The Westmoreland Celebrates 65th Anniversary with Exhibition Featuring 65 Artists from the Museum’s Collection
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Claire Ertl
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GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (January 24, 2024) – Having first opened to the public in 1959, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2024. To mark this milestone, the Museum presents 65 Artists, 65 Years: An Anniversary Exhibition. Through works by 65 artists from the Museum’s collection, this exhibition pays tribute to these artists and their work, while also highlighting important points in The Westmoreland’s history and presenting commentary from community members and local artists on the Museum’s impact. Opening on Sunday, February 11, 2024, the exhibition remains on view through Sunday, September 8.
“As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of our Museum and reflect on our rich history, I am struck by how far we have come and the profound impact The Westmoreland has had on our community. To commemorate this anniversary, we have planned a spectacular exhibition that showcases some of the finest artworks from our collection as well as pieces that have rarely been exhibited. We hope this exhibition serves as a celebration of our past, a recognition of our present, and an opportunity to consider our future,” remarked The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO Dr. Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, PhD.
An experimental, responsive, and self-reflective take on The Westmoreland’s permanent collection, 65 Artists, 65 Years presents artworks from well-known artists, such as Mary Cassatt, John Kane, and Thaddeus Mosley, as well as lesser-known figures, including Alex Fletcher and Elijah Pierce. Organized as a timeline with thematic interludes, the exhibition starts with a retrospective look at the Museum’s inaugural exhibition, 250 Years of Art in Pennsylvania, which presented some of the first artworks acquired for the collection. Sections that follow bring to light key moments in the Museum’s story, such as the acquisition of multiple artworks by a single artist that provide insight into their development and body of work. For example, The Westmoreland has nearly fifty artworks each by path-breaking women artists Dorothy Lauer Davids and Rachel McClelland Sutton.
Additionally, the exhibition celebrates the pivotal role played by transformative gifts of art in defining the Museum’s identity and fostering its growth. In one instance in 2008, with the acquisition of more than 200 fraktur collected by area residents Joy and David Brocklebank, The Westmoreland became home to the most historically significant examples of this tradition in the country, preserving the stories of countless early Pennsylvanians.
The exhibition ends with the importance of artist and community voices in shaping The Westmoreland’s path forward. This concluding section, named “A Museum of the People,”
provides a dedicated space for community engagement where individuals connected to The Westmoreland share their stories of the Museum and visions for its future. Museum visitors are encouraged to contribute their comments to add to this conversation.
“Every big anniversary offers an opportunity for reflection, and at 65 years we are thinking about our role and responsibility to foster new conversations that center artistic expression, underrepresented perspectives, and the interconnectedness of American stories. This is an open-ended look at 65 years of art, culture, and community at The Westmoreland,” offered Chief Curator Jeremiah William McCarthy.
Upcoming exhibition-related events and programs are listed on the Museum’s website at thewestmoreland.org/events. Planned programming includes special Artist Tours & Happy Hours with artists featured in the exhibition, docent-led drop-in Cantilever Tours for visitors on Saturday afternoons, a Legacy and Vision panel discussion with current and past Museum leaders and artists, a teacher workshop, and homeschooler day. Additionally, for four days in March, the Museum presents Art in Bloom, featuring floral compositions inspired by works in the Museum’s collection within the 65 Artists, 65 Years exhibition space and other galleries throughout the Museum.
65 Artists, 65 Years: An Anniversary Exhibition is supported by the Richard C. von Hess Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.
About The Westmoreland Museum of American Art: Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a place to share meaningful cultural experiences that open the door to new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities. The Westmoreland’s extraordinary permanent collection with its strong focus on the art and artists of Southwestern Pennsylvania is complemented by an impressive temporary exhibition schedule featuring both nationally traveling exhibitions and those organized by the Museum. Additionally, The Westmoreland presents a full slate of community-oriented programming as well as special events. More information is available at thewestmoreland.org and on the Museum’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles. General admission to the Museum is free with advance online registration recommended. The Museum’s operating hours are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm. One can find information on registering for a visit at thewestmoreland.org/visit.
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