Come celebrate the accomplishments of the finalists and nominees of the 2011 Business in the Arts Awards with the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts during the luncheon awards event on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center at 11:45 am. The presentation will recognize business support and participation in the arts, which improves the quality of life and encourages economic development in the River Region. This event is being generously sponsored by Alabama Artificial Limb and Orthopedic Service and The Renaissance Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center.
Through the Business in the Arts Awards program, the MABCA informs the community of the contributions business makes to the arts. It is an opportunity to recognize productive partnerships between businesses and local arts groups.
2011 Recipients and Finalists
2011 Frank Plummer Memorial Arts Award Recipient
LWT
2011 Virginia and Robert S. Weil Arts in Education Award Recipient
ALFA Insurance Company
2011 Wynton M. Blount Arts Leadership Award Recipient
Mrs. Peggy Marks Mussafer
2011 Business in the Arts Awards Finalists
Small Business Finalists* (less than 25 employees)
Jenny Weller Caterer
Marquirette’s Exquisite Jewelry
Reid and O’Donahue Advertising
Medium Business Finalists* (25 to 100 employees)
Capell & Howard P.C.
River Bank and Trust
ServisFirst Bank
Large Business Finalists* (over 100 employees)
AT&T
Cumulus Broadcasting
Summit Housing Partners, LLC
*Winners of these categories to be announced at the presentation
This year the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts (MABCA) will celebrate the 25thAnniversary of its Annual Business in the Arts Awards Luncheon to be held on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center at 11:45 am. This program commends area businesses for their exceptional support of the arts. In keeping with the theme of business/art partnerships, the awards themselves are works of art created by a local artist. The Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts (MABCA) is pleased to announce that NanCunningham has been selected as the artist for the 25thBusiness in the Arts Awards. This event is being generously sponsored by Alabama Artificial Limb and Orthopedic Service and the Renaissance Hotel and Spa.
The Artist and the Awards
Each year, The Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts (MABCA) presents the Business in the Arts Awards to area businesses that have shown exceptional support for the arts. The awards themselves are works of art and this year, Nan Cunningham, was selected to create the 2011 awards. Ms. Cunningham has been described by a contemporary as a “powerful colorist who makes any subject her own: from still life to figures, with animals or dynamic abstractions, her style is unmistakable and riveting." From her upbringing in Montgomery, through her academic and studio experiences at Auburn University, to the life of a working artist and teacher; Nan’s reflections upon the journey are the artistic records of her deep explorations. As expressed in her own words, "It’s about the Process; not the Product". Her process begins with the first touch of the brush to the paint. She says, "The brushstroke is the most telling thing. The moment one puts the first mark on the paper or the canvas, the movement begins…the movement of the medium and the emotion. If the student, the artist, is honest and the work is honest then it just ‘happens’: we tap into it…whatever IT is."
MABCA Work
Nan created 5 wonderful paintings of times gone by Montgomery landmarks. See her descriptions in her own words below:
“Growing up in MontgomeryI was raised here with memories that are rich and deep. My favorite person was Charlie Cabiness. He worked for our family as driver, yard man and generally Major Domo...but mostly Charlie took care of me. He took me to birthday parties, Easter egg hunts and puppet shows. He held my hand at fashion shows and the circus. He took me to see Santa and to the Thanksgiving parade. WE went to all the places little Montgomery girls went. Then he took me other places too.
Moody Hardware
Saturday morningswe would go to the curb market .Early! Charlie always made sure I had the best ginger bread man in the whole place. Then we would often stop by Moody Hardware on Decatur Street to have the lawn mower sharpened. Charlie cut our 3 acres with a push reel mower. I had a toy version. I was right behind him every step of the way. Moody's eventually opened a branch on McGehee Rd. but now they are back to Decatur Street.
Gordon's Luncheonette Patio
Nat King Cole danced here, and so did I. As a very small child Charlie would take me to Gordon's on Friday nights. We were "regulars." I was picked up and put on top of the terrazo bar in the back. Enjoying lemonade and cookies, I watched as Charlie and his friends danced under the trees decorated with neon birds . I loved it! Later we all took our riding boots to Gordon's shoe shop for repair and polishing before shows. His work was beyond compare. Historic Gordon's, located on Hall Street, was recently torn down to make room for "progress" at AlabamaState University.
Tomato Sandwiches at the Blue Moon
Everyone went to the Blue Moon for luncheons, teas and cocktail parties. Miss Lela's open faced tomato sandwiches and mocha cakes were legendary. Charlie drove my grandmother there. When we picked her up (my grandmother never drove), she always had a mocha cake for me tucked in her purse in a napkin. Throughout the time the Blue Moon was in existence, we were there. AND often. High school graduation, teas and luncheons, my wedding rehearsal dinner and even my SURPRISE 30th birthday were held there.
Pop's
"By my corn I shall be known." Pop Meyer's operated a coke and popcorn stand outside of CloverdaleSchool. We all went there after the bell rang. He knew everyone's name and offered the best of treats. Pop also had a stand at Oak Park, but we hung out at the Fairview site. Sadly Charlie was gone by then.
