African American Art in the 20th Century exhibition related programming and three new tours, Art Babies, Toddler Tours, and Exploring Art Never Gets Old will be offered at the Museum
GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (Feb. 12, 2020) – The Westmoreland Museum of American Art introduces new programming to better engage and connect art lovers, younger audiences and more senior audiences in the community. New programming related to the featured exhibition African American Art in the 20th Century will start at the end of February while the three new educational tours will begin in April.
The Westmoreland’s Education and Visitor Engagement department has developed a dynamic schedule of events to accompany African American Art in the 20th Century, a traveling exhibition organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. New programming includes a film series featuring works by pioneers of early African American cinema and three enrichment tours exploring different topics of African American history through art. Completing the African American Art in the 20th Century program offerings are a community day by BOOM Concepts, an arts initiative dedicated to the development of artists and creative entrepreneurs representing marginalized voices; a conversation between artist Renée Stout, whose artwork The Colonel’s Cabinet is in the exhibition, and Pittsburgh artist Alisha Wormsley; and a culinary experience with author Toni Tipton-Martin featuring a four-course meal, prepared by Chef Aziza Young and inspired by Tipton-Martin’s cookbook Jubilee featuring recipes from two centuries of African American cooking.
Based on the principle that one is never too young or too old to enjoy and learn from art, The Westmoreland is also introducing three new educational tours: Art Babies, Toddler Tours and Exploring Art Never Gets Old to engage younger and more senior audiences in the surrounding communities. Each program will offer attendees unique opportunities to explore the Museum’s collection and special exhibitions with enriching tour experiences. In addition, these new tours provide great opportunities for socializing through shared activities.
“We are so excited to debut all of these new programs at The Westmoreland. It’s thrilling to be able to offer more specifically geared events, tours and experiences to engage individuals with a love of learning, no matter their age!” commented Joan McGarry, Director of Education & Visitor Engagement.
Please see below for more specific information about the new programming at The Westmoreland.
African American Art in the 20th Century Exhibition Related Programming:
NEW Film Series: Pioneers of African–American Cinema
Thursday, February 27, 7–8:30pm
Thursday, March 26, 7–8:30pm
Thursday, April 23, 7–8:30pm
In conjunction with African American Art in the 20th Century, The Westmoreland presents a first-ever film series featuring works by the unsung pioneers of early African American Cinema.
After each film, stay and join in on the conversation with a facilitated discussion. FREE and open to the public. For more information about the films being shown and the discussion facilitators, please visit thewestmoreland.org/events.
NEW Enrichment Tours: African American Art in the 20th Century
Thursday, March 5,5–6:30pm
Thursday, April 2, 5–6:30pm
Thursday, April 30, 5–6:30pm
We invite all lifelong learners of any age for a series of personal enrichment tours of African American Art in the 20th Century. These history-themed tours are suitable for anyone with a passion for learning history through art. Each session will feature an in depth tour on a different topic of African American history and include a hands on art making project. Light refreshments are included. Advance registration is required, cost is $8 members/$10 non-members. For more information, including each tour’s topic description, please visit thewestmoreland.org/events.
Community Day: BOOM Concepts
Sunday, April 5, 11am–3pm
Join The Westmoreland and BOOM Concepts for this FREE fun-packed day! Enjoy a DJ in the galleries, screen printing in the studio, art activities throughout the Museum, story time, and drop-in tours of African American Art in the 20th Century throughout the day. Community Events are made possible with support from the McKinney Charitable Foundation and the Brooks Foundation through the PNC Charitable Trusts Grant Review Committee.
Culinary Experience: The Celebration and Evolution of Two Centuries of African American Cooking
Saturday, April 18, Reception 6:30–7pm, Dinner & Book Signing 7–9pm
Enjoy dinner and discussion focusing on the rich and varied history of African American cooking—a cuisine far beyond soul food. Author Toni Tipton-Martin will speak about the evolution of African American cooking and her book Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking. Chef Aziza Young, an experienced chef and former contestant on Fox Network’s Hell’s Kitchen, will prepare a four-course dinner interpreting recipes from Toni Tipton-Martin’s book. This event is presented in partnership with students from Adelphoi Village. Cost is $60 members/$70 non-members. Wine pairing available for each course for an additional $40. Advance registration is required. Tickets can be purchased at showclix.com/event/two-centuries-african-american-cooking.
