, and at the Bronx Museum of Art in “Street Art, Street Life.” She will also serve as an artist-in-residence at Platform Garanti in Istanbul, Turkey. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Upcoming High Museum Events

ART IN THE CITY
Thursday, July 24, 5 to 8 p.m.
On July 24, enjoy a Gallery Talk with “Young Americans” artist Sheila Pree Bright (details below).
The Museum offers extended hours every Thursday until 8 p.m. This is a great way to see special exhibitions and avoid the weekend crowds. Free with Museum admission and free to members.

GALLERY TALK: Sheila Pree Bright on “Young Americans”
July 24, 2008, 6:30 p.m.; Wieland Pavilion Lower Level Galleries
Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright will explore the collaborative process behind her “Young Americans” portraiture project. For more information on “Young Americans: Photographs by Sheila Pree Bright,” please click here. Free with Museum admission, free for members.

DRISKELL PRIZE LECTURE: Xaviera Simmons
July 25, 2008, 6-8 p.m.; Hill Auditorium
Brooklyn-based artist Xaviera Simmons is the 2008 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History. Simmons will discuss her work which combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation. For more information about the David C. Driskell Prize and Xaviera Simmons, please click here.
This program is free and is offered in conjunction with the National Black Arts Festival.

Georgia State Educator’s Photos Exhibited at High Museum

At the height of the civil rights movement, photographic images of the struggle for equality alerted the nation to injustices waged against African-Americans. Years later, these images are still part of our collective memory.

Doris Derby, director of African-American Student Services and Programs at Georgia State, is one of nearly 50 photographers whose work is included in “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968,” an exhibit on display through Oct. 5 at the High Museum of Art. The exhibit features approximately 200 photographs that helped shape public opinion on the civil rights movement.

“A lot of people were immune to what was going on,” Derby said. “A lot of people had blinders on. It had been tradition, the way things were, and so the photographs really acted to vividly depict the struggle for equality, the individual acts of the struggle, and the reaction of the segregationists who did not want to change the status quo.”

Derby, who began documenting her subjects through painting, drawing and photography as a child, has previously exhibited her work at Georgia State as well as other venues.

“I was doing what had always been one of my goals – to see African-Americans make headway in the arts, in education and employment, and they all tied together in photographs,” she said of her work.

“Road to Freedom,” which also includes a collection of historical documents, will travel throughout the U.S. after it leaves the High. Derby is also preparing for an upcoming exhibit at Georgia State titled “Disappearing Black Neighborhoods.” These images capture the everyday life of those growing up in the segregated South of the 1960s.

“I was always interested in the depiction of African-American people in positive light, in full light,” Derby said. “This has been one of the things that I’ve done all my life, getting images of African-American people out for other people to see.”

High Museum of Art Happenings

REMINDER: The High Museum of Art is closed on Friday, July 4.

ART IN THE CITY
Thursday, July 10, 5 to 8 p.m.
On July 10, enjoy a Gallery Discussion with independent curator Beth Hancock (details below).
The Museum offers extended hours every Thursday until 8 p.m. This is a great way to see special exhibitions and avoid the weekend crowds. Free with Museum admission and free to members.

GALLERY TALK: Street Life
July 10, 2008, 6:30 p.m.; Wieland Pavilion Lower Level Galleries
Join independent curator, Beth Hancock as she examines works by noted photographers Garry Winogrand, Danny Lyon, Susan Meiselas, and Dennis Carlyle Darling. For more information on “Street Life: American Photographs from the 1960s and 70s,” click here.
Free with Museum admission, free for members.

SECOND SUNDAYS FAMILY PERFORMANCE: Marian Anderson
July 13, 2008, 1-4 p.m.; Robinson Atrium, Stent Family Wing
“Marian Anderson: The Voice That Challenged a Nation” performed by Capitol City Opera of Young Audiences. The life and struggles of this phenomenal singer and social activist are portrayed through dialogue and the most influential songs she performed throughout her life. Honored as the first black female to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Marian Anderson was championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and performed before sell-out crowds. Capitol City Opera Company is an established resident repertory troupe with over 20 years of experience. Free with Museum admission, free for members.
About Second Sundays at the High: Experience a variety of cultures and artistic traditions together during Family Fun Sundays at the High, every second Sunday of the month.

