News Archives - Allentown Art Museum https://www.allentownartmuseum.org Site Tag Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:10:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.7 Submit your ‘60s fashion photos for an upcoming exhibition https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/submit-your-60s-fashion-photos-for-upcoming-exhibition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=submit-your-60s-fashion-photos-for-upcoming-exhibition Thu, 12 Jan 2023 23:54:11 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=15313   Show us your grooviest looks! As part of our upcoming exhibition Fashion as Experiment: The ’60s, we want to see what our community was wearing back in the day. We’re looking for photos from the 1960s or early 1970s that show you (or a family member) in a favorite outfit. Submitted photos may be […]

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Show us your grooviest looks!

As part of our upcoming exhibition Fashion as Experiment: The ’60s, we want to see what our community was wearing back in the day. We’re looking for photos from the 1960s or early 1970s that show you (or a family member) in a favorite outfit.

Submitted photos may be used in a slideshow that will be displayed at the Museum as part of the exhibition.


How to participate:

  1. Scan or take a picture of your photo from the 1960s or 1970s.
  2. Email your photo (jpg or png format) to 60sfashion@allentownartmuseum.org with your name, name(s) of individuals in the photo, date (if known), and any other details you’d like to share.

By submitting this image and information, you give the Allentown Art Museum permission to display it across all platforms, including in the exhibition Fashion as Experiment: The 1960s, in Museum eblasts, and on AAM’s social-media channels.

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¿Tiene fotos de sus looks de los años 60?

Como parte de nuestra próxima exposición Moda como experimento: Los años 60, que se inaugurará el 6 de mayo, buscamos fotos suyas o de un miembro de su familia con un atuendo favorito de la década de 1960 o principios de la de 1970. ¡Su foto podría aparecer en la exposición!

Envíe fotos y nombres por correo electrónico a 60sfashion@allentownartmuseum.org

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Museum Educator Margie Makowski talks Sensory Saturdays https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/museum-educator-margie-makowski-talks-sensory-saturdays/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=museum-educator-margie-makowski-talks-sensory-saturdays Tue, 27 Dec 2022 15:11:45 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=15167 Sensory Saturdays is a new Museum initiative designed to offer early access to the galleries for visitors with sensory needs. Museum educator Margie Makowski worked closely with school and family education manager Nicole Mangold to develop the program, which is offered on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and […]

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Sensory Saturdays is a new Museum initiative designed to offer early access to the galleries for visitors with sensory needs. Museum educator Margie Makowski worked closely with school and family education manager Nicole Mangold to develop the program, which is offered on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and includes a sensory-friendly environment and an artmaking activity.

Lights are dimmed in a variety of spaces including Art Ways.

Makowski is a PA K-12 Certified art educator, and called on her past experience working at ArtWorks Gallery & Studio. One of the artists she worked with there is Tommy Hennigan of the nonprofit Tommy’s Voice. “The artists that I worked with there really, really, really inspired me and kind of changed the way I started to look at and understand the world around us,” shared Makowski.

Here she describes the significance of the program, and shared some of the steps she took to turn this vision into reality:

Q: What makes Sensory Saturdays significant?

MM: I think people experience the world in different ways, and it’s important to offer options for visiting and learning and making art accessible; options that could help someone feel comfortable coming into the Museum.

Q: Who can benefit from Sensory Saturdays?

MM: Sensory Saturday is geared toward folks who have challenges or different sensory needs, but it really can benefit anyone who might want to experience the Museum as a calming space. I think the idea of taking a step back and feeling comfortable in a relaxed environment can contribute to mindfulness and wellness and to just fully being yourself.

Q: How did you develop this program?

MM: Prior to working at the Museum, I worked as an art instructor for adults and children with special needs, and in an art gallery and studio that was primarily for artists with neurodiverse needs. I reached out to some families that I used to work closely with and some artists that are on the autism spectrum and asked, “What would you want to see and experience on a trip to the Museum?” I got a lot of great feedback. Waiting in line and not knowing what to expect in a new place can be challenging, so we make the check-in process quick and I welcome every person who visits during Sensory Saturday to answer questions and make suggestions about how to explore and enjoy the galleries. Light levels and volume levels on exhibition iPads are turned down, and there is a dedicated space that our Sensory Saturday visitors can stop in to take a break and have some quiet time.

