September-December 2016 by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

NEWS & EVENTS / Septâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;dec 2016

Musings... We recently learned that we achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver status with our new building. This is a difficult designation to reach while at the same time providing the proper climate control to protect the art and adhere to museum standards. Few art museums attempt to— or are able to—reach this status, making us proud to have done so. The summer months have been especially beautiful at The Westmoreland. The wild flower and native plant gardens, designed by Fred Bonci of LaQuatra Bonci Landscape Architects, Pittsburgh, have been a delight to experience for staff, visitors and the community alike. Susie Rodriquez’s (ennead architects, New York) brilliant building design finally has a proper setting. Recent months have also seen many tragic events occur across the United States. Although art museums typically remain apolitical, it is hard to stay completely silent when our country is experiencing so much pain. I offer The Westmoreland as a place to come to connect through American artists’ eyes, to contemplate, to refresh, to engage and to be uplifted during these troubled times. After all, our tag line is Your Country. Your Art. Come immerse yourself!

Judith Hansen O’Toole The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO

01 / September–December 2016

Opposites Attract: Kathleen Mulcahy & Sylvester Damianos left: Sylvester Damianos (b. 1933), Urbanscape Four, 2012, American black walnut (detail); photo by Damianos Photography right: Kathleen Mulcahy (b. 1950), Tidal, 2008, aluminum form with glass drops (detail); photo by Mark Perrott

Opposites Attract, running from November 5, 2016 to February 5, 2017, is the first featured exhibition at The New Westmoreland to focus on the works of contemporary regional artists, which is a commitment of the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Kathleen Mulcahy and Syl Damianos, two well-known Pittsburgh artists, were selected as The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Exhibition Award Winners from the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual Exhibitions in 2010 and 2011, respectively. As the name of the exhibition implies, the two vary in their artistic backgrounds and their chosen mediumsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;glass with mixed media for Mulcahy and a range of materials, including canvas, concrete, metal and wood, for Damianos. Following is a Q&A with the artists about their work and creative paths. thewestmoreland.org / 02

from top: Sylvester Damianos (b. 1933), Forest Vision, 2016, mahogany (detail); photo by Damianos Photography Kathleen Mulcahy (b. 1950), Eclipse, 2016, stainless armature with bent and etched plate glass in clear and smoke gray with hollow etched spheres and glass drops; Courtesy of Habatat Gallery; photo by Mark Perrott

03 / Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;December 2016

How old were you when you made your first work of art? What was it?

Syl Damianos: 22; it was a ceramic bowl made in an elective class at Carnegie Tech studying architecture.

falling into roles of leadership in the art community, and becoming national president of The American Institute of Architects. An invitation to have a one-person exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Art in 1966 blew my mind, since I was just beginning to find my way. Although I made no attempts to market my work at any time, I was honored—actually astounded—to receive commissions for major sculptures for six projects designed by architectural colleagues in Western PA.

What led you to choose the specific medium that you work in?

Do you have any goals as an artist that you would still like to achieve?

KM: I was drawn to fire. When I entered Kean University, the ceramic studio instructor, Dave Jones, was beginning to build a small hot glass furnace with the students and that was it. I was hooked by the tenacity of the instructor and the students and the ability to create something so amazing once they set their collective mind to it.

KM: I feel there is much more to discover about myself and the work as I move through these panel installations. I’d like to get back to the West and walk the old growth forests, swim in a tidal pool or a glacial lake, raft the Colorado River or kayak the West Branch of the Susquehanna and bike the Grand Canyon of the East. When I am in any of those places, I am within the sacred space where ideas come from.

Kathleen Mulcahy: In my earliest memories, I am always drawing. It was a way for me to look at the world and record it, preserve it. The first drawing I can remember was of my grandmother’s face.

