April 23, 2008
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-ALTOONA TO HOST LUNCH A L'ART

            Altoona – The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona will host a Lunch a l’Art on Thursday, May 22 in celebration of its exhibition, The Education Collection: Unplugged. Presenting will be SAMA-Altoona Coordinator, Barbara Hollander, who previously has served as an Education Coordinator and has overseen SAMA’s Museum/School Partnership Program. The program begins at noon with lunch and will be followed by a tour and lecture. Cost for the program is $12 or $10 for members. Reservations can be made by calling the Museum at (814) 946-4464.

            The Education Collection: Unplugged features nearly 50 works culled from SAMA’s Arts-in-Education Permanent Collection. The exhibition features works in a variety of media by well-known local artists such as Michael Allison, Helen Gorsuch, Susan Severson, Kevin Suckling and Judith Counsel Vipond. Also included are works by national artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Colleen Browning, Maggie Milono and Hal Frater.

            There are approximately 300 works in the collection, which is used by SAMA educators to present Arts-in-Education lessons in public and private schools throughout the Museum’s six county service region. The age-appropriate Arts-in-Education presentations are designed to emphasize creation, technique, history, criticism and aesthetics, and are offered to schools that participate in SAMA’s Museum/School Partnership Program. Held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), SAMA’s award-winning education programs serve more than 25,000 students in 100 schools spanning 31 school districts.

            Lunch a l’Art programs are offered to encourage a greater understanding of various art forms and movements, as well as a deeper appreciation for the exhibitions presented by the Museum.

            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. Saturdays. The Museum is a handicapped-accessible facility and is open to the public free of charge. Parking is available in metered spots in the lot at the rear of the building or in the garage across the street. For more information, please call the Museum or visit www.sama-art.org.