Walt's Tomato Stand
There were vegetable stands on many corners. They sold home grown tomatoes. The only kind. There was even a woman who walked through the neighborhood with peas and turnip greens in a bundle on her head. Walt had a stand on the corner of McGehee Rd. Across from the Old Green Lantern site (now a bank) and sideways from the "then" new Moody HArdware store. More Progress”.
The 2011 Business in the Arts Awards, created by Ms. Cunningham, will be on display October 1- November 4, 2011 in the Alabama State Council on the Arts’ Alabama Artists Gallery in the RSA Tower 201 Monroe St. Montgomery, AL. For more information please call Ashley Ledbetter 334-263-2224.
Roster of Selected MABCA Artists
2011- Nan Cunningham 2010- George Taylor
2009- Paulette Riley 2008- David Keith Braly
2007- John “Jake Wagnon 2006- Clark Walker
2005- Connie Watts 2004-Carol Barksdale-Meredith
2003-Cecily “Cissie” Hulett 2002- George Allen “Bud” Harris
2001- Dawn Kuykendall (1941-2003) 2000- John Phillips
1999-Elena Aleinikov Kohn 1998-Terry McKee
1997-Melissa Tubbs 1996-Frances Lanier
1995- Donna Jones 1994-Jim Gunter
1993-John Phillips 1992-Crow & Michaux
1991-Leonard LaRoux 1990-Jack DeLoney
1989-Robert Shelton 1988-Larry Godwin
1987-Barbara Gallagher (1933-2006)
2011 Weil Arts in Education Award Artist
The MABCA’s Virginia and Robert S. Weil Arts in Education Award is an award designed to award businesses that support the arts community in an educational manner. Each year a student’s artwork is chosen as the award. This year the MABCA selected its Weil Arts in Education artist from the Arts Council of Montgomery’s Draw Montgomery art contest. The 2011 Arts in Education Artist is Miss Sammie Eiring. Miss Eiring was born and raised in Birmingham and in 2008 and moved to Prattville. Upon entering the 9thgrade she made the move to Saint James School and has thrived under the direction and teaching of her art teacher, Mr. Jim Gunter. She has received several awards for her artistic talent. She has won gold and silver keys at the state and national levels in Scholastic Art Awards, placed 1stplace in the Arts Council of Montgomery’s A.C.E.S. Art contest and 1stin their D.O.O.T. contest in printmaking. She was also honored with 1stplace District and State in the Alabama Council for the Arts High SchoolShow.
Fast Facts on the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts
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The Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts is a not-for-profit organization of business and professional leaders committed to encouraging and developing business involvement with the arts.
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Founded in 1979, the MABCA is the oldest charter affiliate of the national Business Committee for the Arts (BCA.) The national group was founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller and a core of America’s top business leaders. There are currently twelve BCA affiliates across the country.
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The MABCA’s Virginia and Robert S. Weil Arts in Education Award is awarded to a business that has contributed the most to the arts or arts program in some educational way. This award is named for Mr. Robert S. Weil and his late wife, Mrs. Virginia Weil, long-time supporters of the arts community. Mr. Weil, of Weil Brothers Cotton, was one of the founding members of the MABCA and served as its Chairman of the Board from 1980-1983. This year’s recipient is ALFA Insurance Company (Mr. Jerry Newby 334-288-3900)
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The Frank Plummer Memorial Arts Award is presented annually at the Business in the Arts Awards Program to a River Region business for long-term support of the arts. The award memorializes Frank A. Plummer, former chairman of First Alabama Bank (now Regions Bank) who was a leading supporter of the arts in central Alabama. The award, a stainless steel and copper sculpture titled "Convergence", is a visual representation of the interdependency and mutual support of business and the arts. The 2011 recipient is LWT (Jim Leonard or David Allred 334-244-9933).
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For the past twenty-five years, The Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts has hosted the Business in the Arts Awards, commending area businesses and individuals for their exceptional support of the arts. This year’s event will be a luncheon on November 10, 2011 11:45 am at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center in downtown Montgomery. The cost is $40 per person, $30 for an arts group/ organization and reservations can be made by calling the MABCA office at 334-263-2224.
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2011 Chairman of the Business in the Arts Awards is Barrie H. Harmon, III, Harmon Dennis Bradshaw 334-273-7277.
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2011 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MABCA is Bill Coleman, Capell & Howard, P.C. 334-241-8000.
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Each year, a local artist is commissioned to create the actual awards that are presented to winning businesses. The 2011 awards were created by Nan Cunningham, 334-546-8932.
Limited edition signed prints of Ms. Cunningham’s MABCA work may be purchased for $75 each, $85 matted or $120 framed by calling Ashley Ledbetter 334-263-2224. These items are also available at local stores such as B Barganier, Charleston House, Stonehenge and The Brass Fountain.
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