SD: While in the army, my painter wife Lu introduced me to oil/acrylic painting that I continued with thru the mid ’60s; eventually, my training in architecture challenged me to get dimensional; thus—sculpture. Where did you pursue your art studies? KM: Kean College of New Jersey B.A. in Art Education; Alfred University, Master of Fine Arts, Glass Art, Minor in Dimensional Design. SD: I studied architecture at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now CMU); there were related courses in drawing, watercolor and tempura painting. What are some major highlights in your artistic career? KM: Making the dream of a glass center in Pittsburgh a reality. Winning a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Being an artist in residence at the Cité des Arts in Paris. Building a creative life with my husband, artist Ron Desmett. SD: The major highlight was to balance a dual career in art and architecture; also

SD: Only to be able to continue working while challenging the aging process! Could you share any additional information about yourself and your work? KM: Art is a rigorous discipline. It is a way of life that is inspiring, frustrating, hilarious, completely insane, calming, courageous and full of wonder. I love every second of this life. SD: I was born above my father’s restaurant in McKeesport, PA and never had a clue that I was headed for the world of art. Art and books were not a part of my living environment, and I thought my future was following my older sibs (no college for any of them) in the food business—especially since I went to a vocational high school with no expectations of attending college. Opposites Attract: Kathleen Mulcahy and Sylvester Damianos will be on view from November 5, 2016 through February 5, 2017. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 5 from 6:30–8pm ($10 members, $15 non-members).

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The New Westmoreland

By the Numbers

19,050

44,216

Number of visitors we’ve welcomed—from 41 states and 4 countries.*

Number of visits to our new website since it launched on September 30, 2015.* (Unique visitors: 30,580*)

3,331

21,000

Number of artworks in our collection. 594 works— approximately 16 percent— are currently on view.

Number of gallons of water that we conserve each year through the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures and other water use reduction measures.

05 / September–December 2016

*Through June 30, 2016

2,550

Number of different varieties of plants that flourish in our new gardens.

Number of students who have visited as part of school tours.* 1,130 adults took part in our other docent-led tours.*

75%

50%

Percentage of our renovation and expansion construction projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waste that was recycled or diverted from landfills.

Percentage of electricity use that our office areas offset over 2 years with a Green-e certified Green Power provider.

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BIG

ART PARTY

. 22 T C O 16 20

Get Your Tickets Early! Tickets are now on sale for the party of the year. Join us in celebrating our first birthday at The New Westmoreland as we turn our spectacular Cantilever Gallery into one Big Art Party on Saturday, October 22 from 7–11pm! Proceeds from this event benefit the Museum’s education and exhibition programs. For more event details and ticket information visit thewestmoreland. org/big-art-party or call 1.888.71TICKETS. Members always receive discounts on Museum event ticket prices. Not a member yet? Now is the perfect time to join. Visit thewestmoreland.org/ membership or call 724.837.1500 x127.

Let Creativity Go Wild: Support Your Museum! The Westmoreland relies on your generous gift to the Annual Fund to provide opportunities for children and their families to have quality time together. Your contribution takes the lead in ensuring we will continue to grow and thrive, allowing future generations to experience American art. Donate to the 2016–2017 Annual Fund online at thewestmoreland.org/support or call 724.837.1500 x127.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Miss Out Membership keeps you up to date on all that is happening at the Museum, giving you insider access as well as other fun perks! Share the experience with others by joining at our newest level, Friends with Benefits. You’ll never miss out on all that The Westmoreland has to offer. Join or renew now at thewestmoreland.org/membership or by calling 724.837.1500 x127.

07 / September–December 2016

Hunger Action Month September is national Hunger Action Month and we are proud to serve as a Westmoreland County Food Bank (WCFB) drop-off location. Please bring your nonperishable food donation when visiting the Museum, and receive one free admission (one per visiting party). Or stop by during our regular hours to make your drop-off even if you don’t have time for a visit, and receive an Admit One ticket for future use. Visit westmorelandfoodbank.org/donatefood for info on the most needed items.

Bridging the Gap— Be Part of Art in the Making Take part in our first ever crowdfunding campaign to support Bridging the Gap, a public art project by Janet Zweig. The Westmoreland, the City of Greensburg and the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art are working together to revitalize the Greensburg North Main Street bridge that connects the Museum to the downtown business district. Visit thewestmoreland.org/ bridging-the-gap to learn more and support the project.

