Altoona
We the People
in the Paul I. Detwiler Education Center
July 26, 2024 – January 19, 2025
We the People is a dynamic and immersive exploration of American democracy, engaging the community in an insightful dialogue on the democratic process through interactive installations, community-based events, and a thought-provoking publication of essays. Through the lens of local and national artists, We the People encourages a reflective journey through the past, present, and future of American democracy. This exhibition will feature artworks by artist collective, For Freedoms, accompanied alongside works by artists Sandra Bacchi, Matt Conboy, Nicole Czapinski, Christine Holtz, Jameelah Platt, Jonelle Summerfield, and Beth Wheeler. We the People was supported by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation and The Antonia and Vladimir Kulaev Cultural Heritage Fund, Inc.
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Altoona
Artists in Our Midst
artwork by Art in Common
in the Shirley and Fred A. Pechter Gallery
October 18, 2024 – January 19, 2025
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Art in Common's juried exhibition features artwork from a collective of local artists demonstrating the creative talents of our community. This annual collaboration offers local working artists a space for recognition of their talents and an opportunity to show in an accredited museum. This interorganizational collaboration serves to strengthen the foundation of the arts community in Altoona and the surrounding areas.
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Altoona
Emotions in Art
artwork by Heidi Manfred
in the George A. and Herbert T. Wolf Gallery
October 18, 2024 – January 19, 2025
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Emotions in Art presents a deeply personal yet systematic exploration of the entire spectrum of human emotions. Heidi Manfred's works isolate the peaks and valleys of our emotive life and encompass a direct representation of individual emotions such as joy, sorrow, and everything in between. As a year-long project throughout 2023, Manfred created four collections of paintings that encompass the wide range of emotions that we often feel throughout our lives. Each collection consists of thirteen oil paintings and is representative of a central emotional theme (Happy, Sad, Confidant, or Angry).
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Bedford
SLOW / FAST / IN BETWEEN
artwork by Val Rossman
in the Titelman Galleries
November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
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Val Rossman’s career as a professional abstract artist, creating drawings and paintings in her studio, has spanned over 40 years. In addition to her studio practice, she currently teaches at Wayne Art Center and Woodmere Art Museum. Her work is a "blend of careful planning and unpredictable interruptions."
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Birds of Flight
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Paula and Dean Lemley Gallery
November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
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A curated selection of exquisite works from SAMA’s permanent collection, highlighting the talents of several artists. Each piece offers a unique perspective on the theme of birds, capturing their elegance and freedom through various artistic mediums. Visitors will experience a range of vibrant paintings that evoke the thrill of flight, as well as delicate sculptures that embody the grace and subtlety of these magnificent creatures.
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Bedford
Life in Motion
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Ashe Gallery, Jerry & Joan Hawk Gallery, and Children's Discovery Gallery
​November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
Explores Sue Severson’s profound connection to urban environments. The exhibition will be displayed across three of SAMA’s second-floor galleries including the Joan and Jerry Hawk Gallery and Ashe Gallery, creating a comprehensive showcase of Severson’s intricate and vibrant portrayals of urban life. Her paintings feature dynamic scenes where figures, though omnipresent, play a secondary role to the shared spaces they inhabit; the true focus of her work lies in the communal areas of city life, illustrating how these spaces are essential to the human experience.
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Visions of Autumn
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Donald M. Robinson Gallery
​November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
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Selections from the Donald M. Robinson photography collection of the SAMA permanent collection featuring the landscapes of Autumn in Pennsylvania and the wider United States.
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Johnstown
From Darkness to Light: Mosaic Art of Hope from Tragedy
August 23, 2024 - December 15, 2024
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The conception of this collaboration between artists, From Darkness to Light, began with mosaic artist Susan Ribnick, owner of Vintage Mosaic in Austin, Texas, and co-president of the Austin Mosaic Guild. On Oct. 27, 2018, a shooting at the Tree of Life Pittsburgh synagogue building rattled the nation. The attack, among the deadliest against the Jewish community in the history of the United States, left 11 dead and six wounded [from three congregations: Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light]. In remembrance, artists across the United States and abroad banded together to create the traveling art exhibit. The forty mosaics in the exhibition evoke themes ranging from antisemitism and injustice to hope, resilience, and peace. Each piece in the exhibit serves as a testament to the unique yet interconnected histories. Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of mosaic art while gaining a deeper understanding of these artistic works. This project is supported by the Hope Springs Eternal: the Holocaust Project and was financed [in part] by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development.
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Ligonier
Rendering Radiance
Artwork by the Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League
August 16, 2024 – November 3, 2024
The Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League (PPAL), formed in 2002, is a sole member-supported art organization. (PPAL) is a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), which exists to “unite pastel societies around the world in support of the fine art of pastel”. The organization is dedicated to the promotion, use, understanding and enjoyment of the medium of soft pastels and to pastel artists. The members’ levels of experience range from the internationally known professional to the very beginner.
Painting with pastels has a long history and can be traced back to the Renaissance. The medium is most likely originated in Northern Italy during the 16th Century and was a favorite of the masters including Michelangelo and Da Vinci. It is often referred to as “dry painting” and has an amazingly wide range of colors to use which can be blended similar to paint pigments. The pastels themselves are made of powdered pigments and a binder of either gum, clay, or resin. Two of the most popular types of pastels are soft and oil. Both contain similar pigments to what you would find in other art mediums like oil paints.
