SAVANNAH, GA.- Telfair Museums announces two curatorial appointments, promoting two current staff members to new roles. Effective November 25, Erin Dunn will be promoted to the position of Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Effective January 1, Jessica Mumford Estes will assume the title of Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the museum.
Erin Dunn has been a member of Telfair’s staff since 2014, most recently holding the title of Assistant Curator. During her tenure at the institution, she has curated more than 20 exhibitions, including Watershed: Contemporary Landscape Photography (2016), which subsequently toured to the Vero Beach Museum of Art and the Westmont-Ridley Tree Museum of Art and received a publication grant from the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation. Dunn has also played a vital role in Telfair’s #art912 initiative, which raises the visibility of artists living and working in Savannah through exhibition opportunities and public programs. Her upcoming projects at Telfair include Youthful Adventures: Growing Up in Photography (2020) and a retrospective of photographer Bruce Davidson (2021). Dunn previously worked at the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, Georgia and the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a BA in Art History from Emory University and an MA in Art History from the University of Georgia.
“I am delighted to hand responsibility for Telfair’s ambitious modern and contemporary program to Erin,” says Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs Courtney McNeil. “Her broad experience in working with artists, both locally and nationally, combined with her curatorial vision and ability to successfully execute thoughtful and exciting exhibitions make me confident that the program will continue to thrive under her leadership.”
Jessica Mumford Estes has been on staff at Telfair since 2005, most recently holding the title of Collections Manager/Registrar. Highlights of her tenure include managing the expanded exhibition calendar and collections that accompanied the opening of Telfair’s Jepson Center in 2006, directing the conversion of Telfair’s collections management software, and revising art storage at Telfair’s three sites. As Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Estes will be the member of the museum’s senior management team responsible for directing the scheduling and production of all museum exhibitions; the maintenance and storage of museum collections; and the packing, movement, and documentation of artwork in support of the museum’s diverse programming. Estes holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Arts in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
“During a demanding era in Telfair’s history, including the opening of the Jepson Center, unprecedented collections growth, and an increasingly ambitious exhibition schedule, Jessica has proven herself to be an innovative and effective leader,” says McNeil. “In the role of Director of Collections and Exhibitions she will certainly continue to ensure that Telfair is able to execute its mission with efficiency, integrity, and passion.”