A Trip to Crystal Bridges Are you a member at the Best Friend Forever level or above and interested in art, museums or architecture? Then don’t miss this trip! Join Judith O’Toole, The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO, for a tour of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Incorporating the Arkansas landscape, Crystal Bridges, was designed by internationally recognized architect Moshe Safdie and provides a breathtaking home to an outstanding collection of American art. The trip is tentatively scheduled for mid-June 2017. For more info, contact Patrick Bochy at pbochy@thewestmoreland or 724.837.1818.

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from top: Attributed to John Scholl (1827–1916), Snowflake Table, 1907–1916, white pine, wire and paint, Courtesy of the Barbara L. Gordon Collection (detail) Norman Scott “Butch” Quinn (1939–2006), Jig Pig, 1993, mixed media, Anonymous Gift, 1997.5 Photograph by Richard A. Stoner Kathleen Mulcahy (b. 1950), Strand, 2016, bent and etched clear glass on stainless steel with hot worked, cut and fabricated glass spheres attached with stainless wire into the upper track; photo by Mark Perrott

09 / September–December 2016

Exhibitions A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America through October 16, 2016 Drawn from the private collection of Barbara L. Gordon, this exhibition tells the story of the extraordinary work created by self-taught or minimally trained artists in New England, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and the South between 1800 and 1925. The exhibition is drawn from the Barbara L. Gordon Collection and is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, VA.

Please Touch & Create Fun through October 9, 2016 In the Robertshaw Gallery, satisfy both your curiosity and desire to touch before or after your visit to A Shared Legacy (where we respectfully ask you to refrain from touching). Not only will you be able to have direct contact with the objects in this gallery, but we encourage you to have fun and get in touch with your creative side by making your very own folk art work.

Richard Stoner: Shaping The New Westmoreland October 14, 2016 –January 8, 2017 Celebrate the opening of this exhibition at Art on Tap on Friday, October 14 from 5–7pm! A selection of photographs by Richard Stoner, an award-winning and respected artist, taken during the two-year construction period that shaped The New Westmoreland will be on view in the Robertshaw Gallery. Stoner took nearly 1,400 digital images between August 2013 and September 2015, 557 of which were given to the Museum. A catalogue of the selection will accompany the exhibition.

Opposites Attract: Kathleen Mulcahy and Sylvester Damianos November 5, 2016 – February 5, 2017 Opening Reception: Saturday, November 5, 6:30– 8pm ($10 members, $15 non-members) Featuring the work of Kathleen Mulcahy and Syl Damianos, two well-known Pittsburgh artists who were selected as The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Exhibition Award Winners from the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual Exhibitions in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

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Calendar of Events All About You! Free Admission Sundays On the first Sunday of each month, admission to The Westmoreland is free. It’s a great day to bring all of your friends and family!

Sunday, September 4

Sponsored by the Jack Buncher Foundation

Sunday, October 2

Sponsored by the Jack Buncher Foundation

Sunday, November 6

sponsored by Standard Bank

Art Beat In Conversation with Lisa Minardi Saturday, September 10 > 1–2pm Meet Lisa Minardi, Assistant Curator, Collections at Winterthur Museum and a specialist in Pennsylvania German art and culture as she gives an illustrated presentation on Pennsylvania German fraktur (decorated manuscripts) and painted furniture that includes a close look at objects in the exhibition A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America. Visit thewestmoreland.org to RSVP.

Day of Giving Wednesday, September 21 The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County along with their affiliate The Pittsburgh Foundation is sponsoring the rescheduled Day of Giving. Please consider donating to The Westmoreland. Donations can be made between 8am and midnight through the pittsburghgives.org donation portal.