High Museum of Art Upcoming Events

The High Museum of Art is closed on Friday, July 4.

REMINDER: PANEL DISCUSSION: Memories from the Movement
Saturday, June 28, 2 p.m., Rich Theatre
Join Civil Rights heroes including Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, activist Dorothy Cotton, introduced by High Curator Julian Cox for an afternoon of remembrances and dialogue around the contributions of the courageous champions of justice who struggled to make equality a reality for all. The panelists will reflect on their experiences in the Civil Rights movement in light of the High’s current exhibition “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968.” The discussion will be moderated by Alexis Scott, journalist and publisher of the “Atlanta Daily World,” the city's first black-owned daily newspaper. This program is free and seating is limited. Tickets are available through the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office at 404-733-5000 and online at www.high.org. Tickets to the Museum are sold separately.

FILM AND DISCUSSION: “Voices of Freedom”
Sunday, June 29, 3 p.m., Hill Auditorium
America’s civil rights movement found its strength in the people who took to the streets to support it. “Voices of Freedom” re-visits several key events and places shaped by America’s great nonviolent revolution. This 20 minute video was filmed, edited, and produced by award-winning documentary filmmaker, Neal Broffman, son of the late Morton Broffman whose photographs are included in the exhibition “Road to Freedom.” The film will be followed by a discussion with Julian Cox, curator of “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956 – 1968,” and a Q&A. Free with Museum admission and free to Members.

Talk and Talk Back: Gallery Talk with Sam Mahone
Thursday, July 3, 6:30 p.m.; Wieland Pavilion Special Exhibition Galleries
Join activist Sam Mahone as he leads a gallery discussion focusing on works in the “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956—1968” and “After 1968” exhibitions. For more details click here. Free with Museum admission and free for members.
Talk & Talk Back Gallery Discussions: Museum visitors will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive program in the galleries where artists, poets, scholars and activists will lead discussions on a variety of topics. These discussions will take place within the “Road to Freedom” and “After 1968” galleries.

FULTON COUNTY FREE SATURDAY
Saturday, July 5
On the first Saturday of every month, the High Museum of Art welcomes Fulton County residents to the Museum for free. Fulton County residents who show proof of residency may view our current exhibitions as well as the Permanent Collection. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts Council.

16th Annual High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction Surpasses $2 Million Mark for Second Year in its History

In its 16th year, the 2008 High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction reached a Live Auction total of more than $1.5 million. Silent auctions on Friday and Saturday and a Paddle Raise during the live auction brought the total to over $1.76 million in auction sales. The auction total along with event ticket sales brought the net profit for the 2008 Wine Auction to $2.1million, marking only the second time in its history to have raised over $2 million. Proceeds from the auction are a vital part of the Museum’s acquisition, exhibition and educational programming funds. The dates for the 17th annual High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction are March 26–28, 2009.

The High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction celebrated its anniversary in 2008 with the theme “The Sensational Sixteenth High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction: How Sweet It Is!” Organized by volunteer co-chairs Liz Lazarus and Joan Marmo, the auction events were held in Atlantic Station under festive big-top tents decorated with the colors of lipstick red and chocolate brown.

More than 250 live- and silent-auction lots offered exclusive opportunities to taste, tour and visit with more than 85 vintners from the world’s premier wine regions, including California, Oregon, Washington, France, Australia, Argentina and South Africa, as well as the chance to purchase cult wines, rare vintages and large-format bottles. Celebrated Burgundy vintner Alex Gambal and California Central Coast winemaker Joseph Davis were the auction’s Special Guests of Honor. Teaming up to wield the gavel for Saturday’s live auction were esteemed wine auctioneers Michael Davis and Leah Hammer of Hart Davis Hart Wine Co., Chicago.

The 3rd annual Paddle Raise was held in support of youth education at the High, including programs such as the “I See Literacy/I See History” project, Summer Teacher Institute and the Atlanta Public Schools After-School Project. This year’s Paddle Raise allowed bidders to contribute to the fund from $500 to $10,000 each, with the total reaching $100,000.

