After more than 130 years, the Salmagundi Art Club is bringing its Big Apple aesthetic to the Peach State.
An exhibition of art and artifacts from the Salmagundi Club, a private organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts and artists, opens Saturday at the Morris Museum of Art. Gary Erbe, the show's curator and a Salmagundi member, said the purpose of the exhibit is to bring attention to the club and its collection.
"I was aware of the collection and aware that very few people outside of New York had ever seen it," he said in a recent telephone interview from his Union City, N.J., home. "That's the appeal of this show. We're taking a piece of New York City and bringing it right to their hometown."
The Salmagundi Club has included artists such as George Inness, William Merritt Chase, N.C. Wyeth and Louis Comfort Tiffany on its rolls, in addition to art enthusiasts such as John Philip Sousa and Stanford White.
Mr. Erbe said the collection is well known for its portraits and works such as Henry Hobart Nichols' 1939 World's Fair painting and some more unusual art-associated objects, including more than 200 artists' palettes, some of which are part of the Morris exhibition.
The show also includes part of the club's mug collection. Begun as a fundraiser, the mugs were decorated and auctioned by members of the club in the early 20th century.
"I hope that what comes out of this exhibition is discovery," Mr. Erbe said. "I want people to discover this club, and yes, perhaps become members. But I'd also like them to discover some artists. There are artists here that aren't as well known as others. But they are still wonderful. It's like a treasure hunt."
Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.
The Salmagundi Club Inc.
The Salmagundi Club's mugs first started as fundraising items that were decorated by members of the club and put up for auction in the early 20th century.
American scenes
WHAT: Salmagundi Club: An American Institution
WHEN: Saturday-April 9; museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Morris Museum of Art, 1 10th St.
COST: $5 adults; $3 (military, students, and 65 and older); children under 6 admitted free with adult visitors; free to museum members and free SundaysLearn more: See themorris.org or call (706) 724-7501
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.