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Calendar of Events SmART Chat Garden Tour Wednesday, September 21 > 6–7pm Stroll the Museum’s grounds with Frederick Bonci, founding principal of LaQuatra Bonci Associates and Natalie Plecity, consulting landscape architect, for a tour of The Robertshaw Family Gardens that surround our new building. Learn about the native plants providing a palette of color that not only changes seasonally but is ever-evolving over time. Fred and Natalie will share their approach to the selection of the plants as well as the overall design of the gardens in the context of the architecture that they surround. Visit thewestmoreland.org to RSVP.

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live! Saturday, September 24 Now in its 12th year, Museum Day Live! is a nationwide event where participating museums and cultural institutions across the country offer free admission on September 24, 2016 to anyone presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket, accompanied by one guest. For more information and to print your ticket, visit smithsonianmag.com/museumday.

SmART Chat Pop Goes Dali! Wednesday, October 19 > 6–7pm With a flamboyant personality that equaled his artistic skill, Salvador Dali captivated audiences worldwide with his surrealistic images. Fr. Robert Keffer, a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey and an artist with a special interest in 20th-century art history and the surrealist movement, will examine this prolific artist’s influence on American pop culture, fashion, furniture design and advertising. Visit thewestmoreland.org to RSVP.

opposite bottom: Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860), Portrait of George Washington, c. 1824, Oil on canvas, Gift of the William A. Coulter Fund, 1958.37 (detail)

13 / September–December 2016

Big Art Party

BIG

ART PARTY

Saturday, October 22 > 7–11pm Join us this year in celebrating our first birthday at The New Westmoreland as we turn our spectacular Cantilever Gallery into one BIG ART PARTY! Purchase your tickets at thewestmoreland.org/big-art-party. 6–11pm > Come Early/Stay Late includes party favors, entertainment, specialty cocktails, open bar and appetizers, and a Big Birthday Celebration (see below) $150 Inner Circle (members), $175 Once Removed (non-members) 7–11pm > Big Birthday Celebration includes cash bar, small bites, art projects, silent disco and a dance party featuring LoveBettie $75 Good Friends (members), $90 Party Crashers (non-members)

Yarn Bomb Greensburg Crawl Friday, October 28 > 5–8pm Benefitting The Blackburn Center. Sites throughout downtown Greensburg will be adorned with yarn art installations, including one at The Westmoreland. On Friday, October 28 from 5–8pm, take part in the Yarn Bomb crawl starting at the Museum and culminating at the Seton Hill Arts Center Art Yard. For more details, visit yarnbombgreensburg.blogspot.com

Holiday Mart Preview Wednesday, November 2 > 4–7pm An exclusive preview of the year’s specialty items for the holidays. Enjoy discounted pricing, free gift wrapping, a hot chocolate bar, snacks and lots of holiday cheer while crossing some items off your shopping list! Don’t miss an artist demonstration from 5–6pm by Allison Hilton Jones which will feature her signature jewelry. All purchases support The Westmoreland and its programs.

Where’s The Prez? Who’s the Prez? Presidential Scavenger Hunt Saturday, November 5 – Tuesday, November 8 In the final few days leading up to the election and the much anticipated outcome, the Museum invites you to connect with some of our previous presidents. Explore the galleries and try to find the Museum’s presidential images.

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Calendar of Events Opening Reception Opposites Attract: Kathleen Mulcahy and Sylvester Damianos Saturday, November 5 > 6:30–8pm $10 members, $15 non-members (includes two drink tickets) Celebrate the opening with us. Enjoy light bites provided by J. Corks. Sponsored by Rivertowne Brewing. Purchase tickets at thewestmoreland.org or call 1.888.71TICKETS.

Fire and Light Pittsburgh Glass Center Flameworking Demonstration Sunday, November 6 > 12–2pm Enjoy a free demonstration by artists from the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Master craftsmen will twist, twirl and manipulate rods of glass in an open flame to create marbles, pendants and intricate glass sculptures.

SmART Chat Calculated Vision Wednesday, November 16 > 6–7pm Join artist and architect Sylvester Damianos for a gallery talk in his joint exhibition Opposites Attract. Syl will share his approach to using natural materials in the construction of his contemporary artwork.