The highest single auction bid of the day was $85,000 for a Girls’ Trip to Napa Valley including private jet travel and a stay at the Meadowood resort. Another record-breaking sale came when a “Puttin’ on the Hog” party for 30 people with Linton Hopkins, of both Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch Public House, and a special cuvée by Tuck Beckstoffer, of 75 Wine Co., sold three times for a total of $92,000. In the most moving bid of the day, an extraordinary collection of 50 bottles of wine sold for $65,000 in memory of longtime auction supporter Taylor Stuckey.

Other Live Auction Highlights
$70,000 for events hosted by auction co-chair Joan Marmo and husband Joel Knox in their home
$40,000 for dinner with Julie Martinelli and her wines, plus Hugh Acheson of Athens’s Five & Ten in the kitchen, and $30,000 for a rare Beaux Frères tasting of 16 vintages with owner/winemaker Michael Etzel and Kevin Rathbun as chef
$60,000 (sold twice at $30,000 each) for a wine dinner hosted by Louise Sams with Gerry Klaskala of Aria and Carvel Gould of Canoe in the kitchen
$58,000 (sold twice at $30,000 and $28,000) for a “Cellar Raid” at West and Katie Johnson’s house, with food by chefs from Atlanta’s Les Dames d’Escoffier
$45,000 for a 9L of D. R. Stephens Estate’s 2005 Moose Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, plus a poolside evening barbecue in Napa Valley
$45,000 for a customized trip to China to view the Terracotta Warriors with business-class airfare from Delta Air Lines
$40,000 for a California-Bordeaux Gourmet Extravaganza with Shari and Garen Staglin of Staglin Vineyards, Greg Gregory and Jeff Murray and the chefs from Blackberry Farm
$38,000 for an Insiders’ Trip to Burgundy with Special Guests of Honor Alex Gambal of Maison Alex Gambal and Joe Davis of Arcadian Winery
$35,000 for an African Safari by Singita Grumeti Reserves
$30,000 for dinner at Tiffany & Co. in Phipps Plaza with Chef Tom Catherall and wines by Iron Horse Vineyards
$30,000 for a collection of Kosta Browne wines and a tour and tasting at the winery
$24,000 for a Sweet 16 collection of Colgin Cellars wines and a painting by Suzanne Hughes Sullivan
$24,000 for Sixteen Sensational Bottles from Paul Hobbs wines

The 16th annual festivities commenced on Wednesday, March 26, with the Artist’s Dinner, and continued on Thursday with the sold-out Winemaker Dinners and a Trade Tasting. Friday featured premiere Tasting Seminars and the Gala Dinner leading up to the grand Vintners’ Reception and the Live Auction on Saturday, March 29. More than 85 distinguished wineries and 37 of Atlanta’s finest chefs were represented at the Vintners’ Reception to the sold-out crowd of 900 food- and wine-lovers. On Friday evening, Gala Dinner guests dined on a menu from Southern Foodways Alliance star chefs Gerry Klaskala and Kathryn King of Atlanta’s Aria; Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten and The National in Athens, Georgia; Mike Lata of FIG in Charleston, South Carolina; and Todd Richards of The Oakroom in Louisville, Kentucky, with dinner presented by A Legendary Event. Austin Hope, winemaker for his family’s Treana Winery and for his own Austin Hope Winery, served as the Special Guest for The Big Finish on Saturday evening.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. was Presenting Sponsor for the fourth year. Premier Sponsors included “Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles” magazine, Geographics, Wachovia Wealth Management, KPMG, Montaluce and The Streets of Buckhead/Ben Carter Properties. Delta Air Lines was the Official Airline Sponsor, and Atlanta Area Lexus Dealers were the Official Automotive Sponsor. Atlantic Station was Site Sponsor for the third year, and other sponsors included A Legendary Event, Arnall Golden Gregory Private Wealth Group, Callaway Gardens, The Coca-Cola Company and Evian, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, Holder Construction Company, Novare Group-The Atlantic, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Sherlock’s Wine Merchant, TwinEngines and Wilmington Trust. The Big Finish was sponsored by “Skirt!” magazine. Media partners included “Flavors” and “Restaurant Forum” magazines.