 

Upon arrival, each visitor to the program will be offered their own Sensory Kit. The kits include ten fidgets, stim toys, gallery activities, and resources for visitors to use while at the Museum and at home. Inspired by works of art from the Museum’s permanent collection, some of these unique items were handcrafted by our Museum educators or 3D printed using sustainable materials in our Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery.

“Sensory Saturdays and Art Can are just the first steps in our journey to make the Allentown Art Museum accessible for visitors of all ages and abilities. These programs are integral to our dedication to making art for all,”  declares Abigail Simmons, the Museum’s director of education and public engagement.

To learn more about Sensory Saturdays, email Margie Makowski at mmakowski@allentownartmuseum.org.

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2022 Museum Store Weekend https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/2022-museum-store-weekend/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2022-museum-store-weekend Wed, 23 Nov 2022 19:41:08 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=15052 Every year museum stores worldwide invite you to shop their curated gift collections on Museum Store Sunday.  We are extending the celebration for the entire weekend–just in time for holiday giving! Save 20% in the Museum Store on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Museum Store Sunday. Members save 25%. Find unique and affordable locally […]

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Every year museum stores worldwide invite you to shop their curated gift collections on Museum Store Sunday.  We are extending the celebration for the entire weekend–just in time for holiday giving!

Save 20% in the Museum Store on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Museum Store Sunday. Members save 25%.

Find unique and affordable locally made wares in the Museum Store. Or, consider purchasing a gift membership. All purchases support your local nonprofit art museum. Learn more about upcoming events in the Museum Store this holiday season by reading below!

Shop the Museum Store

The Museum Store has everything for the art lovers in your life. From wearable art, to home decor, games, and books–shop the Store for items inspired by our ever-changing exhibitions and world-class collection. Also found in the Store, locally made ceramics, jewelry, honey, and so much more. Shop the Museum Store Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and online.

 

SHOP THE MUSEUM STORE ONLINE

Upcoming Events in the Museum Store

Ann Lalik Jewelry Trunk Show | December 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ann Lalik is an artist as well as an art administrator and art educator.  As an artist Ann designs and crafts wearable art objects that chronicle a woman’s life in modern society using precious and non-precious metals, her signature carved plastics as well as found objects to depict female archetypes – past and present.  Don’t miss this opportunity to see Ann’s latest work and to ask about the meaning represented in each piece.  We offer a rare opportunity to purchase a piece from her current body of work for yourself or for a gift. Come early!

 

 

Loretta Tryon Jewelry Trunk Show | December 10 & 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Loretta Tryon is a contemporary Lehigh Valley metalsmith and painter Loretta received her BFA in metalsmithing and abstract drawing from Moore College of Art and Design. Loretta’s two dimensional art images inspire her jewelry designs embellishing the surfaces with patinas and engraving.   Designs are drawn, made into templates, and hammer-formed by the artist in fine silver, Argentium sterling and bronze. Her arduous process allows Loretta to move through each layer of design resulting in refined and elegant wearable sculptures, each having graceful curves and unique details.

Working from her independent studio in Coopersburg, PA since 1999, Loretta has exhibited in numerous gallery and retail shows. Her work has been exhibited with Artistar Jewels in Milan, Italy, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, The State Museum of Pennsylvania and The Reading Public Museum. Most recently, her work was published in “21st Century Jewelry”, “1000 Beads” and featured on the title page of “500 Silver Jewelry Designs” by Sterling Publishers.

We are unable to offer discounts on these collections.

Gift a Museum Membership

Being a member of the Allentown Art Museum is more than free admission, members-only events, and discounts, it’s also about supporting your local art museum and its efforts in keeping the community connected to the arts.

Members not only get a 10% discount in the Museum Store, but also receive discounts and perks from our Museum Partners.

GIFT A MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP

Your loved one will enjoy access to over 1,000 museums and cultural attractions in the US, Canada, Mexico, Columbia, and Panama for a full year through the NARM and ROAM programs.

