In October 2018, the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) awarded Polished Portraits with the Bronze award in the Under $10,000 category of the Exhibition Competition.
Berman Museum opened its temporary exhibition, Polished Portraits: The Bronzes of Germaine Berman on Friday, December 1st, 2017.
While serving in WWII, Germaine Kinne (Berman) watched helplessly as Allied and Axis governments destroyed valuable artworks, including bronze sculptures. After the war, Germaine determined to preserve as many European bronzes, as possible. Polished Portraits highlights thirty-two pieces of Germaine’s personal bronze sculpture collection, subjects ranging from Animalia to deities. Visitors experience the history of how bronze sculptures are made and view pieces from the greats, including Rodin and Renoir. The center of the exhibit focuses on Germaine’s story, illustrating her love for art and her determination to preserve it. This has given Anniston, and the art world at large, a lasting legacy.
The exhibit closed on April 8th, 2019, making room for the next temporary exhibit, The Sacred Art of Buddhism.
