Behind every great museum is a group of dedicated individuals working hard to ensure its continued success. For the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Guild has been its steadfast partner.
Founded in 1964 by a group of women lead by Betty Grisham, the Women’s Guild was established to lay the fundraising ground work for bringing a museum to Huntsville, Alabama.
Known today as the Huntsville Museum of Art Guild, the group has successfully raised $2.9 million dollars in direct funding in support of the museum.
“Our mission is to support and promote the Museum as the cultural arts center for our area through fundraising, volunteerism, and education.”
Huntsville Museum of Art guild President Sue Hensley
Guild President Sue Hensley explains, “Our mission is to support and promote the Museum as the cultural arts center for our area through fundraising, volunteerism, and education.”
The Guild funds “Create Saturdays”, an arts program that introduces art and the museum to children at an early age. In addition, the Guild established a Scholarship in memory of Mabry Miller, a Guild member and distinguished educator. “Each year, we award a scholarship to an art teacher to help further their education,” says Hensley. The Guild also hosts an annual fundraiser.
Led by Fundraiser Chair Donna Pylant, with Co-Chairs Melanie Robinson and Susan Connor, this year’s fundraiser is “UNFRAMED: Off to the Races 2022” an indoor outdoor celebration of the Kentucky Derby.
The event will be held Saturday May 7th at the Huntsville Museum of Art in the Loretta Spencer Hall and Outdoor Tent & Terrace.
“Our vision for the fundraiser is to have an outdoor/indoor event that makes the guests feel like they are actually on the grounds at the Kentucky Derby” Pylant said. Attendees are encouraged to wear derby attire and fun, decorative hats. Guests will enjoy croquet on the lawn, live music provided by the Flashbacks, derby-inspired food, wine and spirits, including mint juleps, as the Kentucky Derby race unfolds live.
Jennifer Stottle Taylor is the featured artist for the fundraiser and her piece “Stolen Kisses” (oil on linen canvas 16 in x 20 in) is the event’s representative artwork.
Stottle Taylor, a Huntsville native who was once also a jockey, has a love for painting horses. She explains, “It was suggested to me to paint the hats and the crowds behind the jockeys and the horses; they’re so interesting and I feel like there’s a story there- almost like writing a novel without words.” “Stolen Kisses” will be a part of the fundraiser’s online auction.
For tickets to the fundraiser or additional details on the Huntsville Museum of Art Guild, please visit the Huntsville Museum of Art website.
Huntsville Museum of Art: https://hsvmuseum.org/
