WINTER & SPRING 2022
Director’s Welcome Dear Friends, In the fall of 2018, I had just moved to Southwestern, PA and was excited to explore the rich cultural landscape of the region. One of the first exhibitions I attended was Familiar Boundaries. Infinite Possibilities curated by Kilolo Luckett at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The exhibition brought together 12 regional, national, and international contemporary artists whose works challenge cultural hierarchies, address social, environmental and labor issues, and offered the viewers an “infinite range of powerful alternatives to light the way to a just and healthy future.” It was at this exhibition that I first encountered Stephen Towns’ artwork, which explores constructs of race, American identity, and history. As I learned more about him after visiting his studio and the exhibition A Path Between Two Continents at York College of Pennsylvania, I quickly realized how important it would be to have an exhibition of his work at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. As a museum of American art with a regional focus, our scenes of industry and labor pay homage to the workers that built this nation. Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance brings forward the narratives of Black labor in that history. The exhibition is guest curated by Kilolo Luckett, to whom I am forever grateful for being such a collaborative partner and for entrusting The Westmoreland to present such an important exhibition.
Pursuit of their Runaway Slave Ona Judge, the book that was inspiration for Stephen’s quilted portraits of Ona Judge. James Beard award-winning and Top Chef judge Alexander Smalls will feature a multicourse meal that highlights his South Carolinian roots and his world travels discovering the foods of the African diaspora. We are also excited to have Tina Williams Brewer back at the Museum to conduct a quilting workshop while her exhibition Cultivation: Journey of the Work is on view. We hope to see you in the galleries and at our programs. We also hope you will join us in celebrating the career of our Chief Curator Barbara Jones, who will officially retire in April. Barbara has been at The Westmoreland for over 26 years, working on important exhibitions, most recently the critically acclaimed Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee. We are so proud of all she has accomplished in her tenure. I will personally and professionally miss her presence in the office, but I am excited for her to embark on her next chapter. Here is to 2022! With Gratitude,
Anne Kraybill The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO
This season also features a dynamic roster of programming to add even more layers of experience to Declaration & Resistance. We are proud to bring award-winning author and historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Ph.D., who will discuss researching and writing Never Caught: The Washington’s Relentless opposite page Stephen Towns (b. 1980), Birth of a Nation, 2014, Fiber, soil, 90 x 66 inches, Collection: Mark Bradford, Los Angeles, CA
January 30–May 8, 2022
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Stephen Towns photo by Jermaine Táron Bell
“Much of the work in Declaration & Resistance began when I was quarantining in the spring of 2020. I thought about how I had the privilege to take a step away from my work. When I returned to my studio, I reflected on how I had gained a deeper appreciation for essential workers risking their lives in the midst of a global health crisis. I come from a long line of laborers in Georgia and South Carolina. Prior to being a full-time Artist, I also worked many laborious jobs. This show is a testament to my ancestors and also the coworkers I have befriended along the way.” –Stephen Towns Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance examines the American dream through the lives of Black Americans from the late 18th century to the present time. Using labor as a backdrop, Towns highlights the role African Americans have played in shaping the economy, and explores their resilience, resistance, and endurance that have challenged the United States to truly embrace the tenets of its Declaration of Independence. Stephen Towns (b. 1980) was born and raised in Lincolnville, South Carolina a small town outside of Charleston, founded in 1867 shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation by seven African American men seeking an escape from racial discrimination. Towns, a quiet child, was the youngest of 11 siblings, and was encouraged to use art to express himself. While art served as a tool for communication in his youth, it was not until he was a young adult at the University of South Carolina that he realized art was also a means to explore his own identity and simultaneously, the identity of the nation. In 2008, at the height of the recession, he was laid off from a hospital job and took the chance of relocating to Baltimore, MD. 2 / Winter & Spring 2022
left to right Stephen Towns (b. 1980), Two Roses (detail), 2021, Acrylic, oil, copper leaf on panel, 40 x 30 inches Mine Foreman D.T. Phillips, ca. 1933, print, West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries Stephen Towns (b. 1980), The Pioneer, 2020, Oil, acrylic, fabric, buttons, Bristol paper, mica flakes, graphite, glitter, and charcoal on panel, 40 x 30 inches, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Gift of the William W. Jamison II and the Thomas Lynch Art Acquisition Fund, 2020.16
He set up a studio while working full-time at the Maryland Institute College of Art. It was during this time that he began to feed his passion for history as a means to understand the economic disparities of his new city. He began to mine archival materials, such as photographs and oral histories, and from those sources created regal and iconic portraits that celebrate African American experiences missing from the narratives of American history. Many of his portraits are elevated to a sainthood, often including the visual motif of a halo in gold leaf behind the subject. Towns began to create the body of work for Declaration & Resistance in 2020 starting with the series entitled The Coal Miners, six distinctive mixed-media paintings that feature Black miners of West Virginia, who were relegated to the most difficult, underpaid, most dangerous and insecure jobs. These men are portrayed stoically, surrounded by black mica to symbolize the coal mines with the American flag breaking the picture plane. Many of his portraits incorporate butterflies, a practice Towns started after reading the
magical realism of Toni Morrison’s novels, which often included butterflies, bugs, and birds as symbols of metamorphosis and endurance. In The Coal Miners, rather than butterflies, Towns incorporates yellow canaries. Towns also calls attention to the hidden figures who helped shape American cuisine. Among these works, the artist honors Ms. Elsie Henderson, who recently passed away at the incredible age of 107. Over the course of her life, Ms. Henderson used her culinary skills to nourish the appetites of several wealthy Pittsburgh families including the Kaufmanns, owners of the Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA. Towns participated in an artist residency program at Fallingwater in June 2021 where he researched the life and legacy of Ms. Henderson. In addition to the new mixed media works produced for this exhibition, a significant portion of the exhibition is focused on Towns quilting practice. Towns began quilt making in 2014 with the installation quilt, Birth of a Nation. This artwork provides the foundation thewestmoreland.org / 3
for the creation of Towns’ new series of quilts including a tribute to Ona Judge, a formerly enslaved servant and escapee from President George Washington’s plantation. Judge was an invaluable seamstress and body servant to Martha Washington, who as a teenager escaped Mount Vernon and fled to New England.