The Wine Auction is the single largest fundraising event held annually for the High Museum of Art. One of the top charity fundraising events in Atlanta and the largest charity wine auction in the U.S. benefiting the arts, it was named number five in a national ranking of the Top 10 charity wine auctions in the United States by “Wine Spectator” magazine in their March 31, 2008, issue. Proceeds from the Auction are a vital part of the Museum’s acquisition, exhibition and education plans.

High Showcases Decorative Arts and Design Acquisitions in New Installation

“Face Offs: Decorative Arts and Design”
June 21–November 23, 2008

This month the High will present “Face Offs: Decorative Arts and Design,” showcasing recent contemporary decorative arts acquisitions paired with similar works from earlier art-historical periods from the permanent collection. On view from June 21 through November 23, 2008, the eight works on display include the debut of two major commissions from Dutch Droog Design collective artists Jurgen Bey and Tejo Remy, “Treetrunk Bench High Table” and “You Can’t Lay Down Your Memory” Chest of Drawers, both of which draw upon local sources for materials. The old and the new are juxtaposed in dialogue with one another through similarities and differences in shape, form, materials, utility, manufacture and prevailing tastes.

“Our newest acquisitions represent some of the most important designs from the late 20th and early 21st centuries,” said Ron T. Labaco, the High’s Curator of Decorative Arts. “Shown in the context of masterworks from other eras, they help illustrate the cycle of innovation, tradition and cross-fertilization that has recurred throughout decorative arts and design history. It will be interesting to see what aspects of these new designs will influence the look and feel of the future.”

Comparative examples include Ron Arad’s molded and woven aluminum “Blo-Void 1 Chair” (2006) and Gebrüder Thonet’s bentwood and woven cane “Rocking Chair” (ca. 1885), Tejo Remy’s haphazard “You Can’t Lay Down Your Memory” Chest of Drawers (2008), Charles and Ray Eames’ geometrically structured “ESU (Eames Storage Unit)” (1953–1955), South Carolina potter Mark Hewitt’s massive “That’s What I’m Talking About!” Vase (2007) and English ceramics manufacturers John and William Turner’s monumental “Punch Bowl” (1800–1810).

Decorative Arts and Design at the High Museum of Art

The High Museum of Art’s decorative arts and design collection features 2,175 objects, representing the most comprehensive survey of American decorative arts in the Southeast, and is among the most significant collections in the nation. The Virginia Carroll Crawford Collection of American Decorative Arts positioned the High as a leader in collecting and preserving works in this genre. The Crawford Collection, given over the course of five years between 1979 and 1983, includes major pieces of furniture, silver, porcelain and specially designed serving items produced by Tiffany and Company. Other notable gifts include the Frances and Emory Cocke Collection of English ceramics. Recent acquisitions include key additions of Gerrit Rietveld’s “Red/Blue Chair” and Marcel Breuer’s “Lounge Chair.”

Films at The High - Devil In a Blue Dress

Don Cheadle continues this week with Devil in a Blue Dress. The series includes four of the Cheadle's most acclaimed films, including Saturday's film in which he plays the volatile sidekick to Denzel Washington's Easy Rawlins.

This film series is presented in coordination with the exhibitions Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956–1968 and After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy, on view at the High from June 7 through October 5.

High Museum - Road to Freedom and After 1968 Opening Celebration

The High offers extended hours every Thursday until 8 p.m. including events such as guided tours, lectures, gallery talks, music, wine-tastings, book-signings and much more.

June 12, 2008
5-8 pm

Performers:
The Shades of Pink Breast Cancer Survivors Choir

Lecture:
Discussion & Book-Signing: The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation

About Shades of Pink, Inc.

Shades of Pink, Inc. (SOP) is an Atlanta-based, non-profit organization sthat began in 2003 as an effort to fill the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors in north Georgia. SOP "celebrates survival" year round through innovative programs and initiatives that serve survivors after they have completed treatment and have outgrown traditional support groups.

The mission of SOP is to uplift those surviving breast cancer, remember those lost to the disease, and to promote a positive image of survivorship by changing the "face of breast cancer."

