As 2019 draws to a close, Gibbes staff took a moment to pause and reflect on all that’s happened this year, and what we are grateful for. Below are just a few things that the staff are thankful for here at the Gibbes, with our wishes for a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving!
1. I am always amazed and so grateful for the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers, Board and donors. Because of these different groups, and their generous gifts of energy, inspiration, time and financial support, the Gibbes continues to thrive. –Courtney
2. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to attend the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion training sponsored by the Donnelly Foundation. I’m also thankful it is a conversation the Gibbes is invested in prioritizing! -Chase
3. I’m also thankful to the Nathaniel Russell House and Lauren Northup for the sneak peek of their kitchen house project. -Chase
4. I’m thankful for Wendi Ammons for always being so helpful and patient with all of my Altru questions. -Chase
5. I’m thankful for the 10 years we’ve spent celebrating Gibbes on the Street and for all of the continued support from the talented Chefs, extraordinary committee and sponsors, and hardworking vendors. -Jena
6. Gathering ideas from our beautiful Gibbes weddings for my own upcoming wedding! -Katie
7. Our amazing hardworking team who all support one another. -Katie
8. The Daily for providing me with my daily coffee! -Katie
9. The vendors who work hard to make each rental event flawless. -Katie
10. Our Special Events Instagram account, which has helped to grow our exposure, and allows us to interact with our past, present, and future clients and vendors. -Katie
11. I am so thankful that I get to interact with our guests every day. -Trish
12. I am also thankful for The Daily when I forget my lunch! -Trish
13. Our loyal and generous donors who allow us to provide innovative exhibitions and programming. -Jen
14. One of the most hard-working staffs, a true family! -Jen
15. A beautiful building and garden to enjoy every day. -Jen
16. Amazing Visiting Artists who showcase their creativity and provide unique products in the Gibbes store. -Jen
17. Opportunities to attend programs and events with fun guests! -Jen
18. The pink wall for photo opportunities. -Jen
19. My incredibly talented and dedicated staff! -Angela
20. A community that supports and engages with the arts. -Lasley
21. A team of colleagues who represent the best of the best. -Lasley
22. Board of Directors members and auxiliary group members who volunteer their time, expertise and resources to help the Gibbes achieve its goals. -Lasley
23. The Daily’s chocolate chip and sea salt cookies. -Sara
24. For the artists, past and present, who provide inspiration through their tireless creativity. -Sara
25. Community partnerships that have allowed us to create meaningful programming, like our poetry project with Marcus Amaker over the summer. -Becca
26. Surviving our biggest year of summer camp yet! -Becca
27. Expanding our roster of studio teachers and classes including soap making, calligraphy, and weaving. -Becca
28. Watching the shop unpack a box of new merchandise. Can’t wait to see what new treasures there are. -Becca
29. More student exhibitions at the Gibbes for in-school programs, including Art to Go and It Starts With a Dot. -Becca
30. Great co-works that have become real friends. -Becca
31. Thankful for beautiful publications! Extra grateful for winning 3 design awards from the Southeastern Museums Conference Publications Competition for our 2018 Annual Report, Private Events Brochure, and the campaign for Black Refractions: Highlights from the Studio Museum in Harlem. -Erin Banks
32. Thankful for design “firsts” and museum swag, including lamp post banners on Meeting Street, our first bus wrap on a CARTA bus, the Rauschenberg catalogue, and original shirts, mugs, and lapel pins for the Gibbes Museum Store. -Erin Banks
33. Thankful for our soon-to-be-released children’s book, G is for Gibbes: A Museum ABC Book! Written by Gibbes board member Cathy Jenrette and illustrated by creative director Erin Banks, G is for Gibbes (available in the Museum Store on December 7) introduces readers to the joy of visiting an art museum through the eyes of the Gibbes Gator. (Come for a special reading with the author at the Gibbes Museum Store on December 7 at 2pm.) -Erin Banks
34. Having the opportunity to attend the Southeastern Museums Conference here in Charleston in October! I feel so grateful to have had the chance to meet, network, and learn from such a creative and dedicated group of 800+ (the largest conference in SEMC’s history, by the way!) museum professionals. -Amanda
35. I’m so thankful for the privilege of curating my first ever solo exhibition here at the Gibbes, Luminous Landscapes: The Golden Age of British Watercolors. This exhibition was based on my research for my masters degree, and it was a wonderful experience to showcase these beautiful works in the Museum’s collection and share them with our visitors. -Amanda
36. For the best group of coworkers anyone could ask for! -Amanda
37. I am thankful for all the support of our Charleston cultural institutions and our amazing Gibbes staff that made it possible to pull off SEMC2019 and welcome over 800 museum professionals from across the southeast to our city. -Zinnia
38. I am thankful to have had the experience of working with my peers at the Studio Museum and the American Federation of the Arts on the Black Refractions exhibition. -Zinnia
Top image: The Gibbes Museum; Photo: Newport Photography
Published November 22, 2019