left to right Stephen Towns (b. 1980), Ona Judge and Her Family (detail), 2021 Natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, crystal glass beads, metal and resin buttons, 43.5 x 54.5 inches Stephen Towns (b. 1980), Mary McLeod Bethune (detail), 2021 Natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, crystal glass beads, metal and resin buttons, 43.5 x 64 inches
These are just some of the examples from the thirty-seven new figurative paintings and story quilts that along with existing work expand the historical narratives of enslaved and free people, who toiled under the most extreme hardships, yet persevered through acts of rebellion, skillful guile and self-willed determination. The exhibition is organized by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art with guest curator Kilolo Luckett, Executive Director of ALMA|LEWIS, an experimental, contemporary art platform for critical thinking, dialogue and creative expression dedicated to Black culture. The exhibition will also feature a documentary short film about Stephen and his process of creating these new works by Njaimeh Njie, photographer, filmmaker, and multimedia producer whose practice centers everyday people, narratives, and landscapes, with a particular focus on Black life, and how the past shapes the present. The exhibition will travel to the Boise Art Museum in Boise, ID in summer of 2022 and to the Reynolda House Museum of Art in Winston-Salem, NC in winter of 2023.
Kilolo Luckett photo by Grace Roselli
Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance is generously supported by Eden Hall Foundation; The Heinz Endowments; the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art; Arts, Equity, & Education Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; and De Buck Gallery. Additional funding provided in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation.
Arts, Equity, & Education Fund
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TINA WILLIAMS BREWER CULTIVATION: JOURNEY OF THE WORK January 7–April 24, 2022 Tina Williams Brewer is a fiber artist who creates story quilts inspired by African and African American spirituality, history and culture. Using layered textiles, images and embellishments her quilts are rich with symbolism, addressing issues focusing on family, women, spirituality and social justice.
Tina Williams Brewer photo by Frank Walsh
She combines hand-dyed fabrics from Nigeria, Morocco, Jamaican lace, mud cloth, netting, beads, embroidery stitches, metallic threads, jute and charms to celebrate indigenous people, myth, volunteers, women, children, ceremonies, celestial symbols and home. Using the strip piecing technique, Tina puts her fabric pieces together in layers, much like a watercolor painting, sometimes incorporating as many as seven layers in one piece. She works on the entire quilt at once, laying down the muslin backing first, then the batting, and finally the multiple fabric layers on top. She then sews all the layers together with quilting stitches all at one time. The extraordinary
detail in her quilts encourages one to look closely and examine the many layers to ‘read’ the story she has to tell. Tina is an educator, working with predominantly young people in urban communities. As an ‘elder’ in the African American community of Pittsburgh, she takes great pride in mentoring young people to empower them to communicate about their life and culture through the arts. Working for over 45 years, Tina is an active exhibiting artist with exhibitions in this region and throughout the country. She was the recipient of the 2018 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Artist of the Year. In 2009, she received the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. She was recently selected by Natasha Becker, inaugural Curator of African Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, as one of four artists who represent the African Diaspora in the Untitled Miami Art Fair in December 2021. Her work is in the collection of the African American Museum, Dallas, TX, the State Museum, Harrisburg, and The Westmoreland, among others. She has been recognized by the American Arts in Embassy Program for more than 20 years. Tina’s quilts will be on view in the Robertshaw Gallery in Cultivation: Journey of the Work, from January 7 through April 24, 2022. Her quilt, Divine Plan, 2003 (pictured below) entered The Westmoreland’s collection in 2019, a gift of The Westmoreland Society.
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Exhibitions Cantilever Gallery
Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance January 30–May 8, 2022 Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance examines the American dream through the lives of Black Americans. Organized by The Westmoreland with guest curator Kilolo Luckett in collaboration with the artist, this exhibition of 42 figurative paintings and story quilts includes 37 new works created specifically for this show. Using labor as a backdrop, Towns highlights the role Black Americans have played in the economy, and explores the resilience, resistance, and endurance that have challenged the United States to truly reflect the tenets of its Declaration of Independence. Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance is generously supported by Eden Hall Foundation; The Heinz Endowments; the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art; Arts, Equity, & Education Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; and De Buck Gallery. Additional funding provided in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation.
Arts, Equity, & Education Fund
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Post 1950s Gallery
End of an Illusion January 30–May 8, 2022
A complimentary exhibition to Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance featuring works from the permanent collection and additional loans that highlight artists and objects that were influential to him.
