March 2, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:

Tina Lehman, SAMA-Johnstown Coordinator

(814) 269-7234

Travis Mearns, Public Relations Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

SAMA-JOHNSTOWN EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS PERMANENT COLLECTION

            Johnstown – The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Johnstown is pleased to announce the opening of its latest exhibition, An American Landscape: Interpretations of the Artist. The exhibition, on view March 26 through September 10, features 43 traditional landscape paintings, as well as landscape-inspired abstract works, culled from the Museum’s permanent collection.

            With works by more than three dozen artists, the exhibition explores the many ways a landscape can be interpreted by different artistic visions. The exhibition includes examples of traditional landscape painting, such as George Hetzel’s Woodland Stream, Scalp Level, as well as abstract interpretations like Willie Lee Atkyns’ Renaissance City. Other featured artists include Frederick Alan Counsel, Adolf Dehn, Edward J. Glannon, William Gropper, David Hopkins, Donna Levinstone, Eliot O’Hara, Rick Olson, Jim Salem, John Sloan, S. Scott Steberger, Alfred S. Wall, Ralph C. Welsh III, Edwin W. Zoller and Eleanor Zygler, among many others.

            “The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Johnstown has had previous landscape exhibitions, but nothing quite like this,” said Tina Lehman, SAMA-Johnstown Coordinator. “This exhibition is an interesting look into the many different ways a landscape can be shown. Some of the works in this exhibition have not been shown in many years, and some will be making their debut. From the traditional to the abstract, there will be something for everyone.”

            The Museum will host a Lunch a l’Art program on Thursday, May 20. The program, which begins at noon, includes lunch and an exhibition tour and gallery talk with Museum Coordinator, Tina Lehman. Cost for the program is $9 per person. Reservations are requested by May 18 and can be made by calling the Museum at (814) 269-7234.

            When SAMA first opened its doors in 1976, its permanent collection consisted of 47 paintings, sculptures and drawings and a collection of 20 etchings by John Sloan. Since that time, the collection has grown to number nearly 4,000 works by some of the nation’s preeminent artists, including Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol, Herman Maril, Grant Wood, and Norman Rockwell.

            The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Johnstown is located in the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The Museum is a handicapped-accessible facility and is open to the public free of charge. Hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, please call the Museum or visit www.sama-art.org.