America's oldest, largest visual arts group showcasing work in Greensburg

The country’s oldest and largest visual arts group is showcasing local talent in its 107^th exhibit, hosted at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and Seton Hill University, both in Greensburg.

The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) annual exhibition highlights 53 artists from across Western Pennsylvania’s largest cities and tiniest bedroom communities, from Greensburg to Glenshaw and Sewickley to Slippery Rock.

The show runs through Jan. 26 and is the country’s longest continuing survey exhibition of regional art. It is said to highlight work from some of the most esteemed contemporary artists in the region.

The show is coordinated by Executive Director Madeline Gent and juried by Juana Williams, exhibitions curator for the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, Mich.

A total of 49 pieces will be on display at The Westmoreland’s Cantilever Gallery, with four more featured at Seton Hill’s Art Center.

“The roster of artists selected for the 107th annual exhibit offers a range of approaches to subject and medium,” said Barbara Jones, chief curator of The Westmoreland. “Unfamiliar with the work of a number of these artists, I am excited to have the opportunity to get to know more about them through this exhibition.”

The first AAP exhibition was hosted in 1910 at the Grand Opera House in Downtown Pittsburgh. It has grown into one of the AAP’s most treasured and well-known traditions, organizers said.

Composed of more than 500 members, the AAP works year-round to enhance the region’s cultural vitality and promote visual arts. It provides community education programs and supports dialogue among artists.

The annual exhibition is its signature event, with support provided this year by the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

Williams, the show’s juror, is a specialist in contemporary African American art. She earned her master’s in art history and a bachelor’s in studio art from Wayne State University.

“I’m looking forward to playing a role in the continued legacy of such a significant arts organization, viewing the works of the many artists AAP serves, forming relationships with Pittsburgh artists and bridging the gap between Pittsburgh and Grand Rapids,” Williams said.

Having served in various positions at the Detroit Institute for the Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Wayne State, Williams most recently served as juror for ArtPrize’s 2018 Contemporary Black Art Award.

Her upcoming project at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, titled “Breaching the Margins,” looks at the social exclusion of marginalized groups and how art can be an active force that lends power to underdogs.

“With Juana Williams as juror, visitors will have the opportunity to experience and celebrate the diversity of inspiration, medium and subject matter that local artists have created,” said Anne Kraybill, the Richard M. Scaife Director and CEO of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with AAP on this exhibition of work showcasing the rich talent in our region.”

The Westmoreland is Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art. Founded in 1959, the museum long has been a proponent of regional artists and their work, Gent said.

It is home to an impressive schedule of temporary exhibits and community-oriented programming, located at 21 North Main St.

Admission is free. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Seton Hill University’s Arts Center opened in 2015 and is home to art, dance and special events. It contains the Art Yard, Harlan Gallery and Jodee Harris Gallery that showcase student work. It is at 205 West Otterman St., about a half-mile from The Westmoreland.

Hours are 1 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays.