2024 Exhibition Schedule
Support YOUR Museum
Serving the community through the many educational, cultural, and fulfilling opportunities requires assistance from a range of resources. To maintain free admission to our museums, we need your support! Thoughtful donations by members and patrons help us keep our five museums in Altoona, Bedford, Johnstown, Ligonier, and Loretto open to the public free of charge.
​
Read about the upcoming exhibitions at each SAMA site and donate to help support an exhibition that interests you! Please contact the SAMA site of your choosing if you would like help or more information about sponsoring an exhibition.
Altoona
Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
in the Wolf and Pechter Galleries and Detwiler Education Center
January 26, 2024 – April 7, 2024
​
The Museum’s twenty-sixth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at SAMA Altoona, SAMA Ligonier, and SAMA Bedford. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, criticism, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.
​
​
Contours: Land, Rail, Rau
photographs from the William H. Rau Collection
in the George A. and Herbert T. Wolf Gallery
April 19, 2024 – July 7, 2024
Guest curated by Julie Rockwell, this collection documents the legacy of the Pennsylvania Railroad and its significance for Altoona's history. Rockwell is archivist for the East Broad Top Railroad Archives and Special Collections. This exhibition runs parallel with the complementary "Passing Freight" exhibit by Stephen Mallon. Both exhibitions engage the railroad as subject through photographic images. One documents its past and the other, its present. In tracing the development of the railroad across time by bringing together its past and present, we hope to not only stimulate a conversation about the future of the railroad, but about the future of Altoona itself.
Passing Freight
photographs by Stephen Mallon
in the Shirley and Fred A. Pechter Galleries
April 19, 2024 – July 7, 2024
"Passing Freight" is a solo exhibition of photographs celebrating the unique beauty and function of freight train cars in the United States. This series of photographs "captures the grandeur of the human capacity to achieve immensely complicated engineering feats by revealing the subtle yet intricate beauty of rail cars passing across the American landscape."
​​​​​
​
Animal Interpretations: a two woman show by Melissa Selcow and Helen Gorsuch
in the Shirley and Fred A. Pechter Gallery
July 26, 2024 – October 6, 2024
Immerse yourself in the collaborative masterpiece of generations. This exhibition invites you to explore a captivating dialogue between two artists, united by blood and a shared passion for capturing the essence of our living planet. This collaboration showcases the animals of the natural world depicted by Melissa Selcow and the beautiful and whimsically grotesque sculptures of imaginative creatures conjured by Helen Gorsuch side by side. This exhibition features a virtual jungle populated with the wonderous and weird.
Americana
selections of Americana from the Permanent Collection
in the George A. and Herbert T. Wolf Gallery
July 26, 2024 – October 6, 2024
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art’s mission celebrates and focuses on American art and its role in our society. Americana, as part of the We the People program, explores the aesthetic traditions and challenges of American art. This exhibition will have a variety of mediums and artistic styles.
​
​
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.
​​​
Artists in Our Midst
artwork by Art in Common
in the Shirley and Fred A. Pechter Gallery
October 18, 2024 – January 19, 2025
​
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.
​
Bedford
Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
in the Titelman Galleries and the Paula and Dean Lemley Gallery
February 2, 2024 – April 14, 2024
​
The Museum’s twenty-sixth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at SAMA Loretto, SAMA Ligonier, and SAMA Bedford. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, criticism, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.
Best of the Best: Portraiture
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Ashe Gallery, Jerry & Joan Hawk Gallery, and Children's Discovery Gallery
November 24, 2023 – July 14, 2024
​
Enjoy a captivating exhibition showcasing the epitome of our collection's portraiture brilliance. Immerse yourself in the nuanced brushstrokes and masterful compositions as we unveil timeless faces that have been skillfully captured throughout art history. From intimate character studies to grandeur depictions, each portrait is a testament to the depth of human expression and the enduring power of portraiture. Highlighted artists include Norman Rockwell, Leonard Baskin, Mary Jane Peale, Colleen Browning, and more.
A Walk Around
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Titelman Galleries and the Paula and Dean Lemley Gallery
April 26, 2024 – July 14, 2024
A highly regarded regional watercolor artist, B. Strank Zivkovich, shows her prolific works that are frequently identified with freely drawn forms, random colors, and a unique juxtaposition of her hometown neighborhood in Johnstown. Before her passing, she was an active member of the Allied Artists of Johnstown, the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Artists Professional League and the Pennsylvania Society of Watercolor Painters.
Biennial 2024
juried art exhibition in all eight galleries of the museum
July 26, 2024 – October 20, 2024
Biennial is the Museum’s juried exhibition occurring every two years that highlights the very best in regional artistic talent typically displaying work by more than 50 artists. SAMA’s Biennial is considered to be one of Pennsylvania’s top exhibitions for contemporary local artists, and this installment features works in photography, watercolor, wood, oil, clay, bronze, pastel, pencil, acrylic, and mixed media, among others. SAMA believes that art has the power to enrich our lives, spark conversations, and foster a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Through the Biennial exhibition, we hope to create meaningful connections between artists and the community while celebrating the creative spirit that thrives in our region.
Val Rossman
in the Titelman Galleries
November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
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."
