Art Events

—Learning & Product Expo:  Art! returns to the Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, CA, from Oct. 24-26, with classes beginning Oct. 23.  This amazing event features over 200 workshops/classes in all mediums for artists at all levels; an Exhibit Hall filled with booths of your favorite art material manufacturers where you can try and buy and view free demos by top artists; a Juried Art Show that is open to all artists who are registered for the expo by Sept. 26; and much more.  Visit www.learningproductexpo.com for information/registration or register by phone:  866.734.6736.

—A special celebration will be held at the Great Stair Hall at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on September 11 from 6-9 p.m.  This lively evening celebrates the opening of Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt with a light reception and an opportunity to preview the exhibition and meet some of the quilters.  Call 215.235-SHOW (7469) to reserve tickets and for additional event information.  In addition, the Museum has announced the fall exhibition programs and more.  Special celebrations, film and video, family and children’s programs and events, conversations/lectures/symposia, concerts/performances, spotlight talks, workshops/book discussions, art history courses, museum tours and more are scheduled.  For adult programs, call the number above; for family/children’s programs, call 215.684.7580; or visit www.philamuseum.org.

—Second Lives:  Remixing the Ordinary will be the inaugural exhibition at the Museum of Arts & Design when it opens in a new building at 2 Columbus Circle, New York City, this month.  The exhibition features works by 50 international established and emerging artists from all five continents who create objects and installations comprised of ordinary and everyday manufactured articles.  Opens 9/27 through 2/15/09.  Additional exhibitions opening the same day are Elegant Armor:  The Art of Jewelry and Permanently MAD:  Revealing the Collection.  www.madmuseum.org.

—The Adirondack Fabric and Fiber Arts Festival will be held at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY, on Sept. 13.  Featured will be a special display of rarely-seen textiles, textile appraisals (think “Antiques Roadshow”); demos of quilting, wool processing, felting and wool art; hands-on activities such as crafting a souvenir balsam bag and a knit-in; as well as a presentation on the Japanese influence on American textiles and art.  www.adkmuseum.org.  518.352.7311.

—Attend free Family-Friendly Programs every Saturday through Oct. 18 at the American Market located at the National Harbor, a 300-acre, mixed-use waterfront development along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.  The National Children’s Museum will host a variety of entertaining, hands-on activities for kids and families.  In addition, up to 60 regional vendors will showcase produce, pastries, crafts, artwork, fashion, jewelry and more.  www.ncm.museum.

—Cool Globes:  Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet features more than 30 larger-than-life globes that depict simple solutions to global warming.  Designed by local, national and international artists, the exhibit will be part of the U.S. Botanic Garden’s (Washington, D.C.) “One Planet-Ours!” exhibition on sustainability through October 13.  Sixty miniature Cool Globes will also be on display at the Kennedy Center.  Select globes from the exhibits will be auctioned in October.  There are also currently two additional Cool Globes exhibitions:  35 Cool Globes are located in San Francisco’s Crissy Field Promenade through Oct. 13; and 40 Globes will be at the San Diego National History Museum and in Balboa Park along walking paths adjacent to the Museum from Oct. 15 – Nov. 31.  In addition, an exhibition will be held in London in Spring 2009.  www.coolglobes.com.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 18 No. 11 — September 2008