 

Did you know? Shop using smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate to your favorite charitable organizations, including AAM, at no cost to you.

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Game Night in the Galleries brings together community https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/game-night-in-the-galleries-brings-community-together/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=game-night-in-the-galleries-brings-community-together Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:52:16 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14929 On Third Thursday evenings, the Art Museum invites gamers of all ages and experience levels into the galleries to enjoy a free evening of fun and community during Game Night. Classic board games like Scrabble and checkers and new ones like Catan are available for anyone to play, in addition to action-packed Dungeons & Dragons […]

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game night in the galleries

Dungeon Master Arthur Benson, left, leads a campaign in Kress Gallery with two families of players who just met during the game.

On Third Thursday evenings, the Art Museum invites gamers of all ages and experience levels into the galleries to enjoy a free evening of fun and community during Game Night. Classic board games like Scrabble and checkers and new ones like Catan are available for anyone to play, in addition to action-packed Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaigns to play or learn how to play. 

game night in the galleries

While the D&D campaigns begin in the galleries at 6 p.m., Game Night begins at 5 p.m. upstairs in Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery, where you can print on free-to-use 3D printers your own set of D&D dice and mini-model game pieces, which you can paint and take home.

Free Admission for All, Always. Share your Game Night photos by following and tagging the Museum on social media @AtownArtMuseum! #ThirdThursday

game night in the galleries

A visitor painted this custom game piece to look like the Grim Reaper!

D&D players sitting down to play in the galleries will find custom campaigns created by several different DM’s, including AAM visitor services associate Sean O’Leary. 

O’Leary explains what appeals to him about D&D: “I like role-playing games in general because they allow you to step outside yourself. You get to explore other personalities. Who might I have been if I had been born in some fantasy world and decided to take up archery, or perhaps play the lute? By the same token, if you are the Dungeon Master, you get a chance to build worlds, you get a chance to throw challenges at people and watch your friends rise to the occasion. It’s a game that’s all about community and communication and imagination.”

This adventure takes place in the Waterdeep Metropolitan Museum of Art. So the story begins…

game night in the galleries game night in the galleries game night in the galleries

 

Jay M. Bickford and Arthur Louis Benson II lead the campaign as Dungeon Masters (DMs), acting as a sort of referee to maintain gameplay. Bickford is a gaming streamer and professional DM, known as the Zero Hour Hero online. He often leads campaigns for charity, having raised money for the Trevor Project and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“I love Dungeons & Dragons because I like telling a story with friends,” says Bickford. “In real life you may be an accountant or a struggling artist or anything else, but for one night you can be a bard throwing fireballs or a champion of justice and do all the things you couldn’t normally do in your life.”

Find out more about what community members think of Game Night in the Galleries here: ‘Game Night’ at Allentown Art Museum brings community together” on 69 News

game night in the galleries

69 News interviews two families in the galleries while playing D&D

 

 

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Art Museum receives $700,000 State grant for upgrades https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/art-museum-receives-700000-state-grant-for-upgrades/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=art-museum-receives-700000-state-grant-for-upgrades Fri, 04 Nov 2022 13:44:29 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14912 Allentown, PA—Board members and staff of the Allentown Art Museum gathered in the New American Galleries on Thursday, November 3, to hear the announcement from Sen. Pat Browne (R-16th District) that the Museum, which began offering free admission to all visitors beginning on August 27, would be receiving a second round of funding from the […]

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Allentown, PA—Board members and staff of the Allentown Art Museum gathered in the New American Galleries on Thursday, November 3, to hear the announcement from Sen. Pat Browne (R-16th District) that the Museum, which began offering free admission to all visitors beginning on August 27, would be receiving a second round of funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Sen. Browne confirmed that he has secured a grant of $700,000 for the Museum for additional capital-improvement needs.

Michelle Stringer, Board of Trustees Chair, welcomes Sen. Pat Browne to Trexler Gallery on Nov. 3

As Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Browne last year secured a $400,000 Keystone Communities Program grant for the Museum that is being used to fund important building upgrades and infrastructure needs, including a new HVAC system to help protect the Museum’s extensive art collection.

