FROM THE EXECUTIVE
Director
Ways to Give
Visitor excitement was in the air this fall at the CMA with our
major exhibition, Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade 1940-1950. We
shed new light on a decade-long journey of this iconic artist with
this exhibition, the publication of a scholarly catalogue that brought
new insights, and engaging programs for all ages.
Make a Lasting Impression
We are so thankful for our generous
supporters throughout the community!
And, with the start of a new year, many
of us haven’t yet looked at charitable
contributions for 2013.
Here are three ways your gift can make
an impression:
1. Pledge to support the CMA in the
first quarter. Our staff is more than
happy to find a cause you believe
in and want to support. Whether
it’s chamber music, programming
for disadvantaged children, or
stimulating lectures and films, we
have programs that inspire everyone.
2. Consider an appreciated stock gift.
Did you know giving stock can be
more beneficial than giving cash?
Stock gifts allow for a full federal
income tax charitable deduction for
the appreciated value of the securities.
Plus, no capital gains taxes are paid
on the transaction.
3. Join the Legacy Society. This group
of donors have made planned gifts
to benefit the Museum’s permanent
endowment long into the future.
Please contact Lowndes Macdonald
at 803.343.2172 to make your lasting
impression!
Front Cover: Pierre Auguste Renoir, French, 1841-1919,
The Wave, 1882, oil on canvas. Collection of the Dixon
Gallery and Gardens; Gift of Cornelia Ritchie and
museum purchase in 1996.
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columbiamuseum.org
Karen Brosius
Executive Director
The catalogue was so popular with visitors in the Museum Shop
that it had to be reordered within the first two weeks.
Visitors came to be inspired by these stunning works and left with a renewed spirit. The
public rarely sees Rothko’s work from the 1940s. The show often elicited visitor responses
of utter surprise because it is so unlike the work for which the artist is justly famous. One
visitor told us, “I needed this exhibit to understand Rothko on a much deeper level. I could
stare for days as these paintings envelop me in color.”
We unveiled a fun new experience for the exhibition with the TAP multimedia tour. Visitors
simply “tapped” the screen of an iPod to immerse themselves in a thought-provoking
experience with a rare interview with the artist’s son, Christopher Rothko. This educational
tool encouraged visitors to linger longer and learn more in the galleries. A visitor from
Mississippi told us, “I felt like I was getting a personal tour. The commentary from his son
helps me gain a deeper understanding of what I’m looking at and why it is significant.”
We were honored to welcome Christopher to the CMA in November. He shared such
meaningful and heartfelt insight on his father’s work. Our visitors truly felt connected to
the artist’s family and responded to his visit in a powerful way.
Even our smallest visitors were inspired by Rothko’s work and spent countless hours on
scavenger hunts, listening to stories in the gallery, mixing their own paints and learning
about color theory in the studio.
I am grateful to Earl A. Powell III, director of the National Gallery in Washington,
whose institution lent our museum more Rothkos that it has ever lent before. And it is
only through the generous support of community partners like First Citizens Bank, and
committed members like Joyce Martin Hampton, Ron and Hannah Rogers, and Steve and
Gail Morrison who gave leadership support, that we are able to bring exhibitions of this
caliber to Columbia for a revelatory experience.
Board Member Highlight
Stephen G. Morrison
If we surround ourselves with the best, most beautiful and truthful
things humans create, our spirits are lifted, our community creates
more, and we serve each other with honesty. My mentor, the late
Claude Scarborough, was a leadership driver of the capital campaign for
the Museum’s new Main Street home, putting our collection of the best
things human beings create within reach of every citizen of Columbia.
As Commissioner, I intend to further our mission of growing our
funding base, strengthening our operations, enhancing the museum
experience and engagement, and broadening our audience reach.