Dusti Bongé An Abstract Expressionist painting titled Distillate of the Past (Fragment of the Past) (1958), made by Dusti Bongé (1903–1993), considered to be Mississippi’s first modern artist. Mobile Museum of Art: March 23–July 1, 2023 Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts: July 13–October 22, 2023 Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art: November 16, 2023–March 24, 2024 Columbia Museum of Art: April 6–July 30, 2024 Led by the Wadsworth Atheneum, this partnership brings together institutions from three distinct geographic regions including the Columbia Museum of Art (Columbia, SC), the Mobile Museum of Art (Mobile, AL), and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (Montgomery, AL). Together, the four institutions will be known as the American South Consortium. Part of the nationwide Art Bridges Cohort Program, this partnership is unique in that it will emphasize material culture among its curatorial offerings. The Art Bridges Cohort Program allows us to share our exceptional American collections with wider audiences. We are thrilled to welcome great objects from institutions in the American South that will expand our understanding and appreciation of the diversity of American art and material culture. — Matthew Hargraves, Director of the Wadsworth The project will launch in spring 2023 and conclude in early 2026. The first phase features a series of Spotlight installations, where each partner museum presents a singular object from their collection. This format highlights the stories behind these great works through an in-depth presentation of its artistic, social and historic contexts. Every Spotlight will travel and be displayed at each venue. The second phase will be a larger, mid-size exhibition shown at all venues from 2024 to early 2026. Currently in development, the exhibition will bring together works from each partner museum in conversation with a core group of loans from the Wadsworth’s collections.