Robertshaw Gallery
Tina Williams Brewer | Cultivation: Journey of the Work January 7–April 24, 2022
Tina Williams Brewer is a storyteller, and through her multi-layered quilts she shares stories about life, myth, history, and her own heritage. This exhibition examines the artist’s 40-year journey of self-discovery, teaching, and linkages to cultures not always found in the history books.
Westmoreland Photographers Society: Scenes of Laurel Highlands April 29–May 29, 2022
The Westmoreland Photographers Society’s Scenes of Laurel Highlands is a juried member exhibition highlighting the people, events, historical and cultural sites, nature, and landscapes that represent the beautiful Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania.
For more information on our exhibitions, visit thewestmoreland.org/exhibitions. All exhibitions are supported by the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Free admission to exhibitions is generously supported by:
left to right Stephen Towns (b. 1980), The Bakers, 2021, Acrylic, oil, metal leaf on panel, 48 x 36 inches Stephen Towns (b. 1980), Special Child (detail), 2016, Natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, metallic thread, Thermoweb, cotton/polyester blend, batting, crystal glass beads, resin, and metal buttons, 36 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches, The Baltimore Museum of Art: Alice and Franklin Cooley Fund; BMA 2017.144 Tina Williams Brewer, Breath of Truth, 2020, Imported batik fabrics from West Africa, domestic 100% cotton, shibori, cowrie shells, sequins, french knots with cotton floss, hand embroidery, cotton and metallic threads, machine quilted, 25 x 47 inches
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BARBARA JONES
REFLECTIONS ON 26+ YEARS AT THE WESTMORELAND I love my job. Always have. It has given my life purpose, and I have loved being the curator of this museum. That’s pretty much it, but of course I can’t stop here. When I think back on my 26+ years at The Westmoreland, I am flooded with memories and am grateful for every opportunity afforded me. I never dreamed when I first accepted the job in 1995 that I would stay for so long, but there was always one more exhibition, one more exciting project down the road that kept me engaged. I have been able to do so much: handle the art, design installations for it, research and write about it, plus a million other things that can’t be articulated here. When I applied for the position, I was living in New York City. I didn’t know where Greensburg was so looked it up on the map and thought, what a great location, so close to Pittsburgh. Little did I know that it takes three highways and one tunnel to get there! I first interviewed with Judy O’Toole in Philadelphia at the American Alliance for Museums annual conference in May 1995 and felt an immediate connection with the collection when she showed me the Museum's catalogue. I made my site visit in July and fell in love with the collection and knew I wanted to be the curator of this museum. During our first interview, Judy asked me if I had an exhibition ‘in my back pocket’ that I wanted to do and I told her about Artist Couples, the subject of my Master’s thesis at Syracuse University. She smiled and said she had a file back in her office on the exact same topic. I thought then and think now that we were meant to come together at that moment. While we were not able to do that exhibition, I have had the good fortune to organize many fine exhibitions and below are some that I consider highlights.
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'03 Kathleen Ferri: Reminiscences. I have been fortunate this year to reconnect with Kathleen, who is now 95 and still painting her memories of the Mon Valley.
Family and Friends: Portraits by Mary Regensburg Feist. Mary began painting again after we hosted this exhibition of her work. She was just shy of her 100th birthday when she passed in 2014 and became a close friend.
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Three Contemporary Pittsburgh Artists: Jane Haskell, David Ludwig, Charles Biddle. Jane and Chuck became good friends, and David became my best friend and partner for the next 15 years.
Samuel Rosenberg: Portrait of a Painter. Carnegie Museum of Art contracted me to write the book, Samuel Rosenberg: Portrait of a Painter that accompanied the retrospective exhibition here.
From Westmoreland Glass to Contemporary Glass. I was named ‘Curator to Watch’ by Pittsburgh Magazine for this exhibition. I guess they’re still watching.
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Painting in the United States. This exhibition recreated those of the same name held at Carnegie Institute from 1941-1949 replacing the Carnegie International when European art was not accessible due to World War II. I wrote the catalogue that accompanied this show and was honored with the Westmoreland Society's Gold Medal for this exhibition.
Born of Fire: The Valley of Work. This exhibition of the complete scenes of industry collection was first shown here and then 55 works traveled to Germany and Poland from 2007-2010. Our ‘transatlantic bridge,’ the exhibition introduced our museum and this collection to an international audience. This was my first publication for The Westmoreland and remains some of my favorite work.
I was also lucky to write just our second permanent collection catalogue Picturing America: Signature Works from the Westmoreland Museum of American Art (2010) with contributors Judy O’Toole and Harley Trice. The first one was published in 1978. I am so proud of the many acquisitions that we have made over the years, but these important pieces stand out to me: Alfred Maurer’s Two Sisters, which came to us by unanimous vote of The Westmoreland Society in 2000; Sally Michel's Portrait of a Painter, which Judy and I spotted in a gallery in Boston in 2011 and had to have it; and Tim Prentice’s Windframe, 2015, a site-specific commission that graces the exterior of the west wing. Constantly in motion, this beautiful stainless steel kinetic sculpture reflects the surrounding landscape. Another gift of the Westmoreland Society, I consider this one of our major successes of the expansion campaign! Reinstalling the permanent collection galleries after an interior renovation (1999-2000) and the expansion and second interior renovation (2013-2015) were major undertakings but so rewarding and worthwhile, giving our visitors new perspectives on the collection. It has been my privilege to work with an exceptional staff here, both now and in the past. Who could have imagined what these past two years would bring? I wish to acknowledge our Board of Trustees, Collection Committee, The Committee for The Westmoreland, Members, Docents, and all of our volunteers who have been so supportive of my work here. I didn't do it alone. This entire Museum team contributes to our successes. Please know that this has been an amazing time in my life and I truly appreciate your kindness and support over these many years. You were here for me at the worst possible time with David’s passing. I know I would not have made it through without you, my museum family. I won’t say good bye, just I’ll see you around. Stay safe please. With gratitude,
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Your Art Needs You! This successful exhibition encouraged individuals and groups to ‘adopt’ a work of art by sponsoring its conservation. 35 objects were conserved!
