October 13, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
Barbara Hollander, SAMA-Altoona Coordinator

(814) 946-4464

Travis Mearns, Public Relations Coordinator
(724) 238-6015

SAMA EXHIBITS WORKS OF FORMER ALTOONA RESIDENT

            Altoona – The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art is bringing abstract art to Altoona this summer. The Museum’s latest exhibition features 50 works by abstract artist, Corliss Cavalieri, a former Altoona resident. The exhibition, commuter drawings: from philadelphia to newark, opens May 12 and will remain on view through September 10.

Cavalieri’s commuter series, which is featured in the exhibition, is a series of untitled abstract marker-on-paper drawings created in 2002 and inspired by the industrial landscape along the train route between Philadelphia and Newark. The artist’s ability to use abstraction to represent the outside world draws the viewer into the work, where one can see how Cavalieri masterfully distills his subjects into his compositions, capturing their essence for all to see.

“Although Corliss Cavalieri’s representational works on paper are small (9” x 11”), they explode in visual delight,” said SAMA-Altoona Coordinator, Barbara Hollander. “This exhibit shows simple, crisp and clean images that evoke the finest in positive/negative imagery. Pure color, pure design, and purely beautiful, Corliss demonstrates how design can evolve into a sophisticated style of excellence.”

Cavalieri, who has served as Gallery Director for the Paul Robeson Art Gallery at Rutgers University since 2000, has a B.FA in painting from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, and an M.FA in painting from the Tyler School of Art. His work has been widely exhibited throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

The artist will make two appearances at SAMA-Altoona, the first coming on Friday, May 26 for an opening reception. The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will feature a gallery tour with Cavalieri. Tickets are $12 or $10 for SAMA members, and reservations are required by May 24 by calling the Museum at (814) 946-4464. Cavalieri also will give a presentation at a Lunch a l’Art program on June 28. Cost for the lunch program, which begins at noon, is $12 or $10 for SAMA members. Reservations are required by June 26.

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona is located in the Brett Building at 1210 Eleventh Avenue. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. The Museum is a handicapped-accessible facility and is open to the public free of charge. Parking is available in the garage across the street or in metered spots in the lot at the rear of the building. For more information, call the Museum or visit www.sama-art.org.