‘Artober’ Is Breaking Out at the AMA

Art Is in the Fall Air All October Long

The Albany Museum of Art has a full slate of art-related programming in October, including some Halloween-inspired fun later in the month.

“October is always a busy programming month, and it truly is ‘Artober’ with all the opportunities we have for art-related experiences throughout the month,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “We have programming for all ages, from toddlers to adults, and with Halloween coming up, we have some really fun themes.

“And don’t forget that admission to the AMA is free for everyone. We have three terrific exhibitions that opened in September: Land that I Love, featuring work by Pittsburgh, Pa. artist Ashley Cecil; Familias, which is work by Argentine-American artist Ramiro Davaro-Comas, who now lives in New York, and Southern Visionaries, which includes pieces from the AMA’s permanent collection that were created by self-taught Georgia artists.”

The museum, located at 311 Meadowlark Drive just off Gillionville Road, is open 10 am-5 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays. Here is a glance at the events scheduled for October at the AMA.

OCT 3: Artober at the AMA opens Tuesday, Oct 3, with Toddler Takeover, a 30-minute program for kids 18 months to 5 years. The session includes a gallery visit, story time and a hands-on art project related to one of the current exhibitions. The program starts at 10:30 am and the cost is $7 ($5 for AMA Artist Guild donors, and free for AMA Reciprocal donors and above). Information and a registration link may be found HERE.

OCT 10: Romantic Gardening with the Camellia Man, Tom Johnson, is a special event co-hosted by the Friends of the Albany Museum of Art and the Sowega Master Gardeners. It starts at 6 pm on Tuesday, Oct 10 in the Willson Auditorium at the AMA. Johnson, a world-renowned expert on camellia and the romantic style of gardening, will lecture at the event. Preordered plants from Johnson’s Grow Old business can be purchased and picked up after the event. Admission is $10, payable by cash or check at the door. Information may be found HERE.

OCT 11: Art Ed. Connect, the AMA’s continuing workshop for art educators in Southwest Georgia, is 9 am-3 pm on Wednesday, Oct 11 at the museum. Participants attend presentations, engage in hands-on art projects, share ideas with other educators, and develop a support system at this professional development workshop. The program is for educators who teach art at levels from kindergarten to college. Snacks and lunch are included in the registration, which is $30 per participant. Information and a registration link may be found at HERE.

OCT 12: Homeschool Day, a monthly 90-minute STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education program for homeschooled students begins at 10 am on Thursday, Oct 12. Designed for students in K-5th grade, it is adaptable for other age groups as well. In the AMA Classroom, students practice new artistic techniques, grow social skills, improve fine motor skills, and foster creativity. This in-gallery and hands-on exposure complements traditional homeschooling methods, enhancing their understanding of various subjects. The cost is $15 per student, or $10 per student for AMA donors. Information and a registration link may be found HERE.

OCT 14: Teens can create art together for free in the AMA Classroom 10 am-2 pm Saturday, Oct 14 at the monthly Student Art Studio Saturday (SASS). Created by the AMA Teen Art Board for the benefit of teens in the community, SASS provides all art materials for free for the program. No registration is required.

OCT 19: Corks & Canvases Painting Parties are popular bimonthly events for adults 21 and older who enjoy an evening of wine, snacks, and conversation as they get step-by-step instructions on re-creating a famous artwork with acrylics and canvas. All materials are provided by the AMA. The subject for the Halloween-inspired Oct 19 painting party is Edvard Munch’s The Scream. The two-hour class starts at 5:30 pm, and the cost is $30 per person ($25 for AMA donors). Information and a registration link may be found HERE.

OCT 23 AND 24: The AMA’s two After School Art Clubs meet a week early in October. The club for middle and high school students is 4-6 pm on Monday, Oct 23. The club for elementary school students is 3:30-5 pm on Tuesday, Oct 24. At each session, students get instruction on techniques and ideas that help them develop their skills. The cost is $15 ($12 for AMA donors). Information and registration links for both clubs may be found HERE.

OCT 28: Learn the tricks for making delightfully ghoulish treats at the Spooky Cookie Decorating Class led by the confectionary experts at Sugar Mama’s Bakery. At the workshop set for 10 am-noon on Saturday, Oct 28, you will learn cookie-decorating techniques that you will be able to use for any special event or holiday, and go home with five gorgeous creations. (Provided, of course, that the cookie monster in you doesn’t devour them on your way home.) The cost is $30 per person ($25 for AMA donors). Information and a registration link may be found HERE.

OCT 31: Artober culminates with Trick or Treat at the Museum 10 am-5 pm on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct 31. Get an early start on Halloween with a visit to the Albany Museum of Art, where your ghost or ghoul can win a prize from a scavenger hunt in the galleries, AMAzing Space will be open for creative play, and the AMA Classroom will be open for spirited art fun. There will be candy too! If your trick-or-treater doesn’t have quite the look they want for the evening’s excursion through the neighborhood, face painting will be offered from 3:30 pm until closing at 5 pm. The event is free for everyone.

While it’s a busy month, one annual program that usually culminates in October has been moved to early 2024, Vanoteghem said.

“We usually announce the winners of our annual A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words essay contest for high school and college students in October, but we have rescheduled the competition to start in February,” she said. “We believe that change will allow more students to participate.”

The dates for the A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words competition, which awards a total of $1,000 in prize money to the six winners (three each in the high school and college divisions), will be announced later this fall.

AMA EXHIBITIONS

• Land That I Love, works by Ashley Cecil, is in the Haley Gallery Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
• Familias, works by Ramiro Davaro-Comas, is in the East and Hodges Galleries Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
• Southern Visionaries: Self-Taught Artists From the AMA Permanent Collection is in the McCormack Gallery Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
• Escape Plan, installation by Elinor Saragoussi, is in the West Gallery.

AMA EVENTS

• The HeART of Albany Festival is 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, Nov 4, 2023, at the Albany Museum of Art. Admission is free for everyone. Get information on the festival HERE.

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, www.albanymuseum.com, or call 229.439.8400. Be sure to follow the Albany Museum of Art on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.