Birds of Flight
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Paula and Dean Lemley Gallery
November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
This curated collection unveils the exquisite works of featured artists from the permanent collection, each piece intricately exploring the beauty, symbolism, and diverse expressions of birds. From vibrant paintings capturing the freedom of flight to delicate sculptures embodying the grace of these winged creatures, "Birds of Flight" invites you to soar into a realm where art and nature seamlessly converge.
Life in Motion
selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Ashe Gallery, Jerry & Joan Hawk Gallery, and Children's Discovery Gallery
Sue Severson is a transplanted regional artist from New York to Pittsburg in 1992. Throughout her life, she had been an avid street photographer and accumulated more than 20,000 photos which she used as sources for her oil paintings, over the last two decades most of her works are New York scenes with some elements added from Central Pennsylvania. In time, she found a kindred spirit in relating people to their urban environment. Even if figures are ubiquitous in most of her canvases, they are integral, but not central — the real subject is the communal space itself, shared by city dwellers.
Johnstown
Visions of Entertainment: A Journey Through Time and Poster Artistry
selections from the Mark del Costello poster collection of the Permanent Collection
January 8, 2024 – May 12, 2024
​
​​Experience the entertainment of the last half century through the Del Costello poster collection of the permanent collection. This exhibition will include music, movies, and television posters, including rare posters from promotions of modern popular culture. Highlights of the exhibition include rare posters from timeless cinematic masterpieces, legendary music concerts, and groundbreaking television shows. From Simon & Garfunkel to Equus, see the prowess of 20th century graphic design artistry in this unique exhibition. "Visions of Entertainment" not only serves as a nostalgic trip down memory lane for seasoned fans but also provides a unique educational experience for younger generations eager to discover the visual language of bygone eras.
Serenity
photographs by Donald M. Robinson from the Permanent Collection
May 17, 2024 – August 16, 2024
Known for his nature photographs and portraits, Donald M. Robinson's photographs are beautiful documentation of a changing world. This exhibition intends to inspire peace and calm, sharing stunning scenes through the seasons. Embrace the documented calm and beauty of our world.
​
​
From Darkness to Light: Mosaic Art of Hope from Tragedy
August 23, 2024 - December 15, 2024
​
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.
Ligonier
Exhibitions in The Elizabeth Shaw Gamble Gallery
Southwestern Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
artwork by artists from the 19 southwestern counties of Pennsylvania
November 17, 2023 – February 4, 2024
​
The SPCARTS exhibition features work by artists from the 19 southwestern counties of Pennsylvania. Featured works will span a variety of media, including acrylic, oil, photography, pastel, watercolor, wood, masonry, and many others. Since its inception, the exhibition has become known for its freshness and energy in the art of emerging young artists and for the dazzling presentations of established artists who are developing a new direction with their art.​ Serving as juror for this year is noted artist, Elham Bayati. More info at elhambayati.com.
​​
Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
February 16, 2024 – April 21, 2024
​
The Museum’s twenty-sixth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at SAMA Altoona, SAMA Ligonier, and SAMA Bedford. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, criticism, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.
Dual Exhibition: Out of the Light & Ruminatus
May 3, 2024 – July 28, 2024
“Out of the Light” is an exhibition of artwork by Skip Allen. Allen is a photographer who works mostly in black and white. He has won numerous awards and has worked in the medium for over 30 years. Allen has strived to photograph the narrative of our natural environment. Skip’s photographs offer a glimpse into life’s conflicts and achievements in two dimensions. By utilizing black and white media, inanimate objects are abstracted and transformed, evoking deep insight into this expressive journey. Nature reveals its secrets to our senses and the functions of photography become secondary.
“Ruminatus” is an exhibition of artwork by Jaime Cooper. Cooper is an award-winning artist who has led an eclectic life, forever balancing her scientific and artistic sides. While Jaime has had many shows, for this one, she wants to return to simplicity and define each piece by its individuality. She wants each individual piece to be a single, irreproducible statement of that particular moment in time. Cooper will have more traditional works along with her newly developed paintings through the encaustic technique.​
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.
​
Southwestern Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
work by artists from the 19 southwestern counties of Pennsylvania
November 15, 2023 – TBD
​
The SPCARTS exhibition features work by artists from the 19 southwestern counties of Pennsylvania. Featured works will span a variety of media, including acrylic, oil, photography, pastel, watercolor, wood, masonry, and many others. Since its inception, the exhibition has become known for its freshness and energy in the art of emerging young artists and for the dazzling presentations of established artists who are developing a new direction with their art.​
Loretto
Harmony in Contrast: Bridging Nature and Industry in Landscape Art
January 19, 2024 – May 12, 2024
Explore the dynamic interplay between the serene beauty of nature and the commanding presence of industrial scenes through SAMA’s permanent collection. The exhibition will span both galleries, creating a harmonious dialogue that embraces the striking contrast between these two elements.
​
​​Light and Dark
May 24, 2024 – December 15, 2024
Light, and its absence, are essential to artistic expression and creation. This multi-gallery exhibition explores the light, the dark, and the worlds in between through the permanent collection of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art. Using paintings, photographs, and 3-dimensional artworks, this exhibition celebrates the contrast of light and dark.
​
Exhibitions in the Sullivan Gallery and Margery Wolf-Kuhn Gallery