July 9, 2003
Director of Media Relations
413/542-8417
AMHERST, Mass.-The Mead Art Museum at Amherst College has been recognized for its printed material by the professional society for museums. The American Association of Museums awarded second prize to the invitation to events held in conjunction with the exhibition "Critical Mass: Happenings, Fluxus, Performance, Intermedia and Rutgers University, 1958-1972." Donna Abelli, the administrative and business manager at the Mead, drew on 18 years of freelance experience in design to create the piece.
Abelli's award-winning design was a multi-card riveted packet, a single invitation to such disparate events as films, a gallery talk, performance works and a "Flux-Mass." The events were held at Amherst while the exhibit ran from February through June.
The Mead Art Museum is one of 750 museums accredited by AAM of the over 5000 museums listed in the national directory. In its 23rd annual museum publications design competition, the AAM acknowledged excellence in the graphic design of museum publications. This is the only national juried event involving publications produced by museums of all kinds and sizes. This year's contest drew nearly 1,000 entries. Twenty-six received first prize, 29 second prize, and 113 honorable mention. The Mead award was in the category of invitations to events at an institution with a budget under $500,000.
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