They Practice What They Teach: Artist Faculty of Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1920-1950. An exhibition inspired by my research on Samuel Rosenberg who taught at CIT for 40 years.
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Tattoo Witness featured Mark Perrott’s masterful photographs of tattooed individuals taken over a 25-year period.
The Art of Movement: Alexander Calder, George Rickey, Tim Prentice. Such a fun exhibition highlighting the kinetic sculptures of Tim Prentice with the two pioneers of the kinetic art movement. Getting to know Tim was a treat.
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A Timeless Perfection: Figurative Sculpture in the Classical Spirt. This exhibition of 58 figurative sculptures celebrated the transformational gift from Dr. Michael L. Nieland.
Aaronel deRoy Gruber: Art(ist) in Motion. Aaronel was a dear friend and amazing artist. I wish she had lived to see this exhibition realized.
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Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee. My swan song exhibition. Co-curated with Melissa Wolfe, it was three years in the making and a labor of love. Writing for the catalogue on Lee’s commercial work was fascinating.
Era of Cool: The Art of John Van Hamersveld highlighted the fiftyyear career of this multidisciplinary artist. He and his wife Alida Post are so much fun!
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SNEAK PEEK OF 2022 EXHIBITIONS! Alone Together: Encounters in American Realism May 29–September 25, 2022 Guest curated by Alex J. Taylor, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh History of Art and Architecture Department. In the early-to-mid twentieth century, American realist painters produced evocative images of human connection and disconnection that processed the traumas of war, civil unrest, economic depression, and many other upheavals large and small. Their works pursue an experimental approach to realism that captures the uneasiness of a modern world in turmoil, of lonely crowds and isolating spaces, of intimate relationships that seem strangely distant. Long overlooked in favor of more obviously modern styles, Magic Realism and other similarly innovative approaches to representational painting have recently enjoyed a resurgence of attention. This renewed interest has resulted in contemporary painters embracing this realist approach to grapple with what it feels like to live in the world right now. This exhibition stages new encounters between art separated by almost a century to consider how these works are bound together by the shared experience of living and working in difficult times.
Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America October 16, 2022–February 5, 2023 After World War I, artists without formal training “crashed the gates” of major museums in the United States, diversifying the art world across lines of race, ethnicity, class, ability, and gender. At the center of this fundamental reevaluation of who could be an artist in America were John Kane, Horace Pippin, and Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses. The stories of these three artists not only intertwine with the major critical debates of their period but also prefigure the call for inclusion in representations of American art today. Their gatecrashing paved the way for subsequent generations of self-taught artists whose work has greatly diversified the narratives of American art. The Westmoreland is a lender to this exhibition and is the 3rd venue on the tour. Organized by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Katherine Jentleson, Merrie and Dan Boone Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art, High Museum of Art. The Westmoreland will organize Self-Taught Artists from Southwestern Pennsylvania as a complimentary exhibition to Gatecrashers in our Post-1950s Gallery. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation. Alone Together: Encounters in American Realism and Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America are also generously supported by The Heinz Endowments and the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Edward Biberman (1904–1986), Tear Gas and Water Hoses, 1945, Oil on canvas, 29 x 36 inches, The Schoen Collection, American Scene Painting John Kane (1860–1934). Scene From The Scottish Highlands, c. 1927, Oil on canvas. 23 1/4 x 27 1/8 inches, Carnegie Museum of Art, gift of G. David Thompson
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MEET JANEL YOUNG
THE NEXT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT THE WESTMORELAND “What does it look like when we create from a place of joy? That’s the goal. And it’s rebellious.” -Janel Young The Westmoreland’s upcoming Artist-in-Residence is on a mission: inspire through creativity and play. Celebrated painter and muralist Janel Young of JY Originals, LLC is a Pittsburgh native and Penn State graduate who worked as a digital strategist in public relations for a firm in New York City before going full-time as an artist in 2018. Since returning to her hometown in 2019, her art and mission have had such an impact that the City of Pittsburgh designated October 23rd “Janel Young Day.” Inspired by this honor and further putting her mission into action, she established the annual JY Originals Scholarship for Creatives to support young adults pursuing the arts.
Janel Young photo by Greg Toumey
In 2019, she completed an installation of Pittsburgh’s first art basketball court at McKinley Park in Beltzhoover, the neighborhood where she grew up. Called The Home Court Advantage Project, the mural was inspired by connecting with local kids and neighbors to get their input into the design. In response to the pandemic in 2020, she led a project with other artists to create social distance artwork throughout the city called New Space Spheres. In the summer of 2021, Young created her largest-led mural to date, Pathway to Joy at the Allegheny Overlook pop-up park experience that kicked off the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. In addition to her work in Pittsburgh, Young has also achieved national and international recognition for commissions, including one displayed at the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York City and for major companies like Yahoo!, where Young was the first artist ever commissioned to design their Black History Month logo in 2021. Young will start her 6-month residency at The Westmoreland in March 2022. She will create an installation within the Museum while also working on a public art piece in the community. The Westmoreland’s Artist-in-Residency program emphasizes the Museum’s commitment to engaging and supporting Black and marginalized artists, to promoting equity in the arts, and to sharing compelling and meaningful cultural experiences with the regional community.
