November 6, 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

ANNUAL HOLIDAY FAVORITE RETURNS TO SAMA-ALTOONA

             Altoona – The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona is pleased to announce the return of one of its most popular annual exhibitions, Antique Dolls: A Holiday Celebration. The exhibition opens November 10 and will remain on view through January 7.

            In celebration of the exhibition, the Museum will be hosting its annual Holiday Tea Party from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 3. Tea and refreshments will be provided. Cost is $5 per person. Reservations and advance payment are required by December 1. For tickets or more information, please call the Museum at (814) 946-4464.

            Over the years, the dolls exhibition has become a favorite holiday event within the Altoona community. This year’s exhibition will feature 48 dolls, mostly German porcelain dolls dating from the 1880s to the 1930s. Also of note will be several dolls created by well-known German doll-maker, Annette Himstedt.

            SAMA-Altoona Coordinator Barbara Hollander said SAMA’s doll exhibition and annual tea party are a perfect fit for the holiday season. “It is with excitement and anticipation that the Altoona Museum is once again presenting our Antique Dolls exhibition,” she said. “Young and old alike await this exhibition as the holidays approach. Along with this year’s collection of beautiful dolls, we will be displaying a dollhouse that has never before been shown. I invite everyone to come to our annual tea party on December 3^rd and bring your living dolls and their baby dolls. I promise you and your children will not be disappointed.”

            The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona is located in the Brett Building at 1210 Eleventh Avenue. Museum hours 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 or visit www.sama-art.org.