Agnes
Agnes was an art gallery specializing in photography and book arts that was open in Birmingham from 1993 to 2001. The gallery promoted social causes as well as artistic talent, presenting exhibitions dealing with AIDS, racism, imprisonment, and other social justice issues through photography, film and video, poetry and book arts.
On May 8, 1993 artist Jon Coffelt and partners Shawn Boley and Jan Hughes opened the gallery on the ground floor of the Dulion Apartments at 2030-A 11th Avenue South in Five Points South, next door to Louis Hill's Studio 2030 gallery.
In 1994, the gallery began publishing Birmingham Art Monthly, which later became Alabama Art Monthly before ceasing publication in 1996.
On December 2, 1994, Agnes and Studio 2030 were involved in a censorship controversy with regard to works by artist, Robert Sherer. Glenda Hollis, former founder of A Baby's Place demanded that Sherer's nude male paintings be covered or taken down in conjunction with Agnes' Calling All Angel's annual benefit of which Studio 2030 was a part. Alan Heldman, acting on behalf of the galleries, wrote a public statement critical of Hollis' actions that was released to the press. The incident was covered by Associated Press in an article that appeared in USA Today on December 5, 1994.
Paul Barrett began assisting operations of the gallery in 1994 and was listed in Art In America as one of the directors of the gallery in 1996. The last exhibition he organized was a show for renowned photographer Ruth Bernhard, although the show opened after he was no longer with the gallery.
After Hill closed Studio 2030, Agnes was courted by Sloss Real Estate, developers of Pepper Place in Lakeview. The gallery subsequently relocated to 2829 2nd Avenue South in the former Dr Pepper Syrup Plant.
In 1998 Agnes moved again, to the Hugh Martin residence at 1919 15th Avenue South where it remained until Coffelt closed the gallery on January 17, 2001. In its eight-year history, Agnes hosted over 77 exhibitions. Clayton Colvin was the first of many interns over the years. Others included Jennifer Chin, Shannon Morris, Carole Yates, Juliet Blacksher, Laura Beth Isabella, Cynthia Farnell, Joel Seah and Mary Katherine Matalon.
Exhibitions
- "Julia Tutwiler Prison Series", photographs by Melissa Springer, was Agnes' inaugural exhibit.
- "Constructions of Suburbia", photographs by Thomas Tulis was the second exhibition.
- "Zoo Series", 40 years of zoo photographs by Volker Seding
- "A Day Without Art" for World AIDS Day in 1992
- "UPsouth", works by Emma Amos, Willie Cole, bell hooks, Ann Benton, Priscilla Hancock Cooper, Karen Graffeo, Lee Isaacs, Mary Ann Sampson, J. M. Walker and Marie Weaver.
- "Homeless in Bosnia", photographs by Alexandre Glyadelov for Doctors without Borders was the gallery's final exhibition.
Artists
Agnes' artist list included: Sara Garden Armstrong, Pinky Bass, Sadie Benning, Ruth Bernhard, Mare Blocker, Cal Breed, Elisa Bryan, Kevin Bubriski, Dan Budnik, Denise Carbone, Jim Cohen, Liesa Cole, Clayton Colvin, Paul Caponigro, Danah Coester, Randal Crow, Craig Cutler, Craig Daniels, Mark Dauber, Dori and Joseph DeCamillis, Jurgen Dopatka, Al Edwards, Roberta Eichenberg, Timothy Ely, Paulo Ferrario, Adrienne Ford, Mitchell Gaudet, Nina Glaser, Alexandre Glyadelov, Alice Goodwin, Karen Graffeo, William K. Greiner, Kelly Grider, Jerry Griffies, Robert John Guttke, J. D. Hayward, Susan Hensel, James Herbert, Jenny Holzer, Davi Det Hompson, Christina Hope, Shig Ikeda, Lee Isaacs, Sally Johnson, Adrian Jones, Steven Katzman, Susan E. King, Janice Kluge, Jim Koss, Cam Langley, Lori Lavoy, Ruth Laxson, O. Winston Link, Miranda Maher, Patrick Martin, Spider Martin, Matuschka, Ian McFarland, Bart Michiels, Dana Moore, Julie Moos, R. J. Muna, Hermann Nitsch, Ray Lewis Payne, Liz Phelps, Jim Pitts, Vicki Ragan, Patricia Richardson, Tut Altman Riddick, Stewart Riddle, Iris Rinke-Hammer, Anita Ronderos, Jessica Rosner, Ed Ruscha, Lori Salcedo, John Patrick Salsbury, Mary Ann Sampson, David Sandlin, Elise Mitchell Sanford, Claire Jeanine Satin, Stephen Savage, Virginia Scruggs, Joel Seah, Volker Seding, Vincent Serbin, Robert A. Shaefer Jr, Susan Share, Carolyn Sherer, Jack Spencer, Melissa Springer, Robert Stivers, Maggie Taylor, Jason Thrasher, Anna Tomczack, Arthur Tress, Thomas Tulis, Jerry Uelsmann, James Vella, Adriene Veninger, Joe Veras, Linda Voychehovski, Jess Marie Walker, John Wawrzonek, Marie Weaver, Nancy Webber, Randy West, and Timothy Wolcott.
References
- "Agnes (gallery)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 Nov 2006, 16:51 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Nov 2006 [1].