October 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
Liz Garlena, Education Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

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

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP SCHEDULED AT SAMA-LIGONIER VALLEY

             Ligonier – The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art will hold a professional development workshop for teachers, artists and school administrators on Wednesday, November 8 at SAMA’s Ligonier Valley facility. The workshop, designed to illustrate the importance of art in education, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme of the workshop is “The Stories of Pennsylvania: Teaching Pennsylvania History through the Arts.”

            The morning session will feature a presentation by Dr. Alan Irvine, professional storyteller and visiting professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. Irvine, who holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, has an extensive background as a teacher, lecturer and professional storyteller. His presentation will include his sharing of several exciting and educational stories concerning Pennsylvania’s fascinating history.

            During the afternoon session, Marianne McAuliffe, a Native American musician and folklorist, will demonstrate the art of Native American music and dance. She also will be discussing how she incorporates her music, visual art and folklore into the residencies she conducts in both school and healthcare settings. McAuliffe has been studying Native American culture most of her life, for many years under the tutelage of R. Carlos Nakai, Navajo/Ute, who introduced her to the magic of the Native American flute and leatherworking, and J.T. Garrett, Ed.D., M.P.H. and Michael T. Garrett, Ph.D., both of the Eastern Band Cherokee, who are her mentors in Cherokee medicine and the Cherokee way of life. She is a member of the International Native American Flute Association and the National Storytelling Workshop, in addition to serving as a directory artist with SAMA and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

            Cost for the workshop is $30 per person, which includes coffee and pastry in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. Reservations are required by November 6 and can be made by calling SAMA Education Administrator, Tina Lehman, at (814) 269-7234. Educators may receive 5 ½ hours of Act 48 credit with participation.

            The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley is located at One Boucher Lane and Route 711 South in Ligonier. 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. For more information, call the Museum at (724) 238-6015 or visit www.sama-art.org.