Letter from the Director – Summer

Dear Friends and Members,

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. As other organizations and businesses begin the process of reopening, WMA is doing the same. Although we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we’re all eager to return to a sense of normalcy. Following the success of our first in-person event since COVID-19 temporarily closed our doors last year, One Night Only – our annual members only event – was a welcome change, and we enjoyed welcoming you all back to the museum.

At the writing of this letter, we are preparing for the return of Arty Pants for Toddlers, a weekly program for our youngest patrons and their families. We’ll also begin summer camps in June, which continue through this month. Expect them to be Dothan’s messiest camps once again! Fall will bring even more opportunities for classes and workshops for all ages.

We’re also opening new exhibitions this quarter. With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, WMA is paying close attention to our permanent collection with a series of exhibitions from our permanent holdings. Visitors will be able to explore selections made from a collection of more than 700 objects, held in the public trust. Our collection belongs to the community, to each of you, and For Keeps will showcase a range of work form the early twentieth century to the present. We’ll also be highlighting self taught artists from our collection, and rarely seen work by Alice Mason from the collection.

If that wasn’t enough, Nice Work If You Can Get It, explores the dynamic private collection of an Alabama native. Have you ever been interested in starting your own collection? Take in the diverse works of art from across the country in this one-of-a-kind collection, and be inspired to support artists of your region, too. And stay tuned throughout the quarter for virtual artist talks, in-person workshops with artists from across the State, and new content on the museum’s free, digital app! And for those of you eager to meet your friends at the museum, Art After Hours is back – and it’s every month now!

We’re looking forward to seeing you all at WMA soon, and often!

All the best,

Dana-Marie Lemmer
Executive Director and Curator