Dear Supporters and Friends,
It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we share with you the 2023 Annual Report for the South Bend Museum of Art. As we look back on the past year, we are filled with pride and appreciation for the incredible impact that our museum has had on our communities.
At the SBMA, we firmly believe in the transformative power of art. In this annual report you will learn more about our steadfast commitment to providing accessible and enriching experiences for individuals of all ages and backgrounds through our permanent collection, exhibitions, educational programming and events.
None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors, volunteers, members, and sponsors. Looking ahead, we are excited about the future of the SBMA. With your continued support and engagement, we are confident that we will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families through the power of art.
On behalf of everyone at SBMA, thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our mission.
Warm regards,
The South Bend Museum of Art affirms the enduring power of the visual arts to reflect and create community, engage minds, and nurture growth through exhibitions, collections and educational programming.
Festival of Banners
Festival of Banners is a community exhibition showcasing artwork made by residents of the greater South Bend area and display in partnership with DTSB throughout the city center. Our 2023 Festival of Banners exhibition featured work by all age groups focused on the theme of Heroes & Leaders. This year we had a record 220 entries with 89 works chosen by our guest juror, Fire Chief Carl Buchanon.
Dia de los Muertos
Partnering with the Morris Performing Arts Center, we worked with several community partners to support the Dia de los Muertos Celebration. Working with local artist Federico Rodriguez and local community groups, including JWAS, St. Adalberts, SBCSC, and La Casa de Armistad, we built and decorated ofrendas and displayed them in local businesses.
Exhibitions #1
The Art League Gallery fostered connections between artists and our community by facilitating unique shared experiences; experiences that embodied the concepts explored by exhibiting artists and helped tell their stories. During Jason Wesaw’s gallery talk, tribal elders led a traditional Potawatomi Water Ceremony, uniting attendees in a sacred ritual of drinking water together and paying homage to the St. Joseph River as a cherished blessing. Detroit-based artist Rashaun Rucker drew upon his background as a journalist to spin a yarn during his gallery talk, relaying captivating narratives about the influential figures he fondly refers to as his "patron saints." Rucker's reflections on his experiences within the Black church and the resonating wisdom of colloquial sayings from his upbringing, such as "Folks pass church on the way to church," struck a profound chord within our South Bend community.
Exhibitions #2
In the Warner Gallery, "Accumulations + Revelations'' unveiled an immersive exhibition featuring larger-than-life fiber works by local artist Julie Tourtillotte and Minnesota-based artist Nicole Havekost. Havekost's monumental figurative pieces dominated the expansive 5000 square foot gallery floor, while Tourtillotte employed meticulous repetition of myriad parts to construct her cohesive wall installations. Both artists invested intensive physical labor and intricate processes, yielding awe-inspiring and seemingly impossible outcomes.
Exhibition: Audacious Narratives/Enduring Voices
Our reach into our community comes through our partnerships. One highlight this year was University of Notre Dame faculty member, Neeta Verma’s project with the DePaul Academy within the Juvenile Justice Center where she brought art to 24 students who created masks in a process of healing and self-discovery.
Exhibitions Art for Life: “St Margaret’s House”
Partnering with the Indiana Arts Commission and instructor Lee Bauman, brought art to area seniors and women at St. Margaret’s House. This quote is from Doni Funkhouser, Director of Art Programming at St. Margaret’s House:
"Lee Bauman and the museum staff put together something so special for the artists here. It's been the talk of the day today! It was so lovely to see their work on those walls. It was a really joyful experience, and everyone I talked to said the same. Thank you for facilitating such a wonderful series of classes for our guests."
Engaging our communities by the numbers
SBMA Patron Members help provide critical support for the museum and play an integral role in all the museum does, from presenting groundbreaking exhibitions to offering arts-integrated education programs for students across the region. They also inspire our community to visit by supporting free admission to our galleries year-round. We wholeheartedly thank our 2023 Patron Members & Supporters:
“Since moving to South Bend over forty years ago, our family has always found the SBMA to be a source of art culture that we truly enjoy and have benefited from. The studio art classes have provided us with talented instructors who have helped inspire our appreciation for the fine arts. The exhibitions, both permanent and revolving, make it easy to spend hours exploring the galleries and enjoying well-curated spaces of diverse artwork that reflect varied cultural interests. And the special events always seem to embody our local community. We’ve often felt that the cost of membership is of no comparison to the enjoyment that we receive from the collections and exhibits that are as wide- ranging as they are interesting. Our community is so fortunate to have a fine arts museum that offers so much. Art will always be with our family, as well as our appreciation for the SBMA.”
-Bill and Sue Lamie Family