But not all of the pressing capital repairs on the Museum’s list were able to be addressed by the Keystone Grant.

“We are incredibly grateful that Senator Browne has been able to secure for the Museum this significant funding for essential upgrades to our facility,” says Max Weintraub, Allentown Art Museum President and CEO. “The Senator’s dedication to the sustainability of this organization and to the vitality of all the cultural institutions of this city and to the community we serve is wonderful.”

“While the rebirth and renewal of Allentown’s commercial corridor continues, we must also continue to invest in the cultural assets that make our city a tremendous place to live, work, and play,” Senator Browne said. “In many ways, our arts community is the heart of Allentown. I am proud to secure these funds to help further the Art Museum’s mission and ensure that they continue to play their vital role in our region.”

Sen. Pat Browne, at podium, announces a second round of funding for the Museum as AAM President and CEO, Max Weintraub, listens in

The Museum has been in its current location, at 31 North Fifth Street in downtown Allentown, for more than six decades, and over the years the building’s aging operational systems have become less efficient and more challenging to maintain. These funds will allow for major upgrades to the oldest sections of the building, including replacement of the decades-old lighting system and other major renovations in Kress Gallery, which houses some of the Museum’s greatest artistic treasures, including the celebrated 1632 Rembrandt painting Portrait of a Young Woman.

“This money ensures that the Allentown Art Museum and the community we serve will benefit from Senator Browne’s tremendous support for decades to come,” says Max Weintraub. “The Kress Gallery is named after Samuel H. Kress, a native son of the region who appreciated the importance of community and of ensuring public access to our artistic and cultural heritage. I think Kress definitely has a kindred spirit in Senator Browne.”

The improvements at the Museum will begin to be seen by visitors over the next year.

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Internships available for fall https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/internships-available-for-fall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=internships-available-for-fall Thu, 08 Sep 2022 12:46:22 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14557 The Allentown Art Museum is offering the following internships for the fall of 2022: School and Family Programs Intern This individual will help design, develop, and implement fall and spring family programs including drop-in artmaking classes, leading ArtVentures activities, and more. A key project will be assisting in the development of the next season of […]

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The Allentown Art Museum is offering the following internships for the fall of 2022:


School and Family Programs Intern

This individual will help design, develop, and implement fall and spring family programs including drop-in artmaking classes, leading ArtVentures activities, and more. A key project will be assisting in the development of the next season of Discover Art, including building an in-person tour focused on AAM’s special exhibitions, developing teacher guides, lesson plans, art projects, and digital content to support this program.

Interns will gain practical experience teaching in a museum and developing educational material. They will broaden their understanding of museums and their role in a community while developing greater interpersonal, writing, educational design, and teaching skills. Students will learn to adapt to a fast-paced working environment and will influence the reach and impact of museum programming.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please note that meetings will occur both in-person and on a virtual platform, and any physical interactions will strictly adhere to social distancing and hygienic measures as mandated by the Pennsylvania State policy.

For more information on the Museum’s programming, exhibitions, or COVID-19 response, please visit our site, www.allentownartmuseum.org.

Qualifications
The Public Engagement department is seeking an individual who is energetic, personable, flexible, and passionate about the arts. The successful candidate must demonstrate some knowledge of K-12 educational theory or museum education theory. Candidates with experience teaching virtually or in-person and that can provide a portfolio of work that includes lesson plans or educational arts activities will be given special consideration. This individual will work with the Museum’s diverse audiences and therefore must possesses knowledge, sensitivity, and understanding of the social, political, personal, and cross-cultural needs of students and participants. Familiarity with graphic design and video editing/creation is a plus.

Fluency in Spanish is preferred but not required.

 

Curatorial Research Intern

This individual will focus on conducting research in support of the Curatorial and Collections department’s goals. This may include researching possible acquisitions, upcoming exhibitions, or future rotations in the Museum’s newly reinstalled American galleries. This research supports key activities including the interpretation and presentation of works in the galleries, the evaluation of gift offers and potential purchases, and increasing institutional knowledge and understanding of the collection.

