The Photography Committee took the lead on establishing this new GCA medal and collaborated with the Awards and Second Century Campaign Committees to get it done. This is the first and only GCA medal awarded in photography.
The new J. Sherwood Chalmers Medal for Photography will be presented for the first time at the 2020 GCA Annual Meeting in Asheville, NC. This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of photography and/or photography education as it relates to the purpose of The Garden Club of America. The award may be given annually to GCA club members and non-members.
An anonymous donor named the GCA’s photography award for J. Sherwood Chalmers — a member of the Professional Photographers of America. Before becoming a professional, she was an avid amateur photographer for 35 years. She trained at the National Geographic Photography workshops, the Winona School of Professional Photography, and the Missouri Photojournalistic Workshop. Her distinguished career has taken her to all parts of the world, and her work has been published in many national publications, including National Geographic and Fortune. She has also exhibited in a one-woman show in Washington, D.C.
We are pleased to announce that the first recipient of the medal is Michael Forsberg.GCA National Medals represent the highest honors bestowed upon individuals or institutions by The Garden Club of America for distinguished achievements in areas related to its purpose. Mr. Forsberg is a photographer of the Great Plains and is especially known for his stunning documentation of the Sandhill Crane migration. He personifies the bond between photography and conservation action. (Editors note: the Garden Club of Denver was lucky enough to have Mr. Forsberg present at our April General Meeting in 2018.)
GCA’s New Photography Medal