High Museum of Art Events for June 8- June 15

Exhibitions Opening Saturday, June 7

· Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956–1968
Through October 5, 2008

· After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy
Through October 5, 2008

· Louvre Atlanta: Houdon at the Louvre: Masterworks of the Enlightenment
Through September 7, 2008

Art In The City
Thursday, June 12, 5 to 8 p.m.
Join us on June 12 for a special Discussion & Book-Signing: The Race Beat (details below).
The Museum offers extended hours every Thursday until 8 p.m. This is a great way to see special exhibitions and avoid the weekend crowds. Free with Museum admission and free to members.

Discussion & Book-Signing: The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation
Thursday, June 12, 7 p.m., Hill Auditorium
Join Hank Klibanoff, a managing editor at the “Atlanta Journal-Constitution;” Doris Derby, photographer, educator, and civil rights activist; and Brett Gadsden, Assistant Professor of African American Studies at Emory University, as they discuss how the nation’s press came to recognize the importance of the civil rights struggle and turn it into the most significant domestic news event of the 20th century. This lecture is free with reserved ticket and seating is limited. Tickets are available through the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office at 404-733-5000 and online at www.high.org. Tickets to the Museum are sold separately.

Film Series:

“Close Up: Don Cheadle” continues Saturday, June 14

Summer films at the High heat up in June with “Close Up: Don Cheadle,” featuring the actor’s intense, highly focused performances in four powerful films that articulate African and African American history. “Close Up” runs June 7–28, continuing on June 14 with “Devil in a Blue Dress,” Carl Franklin’s smart, atmospheric adaptation of Walter Mosely’s noir novel.

“Devil in a Blue Dress,” Saturday, June 14

For in-depth film series descriptions, click here or call the films hotline at 404-733-4570. All films are screened in the Richard H. Rich Theatre, located in the Memorial Arts Building, adjacent to the High at Peachtree and 15th Streets in midtown Atlanta. All films are screened at 8 p.m. in the Rich Theatre unless otherwise noted. 35mm projection facilities in the Rich Auditorium were provided by a gift from George Lefont. “Close Up: Don Cheadle” is presented in coordination with “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956–1968” and “After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy,” which open concurrently at the High on June 7. All programs are subject to change or cancellation.

New Ticket Info: $7 for the public and $6 for Museum members, students and seniors beginning June 1. Patron-level members enter free. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.High.org, by visiting the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office or by calling 404-733-5000. Tickets also may be purchased at the door on the night of the screening. Phone and internet orders will incur a $1-per-ticket service fee.

Target Free Family Fun Day

Fabulous Fathers – Celebrating Everyday Dads and History’s Heroes
Sunday, June 15, 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Invite your dad to visit the High for a fun filled day with his favorite person – you! Collage a beautiful card to document this special day and tell your dad just how much you love him. Be sure to visit the “Road to Freedom” and “After 1968” exhibitions and learn about heroes whose dreams have made a big difference then create a portrait of someone who is a hero to you. Relax together on the piazza and enjoy a variety of Atlanta voices performing gospel music, freedom songs, and more.
Free entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Regular Family Programming:

Toddler Thursdays

Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Greene Family Education Center
Experience this popular pre-school art education program! Parents and their children ages 2 to 4 are encouraged to look at works of art within the Museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collections as well as to create a masterpiece to take home. Drop by any time and stay as long as you like. A treat for parents and toddlers! Sponsored by Carters/ OshKosh.
No registration required. Free with Museum admission and free to members.

Saturday Studio

Saturdays; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.; Greene Family Education Center
With activities ranging from three-dimensional sculptures to figural collages, your family is sure to have an enriching hands-on art making experience! Saturday Studio is offered each Saturday at the High.
No registration required. Free with museum admission and free to members.

New: Second Sundays
Family Performances: The Albany Freedom Singers
Sunday, June 8, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.; Robinson Atrium, Stent Family Wing
Experience a variety of cultures and artistic traditions together during Family Fun Sundays at the High, every second Sunday of the month. Take in a musical, dance or theatrical performance; listen up for story time; or watch an artist at work. It’s artful fun for the whole family – make sure to get in on the action. Performances will take place every month through September 2008. Free with Museum admission and free for members.