Interns will gain practical experience and skills in object-based research and gain hands-on experience using the Museum’s collections database. For each research project, the intern will compile a file of documents from trusted and relevant sources. Through the course of the internship, students will learn about the day-to-day work involved in running a curatorial department and preparing for an exhibition.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please note that meetings will occur both in-person and on a virtual platform, and any physical interactions will strictly adhere to social distancing and hygienic measures as mandated by the Pennsylvania State policy.

For more information on the Museum’s programming, exhibitions, or COVID-19 response, please visit our site, www.allentownartmuseum.org.

Qualifications
The Curatorial and Collections department is seeking an individual who is detail oriented and passionate about the arts. The successful candidate must demonstrate a history of excellent academic research including an ability to locate primary sources, use interlibrary loan and archival resources as needed. This intern must possess the ability to work independently and show a strong background or course work in art history or a closely related field is required.

 

 

About AAM Internships


Compensation

The Allentown Art Museum is proud to offer stipends to interns accepted into the fall 2022 program. Other benefits include a complimentary Student Membership that gives access to discounts at several local shops and eateries as well as a discount at the Museum Store. More information on Membership benefits can be found at https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/support/membership/ .

Stipends are provided at the end of the semester and are dependent upon the completion of the program.


How to Apply
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants must supply the following materials in order to be considered for this position: 1) a letter of interest outlining how the candidate’s qualifications and experiences align with the position description; 2) a curriculum vitae.

Students who can provide a representation of your educational style such as a teaching video, lesson plan, arts activity, etc. will be given special consideration. All materials should be sent to education@allentownartmuseum.org with the subject line naming the desired internship.

State and Federal Clearances as well as a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can begin work with the Allentown Art Museum.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Allentown Art Museum is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, or covered veteran status.

 

About the Museum
Founded in 1934 and incorporated in 1939, the Allentown Art Museum strives to be an inclusive regional resource that uses arts and culture as a catalyst to drive interaction, education, experimentation, and social change by offering exhibitions and programs that inspire, teach, transform, and engage–one person, one idea at a time. Our vision is to stimulate the active exploration of the arts and provide access, education, and engagement. Our goals include developing innovative programs to ensure that we can listen, respond to, and serve our community effectively. The Museum maintains a collection of 20,000 works of art in a 54,000+ sq. ft. facility, enjoying 60,000–70,000 visitors annually.

 

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Refreshed Art Ways features 3D printers & more https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/the-new-art-ways-features-3d-printers-more/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-new-art-ways-features-3d-printers-more Tue, 30 Aug 2022 20:16:26 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14490 The Museum’s upstairs Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery has always been a safe and engaging place for parents and children to explore design concepts and the visual arts together, most popularly during staff-guided ArtVentures creative time on Free Sundays. Now, with the start of  Free Admission for All, Forever, Art Ways and the adjacent Crayola […]

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The Museum’s upstairs Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery has always been a safe and engaging place for parents and children to explore design concepts and the visual arts together, most popularly during staff-guided ArtVentures creative time on Free Sundays. Now, with the start of  Free Admission for All, Forever, Art Ways and the adjacent Crayola Learning Center are open for guided art making on both Saturdays and Sundays.

Family time in the new Art Ways

But increased access to ArtVentures is just the beginning. Art Ways has been upgraded, with a new look, new layout, and new technologies and hands-on experiences to be had at three new Maker Stations.

The new Maker Stations will introduce young visitors to STEAM-based programming. STEAM is an approach to learning that incorporates elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics into learning experiences that inspire curiosity, discussion, and critical thinking. Museum educators will guide visitors as they experiment at the Maker Stations to ensure a high-quality STEAM experience.

The new Maker Stations are:

CONSTRUCTION STATION
Through hands-on building, visitors will become familiar with concepts of architectural design, such as balance, symmetry and asymmetry, contrast, and pattern. Youngsters can take home a slot sculpture and add their work to a large sculptural installation in Art Ways.

CONSERVATION STATION
By using microscopes to focus in on reproductions of art from the Museum’s collection, visitors can discover the real-world applications of scientific tools in the field of art conservation. Youngsters will simulate removing varnish and grime from a painting and experiment with filling gaps with pigments and tools.