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Artist-in-Residency Program is presented in partnership with BOOM Concepts and made possible by generous support from The Pittsburgh Foundation and The New Sun Rising Arts | Equity | Reimagined program.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE JANUARY • •
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Jazz Concert: Alexander Peck Wednesday, January 19 > 7–9pm Virtual Program Equity and Discomfort: Let’s Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable Monday, January 24 > noon–1pm Pop-Up Studio: Swirl into Winter Wednesday, January 26 > 6:30–8:30pm Museum Members' Private Preview for Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance Saturday, January 29 > 10am–5pm Opening of Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance Sunday, January 30 > 10am–5pm Virtual Artist-in-Residence Rewind Monday, January 31 > noon–1pm
APRIL • • • • • • •
FEBRUARY
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Community Day Sunday, February 6 > 11am–3pm Virtual In Conversation: Stephen Towns and Kilolo Luckett Wednesday, February 9 > 7–8pm Children's Saturday Studio: Monumental Tower Saturday, February 12 > 10am–noon Valentine’s Day Mindful Painting Sunday, February 13 > 10am–1pm Jazz Concert: RML Jazz Wednesday, February 16 > 7–9pm Art After Hours: Tina Williams Brewer Friday, February 25 > 6–8pm
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MAY • • • •
MARCH • • • • • • •
Virtual In Conversation: Tina Williams Brewer and Barbara Jones Wednesday, March 2 > 7–8pm Community Day Sunday, March 6 > 11am–3pm Children's Saturday Studio: Zentangle Still Life Drawing Saturday, March 12 > 10am–noon Jazz Concert: Erin Burkett & Virgil Walters Wednesday, March 16 > 7–9pm Quilting Workshop with Tina Williams Brewer Sunday, March 20 > noon–4pm Curator Talk & Mingle Wednesday, March 23 > 6:30–8pm Virtual Watch Party Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am Wednesday, March 30 > 6–9pm
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Spring Fling 2022 Saturday, April 2 > 10am–6pm Community Day Sunday, April 3 > 11am–3pm African American History and Culture Teacher Workshop Thursday, April 7 > 5:30–7:30pm Children's Saturday Studio: I'd Like to Visit the Moon Saturday, April 9 > 10am–noon The Colors of Life: Chakra Balancing Workshop Sunday, April 10 > 11am–1pm Art After Hours: Kari Roslund Friday, April 15 > 6–8pm Jazz Concert: Joshua Ben Wednesday, April 20 > 7–9pm An Evening with Erica Armstrong Dunbar Thursday, April 21 > 7–8:30pm Declaration & Resistance Dinner Saturday, April 23 > 6–8pm ArtsWalk Saturday, April 30 > 11am–4pm
Never Caught Book Club Discussion Wednesday, May 4 > 5:30–7pm Art After Hours: Westmoreland Photography Society Friday, May 6 > 6–8pm Jazz Concert: Mike Tomaro Wednesday, May 18 > 7–9pm Children's Saturday Studio: Printing from Pictures Saturday, May 21 > 10am–noon
JUNE •
Jazz Concert: Judi Figel & Friends Wednesday, June 15 > 7–9pm
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Please visit thewestmoreland.org/covid-19 for updated health and safety policies, including the requirement of proof of vaccination for certain events.
Social Gatherings
Curator Talk & Mingle
Jazz Concert Series
Wednesday, March 23, 6:30–8pm
Sit back and relax to your jazz favorites at The Westmoreland!
In celebration of Chief Curator Barbara Jones 26+ years at The Westmoreland, hear from her as she shares some of her favorite memories and highlights from her career with a posttalk opportunity to mingle with Barbara and other attendees. Don't miss this chance to spend an evening with Barbara prior to her April 1st retirement! FREE
Virtual Watch Party Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am Wednesday, March 30, 6–9pm Cozy up in the comfort of your home to watch the documentary, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am along with The Westmoreland. Stephen Towns was one of 21 artists whose works were selected to help illustrate the film. The film screening will be followed by a Q&A discussion. FREE
Spring Fling 2022 Saturday, April 2, 10am–6pm Join us for a fun day of shopping and art! At the Museum Shop’s Spring Fling, you’ll find an artfully curated selection of artists and artisans showcasing their latest creations as well as a special enter to win giveaway. It’s the perfect day to complete your Easter and Mother’s Day shopping or treat yourself to a little retail therapy! FREE
Wednesday, January 19: Alexander Peck Wednesday, February 16: RML Jazz Wednesday, March 16: Erin Burkett & Virgil Walters Wednesday, April 20: Joshua Ben Wednesday, May 18: Mike Tomaro Wednesday, June 15: Judi Figel & Friends Each concert will take place from 7-9pm. Make sure to arrive early, so you can explore the galleries and get a bite to eat from Café Marchand, which will both remain open until 7pm! $12 member/$15 non-member (cash bar available)
Art After Hours Art on Tap is back, now as the new Art After Hours! Join us for a fun evening including an art scavenger hunt, musical entertainment, light refreshments, fresh libations and an opportunity to celebrate regional artists whose works are either featured at the Museum Shop or on view in the Museum's Robertshaw Gallery! Select Friday Dates & Featured Artists:
Friday, February 25: Tina Williams Brewer Friday, April 15: Kari Roslund Sponsored by Milanscape
Friday, May 6: Westmoreland Photography Society Sponsored by Penn State New Kensington and Penn State New Kensington Alumni
To register or purchase tickets for these events: • visit thewestmoreland.org/events • call 888.718.4253* *Please note that $1/ticket fee is added to phone orders for paid events only.
