SAVANNAH, GA.- Telfair Museum of Art elected its new Board of Trustees members at its 2006 Annual Meeting, held Monday night at the Jepson Center for the Arts. The slate includes an array of avid community supporters: Jane A. Feiler, William B. Haile, Alice Jepson, Cathy Edel Solomons and Clara Stevens. Thomas B. Lockamy was also recognized as a new member, although he was officially instated at the February 26th meeting to replace Frank Anderson, who stepped down in November.

Telfair members were treated to an evening of entertainment as part of a multi-media presentation entitled “Looking Back.” Each of the three Telfair sites was celebrated through a performance with a visual slide show reviewing 2006 running in the background. The Jepson Center for the Arts was first, with an inspiring presentation by five high school students from the poetry and hip-hop youth-development organization AWOL (All Walks of Life.) The evening took a more classical turn as a string trio from the Savannah Sinfonietta presented an array of works to represent the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences. Finally, the Telfair’s own Vaughnette Goode-Walker, interpretive project manager at the Owens-Thomas House, took the stage to perform a powerful spoken word piece she authored while researching the Owens-Thomas House’s history for its new walking tours, to debut this summer.

Telfair Museum of Art director Steven High then delivered “Looking Forward,” his vision for the future of the museum. High plans to continue to build community partnerships as he also builds international relationships, announcing two major future exhibitions: Dutch Utopia: American Artists in Holland, a project of the museum’s curatorial department that has been in development for a few years, and an exhibition in partnership with the Museo de Bellas Artes in Bilbao, Spain, which will allow the Telfair to highlight top Spanish artists.

Volunteer extraordinaire Jane Espy was honored with the Gertrude West Hollowbush Award, given for outstanding volunteer service. Telfair staff nominates the recipient, who is approved by the board – this year’s nominee was unanimously selected by both. Espy has been with the Telfair for years, first in the membership department, entering names in the first computer database in the mid-80s, then in accounting.

“The Telfair has had four financial officers in as many years,” president of the board John G. Kennedy III said, “and Jane Espy has been the bedrock throughout, often volunteering as many as five days a week.”

This year the board also honored: Curtis Anderson and Gus Bell for their contributions to finishing and opening the Jepson Center for the Arts; Bill Rousseau, former Interim Director, for his service to the organization; and other volunteers who headed member groups and chaired major fundraising events. Special recognition was also given to the late James H. McKenna, who bequeathed his entire estate to the Telfair. Kennedy announced that a bronze plaque will be placed in the Owens-Thomas House garden to publicly recognize McKenna’s generosity, which earned him a place on the Founders level of the Mary Telfair Legacy Society.

A lively wine and cheese reception followed, to continue the celebration of the past year’s accomplishments and the vision for the future.