A young designer draws up his idea for the 3D printer (pink, left).

3D PRINTER STATION
Although 3D printers are becoming more affordable and available, the average young person still hasn’t used one. In Art Ways, families can create a design on an iPad, choose a color for their piece, and begin the printing in one of three Toybox 3D printers, transforming ideas into physical objects.

The Museum’s new Maker Stations are located in Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery on the second floor at the top of the ramp. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12:30 to 3:30, Museum educators are on hand near the Maker Stations to help families collaborate on take-home projects.

The Museum’s hours are Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission, for all, is free always, thanks to a generous legacy gift from the Century Fund and lead support from Lehigh Valley Health Network
along with City Center Allentown and J. B. and Kathleen Reilly.

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Free Admission for All starting August 27 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/free-admission-for-all-forever-starts-august-27/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-admission-for-all-forever-starts-august-27 Fri, 05 Aug 2022 22:55:53 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14285 The Allentown Art Museum is pleased to announce that thanks to a generous legacy gift from the Century Fund and lead support from Lehigh Valley Health Network and City Center Allentown and J.B. and Kathleen Reilly, the Museum is instituting Free Admission for All, Forever, beginning Saturday, August 27, 2022. “Becoming an admission-free Museum is […]

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The Allentown Art Museum is pleased to announce that thanks to a generous legacy gift from the Century Fund and lead support from Lehigh Valley Health Network and City Center Allentown and J.B. and Kathleen Reilly, the Museum is instituting Free Admission for All, Forever, beginning Saturday, August 27, 2022.

“Becoming an admission-free Museum is the most important step yet in our years-long journey toward eliminating barriers to entry and ensuring that our entire community has access to the Museum and our programs,” says Max Weintraub, Museum president and CEO.

Museum Board Chair, Michelle Stringer, adds, “This transformational change ensures the sustainability of the Museum and continued relevancy to a comprehensive group of diverse constituencies throughout our region.”

To celebrate the opening weekend of Free Admission for All, the Museum is hosting special activities aimed at welcoming all in the community into the galleries on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28.

That weekend the Museum will be reopening the first-floor exhibition spaces that have been closed for renovation since the start of summer. Visitors will able to view the New American Galleries—the first significant reinstallation of the permanent collection in more than a decade. This important reinstallation showcases recent acquisitions and highlights African American, Afro-Latinx, Latinx, Central and South American, Indigenous, and women artists. A third of the 148 works on view will be changed out every six months, ensuring that the galleries remain dynamic spaces of learning.

Upstairs in Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery, a trio of new Maker Stations will introduce visitors of all ages to technology such as a 3D printer and conservation tools used in the restoration of artworks.

Both days there will be guided tours, artists in the galleries, self-guided Treasure Hunts inside and outside the Museum, music, food, and more. For a complete schedule of activities on August 27 and 28 click HERE.

“We are forever grateful for the support that all our donors and members provide to us every year,” says Max Weintraub. “Their generosity allows us to keep the doors open, display timeless pieces of art, and deliver programs that enrich the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds.”

 The Century Fund gift that is supporting Free Admission for All, Forever, is managed by the endowment fund at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation.


ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Greg L. Butz • Russ and Donna Leibensperger • Jamie Musselman and Jim Edwards • Tony and Nancy Odorski • J. B. and Kathleen Reilly • Tom and Amy Scalici • Michelle and Rick Stringer • Jedediah H. Turner • Paul and Sally Vikner • Judy and Bruce Waldman

 

ABOUT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM
The Allentown Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that participates in the cultural, educational, and economic life of the Lehigh Valley. Defined by a unique combination of tradition and innovation, our collections, educational partnerships, community-based programs, and exhibitions are dedicated to inspiring the broadest possible public engagement, access, and service. For more information please visit AllentownArtMuseum.org.

