MOCA GA / Celebrating 25 years: Launching MOCA GA

Conceptualized in early 2000 inside Co-founder Annette Cone-Skelton’s office/pool-house, and developed in concert with Co-founder and President of CGR Advisors, David Golden, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia opened its doors to the public in 2002. The Museum quickly became a leader in both the collection and preservation of contemporary Georgia art and archives, and the promotion and advancement of Georgia visual artists.

The impressive studio practice of Co-founder Annette Cone-Skelton’s, her stint as an arts educator, and tenure as the Director of Atlanta’s Heath Gallery (1978-1987), continuously fed her growing notion, that Georgia needed a collecting institution earmarked for the promotion and preservation of Georgia-born contemporary visual art… an institution that could become a catalyst and supporting mechanism for the blossoming visual arts community in Georgia.  In 1987, after leaving the Heath Gallery, Cone-Skelton opened her own consulting business which afforded her the opportunity to curate collections for numerous corporations, institutions, and private collectors, supporting local artists as well as those in the national arena, and presenting her with the opportunity to realize this dream.

A decade long partnership between Annette Cone-Skelton and CGR Advisory Group, a client of which David Golden was president, served as the catalyst for the creation of MOCA GA.  Golden, an avid collector of contemporary art himself, instigated CGR’s corporate collection, and together he and Annette filled CGR’s walls with works from leading Georgia artists.  In early 2000, when Golden decided to downsize the company’s offices, Cone-Skelton and Golden would team up to start a museum dedicated to highlighting Georgia artists, and promoting them on the national scene.

As plans progressed, towards the end of 2000, SixTrain began development of the first MOCA GA website. By February 2001, 6 months after the award of MOCA GA’s 501(c)3 non-profit status, the Atlanta, Journal Constitution announced what would be the Museum’s first location on Peachtree street, minutes from the High Museum.

At the end of 2001, once the donation of CGR’s collection was official, Museumscape, an inaugural print by artist Benny Andrews, was commissioned to commemorate the founding of MOCA GA.  Andrews first created a drawing of the piece, now in the collection of MOCA GA, followed by production of the lithographic print under the tutelage of Wayne Kline, Master lithographer and owner of Rolling Stone Press.  Benny Andrews’ creation of Museumscape for MOCA GA, marked a whole new series in his own work, which focused on interior spaces. The creative process for this initiative was documented in 2002 by MOCA GA in conjunction with Dan Bush and Mann-Made Pictures to produce one of the first documentaries establishing MOCA GA’s audio visual archive of oral history and documentary footage pertaining to Georgia’s visual arts community.

Annette had followed Georgia Artist, Martin Emanuel’s career for many years and was impressed by his integrity and craftsmanship.  Owing to the belief that there was great need for Georgia artists to have their work shown in depth, Annette chose Emanuel for MOCA GA’s inaugural exhibition. Emanuel created a series of sculptures for this solo show entitled simply Sculpture: Martin Emanuel which opened to the public on February 3, 2002. This exhibition marked the beginning of a legacy of solo exhibitions and retrospectives by Georgia artists, and initiated the very first exhibition catalogue by the museum.

A year full of firsts would follow, with the first fundraiser, honoring long time art dealer, David Heath. The Heath Gala took place on April 25, 2002 followed by the public opening of MOCA GA’s second exhibition Artists of the Heath Gallery: 1965-1998, curated by John C. Howett, Laura Lieberman, and Gudmund Vigtel, supporting the museums mission of exploring Georgia’s Contemporary art history.  Around this same time the Artist Resource Council (ARC) which provided a direct link between artists and the museum, was established to create and implement programming that served the needs of artists throughout the state. The council was composed of experienced, working artists to help make the museum more accessible by mounting events open to all Georgia artists.

Transitions, the third MOCA GA exhibition, was the first group show curated at the museum by Annette Cone-Skelton, and opened on July 13, 2002 featuring the debut of Museumscape with Benny Andrews in attendance.

From the beginning, strong programming has always been the backbone of MOCA GA, and on September 13, 2002, the Artist Resource Council sponsored the MOCA Motion Parade, A casual sidewalk parade and party which brought the arts community together to celebrate the opening of the inaugural permanent collection exhibition, Celebration. The exhibition featured the entire founding collection displayed on exhibition walls, as well as in hallways, offices and storage spaces, all open to the public.

Throughout the year, additional programming unfolded including Artmerge and MOCA GA’s first annual Pin-Up Show and Sale, a non-curated event mounted by the ARC in November and featuring over 350 unframed, small works on paper by Georgia artists.   Such programs evolved and changed over the next 20 years, and continue to support the mission of MOCA GA.   Yearly and biennial programs such as Gathered, The Working Artist Project, and Solo Retrospectives have been the mainstay of MOCA GA along with workshops, artist talks, panel discussions, and group exhibitions featuring both permanent collection works and loaned works by Georgia artists.  Programming such as SalonARC, ArtsCool, CafeMOCA, College Coffee Night, Wine & Coloring, Trivia Night, Shed Space, community arts tours, concerts, performances, celebrations and fashion shows hosted by the committees and groups that have supported MOCA GA efforts over the years, from the ARC to Next Generation and MOCA GA Ambassadors… all have built a foundation of success for the museum. As MOCA GA approaches its 25^th birthday and plans for its evolution into a new space at the Goat Farm, legacy programs like the Working Artist Project will continue to grow, and new initiatives will spotlight our talented Georgia artists and arts community.