Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Press Room : Press Releases : 1998

March 4th, 1998

Concerts, Lectures, And Family Fun Accompany Exhibition Of American Self-taught Artists

A wide range of public programs will be offered in conjunction with Self-Taught Artists of the 20th Century: An American Anthology, an exhibition on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from March 10 through May 17, 1998. This sweeping survey of some 300 paintings, sculptures, environments, and drawings by more than 30 artists who worked without the benefit of formal training--including Grandma Moses, Horace Pippin, Morris Hirshfield, William Edmondson, and Thornton Dial-- provides a perfect opportunity to explore the creativity inherent in everyone. Programs requiring tickets may be reserved at the Museum or by calling (215) 235-SHOW.

TOURS

Guided tours are free after Museum admission and meet at the Museum's West Information Desk on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Reserved group tours may be scheduled by calling the Group Sales Office, (215) 684-7863.

Recorded tours using the Artphone system, which allows visitors to view the exhibition at their own pace, will be available for $4 per person.

PANEL DISCUSSION

A curators' panel discussion will be held featuring Elsa Longhauser, Director of the Paley-Levy Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, and principal organizer of the exhibition; Ann Temkin, Curator of 20th-Century Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Jack Lindsey, Curator of American Decorative Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art. The program will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2:30 p.m. in the Museum's Van Pelt Auditorium, and is free after Museum admission. Reservations are required.

ART HISTORY COURSE

Outside-In: Self-Taught Artists and Modernism, taught by Caroline Cassells, Staff Lecturer, will be in the Van Pelt Auditorium on Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16 and 23, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., or Saturdays, April 4 and 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Reservations for Members and senior citizens are $50.00, and $80.00 for non-Members. Reservations are required.

CONCERT

The Philadelphia Connection: The Philadelphia Orchestra will present "Musical Reflections," an exploration of the many ways that music reflects the culture from which it emerges. The program will take place in the Van Pelt Auditorium on Sunday, May 3, at 2:30 a.m. Tickets are $10.00 for Members, students with valid I.D., and senior citizens, and $17.00 for non-Members. Children under 7 will not be admitted. Reservations are required.

FAMILY DAY ON MAY 17

The Georgia Sea Islands, which are geographically removed from the American mainland and whose residents have maintained a uniquely African identity and speak a distinct African American language called Gullah, will be the focus of an all-day family event.

Concert: The Georgia Sea Island Singers will perform their inspirational program Shedding Light on a Forgotten World in the Van Pelt Auditorium at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets for Members are $1.00, and $2.00 for non-Members. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the performance.

Family Self-Guide: Art Everywhere! Free, self-guided tours are available all day, every day at the Information Desks and at the Family Cart in the West Foyer.

Make-and-Take Collage Workshops offer creative opportunities for families to create their own "masterpieces." This free workshop takes place on the Great Stair Hall Balcony, Second Floor, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Chef's Creative Cookie Class provides materials and instructions for making unique, patterned cookies and hats. This special treat will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Timed tickets are available on a first come, first served basis in the West Foyer. Tickets are $2.00 for Members, and $4.00 for non-Members.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

As many of the artists represented in this exhibition had special needs or began their artistic endeavors at an advanced age, Self-Taught Artists of the 20th- Century offers a particularly meaningful context for programs oriented to special audiences. These include: Outreach to nursing homes and rehabilitation centers for those unable to come to the Museum due to age or disability; ArtTalk, a teleconference guided tour for older adults confined to home; and Workshops for people living with HIV/AIDS, mental health clients, and visitors with developmental disabilities. For further information on programs for special audiences, call (215) 684-7601; TDD for deaf callers (215) 684-7600.

Self-Taught Artists of the 20th Century: An American Anthology is presented with the generous support of the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and The Henry Luce Foundation, Inc. Additional support for the exhibition catalogue was provided by the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation and Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz. In Philadelphia, the exhibition is supported in part by The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Sun Company, Inc.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest museums in the United States, with a collection of more than 227,000 works of art and more than 200 galleries presenting painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, decorative arts, textiles, and architectural settings from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Its facilities include its landmark Main Building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Perelman Building, located nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Rodin Museum on the 2200 block of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and two 18th-century houses in Fairmount Park, Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove. The Museum offers a wide variety of activities for public audiences, including special exhibitions, programs for children and families, lectures, concerts and films.

For additional information, contact the Marketing and Communications Department of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215) 684-7860. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street. For general information, call (215) 763-8100, or visit the Museum's website at www.philamuseum.org.