All Art After Hours are from 6-8pm. Online Registration* $10 member/$12 non-member At-the-Door Flat Rate $15 (includes one complimentary drink; cash bar available) *Attendees are encouraged to register online for easier check in and to alleviate lines. Thank you! thewestmoreland.org / 13
Christiane Dolores
Community Events
Artist-in-Residency Series
Community Days
Virtual Program Equity and Discomfort: Let’s Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Sunday, February 6, March 6, and April 3 11am–3pm Guess what! Community Days are back on the first Sunday of select months! Join us for family-friendly fun including art-making activities, live music, surprise dance performances and more at the Museum! Every month will be different, but always an enjoyable experience! In March, help send off Chief Curator Barbara Jones as she embarks on her retirement. Meet & greet with Barbara from 11-1, and enjoy other fun activities planned in tribute to her throughout the day. Visit thewestmoreland.org/events for more details. FREE
ArtsWalk Saturday, April 30, 11am–4pm Discover all that Greensburg has to offer in visual and performing arts! The Westmoreland, in collaboration with the Westmoreland Cultural Trust and Seton Hill University, presents special programming and activities throughout the day as our arts community comes together for this annual event for the first time since 2019! FREE
Culinary Experience
Monday, January 24, noon–1pm Let’s talk about it! Artist-in-Residence Madame Christiane Dolores and Director of Learning, Engagement and Partnerships Erica Nuckles share their thoughts and vulnerabilities about addressing sensitive topics like race, gender, and identity while respecting differing perspectives. Why does the concept of equity cause discomfort? FREE
Virtual Artist-in-Residence Rewind Monday, January 31, noon–1pm Check out this virtual program as our current Artist-in-Residence Madame Christiane Dolores reflects on her residency with D.S. Kinsel and Thomas Agnew of BOOM Concepts. FREE The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Artist-in-Residency Program is presented in partnership with BOOM Concepts and made possible by generous support from The Pittsburgh Foundation and The New Sun Rising Arts | Equity | Reimagined program.
Declaration & Resistance Dinner Saturday, April 23, 6–8pm Join us for this culinary experience inspired by the exhibition Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance and curated by multifaceted, award-winning chef, author and raconteur Alexander Smalls. Chef Smalls is the visionary co-owner of renowned NYC restaurants The Cecil and Minton’s. He is also the author of several cookbooks, including Between Harlem and Heaven, and a recipient of the 2019 James Beard Award. He has made numerous media appearances, including repeat features as a celebrity chef judge on Top Chef. $50 member/$60 non-member Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Wednesday, April 20. 14 / Winter & Spring 2022
For Museum Members
Museum Members Private Preview Saturday, January 29, 10am–5pm Enjoy the very first look at Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance during this special preview day. This exclusive preview opportunity is available to all Museum members. FREE Advance registration is recommended. To register, visit thewestmoreland.org/membersstephentowns
Tina Williams Brewer photo by Frank Walsh
Studios & Workshops
Pop-Up Studio: Swirl into Winter Wednesday, January 26, 6:30–8:30pm Local artist Megan Allison leads this fun class where you can create your own Swirl into Winter painting! Pop-Up Studios give adults (ages 18 and above) the opportunity to get in touch with their inner artist. Each class explores different techniques and media. No previous art experience is needed. Wine, beer, snacks and materials will be provided. $20 member/$25 non-member Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Wednesday, January 19.
Valentine’s Day Mindful Painting Sunday, February 13, 10am–1pm Unleash your creative genius together with your partner, spouse or best friend. Learn a relaxing Chakra Color Meditation. The Chakra Color guided meditation is accompanied by a ‘Sound Bath’ – the relaxing sound of Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls, which induce alpha wave level activity of the brain, balance the hemispheres of the brain and resonate within every cell of your body, creating health, balance and harmony. $45 member/$50 non-member + bring your own materials (list provided upon registration) Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, February 11.
To register or purchase tickets for these events: • visit thewestmoreland.org/events • call 888.718.4253* *Please note that $1/ticket fee is added to phone orders for paid events only.
above, third from the left Tina Williams Brewer, Determined (detail), 2021 Digital silk-screened image on 100% silk, Original design silkscreened on 100% cotton, photo transfer onto organza, shibori, wax block printed fabric, parachute fabric, rayon, domestic 100% cotton, iridescent sequins, seed beads, cotton thread french knots, hand embroidery, iridescent thread, silver and gold metallic thread, hand stitched and quilted, 39 x 38 inches
Quilting Workshop with Tina Williams Brewer Sunday, March 20, noon–4pm (Snow Date: Sunday, March 27) Tell your story through the creation of your own story quilt in this workshop led by internationally recognized fabric artist Tina Williams Brewer. With her work as a story quilt creator, Tina explores African American history and the personal experiences associated with it. She uses symbolism, textile and fabrics to create story quilts that are motivated by issues focusing on family, women and children, and the spirituality of her culture. At this special workshop (appropriate for both beginners and seasoned quilters alike), Tina will lead you through techniques that utilize a combination of image transfers and layering of materials. Please bring your sewing machine if you like, but these small quilts can also be sewn by hand. The Museum will have a selection of materials on hand, but you are also welcome to bring your own materials to make your quilt more personal. $50 member/$60 non-member (limited to 8 participants) Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 16.