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Scott Sherk’s “soundscapes”: Art in Unexpected Places https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/scott-sherks-soundscapes-art-in-unexpected-places/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=scott-sherks-soundscapes-art-in-unexpected-places Tue, 28 Jun 2022 22:07:22 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14193 While many artists rely on their eyes and hands to guide them in the creation of an artwork, Lehigh Valley–based sculptor Scott Sherk depends on his ears. Sherk uses sound as a medium to bring into focus the world around him, and now visitors to the Allentown Art Museum can experience that world too, and […]

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While many artists rely on their eyes and hands to guide them in the creation of an artwork, Lehigh Valley–based sculptor Scott Sherk depends on his ears. Sherk uses sound as a medium to bring into focus the world around him, and now visitors to the Allentown Art Museum can experience that world too, and maybe even be inspired to listen more closely to their own surroundings.

Art in Unexpected Places: Scott Sherk opened at the Museum recently as part of a series of works that are meant to engage visitors when and where they least expect it. The first work in the series was the mural Transcultural by Rigo Peralta, which covered the upper walls and ceiling of the Museum’s vestibule from January 2016 to June 2019. Since October 2019, an installation of wallpaper designed by Ai Weiwei titled Golden Age has filled that space. Also unexpected is the realistic sculpture Whittler VII by J. Seward Johnson Jr. that is outside on a sidewalk leading to the Museum’s parking lot.

Now, two Scott Sherk audio works are activating unconventional spaces around the Museum.

“When [Museum president and CEO] Max Weintraub invited me to think about the concept of art in unexpected places in the Museum, I was immediately attracted to the elevator as a challenging site,” says Sherk. “Later, walking around the Museum, I decided that the restrooms had to be the least likely place to encounter art. So it was the elevator and the restrooms.”

Fountains of Rome (2019) and Elevator Piece (Spatial Sound 13) (2022) are the results of Sherk’s “listening.”

Sherk installs speakers to play his Fountains of Rome.

“While at the American Academy in Rome before the pandemic, I was struck by the use of water throughout the city. I began making a sound survey of the city by trying to make a recording of every fountain that I encountered. Fountains of Rome is a soundscape made from these field recordings. A soundscape is a composition created from found sounds. I think of this work as a construction of spaces.”

For Elevator Piece, Sherk thought about how elevators move vertically through space. “Part of my listening project has been to discover sounds not immediately accessible. I recorded the underwater sounds of Jordan Creek, near my home, and Elevator Piece is a composition created from those sounds—bubbles, fish, water currents, vibrations from traffic—creating a new space that descends and surfaces with the elevator.”

Elevator Piece consists of two speakers stacked vertically in the corner of the elevator. “I want people to encounter them as another passenger in the elevator,” says Sherk. “It’s always a strange situation to be in an elevator with a stranger. Do you talk, not talk? Elevator Piece does all the talking.”

The artist with the speakers playing Elevator Piece.

 

Both audio works continue through June 18, 2023, at the Museum, where admission is free due to the renovation of some galleries in preparation for the opening of the New American Galleries in August.

Following is a Q&A with Scott Sherk:


When and how did your interest in sound as an artistic medium develop?
Some years ago, while experimenting with an early digital music player, I rediscovered sound and its spatial qualities. Deeply influenced by both the extraordinary space around an Alberto Giacometti sculpture and the ordered yet intangible space of a Japanese dry rock garden, I had grown increasingly interested in the subjective, embodied experiences of space. With my early recording device I suddenly realized that sound—the sound of our immediate environment—provides another way of experiencing and apprehending space. We “read” the resonances, reverberations, and frequencies of our aural environment as qualities of space. For instance, walking into a gymnasium with our eyes closed we would immediately “know” that we were in a large, high-ceilinged space with hard surfaces. Similarly, entering into a clothing closet with quiet dampened sound tells us as much about the space as our vision. The challenge, however, is to become aware of sound. As pioneering sound artist Max Neuhaus simply put it, “LISTEN.”

Do you consider both of these works “sound art” or some other term?
I like to think of myself as a sculptor who works with sound.

What should visitors listen for in the works? Anything specific, or an overall atmosphere?
In Fountains of Rome, listen for the different spaces that the fountains inhabit—from busy piazzas and street corners to interior courtyards and quiet parks. You can also hear the canon fired from Janicolum Hill at noon. The spaces slowly shift from intimate to public. The resonant sounds of the water give you many subtle clues about the size, shape, and use of the spaces you hear.