Family Day Saturday, November 26 Surprises and fun for the whole family! Enjoy free admission, art projects, scavenger hunts, special discounts and more. This year, Family Day coincides with the Bridging the Gap Art & Shopping Crawl in downtown Greensburg. In addition to visiting the Museum, plan to hit some other crawl stops. See opposite page for more details.

15 / September–December 2016

Bridging the Gap Art & Shopping Crawl Saturday, November 26 Experience all the great art and shopping that downtown Greensburg has to offer in support of Small Business Saturday.® Tour art galleries and artists’ studios, take part in our Family Day activities, see the Bridging the Gap art installation and cross items off your holiday gift list. We are proud to present this crawl in partnership with the Westmoreland Cultural Trust Incubator for the Arts and Think Greensburg. Visit thewestmoreland.org for updated information.

#GivingTuesday Tuesday, November 29 Charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. Please consider donating to The Westmoreland this day. Visit thewestmoreland. org or contact 724.837.1500 x127 to make your donation. For more information on #GivingTuesday, visit givingtuesday.org.

Art Beat Artist in Action Saturday, December 10 > 1–2pm Please note: This event will take place at the Pittsburgh Glass Center

Join Kathleen Mulcahy for a special glass working demonstration at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Meet the artist and watch her in action as she transforms molten silica into beautiful glass objects. Learn about this remarkable material and what attracted Kathleen to the challenges of mastering this unique medium. Visit thewestmoreland.org to RSVP.

Members Shopping Day Saturday, December 17 All members of The Westmoreland receive 20% off all merchandise. (Excludes sales items.) Plus, receive free gift wrapping, and enjoy hot cider and holiday cookies.

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The Westmoreland Jazz Society In 1997, the Museum established The Westmoreland Jazz Society concert series to provide a venue for America’s classic music art form—jazz. During its season, The Westmoreland Jazz Society presents many of the finest and most respected jazz musicians of the region. Tickets are available at the door, in advance at thewestmoreland.org, or by calling 1.888.71TICKETS. $15 for Museum members, $20 for non-members, $5 for students (age 21 and under). Not a member? Visit thewestmoreland.org/membership or contact 724.837.1500 x127 or membership@thewestmoreland.org to join and receive special discounts and perks on all The Westmoreland has to offer. Concerts are held held at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and begin at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm).

Benny Benack

Thursday, September 15

Mike Tomaro

Thursday, October 20

Mark Perna with Richie Cole’s Pittsburgh Alto Madness Orchestra Thursday, November 17

Lisa Ferraro

Thursday, December 15 17 / September–December 2016

Children’s Art Classes The Westmoreland offers innovative and engaging monthly art classes for ages 7–10 taught by a professional art instructor, giving children the opportunity to expand and explore their creativity. $15 members, $20 non-members. To register or for more information, contact 724.837.1500 x110 or education@thewestmoreland.org. All classes held from 10am–12pm on the Saturday dates listed below.

Orange Is The New... Orange Saturday, October 8

Mixing any color with white, gray or black will make tints and shades. For this project we will be using the color orange and combining several techniques and media to create a monochromatic piece of art.

Totally Tubular

Saturday, November 5 In this class, we will transform plain cardboard tubing into an abstract sculpture by learning how to create balance and shape and considering positive and negative spaces.

Messing with Pages

Saturday, December 10 Explore a book making technique to create a one-of-a-kind tome. We will use paper with designs, textures and patterns as pages and sandwich them between a unique cover.

Life’s a Box of Chocolates Saturday, January 14

Do you feel adventurous enough to explore art without knowing what materials, tools and process you will be using to create your own piece of art? Then join us in the studio for some mystery art. Like Mama Gump said, “You never know what you’re gonna get!”

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cover: The Westmoreland’s Cantilever Gallery as seen from Maple Avenue.

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 and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Want to stay informed with the latest news, exhibitions and events? Visit thewestmoreland.org and subscribe to our email list.

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday: 11am–5pm Wednesday: 11am–7pm Closed Mondays Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day

724.837.1500 thewestmoreland.org info@thewestmoreland.org

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