Programs

This summer, there are plenty of opportunities to drop in and get to know the new Palmer Museum of Art. Explore the new building with a Palmer guide and enjoy an introduction to the newly reinstalled permanent collection, along with a brief introduction to two special exhibitions, MADE IN PA and MADE IN PA on Paper.

• Wednesday, June 5, 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 7, 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 8, 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 9, 2:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 12, 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 14, noon (ASL Interpreter provided)
• Saturday, June 15, 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 16, 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, June 20, 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 22, 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, June 27, 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 29, 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 30, 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, July 18, 6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, July 21, 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 4, 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, August 15, 6:00 p.m.

Celebrate Pride Month at the museum with a free public tour highlighting artwork produced by LGBTQ+ artists. An ASL Interpreter will be provided for this tour.

Enjoy in-depth engagement with selected exhibitions or specific areas of the permanent collection. Talks are led by museum curators, educators, or invited specialists.

Upcoming gallery talks:

• Thursday, June 13, 6:00 p.m. – MADE IN PA with Erin Coe, Palmer Museum Director, and Joyce Robinson, Assistant Director.
• Sunday, June 23, 2:00 p.m. – MADE IN PA on Paper with Patrick McGrady, Charles V. Hallman Senior Curator.
• Thursday, July 11, 6:00 p.m. – MADE IN PA on Paper with Patrick McGrady, Charles V. Hallman Senior Curator.
• Sunday, July 14, 2:00 p.m. – MADE IN PA with Joyce Robinson, Assistant Director.
• Thursday, August 1, 6:00 p.m. – The Art of Teaching: Medical Education and the Integrated Curriculum with Dr. Mike Flanagan and Dr. Mark Stephens, Penn State Medical School.

Guided tours can now be scheduled, with tour dates beginning July 2024. More information and a tour request form are available on the museum’s Learn & Teach page.

Enjoy a free, drop-in, and hands-on discovery of the weaving process, inspired by textiles on display in the Arts of Africa Gallery. Textile artist Marie Huard will provide a demonstration of loom weaving. Instructions and supplies will be provided to create a small project on a handheld loom; projects will likely be completed at home.

Get creative, connect with others, move your hands, learn about self-care art techniques, and take time to relax and rejuvenate through art-making processes at our free, drop-in self-care studio sessions. Hosted by Erin E. Carter, EdD, ATR-BC, Assistant Teaching Professor of Creative Arts Therapies, these sessions will focus on therapeutic art practices for self-care as well as provide a time and place to build community with other creative people.

Join Latisha Franklin, PhD (RYT 200) for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class, and registration is recommended. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! For more information and to register, visit: studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-promotion/hpw-events-programs.

Pop in for some relief – relief printmaking! Participate in inking and pressing prepared images, inspired by Pop Art in MADE IN PA, and learn to create your own relief print with a simple process and common materials. Drop in and discover the joy of making inky impressions. All ages are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.

Explore the enchanting realm of plein-air (outdoor) painting, led by local artist Sydney Turner. This six-week course at the picturesque Arboretum and Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State offers a comprehensive journey into the art of landscape painting. From mastering the basics of sketching and gathering photo references to experimenting with watercolor, gouache, and ink, participants will delve into the diverse techniques of open-air artistic expression. As part of this class, students will also enjoy private study sessions of a selection of the museum’s watercolor and gouache landscapes to inspire and admire! Whether you are a novice or an art enthusiast, this class is designed to cater to anyone new to the world of plein-air painting, requiring no prior art experience. All supplies needed during classes are provided with registration; a supply list will be provided for those interested in acquiring at-home supplies. Join us for an immersive experience!

The fee for the class is $350 or $300 for students and Arboretum/Palmer volunteers. Register at the following link (Firefox, Safari, or Edge recommended): https://register.outreach.psu.edu/search/publicCourseSectionDetails.do?method=load&sectionId=30386008

Take a break during the summer session and LEAP over to the museum to exercise your creativity for the benefit of your community! Reflect on the power of art to communicate, question, and inspire change and explore connections between art and protest music with a self-guided ARTify tour. Stroll through the galleries for inspiration before making your own collage that combines visual materials with text and calls to action. Light refreshments will be provided. Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges Foundation.

Join Dr. Blake Colaianne, Assistant Research Professor in the College of Health and Human Development, for an introduction to mindfulness practices, then participate in a guided practice session in the galleries.

Join Palmer educator Brandi Breslin in the Children’s Garden at the Arboretum to play with printmaking in the sun. Discover image-making with photosensitive materials and “develop” your knowledge of cyanotypes, an early method for making photographs without a camera.

K-12 Educators are invited to drop in and browse school resources, learn about innovative gallery teaching strategies for class visits, and explore current exhibitions. Take away an educational poster featuring an artist from MADE IN PA. Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges Foundation.

Drop by during the Faculty Open House to explore opportunities for curricular connections at the museum. Chat with Palmer staff about ways to engage students through special exhibitions like MADE IN PA, browse resources for interdisciplinary teaching and learning, and brainstorm ways to integrate the museum into your courses.

Kick off election season at the first Art After Hours of the fall semester! Exercise your civic rights and register to vote before catching a gallery talk of the special exhibition MADE IN PA to explore art and social commentary in the Keystone State. Soak up some inspiration from a pop-up exhibition on art and activism before designing your own button that combines text and image for a cause. Music, performances, and light refreshments will be provided. Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges Foundation.

While many people seek out a solitary museum experience, filled with beauty and contemplation, “quiet” is not necessarily a defining feature of many art museums, including the Palmer. Between gallery programs, group tours, and enthusiastic art lovers interested in discussions and discoveries, the Palmer is often hopping with activity. During established Quiet Hours, we promise to avoid scheduling programs in the galleries and alert drop-in visitors to the hushed environment.

Upcoming Quiet Hours:

• Wednesday, June 12, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 28, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, July 7, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, July 19, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 21, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.