October 30, 2009
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 DISPLAY ANTIQUE DOLLS

            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 13 and will remain on view through January 2.

            Over the years, the dolls exhibition has become a favorite holiday event within the Altoona community. Dozens of classic cloth dolls from throughout the United States and England will be featured in this year’s installment. The exhibition will feature approximately 60 cloth dolls, plus two furnished doll houses.

            The making of cloth dolls is one of the oldest forms of doll-making. Well-preserved examples are hard to obtain and, due to their obscurity, prices on this type of doll seem to constantly rise. The collection of dolls on display will range from elaborate to simple.

            “The timing of the Antique Dolls exhibition coinciding with our exhibition of painter Jory Albright is certainly not a coincidence,” said SAMA-Altoona Coordinator Barbara Hollander. “The viewer will notice an interesting juxtaposition between the characters in the paintings and the features of the dolls. The cloth dolls range from crude to exquisite. The dolls will be a natural fit with Jory’s artwork, as his figures also fluctuate from the cartoonish to the extraordinary.”

            The exhibition will feature Lenci dolls (Italy), Nora Wellington Dolls (England), two adventuring dolls, a family of Raggedy Anns, “Topsy-turvy” dolls, dolls by the French artist Ravaca, home-made dolls from printed patterns, Little Lulu cloth dolls and souvenir dolls from many countries, among many others.

            In celebration of the exhibition, the Museum will be hosting a “Pizza and Parade” party on Thursday, December 3. Guests have an opportunity to view the wonderful dolls on display, and afterward watch Altoona’s annual The Spirit of Christmas parade, followed by fireworks and the Christmas tree lighting at Heritage Plaza. Cost for the event, which begins at 5 p.m., is $5 for children and $7 for adults. Please call the Museum at (814) 946-4464 for reservations.

            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. Saturday. 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.