In Conversation: Renée Stout & Alisha B. Wormsley
Wednesday, April 29, 7–8pm
Join artists Renée Stout and Alisha B. Wormsley as they discuss and share thoughts on their artistic practices. Renée Stout’s work is part of African American Art in the 20th Century. You’ll hear more about her painting, drawing, mixed media sculpture, photography and installation and how those works encourage self-examination, introspection and the ability to laugh at the absurdities of life and ourselves. Alisha B. Wormsley is an interdisciplinary artist and cultural producer, living in Pittsburgh. Free for members/$10 non-members. Free for students with valid ID. Tickets can be purchased at showclix.com/event/in-coversation-stout-wormsley.
NEW Educational Tours:
Art Babies (infants 3-24 months)
Inaugural Tour: Monday, April 6, 10-10:45am
Tours offered on the first Monday of each month
It’s no surprise to know that infants begin to visually learn much about the world around them early on. By engaging in activities that focus on art, babies can begin to develop a familiarity with colors, shapes and line. These tours are designed to provide parents, grandparents or caregivers a shared opportunity to teach and to learn alongside their infant. Adults will learn to name and describe the characteristics they see in the art. By sharing these looking and naming activities, adults will help to actively build the infant’s early sense of visual literacy.
Cost: $8 members/$10 non-members. Cost per baby (Adults free – up to 2 adults per baby)*
Advance registration is required. To register, visit thewestmoreland.org/events.
*This tour is designed to provide bonding time for parents and their babies. Participants are asked to make other arrangements for older siblings.
Toddler Tours (2-4 years)
Inaugural Tour: Saturday, April 4, 10-11:15am
Tours offered on the first Saturday of each month
These tours are similar in philosophy to the baby tours and offer young children a further enhanced opportunity to build upon visual literacy and critical thinking skills. These tours are also designed for parents or caregivers to learn and play alongside their child. Each tour will focus on a small number of artworks and will include a variety of activities including dance and movement, music, drama, stories and more, designed to enhance the connections to the art. All tours will end with an art project in the studio or in the galleries as appropriate.
Cost: $8 members/$10 non-members. Cost per child (Adults free – up to 2 adults per child)
Advance registration is required. To register, visit thewestmoreland.org/events.
Exploring Art Never Gets Old (Tour and Studio Program for Seniors 65+)
Inaugural Tour: Monday, April 6, 3-4:30pm
Tours offered on the first Monday of each month
This program is designed to give inquisitive and active seniors the opportunity to discover that creativity and learning have no age limit and neither should having fun! In fact, this program allows everyone to once more channel their inner child and to enjoy artistic adventures that free you to explore, discover and create. We’ll be combining lively conversation about the art with other art forms such as music, poetry, movement and drama to enhance the experience. Each tour will end with time in the studio to make an art project related to the works we viewed in the galleries. Refreshments (tea, coffee and snacks) will be provided.
FREE! Advance registration is required. To register, visit thewestmoreland.org/events.
The Westmoreland’s hours:
- Wed. – Fri.: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Sat. – Sun.: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Mon. – Tues.: closed (except for scheduled school groups and partner programs)
The Westmoreland receives funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the Marketing to Attract Tourism Grant through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, among other funding from government, foundations, corporations and individuals.
Support for African American Art in the 20th Century exhibition has been provided by the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Additional financial support provided by the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment Fund.
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About The Westmoreland Museum of American Art: Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a place to share meaningful cultural experiences that open the door to new ideas, perspectives and possibilities. The Westmoreland’s extraordinary permanent collection, with its strong focus on the art and artists of southwestern Pennsylvania, is complemented by an impressive schedule of temporary exhibitions— both nationally traveling exhibitions and those organized by the Museum—as well as community-oriented programming and special events. More information is available at thewestmoreland.org and on the Museum’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles.
CONTACTS:
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Claire Ertl
certl@thewestmoreland.org
724.837.1500 x128
Manager of Communications
Maggie Geier
mgeier@thewestmoreland.org
724.837.1500 x133
