Steffen Thomas: A Legacy in Atlanta, celebrates the artist’s contributions to the Atlanta art scene from 1930 – 1990. This multi-faceted exhibition and series of programs, presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art, focuses on the public art in metro Atlanta created by Steffen Thomas and includes the following events:
Steffen Thomas was born in Fürth, Germany in 1906 and had a dream from childhood of becoming an artist. He was trained in classical sculpture at the Academy of Fine Art in Munich from 1924 – 1928, achieving Master status at the age of 21. Thomas immigrated to the US in 1928 and settled in Atlanta by 1930. Most of his professional career as an artist was centered in the Atlanta area, and he had a long career as a sculptor, creating many works of public art that can be found in Atlanta and the Southeast. His last studio was in Midtown Atlanta, and after his widow Sara Douglass Thomas found it impossible to establish a museum on the site of his last studio, she decided to build one on land owned by Steffen Thomas, Jr. in rural Morgan County, near Madison, Georgia.
Listed below are detailed descriptions of the programs for STEFFEN THOMAS: A LEGACY IN ATLANTA
Saturday, May 20, 2017 10:00 am – 2:00 pm: An Invitational Plein Air Paint-Out at the site of Trilon, a fountain sculpture created by Steffen Thomas located on Peachtree Street at 15th Street (on Colony Square). Installed in 1975, Trilon won an Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award of Excellence in 1976 and is a part of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs public art collection. The event will also feature the Tufton Tet String Quartet performing classical and Jazz standards.
Thursday, June 8, 6:00-: 9:00 PM: Gallery 72 opens STEFFEN THOMAS: A LEGACY IN ATLANTA an exhibition featuring the artwork of artist Steffen Thomas, along with works created by contemporary artists celebrating his legacy. Running concurrently with this exhibition will be an additional display of selected Steffen Thomas works at the Goethe-Institut located at 1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta GA (at Colony Square).
Artwork from the Invitational Plein Air Paint-Out will be on display alongside original works by Steffen Thomas.
Artists participating in the exhibition are Woody Cyrus, Kendall Portis, Peter Ho-Cumming, Kathy Rennell Forbes, Dante Yarbrough, Jonas Allen, Monika Ruiz, Lisa Whittington, Angus Galloway, Corey Whitehead, Charmaine Minnefield, Roxanne Hollosi. Ted Roman , Margaret Agner, Kate Sherrill , Bev Jones , and Joe Coggins.
Saturday, June 17, 10:00am – 12:00 noon: Walking Public Art Tour – Led by Lisa Conner, daughter of Steffen Thomas and staff members of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The tour will begin at Colony Square located at 1197 Peachtree Street NE. Attendees are asked to meet outside of the Chick-Fil-A.
Thursday, July 27th 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Panel Discussion – Steffen Thomas and the Impact of Public Art. Invited panelists include editor of The Art of Steffen Thomas, Dr. Andrew Hayes, City of Atlanta Public Art Collections Manager, Robert Witherspoon, and artists Deana Sirlin and George Beasley (by Skype) the panel will be moderated by Gallery 72 curator, Kevin Sipp.
Thursday, August 24th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Exhibition opening reception at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art 4200 Bethany Road Buckhead, GA 30625. The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is a single-artist museum dedicated to the life and art of Georgia Master artist Steffen Thomas. The Museum offers a multitude of arts outreach programs to the residents of Northeast and Middle Georgia. In addition, STMA displays a large collection of Steffen Thomas art, including sculpture, paintings, furniture and works on paper.
These events are made possible thanks to our sponsors!