MUSEUM HOURS
Mondays CLOSED
Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 to 5 p.m.
* Friday Jazz (3rd Friday of every month) 5 to 10 p.m.
Check www.High.org for special extended hours during special exhibitions and events.
Closed January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving and December 25.

GENERAL ADMISSION
$18 Adult
$15 Senior citizens and college students with ID
$11 Children ages 6 to 17
Free Children under age 6 and Members
*All pricing includes free audio-guide tours of “Louvre Atlanta”

Tickets are available online at www.High.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the High Museum admission desk, Woodruff Arts Center box office, or by phone, 404-733-5000 (404-733-5386 TTD). All ticket orders placed via phone will incur a $3.00/ticket service charge.

CityPass Tickets

Includes admission to 6 Atlanta attractions. $69 for adults (a $119 value) and $49 for children 3 – 12 (an $89 value). For more information on CityPass, please visit www.citypass.com/city/atlanta.

WHERE
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street
Midtown Atlanta
MARTA: Arts Center

High Museum Of Art And Consulate Of Greece In Atlanta Partner For Special Lecture

In conjunction with the Consulate of Greece in Atlanta, the High Museum of Art will present a special lecture – Building the New Acropolis Museum – on Thursday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis, President of the New Acropolis Museum, will provide an overview of the history and development of this key national public project in Greece and an understanding of how the design is integrated with the demands of the exhibition program and the Museum’s environment. Architect Bernard Tschumi will address the architectural challenges that the project presented and the solutions that were developed as a response.

The lecture will be held in the Rich Theatre, located at the Woodruff Arts Center. Tickets are free, but seating is limited. Admission to the Museum will be sold separately. Tickets can be reserved online at www.high.org or by calling 404-733-5000.

The New Acropolis Museum

The New Acropolis Museum is scheduled to open in September 2008. An archaeological museum located in Athens, Greece, at the base of the archeological site of Acropolis, the New Acropolis Museum will be home to over 4,000 ancient relics found in and around the Acropolis site. The new museum will provide 14,000 square meters of exhibition space, in contrast to the old museum which only offered 1,450 square meters. The collection also includes artifacts from other sites, including the Parthenon, Propylae, Erechtheum, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Old Temple of Athena, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the sanctuary of Asclepius or Asclepieion, and the Theatre of Dionysus.

Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis

Since May 2000, Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis has been the President of the New Acropolis Museum. He has been a professor of Classical Archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki since 1979, serving as President of the history and archaeology departments and Dean of the Philosophical School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Since 1973, he has been Director of the university's archaeological excavations at Dion and conducted extensive programs converting the excavated area into an expansive archaeological and environmental park. From September 1996 to March 2000, Pandermalis served as National Member of the Greek Parliament.

Architect Bernard Tschumi

Bernard Tschumi is an architect and educator. In 1983, he won the prestigious competition to design the Parc de la Villette, a 125-acre, $300-million public park containing dramatic buildings, walkways, bridges, and gardens at the northeast edge of Paris. Tschumi established his Paris office in 1983, followed by the New York office in 1988. Today, projects that are completed or under construction include Le Fresnoy National Studio for Contemporary Arts in Tourcoing, France (1997); Columbia University's Lerner Hall Student Center (1999); Marne La Vallée School of Architecture, Paris (1999); the Interface Flon, a bus, train, and subway station and pedestrian bridge in Lausanne, Switzerland (2001); a 8,000-person/70,000-square-foot Concert Hall and Exhibition Complex in Rouen, France (2001); and the 100,000 square-foot Florida International University School of Architecture in Miami, Florida. He is currently designing the Museum for African Art in New York, the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sao Paolo.

A permanent US resident who holds both French and Swiss nationalities, Tschumi studied in Paris and at the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, from which he received his degree in 1969. He taught at the Architectural Association in London (1970-79), the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York (1976), Princeton University (1976 and 1980) and the Cooper Union (1981-83). He was Dean of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University, N.Y. (1988 to 2003). Tschumi is a member of the Collège International de Philosophie in France and the recipient of many distinguished honors, including the Légion d'Honneur, and the Ordre des Arts et Lettres. He was awarded France's Grand Prix National d'Architecture in 1996, as well as awards from the American Institute of Architects and the National Endowment for the Arts.