Embroidery Introduction Series and a Painting Party Highlight August at the AMA
The summer art camp season for toddlers to high school students is completed, but programming and workshops for older art enthusiasts continue at the Albany Museum of Art.
Over two Saturday mornings, Aug 17 and 24, adults and teens can learn about embroidery at workshops by artist and art teacher Megan Lisenby. The sessions are set for 10 a.m. to noon in the AMA Classroom.
“At this engaging Embroidery Introduction Series, participants ages 16 and older will discover the timeless craft of embroidery over two enriching sessions,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “The participants will learn embroidery basics in a welcoming environment where creativity is encouraged.”
Participants only need to bring enthusiasm to the workshops, she said. “All necessary materials will be provided for a comprehensive hands-on experience,” Vanoteghem said.
The fee for both sessions is $40 for Albany Museum of Art donors or $50 for non-donors. The registration link may be found HERE.
On Thursday, Aug 22, the bimonthly Corks & Canvases Painting Party will reinterpret Pablo Picasso’s painting Asleep. The workshop is 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the AMAzing Space activity center.
“This is one of our most popular programs,” Vanoteghem said. “We had to move it to the activity center so more people could participate. You don’t need any painting experience to join the party. You’ll get step-by-step instructions as you enjoy a glass of wine, hors d’oeuvres, soft background music, and pleasant conversation with the other participants. It’s a low-pressure evening, and you go home with your original work of art.”
Asleep, or Le Repos, is an oil-on-canvas painting of Picasso’s lover Marie-Therese Walter, also described as his “golden muse,” at a time when their clandestine affair turned into a relaxed homelife at Chateau de Boisgeloup. The painting marked a change in Picasso’s work, which moved from violent Surrealist distortions to a gentler depiction of the female form. He experimented with freer composition, employing rich colors and sweeping brushwork.
The artist was 29 years older than Walter, who he painted numerous times during this period, demonstrating her influence on his life. Picasso explored the sleeping female form in numerous works during this period of his career, saying that when a man watches a woman sleep, he tries to understand her. This sleeping state became his signature depiction of Walter. In 2018, Le Repos sold for $36.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
The AMA provides all the painting materials, including the canvas. The fee for Corks & Canvases is $30 for AMA donors or $35 for non-donors. The registration link for Corks & Canvases: Picasso may be found HERE.
Find information about other upcoming Corks & Canvases Painting Parties HERE.
Looking further ahead, after the “official” end of summer on Labor Day, Yoga in the Gallery returns at 10 am on Saturday, Sept 7. The hour-long session, led by yoga instructor Renea Miller, combines the environment of art with the relaxation of yoga to create a unique experience.
No yoga experience is required. Participants should dress comfortably and bring a mat. The fee is $10 for AMA donors and $15 for non-donors. The registration link for the Sept 7 session may be found HERE.
See the schedule for upcoming Yoga in the Gallery sessions and find registration links HERE.
Also, there is plenty of time to read the book up for discussion at the next AMA Art Lovers Book Club meeting. When the club meets at 6 pm on Tuesday, Sept 17, in the Willson Auditorium, the members will enjoy a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres as they share their thoughts on The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
Published under a nom de plume in 1963 in Great Britain and under Plath’s name in 1971 in the U.S., The Bell Jar is a semiautobiographical novel that explores womanhood, a woman’s role in society, and mental health. It was the writer and poet’s only novel.
The book club meetings are free and open to the public. There is no formal membership. The AMA requests that participants RSVP so that adequate seating may be provided. An RSVP link for the Sept 17 meeting may be found HERE.
The complete season schedule and registration links may be found HERE.
Those with questions about these and other AMA programs may email Vanoteghem HERE or call her at 229.439.8400 during weekday business hours.
AMA EXHIBITIONS
- Beauty in the Humble Places, a David Lanier Retrospective, is Aug 29, 2024-Jan 4, 2025, in the Haley Gallery.
- Rootwork, recent works by Jillian Marie Browning, is Aug 29, 2024-Jan 4, 2025, in the East Gallery.
- Sixty Years of Masterpieces and Memories, highlights from the Permanent Collection, is Aug 29, 2024-Jan 4, 2025, in the McCormack Gallery.
- Old Master Drawings from the Shaffer Collection, Part 3 is Aug 29, 2024-Jan 4, 2025, in the Hodges Gallery.
- Escape Plan, an 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 our website HERE or call 229.439.8400. Be sure to follow AlbanyMuseumOfArt on Facebook and AlbanyMuseum on Instagram.
