Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA) will display its remarkable collection of Colleen Browning’s works when the museum launches simultaneous exhibitions at its four locations – Johnstown, Loretto, Ligonier Valley and Altoona.
Beginning Thursday, SAMA will unveil four separate exhibitions at each museum chronicling Browning’s 75-year career.
The exhibitions are part of the museum’s traveling exhibition, “Colleen Browning: A Brush with Magic,” which has already appeared in Ireland and New York City with dates in Connecticut, Ohio and Texas still to come.
With nearly 240 Browning works in its collection, SAMA is the world’s foremost repository for the artist’s work.
On Thursday, SAMA-Johnstown, at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, will unveil “Colleen Browning: Illustrator and Printmaker,” an exhibition that highlights the artist’s commercial illustrations and printmaking as well as her illustrations for Karen E. Lotz’ children’s book, “Can’t Sit Still.”
On Friday, SAMA-Ligonier Valley, One Boucher Lane, Ligonier, opens “Colleen Browning: Early Works.” The exhibition charts Browning’s growth from child prodigy to professional artist.
SAMA-Loretto, at St. Francis University, will open “Colleen Browning: Magic Realist” on Saturday. The installment includes approximately 40 of the artist’s canvases, including masterpieces of Magic Realism drawn from the Umbrella and Subway series.
SAMA-Altoona, 1210 11th Ave., concludes the exhibition openings with “Colleen Browning: Drawings” on Aug. 27. The showing celebrates Browning’s mastery of drawing and includes many works taken from sketchbooks that Browning filled relatively late in her career.
“I believe this a first for SAMA where we have showcased one artist at all four sites at the same time,” said G. Gary Moyer, SAMA executive director. “It is unique because, with our four museums in our system, I know of no other museum that is capable of doing such an exhibit.”
Moyer stated that visitors will be taken on Browning’s life journey from child prodigy to master craftswoman.
“We have Browning works in our collection from when she was 91⁄2 years old to paintings that span over 70 years of her career,” Moyer said.
Each museum also will host an opening reception celebrating Browning’s art.
SAMA-Johnstown will kick off the excitement with a reception on Thursday, followed by SAMA-Ligonier Valley on Friday.
Both receptions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and are open to the public free of charge.
On Saturday, SAMA-Loretto will host a reception, including cocktails, dinner and a presentation by Philip Eliasoph, author of the museum’s book, “Colleen Browning: The Enchantment of Realism.”
Cost for the reception, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., is $50 per person, and reservations may be made by calling the Loretto museum at 472-3920.
On Aug. 27, SAMA-Altoona will host a special Blue Monday program in celebration of its exhibition. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and includes live music by Tom McCarty and Friends. Cost is $20 per person. Call the Altoona museum at 946-4464 for reservations.
Moyer said nearly all of the collection will be on display throughout a minimal six-week exhibition period at each museum.
“With the treasures we have, we are in a position that we can present this exhibit in such a fashion where we can place them throughout the region at one time,” Moyer said.
SAMA’s Browning celebration culminates Sept. 10 with the “Colleen Browning Symposium on 20th Century American Realism” at SAMA-Loretto.
The event begins at 10 a.m. and features one of the largest gatherings of top academics and scholars on American realism in the 20th century.
Speakers include Eliasoph, who will chair the proceedings; Henry Adams, a specialist in American art of the 19th century; Gail Levine, a professor of art history, American studies and women studies at Baruch College and the Graduate Center of City University of New York; and Jonathan Weinberg, an artist, art historian and visiting associate professor in the History of Art Department at Brown University.
The symposium is designed to animate and expand an ongoing appreciation for realist art from multiple intellectual and artistic viewpoints.
For those unable to attend, the museum will offer the symposium online as a podcast at http://tinyurl.com/82vo5p7.
In unison
What: Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art’s Colleen Browning chronicle.
When: Thursday to Oct. 6: SAMA-Johnstown, in the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, “Colleen Browning: Illustrator and Printmaker.”
Friday to Nov. 3: SAMA-Ligonier Valley, One Boucher Lane, Ligonier, “Colleen Browning: Early Works.”
Saturday to Oct. 13: SAMA-Loretto, at St. Francis University, “Colleen Browning: Magic Realist.”
Aug. 27 to Jan. 12: SAMA-Altoona, 1210 11th Ave., “Colleen Browning: Drawings.”
Sept. 10: 10 a.m., symposium with four distinguished scholars at SAMA-Loretto titled “Colleen Browning Symposium on 20th century American realism.”
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