The Colors of Life: Chakra Balancing Workshop Sunday, April 10, 11am–1pm At this Meditation & Guided Imagery workshop you will learn to heal yourself, balance your body, mind, and spirit utilizing the colors of the rainbow, and deepen the understanding of the specific needs of your body and mind. The guided meditation is accompanied by a ‘Sound Bath’ – the relaxing sound of Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls, which induce alpha wave level activity of the brain, balance the hemispheres of the brain and resonate within every cell of your body, creating health, balance, and harmony. Please bring a mat & wear comfortable clothing. $45 member/$55 non-member
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Stephen Towns photo by Jermaine Táron Bell
Kilolo Luckett photo by Grace Roselli
Erica Armstrong Dunbar photo by Whitney Thomas
Conversations
Virtual In Conversation: Stephen Towns and Kilolo Luckett Wednesday, February 9, 7–8pm Join artist Stephen Towns and curator Kilolo Luckett for this livestreamed virtual program as they have a conversation to discuss the exhibition, Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance. This is a companion program to one done in the summer of 2020 during Towns’ residency at Fallingwater as he prepared for the exhibition. You can view the previous program on the Museum’s YouTube channel.
An Evening with Erica Armstrong Dunbar Thursday, April 21, 7–8:30pm Historian, writer and lecturer Erica Armstrong Dunbar, will discuss researching and documenting African American history in her award-winning book Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, who is also the subject of a portrait featured in Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance. $10 member/$15 non-member Advance registration is required. Program will be both in-person and livestreamed.
FREE
Virtual In Conversation: Tina Williams Brewer and Barbara Jones Wednesday, March 2, 7–8pm Chief Curator Barbara Jones sits down with internationally renowned fiber artist Tina Williams Brewer to discuss her exhibition, Cultivation: Journey of the Work. FREE
Never Caught Book Club Discussion Wednesday, May 4, 5:30–7pm Experience a special tour of Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance followed by a discussion of the book Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. This true story inspired Stephen Towns to create his portrait of Ona Judge. FREE
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For Area Educators
Documenting African American History and Culture Teacher Workshop Thursday, April 7, 5:30–7:30pm This workshop is open to all educators and will explore the theme of African American labor history through the exhibition, Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance, as well as by examining pieces from The Westmoreland’s permanent collection. This is Part 1 of the Documenting African American History and Culture Workshop. Part 2 is "An Evening with Erica Armstrong Dunbar" (see event above). Act 48 credit available for attending Part 1 and 2 of the workshop. FREE Advance registration is required.
Children’s Saturday Studios From September to May, Children’s Saturday Studio classes are offered once a month for children ages 7–10 and are taught by a professional art instructor. Each class features a fun art-related theme. To help ensure a safe environment, Saturday Studio class sizes will be limited to seven per class, and all participants will be required to wear masks. Visit thewestmoreland.org/covid-19 for updated health and safety policies.
Monumental Tower
I’d Like to Visit the Moon
Build a 3D assemblage using found bits and bobbles. This sculpture will be an interactive experience for the viewer to change the work as they choose! $15 member/$20 non-member
Do you ever think about taking a trip to the moon? Make a mixed media story book-like illustration for this fanciful journey. Materials used during this studio will include collage, glue, paint, and markers.
Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, February 4.
$15 member/$20 non-member
Saturday, February 12, 10am–noon
Zentangle Still Life Saturday, March 12, 10am–noon Combine positively prodigious patterns and simple subjects to create a Zentangle still life! Markers and tempera paint will be utilized during this studio. $15 member/$20 non-member Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, March 4.
Saturday, April 9, 10am–noon
Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, April 1.
Printing from Pictures Saturday, May 21, 10am–noon
Create unique prints from various photo subjects with a technique used by Andy Warhol. India ink and watercolor paints will be used during this studio. Please note, India ink will stain clothing. $15 member/$20 non-member Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, May 13.
To register or purchase tickets for these events: • visit thewestmoreland.org/events • call 888.718.4253* *Please note that $1/ticket fee is added to phone orders for paid events only.
