May 24, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:

Barbara Hollander, SAMA-Altoona Coordinator

(814) 946-4464

Travis Mearns, Public Relations Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

Altoona—The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona will be hosting a reception in celebration of its new exhibitions: The Art of Peter Frantz and Four Lenses-Four Views: Gary Baranec, Sandra Halpern, Steve Root, and Bernard Schilling. The reception will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 1. The artists will be in attendance to discuss their works and answer any questions about the exhibitions. Cost is $12 or $10 for SAMA members. Please call the Museum at (814) 946-4464 for reservations or more information.

On view through August 5, The Art of Peter Frantz features several towering, abstract sculptures, tabletop sculptures, and 3-D wall pieces. Frantz tends to work in wood, glass and metal, and has recently begun casting his works in bronze. The Blair County native’s art is creative and forceful, blending rich technique into the turbulent spirit of contemporary American sculpture. His work has been exhibited throughout the Eastern United States, and was recently featured in SAMA-Loretto’s Biennial 2006.

Featured in the Four Lenses-Four Views exhibition are four Pennsylvania photographers who come from disparate backgrounds and use widely varying styles. Despite their differences, however, each of these artists routinely delivers poignant, striking and thought-provoking images. From photo-realism to the abstract photo collage, this exhibition features many of the diverse styles and techniques that make photography such a popular and accessible medium.

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 of visit www.sama-art.org.