Elevator Piece creates a new and unfamiliar soundscape. One should listen carefully and let the sounds create a space within the elevator.

Are there feelings connected to these works, for you personally?
I find sounds very evocative.

What effect do you hope these works have on the listener?
I hope that these pieces will encourage listeners to be more sensitive and mindful of their own soundscapes. The world is never silent.

Listen to a sample of Fountains of Rome HERE.
Scott Sherk (American, b. 1952), Fountains of Rome, 2019, audio, 62 minutes, 24 seconds. Courtesy of Scott Sherk.

Listen to a sample of Elevator Piece HERE.
Scott Sherk (American, b. 1952), Elevator Piece (Spatial Sound 13), 2022, audio, 7 minutes, 13 seconds. Courtesy of Scott Sherk.

Scott Sherk and painter and book artist Pat Badt are collaborators in The Third Barn, an ongoing curatorial project where the husband-and-wife partners workshop and produce art, often in tandem.

 

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“Art Education for All” drives Spring 2022 Annual Fund campaign https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/blog/art-education-for-all-drives-spring-2022-annual-fund-campaign/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=art-education-for-all-drives-spring-2022-annual-fund-campaign Tue, 17 May 2022 16:55:55 +0000 https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/?p=14099 The Allentown Art Museum’s upstairs Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery has always been a safe and engaging place where children can explore art making, creativity, design concepts, and critical-looking and -thinking skills. Studies show that these formative experiences with art can expand a child’s world and grow her and his confidence and abilities. As we welcomed […]

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The Allentown Art Museum’s upstairs Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery has always been a safe and engaging place where children can explore art making, creativity, design concepts, and critical-looking and -thinking skills. Studies show that these formative experiences with art can expand a child’s world and grow her and his confidence and abilities. As we welcomed visitors back to our galleries in ever-increasing numbers over the past year, we noticed that many of those who were most eager to return to the Museum—and for multiple visits—were families. A plan was developed to expand our Youth & Family programing, to increase access to art education for all families, and to engage new audiences.

These are the initiatives we are kindly asking you to support with your contribution to our Spring 2022 Annual Fund campaign. For those of you who have been inspired by art, perhaps during a visit to our Museum, please help offset our day-to-day expenses and, this year, achieve the very reachable goal of art education for all in our community.

DONATE NOW TO AAM ANNUAL FUND

Parts of our expanded Youth & Family education plan are already in place, with others coming online soon. We are humbly asking for your help in sustaining them. In February we began offering our popular ArtVentures art-making sessions on Saturday as well as Free Sunday, literally doubling access to this high-quality educational experience. We already have seen a 61% increase in ArtVentures attendance over last year, and we estimate that the program will serve 5,500 more youngsters and their caretakers each year going forward. Beginning June 16, we are inviting all Lehigh Valley teens into the Museum on Thursdays for Open Studio Afternoons, where they can engage with art in a fun, age-appropriate environment. Increased participation in Museum programs means increased costs for materials and staff time. Your help is essential.

“I am so appreciative of how family friendly the Museum is, and the wonderful way it exposes kids to art.”—ArtVentures visitor, 2021

Another exciting Youth & Family initiative this year is the installation of Maker Stations in Art Ways in the summer of 2022. The Stations will attract young visitors—those who have been to the Museum before, and many who haven’t—with new technologies and STEAM-based programming. STEAM education uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math as entry points to learning. All in our community will have access to a 3-D printer, digital-media production suite, art-conservation tools, and more. Successful programs like the language-immersive Arte en Español will continue to serve diverse audiences. All of these educational efforts need your support.

“My 6 year old and I loved the experience at the Art Museum.”—Arte en Español visitor, 2021

If art education for all in our community is an idea you support, then please help us reach our Youth & Family education fundraising goal of $35,000 with a tax-deductible donation today. To kick-start the campaign, an anonymous donor has pledged a lead gift of $5,000. Please join them in supporting our Spring Annual Fund appeal. Any sized gift makes a big difference and is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Max Weintraub, AAM President and CEO

DONATE NOW TO AAM ANNUAL FUND—THANK YOU!

 

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