Columbus Museum
Lunch & Lecture Series
Adventures in Collecting

Urn, late 19th century

This year, the Columbus Museum Lunch & Lecture Series is inspired by the exhibition Curators' Choice: Selections from the Vault, which features rarely-seen artifacts, paintings and decorative arts objects from the Museum's collection. The Lunch & Lecture Series will be held on Thursdays, February 2 - 23, from 12:15 to 12:55 p.m. in the Columbus Museum's Wright Room. Bring a sack lunch or order a boxed lunch for $10 by calling 706-748-2562, ext. 39. Reservations must be made by the Tuesday before the program. Although a reservation is required if you would like to reserve a lunch, it is not required if you are bringing your own. Admission is free!

Feb. 2 Columbus Museum Curators Stephen Wicks, Erica Mohar and Mike Bunn will discuss the stories behind the objects in the exhibition and how the objects were acquired by the museum.

Feb. 9 Collector and architect Richard Hudgens will explain where and how to purchase artwork and historical artifacts.

Feb. 16 Columbus Museum Registrar Aimee Brooks will relate various methods of keeping family heirlooms safe.

Feb. 23 Frame expert Edward Balfour of Balfour and Bankston Framefinders, Inc., New York, will discuss how to correctly frame a work of art.

Hand-wound Columbia phonograph, ca. 1915

For more information please visit the Columbus Museum on the web at www.columbusmuseum.com or call 706-748-2562. The Columbus Museum features exhibitions of American art and regional history and includes a hands-on discovery gallery for children. Admission is free. The Museum is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursday; and 1 - 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays and holidays.

Patricia Phillips
RiverCenter's first employee

Patricia Phillips

Observing the RiverCenter of the Perfoming Arts as it now stands, occupying the complete block between 10th and 9th streets and Broadway Avenue and 1st Avenue in uptown Columbus, its hard to remember how the space looked before the facility was built. Patricia Phillips has a vivid memory of the location. She was the very first employee of the facility.

The result of an ambitious endeavor between the public and private sector, the RiverCenter became a reality after the community raised $87-million dollars through the Community Projects Foundation. Phillips was the person responsible for tracking those funds. She was hired by James Beaudoin, the center's executive director and Tom Black, a RiverCenter trustee in 1998. The center opened in 2002.

A native of Phenix City, Phillips has strong career affiliations with the area. She left the area for 10 years while she worked for the NBC television affiliate in Montgomery, AL. After returning to the area, she worked for the historic Lummus Industries before they moved to Savannah.

With RiverCenter for eight years, she now serves as the human resources director in charge of all hiring and employee-related issues. For her dedicated service and devotion to RiverCenter, she is appreciated by staff and Board members alike. RiverCenter Trustee Tom Black states, "Pat has been a stellar employee. She takes her job seriously and works so well with people."

Phillips is very active in the community. She is affiliated with the SHRM (Society for Human Resources); The Exchange Club of Phenix City (2004-2005 President); was involved with helping establish W.I.N.G.S. (houses built solely by women) for Habitat for Humanity - Russell County; and is on the Chattahoochee Valley Community College's Board of Trustees.

Artistic expression is an important part of Phillip's life. She has served as the pianist for her church. She is active in the Amen Choir and the Alleluia Choir of her church Lakewood Baptist Church in Phenix City. She is married to William Phillips and they both take delight in sons Jason and Scott, but the four grandchildren claim most of their attention.

For more information about RiverCenter, please visit www.rivercenter.org or call 706-653-7993.