The Popular Thursday Evening Painting Parties Are Now Bi-Monthly at the Albany Museum of Art
A new season of Corks & Canvases Painting Parties will set sail on Thursday, Aug 24, with participants re-creating Dangerous Shore, a dramatic 19th century oil painting by James Hamilton.
The waters, however, will not be choppy for participants in the now bi-monthly art workshop. They will enjoy wine, snacks, and conversation while receiving step-by-step instructions on painting their own interpretations of the painting, which is in the AMA’s permanent collection.
“These Thursday evening painting parties for adults have become so popular that we are scheduling them every other month,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “They sell out weeks ahead. It’s nice to be able to get away for a couple of hours with other art lovers and create together.
“We have participants from all skill levels, from those who paint frequently to those who have never picked up a paintbrush. Everyone goes home with an original painting that they will be proud to display in their home or office.”
Corks & Canvases: James Hamilton will be from 5:30-7:30 pm. The fee to participate is $30, and AMA donors and legacy members get special discounts. The AMA provides the canvases, paint, and brushes, as well as wine and snacks. Participants also may bring a favorite beverage or snack to share.
A registration link may be found HERE.
“It’s a low-pressure, relaxing evening that you can enjoy alone, or with a spouse or friend,” Vanoteghem said. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to make new friends.”
She said Dangerous Shore, which Irish native Hamilton painted in 1869-70, is a prime example of a Romantic painting. The seascape depicts a shipwreck on a beach, capturing both the destructive force and exquisite beauty of nature with the setting sun and churning ocean, a tragic story told with dramatic lighting and bold brushstrokes.
Hamilton was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1819 and immigrated to the United States at age 15. A follower of Joseph Mallord William Turner, a leading painter of English Romanticism in the 19th century, Hamilton was primarily known for his dramatic seascapes, which were inspired by the shoreline from New York to Maryland. He died in 1878.
“Dangerous Shore, like all of the objects in the AMA collection at the time, had its own struggle with nature when the first January 2017 storm tore the roof off of the museum,” Vanoteghem noted. “The entire collection had to be moved to safe locations for storage and, in many cases, conservation.
“In fact, Dangerous Shore was the first collection object to re-enter the building when the first part of our collection returned in October 2020.”
An unusual aspect of Dangerous Shore that participants in the workshop will be encouraged to incorporate is something that is rarely seen—a verse from a literary work on the back of the canvas. On the back of Dangerous Shore, Hamilton wrote lines from Lord Byron’s epic poem, The Island.
The lines read:
A Haunt of Birds, a desert to mankind…
A spot to make the saved regret the deck
which late went down and envy the lost wreck.
“James Hamilton was known for getting inspiration for his paintings from literary works, as well as for writing extensive information on the backs of his paintings,” Vanoteghem said. “We’re encouraging participants at the painting party to keep in that spirit by writing a line or two from a favorite poem, book, or song on the back of theirs.”
In addition to the bi-monthly Corks & Canvases Painting Parties, businesses and organizations can schedule special sessions of the program for team-building.
Contact Vanoteghem HERE or at 229.439.8400 with any questions about the painting party series or scheduling team-building sessions.
AMA EXHIBITIONS
- Steve Hinton & Friends … From the Beginning is in the Haley, East, McCormack and Hodges Galleries April 20-Aug 12, 2023.
- Escape Plan, Installation by Elinor Saragoussi, is in the West Gallery.
ABOUT THE ALBANY MUSEUM OF ART
The Albany Museum of Art is located at 311 Meadowlark Drive in Albany, Ga., adjacent to Albany State University West Campus just off Gillionville Road. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Albany Museum of Art is open to the public 10 am-5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
For more information about the AMA please visit HERE or call 229.439.8400. Be sure to follow the AlbanyArtMuseum on Twitter, AlbanyMuseum on Instagram, and AlbanyMuseumOfArt on Facebook.
