Art & Museums category, Page 19
Behind the art: The Westmoreland’s ‘Death of Elaine’ beloved of staff and visitors
A scene of mourning at Camelot, the castle of the legendary King Arthur, is depicted in Thomas Hovenden’s 1882 oil painting, “Death of Elaine.” The king and his queen, Guinevere, along with knights, ladies-in-waiting and servants, are gathered around a bed holding the body of the young noblewoman, Elaine. Hovenden...
Behind the art: Layers of meaning hidden in The Westmoreland’s ‘magic realist’ painting
Early in his career, Jeremiah William McCarthy was told by a mentor, “Until you lay your hand and eye on all the objects in the collection, you can’t call yourself a curator.” When he came to The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in April as chief curator, he set out...
‘Interview’ exhibit focuses on Andy Warhol’s media empire
When people think of Andy Warhol, they usually consider his innovative works of art. But Warhol was constantly looking for a variety of ways to express himself and tell stories about and talk with the celebrities he surrounded himself with. A new exhibition opening Saturday at The Andy Warhol Museum...
Brad Pitt, Nick Cave make surprise art debut in Finland
HELSINKI — Hollywood’s Brad Pitt and Australian musician Nick Cave have debuted as artists in an exhibition in Finland that displays sculptures and ceramics created by the movie star and the singer-songwriter. The Sara Hilden Art Museum, located in the southern Finnish city of Tampere, was initially scheduled to exhibit...
Immersive Claude Monet exhibit planned for NYC this fall
NEW YORK — Acres of water lilies will bloom on Wall Street this fall, at least digitally. A massive, immersive exhibition celebrating French artist Claude Monet will make its U.S. debut in downtown New York starting in November, promising a multisensory experience that puts visitors as close to inside his...
Behind the art: The Westmoreland’s Mary Cassatt painting hints at subtle message
Painter Mary Cassatt often depicted images of women and children, emphasizing the intimate bonds between mother and child. One such work is “Mother and Two Children,” painted around 1905, which came into the permanent collection of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art via anonymous gift in 1979. It’s a prime...
Behind the art: The Westmoreland’s Tiffany window ‘a treasure among treasures’
Editor’s note: Behind the Art is a new feature in Westmoreland Plus. It profiles some of the artworks that are in museums in the region. An artwork would have to be quite remarkable to be considered “a treasure among treasures” in the permanent collection of The Westmoreland Museum of American...
Spain, France kick off anniversary celebration of Picasso
MADRID — Against the backdrop of Picasso’s iconic anti-war painting, “Guernica,” the culture ministers of France and Spain gathered Monday in Madrid’s Reina Sofía Museum to kick off a year of commemorative acts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of the Spanish artist who revolutionized the world of...
Fort Ligonier offers items for bid online and at the Cannon Ball; Forbes Road Rum to be released
A dinner with “George Washington” and a VIP tour of Mount Vernon are among choice items that will be awarded during in-person bidding Friday at Fort Ligonier’s annual Cannon Ball. Dress is “smart casual” for the event, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. under tents in the...
Vision-impaired first grader shows work with Westmoreland Photographers
Westmoreland Photographers Society members chose “Eye of the Beholder” as the title of a show opening with a reception at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Greensburg Art Center. One of those “beholders” is a 6-year-old photographer who will exhibit three images taken in the Ohiopyle area. What makes this artist...
Vermeer exhibit to unite Milkmaid, Girl with a Pearl Earring
AMSTERDAM — The Amsterdam Rijksmuseum will unite two iconic paintings from Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer early next year — The Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid. In an unprecedented blockbuster exhibit starting in February, the most famous museum in the Netherlands will bring together 27 of the 35...
Israel acquires rare ancient papyrus with Hebrew inscription
JERUSALEM — Israel has acquired a previously unknown ancient papyrus bearing a Hebrew inscription dated to around 2,700 years ago that had long been in possession of a Montana resident, the country’s antiquities authority said Wednesday. The scrap of papyrus — scarcely larger than a postage stamp with four lines...
‘Night of the Living Dead’ display to be added to Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village
The latest addition to the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village will have a “Night of the Living Dead” theme. The addition being unveiled later this month is a replica of the Evans City Cemetery chapel featured in the iconic zombie movie made in Western Pennsylvania. It was where...