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THE WESTMORELAND SOCIETY 34TH ANNUAL DINNER Honoring the tradition of meeting on the first Friday in December, members of the Westmoreland Society gathered on December 3, 2021 for the 34th annual Westmoreland Society Dinner. After a special welcome from The Westmoreland’s Board President Helene Conway-Long, Westmoreland Society President Karen Rich Douglas officially opened the meeting thanking fellow Westmoreland Society committee members Sande Hendricks, Linda McKenna Boxx, and Paul Nickoloff. This year, Westmoreland Society Members had two works of art to choose from highlighting the significance of women in the history of art. When COVID made it necessary to host the event virtually in 2020, mini-documentaries of each artwork were produced and were so popular that the Museum decided to include them again at the on-site dinner in 2021. After viewing each work of art, members voted resulting in the selection of Lilly Martin Lilly Martin Spencer (1822–1902), Still Life with Apples, 1891 Spencer's (1822–1902), Still Life with Apples, 1891. In Oil on canvas, 28 1/4 x 18 inches addition to funding through Westmoreland Society membership contributions, the purchase was made possible through contributions from the Ahmanson Foundation, McKenna Foundation, and the Museum’s William W. Jamison II Art Acquisition Fund. Dinner attendees also had the opportunity to learn about a special conservation opportunity for the frame restoration of an important work of art, Thomas Hovenden's (1840–1895), Death of Elaine, 1882, already in The Westmoreland’s permanent collection. While this conservation project was not one of the works of art to be voted on, members had the opportunity to consider making a special contribution. In an exciting moment for the Museum, the entire $20,000 needed for the conservation was secured through the event, as well as an additional $9,050 in art acquisition funding. Founded in 1986, the Westmoreland Society and its annual dinner gala is committed to supporting the permanent collection of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Since convening, the Westmoreland Society has purchased over 40 works for the Museum’s collection totaling more than $1.3 million.
MAY 14, 2022
Introducing: an Artful Evening > Saturday, May 14, 2022 You're invited to The Westmoreland Museum of American Art’s reimagined annual fundraiser — an Artful Evening! This inaugural spring spectacular will feature special works from the Museum’s permanent collection tied to artful pairings of premium wine vintages and distilled spirits. Enjoy a reception and self-guided tours of wine and spirit stations throughout the permanent galleries followed by a special dinner in the Museum’s Cantilever Gallery overlooking the city at night! Stylish attire and fun with friends mark this important fundraiser in support of The Westmoreland’s exhibition, collections, and education programs. Special thanks to our early sponsors:
For information about sponsorship, please visit thewestmoreland.org/anartfulevening or contact Paige Mastrippolito at pmastrippolito@thewestmoreland.org or 724.837.1500 x117. thewestmoreland.org / 19
Applications Now Open! Funding opportunities for small arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs! The Westmoreland is the Region 12 Partner for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Pennsylvania Partner in the Arts Program. In this partner role, the Museum is administering grants for funding opportunities supporting small arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs including artists. Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program – This program pairs access to existing small business consulting services with financial resources up to $2,000 for creative entrepreneurs who aspire to start their own for-profit business or who operate an existing for-profit micro business. Rolling Application Entry to Program Stream – This program aims to provide valuable access to funding for small arts organizations and programs with annual revenue less than $200,000. Deadline: February 15, 2022 by 5PM EST If you are a small arts group in Region 12 (Westmoreland, Fayette, Somerset, Cambria, Blair, and Bedford counties) or have a small creative business, we encourage you to visit our website at thewestmoreland.org/pcappa or contact Paige Mastrippolito at pmastrippolito@thewestmoreland.org or 724.837.1500 x117. This project was supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency, through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), its regional arts funding Partnership. State government funding comes through an annual appropriation by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. PPA is administered in this region by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
Creating a Legacy for the Future Since 1959, when Mary Marchand Woods made the Museum’s first bequest, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art has received support from thoughtful individuals who, through including The Westmoreland in their will and estate planning, have helped ensure the Museum’s ability to inspire and engage visitors for generations to come. Inspire the next generation with your own legacy gift for The Westmoreland! For more information, please contact Rhonda Madden, Director of Advancement, at rmadden@thewestmoreland.org or 724.837.1500 x130. 20 / Winter & Spring 2022
CHARLES 'BUD' GIBBONS PAINTING WINTER TAKES TO THE STREETS FOR GREENSBURG HOLIDAY PARADE Museum staff and their families (pictured above) along with artist Bud Gibbons and his wife Patty (pictured above and below right) participated in the annual Greensburg Holiday Parade in November. The float for the parade was inspired by Bud Gibbons’ landscape painting Winter, which is currently on view in the Museum's McKenna Gallery. The painting is one of a series of four works — one for each season — that are a part of The Westmoreland's permanent collection. Special thanks go to Studio Programs Coordinator Michael Carsone for designing and creating the float, all of the Museum staff who also helped in the creation and coordination of it, all of the Museum visitors who made paper snowflakes and helped to paint the trees at our Community Days leading up to the parade and to Paul Nickoloff of Fotorecord for generously providing space in his building to fabricate the float! Lastly, thank you, Bud, for providing the inspiration for the float design!
Charles W. (Bud) Gibbons, III (b. 1947), Winter, 1992 Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 114 inches, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Booth, Jr., 1992.64
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221 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500 thewestmoreland.org info@thewestmoreland.org Hours: Wednesday–Sunday: 10am–5pm Closed New Year's, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day Follow us on:
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The Westmoreland Museum of American Art receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
United Way Designation Code: 16577660
January 30–May 8, 2022 Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance is generously supported by Eden Hall Foundation; The Heinz Endowments; the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art; Arts, Equity, & Education Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; and De Buck Gallery. Additional funding provided in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation.
cover Stephen Towns (b. 1980), I am the Glory (detail), 2020, Acrylic, oil, metal leaf on panel, 48 x 36 inches, Courtesy of the Artist and De Buck Gallery. right Stephen Towns (b. 1980), Built of Rich Earth, 2020, Oil, acrylic, fabric, buttons, Bristol paper, mica flakes, graphite, glitter, and charcoal on panel 40 x 30 inches