Carnegie Museum of Art reveals opening programs for 58th International
Carnegie Museum of Art has announced opening weekend programs for the 58th Carnegie International, beginning Sept. 24. Visitors will be treated to the first public presentation of a new work by Malcolm Peacock, along with performances by Ali Eyal and Christian Nyampeta. The exhibition will run through April 2 in...
Artist Ai Weiwei warns against hubris in ‘troublesome times’
VENICE, Italy — Chinese dissident and artist Ai Weiwei warns against hubris with his first glass sculpture, made on the Venetian island of Murano. The artwork’s title is intended as a warning to the world: “Memento Mori” — or Latin for “Remember You Must Die.” Ai did not have to...
Irwin gallery hosts star-themed art auction for suicide prevention center
Tracy Alaia thinks that people have something in common with stars — each one, human or celestial, is unique and beautiful in its own way. That idea suggested a theme for a benefit event she’s hosting at her downtown Irwin business, Feathers Artist Market and Gifts. Alaia is inviting people...
Floral mural created by Export native, touts borough’s historyVideo
There is little doubt that the Westmoreland Heritage Trail has helped reinvigorate downtown Export. Shops along Washington Avenue that once were shuttered have sprung back to life, and projects large and small signal changes to come. Where the trail ends, walkers and cyclists will be treated to the work of...
Andy Warhol’s family plans to auction 10 art school paintings
When Andy Warhol left Pittsburgh for New York City, he traveled lightly. “My uncle left Pittsburgh in 1949 and he didn’t leave with much, just a brown paper bag of clothes and a few of his essentials,” said James Warhola, the son of Warhol’s oldest brother, the late Paul Warhola....
Out & About: Everything old is new again in Jeannette gallery exhibition
After 20 years of making art from salvaged and scavenged materials, Patrick Truman Kawka finally found the perfect venue for his first gallery show. The Edgewood resident has three pieces in “These Faded Walls: An Exhibition of Artistic Reclamation,” an exhibition of works by regional artists made primarily of recycled...
Artists bring new life to salvage material for exhibits in Mt. Pleasant, Jeannette
The saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” has never been more true than for a new art show conceived by You Are Here gallery in Jeannette. “These Faded Walls: An Exhibition of Artistic Reclamation” features regional artists’ works made from at least 70% recycled materials. The exhibition will...
Allegheny Valley artists celebrate ‘New Beginnings’ in Tarentum gallery show
The Allegheny Valley League of Artists will celebrate “New Beginnings” with an exhibition by that name in the Manos Gallery in Tarentum. “We’re just getting back underway after the pandemic, so the name is apropos for the times,” said Patti Giordano of Lower Burrell, the league’s president. “New Beginnings” will...
Pittsburgh artist’s work to be featured, raffled at Middle Creek Wildlife Art Show
Sheree Daugherty has been drawing animals since before she began grade school. “I drew stacks of unrealistic scenes, like elephants, skunks, snakes and monkeys all in the same setting,” said Daugherty, 65, of Pittsburgh’s North Side. A few years later, Daugherty saw a painting by wildlife artist Ned Smith on...
Wounded Knee artifacts highlight slow pace of repatriations
BARRE, Mass. — One by one, items purportedly taken from Native Americans massacred at Wounded Knee Creek emerged from the dark, cluttered display cases where they’ve sat for more than a century in a museum in rural Massachusetts. Moccasins, necklaces, clothing, ceremonial pipes, tools and other objects were carefully laid...
West Overton board picks duo from staff to share leadership duties at historic village
Two familiar faces at East Huntingdon’s West Overton Village have taken on a higher profile as plans are underway to expand on offerings at the historic site. Aaron Hollis, who had served as director of education, is now co-executive director of the museum complex. It’s a title and responsibility he...
Philadelphia’s $500K Harriet Tubman statue controversy gets national attention
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s controversy over awarding a direct commission for a permanent Harriet Tubman monument has aroused widespread national interest and a split among the city’s own statue advisory committee. During a June 15 public input meeting, critics denounced city arts officials for giving the $500,000 commission to Wesley Wofford,...
