UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two special exhibitions opening in September at the new Palmer Museum of Art will spotlight dynamic collaborations with faculty, students and organizations across Penn State’s campus. "Re/Collecting the Andes: Andean Art, Science, and the Sacred at Penn State" and "Politics and Daily Life" will be on view through the fall semester alongside the Palmer’s popular inaugural exhibition "MADE IN PA," which has already welcomed more than 28,600 visitors.

A robust schedule of artist lectures, gallery talks, and related programming, co-sponsored with University partners, accompanies the three exhibitions.

“This fall we are showcasing the power of collaboration and community building with our exhibitions and programs,” said Erin M. Coe, director of the Palmer Museum of Art. “These projects emphasize interdisciplinary perspectives as well the museum’s community-centered approach to presenting and interpreting diverse works of art through a new lens.”  

"Re/Collecting the Andes: Andean Art, Science, and the Sacred at Penn State"

Opening Sept. 14, "Re/Collecting the Andes" features a rich array of historical and modern Andean objects drawn largely from Penn State collections, including the Palmer Museum, the Matson Museum of Anthropology, and the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. The exhibition, which explores centuries of Andean culture through the lenses of art, science and religion, was curated by Christopher Heaney, associate professor of Latin American history, and Amara Solari, professor of art history and anthropology, along with the students in their Fall 2022 “Exhibiting Incas” course.

“In the United States, we're inclined to think of Peru and the Andes as far off and ‘ancient,’ but as we teach at Penn State — and anyone who has thought about visiting Machu Picchu knows—Andean people and their cultures are alive, well and here in the United States, including Happy Valley,” said Heaney.

“'Re/Collecting the Andes' is a chance to celebrate their presence,” he continued, “and think critically about how their culture and knowledge has ended up in American museums.” 

For the exhibition, students researched the history of the Inca empire and its ancestors as well as how the Spanish invasion dispersed Andean knowledge, culture, and even bodies around the world. They also examined the problematic history of collecting and displaying the cultural artifacts of colonized groups. Heaney and Solari encouraged students to place the Penn State Andean holdings in conversation with the artwork of two contemporary Peruvian artists, Fernando “Coco” Bedoya and Kukuli Velarde, whose work is now represented in the permanent collection of the Palmer thanks to support from the College of the Liberal Arts.  

Students in “Exhibiting Incas" were encouraged to engage with Andean art, and to explore how Andean works are acquired, how they are presented to contemporary audiences, and the role of museums in the effort to re-evaluate how history is studied. 

“Working on 'Re/Collecting the Andes' was a truly transformative experience,” said Sé Morrisson, undergraduate curatorial intern pursuing degrees in Anthropology, History, CAMS and African Studies, who took the course. “It sparked a deep interest in museum studies that has continued to guide my approach to historical research to this day." 

"Re/Collecting the Andes" will be on view until Dec. 8 in the Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery on the second level of the Palmer, a new gallery and hybrid classroom space dedicated to co-curation with Penn State faculty who are incorporating works of art from the museum’s collection into their curricula. An illustrated brochure published with support from the George Dewey and Mary J. Krumrine Endowment accompanies the exhibition. 

“Co-creating this exhibition with our students, Penn State's Peruvian community, and the artists Coco Bedoya and Kukuli Velarde has been the most exciting teaching experience of my time at Penn State,” Heaney added. "We're grateful to the Palmer Museum and the Departments of History and Art History for supporting it.”

"Re/Collecting the Andes" was organized by the Palmer Museum of Art. Programming around the exhibition includes a gallery talk with Christopher Heaney and artist Kukuli Velarde on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. during the Palmer’s popular "Art After Hours" event. See below for other programming and events related to the exhibition. 

"Politics and Daily Life"

For those who can’t get enough of the ups and downs of the election cycle, the special exhibition "Politics and Daily Life" uses the upcoming 2024 presidential election to reflect on the history of national politics and to examine works of art that engage political themes. The exhibition, which opens on Sept. 21, presents a selection of prints, drawings, photographs and a sculpture drawn from the Palmer Museum’s permanent collection arranged into three sections — Events, People and Symbols. It features works by American and European artists from the mid-1800s to the early 2000s, including Robert Arneson, Papo Colo, Stella Drabkin, Larry Fink, William Gropper, Billy Morrow Jackson, Käthe Kollwitz, Jacob Lawrence, Jack Levine, Glenn Ligon, Gordon Parks and Ben Shahn.

“'Politics and Daily Life' reinforces the importance of political engagement and civil discourse, especially during this pivotal presidential election season,” said Coe. “Through the exhibition and our civic engagement programs, the Palmer is showcasing the power of art to foster civic readiness and participation, especially for college students who are just beginning to become involved in political discourse.”

The Palmer is partnering for the first time with the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State to present the exhibition to spark bipartisan dialogue about democracy, empowerment, propaganda, patriotism and protest during a politically charged time. The McCourtney Institute’s mission to confront the precarious condition of democracy in the United States and around the world, as well as promote scholarship to preserve and advance democracy through teaching, research, and public outreach, aligns with the themes of the special exhibition and resonates with the museum’s fall civic engagement programs. 

“Central to democracy is the freedom of expression, and partnering with the Palmer Museum offers us the opportunity to experience how people represent their desire for freedom and self-governance through the arts,” said Michael Berkman, director of the McCourtney Institute. “It also brings us new audiences who share our commitment to democracy.”

"Politics and Daily Life" is also part of a broader collaborative partnership with art museums at other Big 10 universities to present non-partisan exhibitions and events during the 2024 election season. By facilitating conversations about democracy, the exhibitions and programs provide unique opportunities to support civic readiness and bridge political divides across Big 10 campuses.

"Politics and Daily Life" was organized by the Palmer Museum of Art with research contributions by Alicia Skeath, graduate assistant and doctoral candidate in art history. The exhibition is on view from Sept. 21 to Dec. 15 in the Greider Family Gallery on the second level of the Palmer Museum. 

The exhibition is sponsored by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State.

Related programming includes civic discussions and events as well as opportunities to register to vote like the drop-in “Art of the Vote” program on Friday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. See below for full program information at the Palmer. 

"MADE IN PA"

The inaugural special exhibition "MADE IN PA" continues this fall through Dec. 1. It debuted on June 1 with the public opening of the Palmer’s new building and highlights post-1945 paintings, sculpture, mixed-media assemblages, and installations by artists who have made their homes or sustained their careers in Pennsylvania, the Keystone State. The exhibition includes three generations of artists that comment on the varied geography, complicated legacies, socio-political realities and hybrid identities that characterize the work of Pennsylvania artists today.

"MADE IN PA" is supported by Kish Bank, Exhibition Lead Sponsor. It is also supported, in part, by the School of Visual Arts at Penn State.

Three artists included in the exhibition will be giving talks at the museum in September and October: Artist Devan Shimoyama on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.; Diane Burko on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.; and Holly Wilson on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. See below for full program information centered around "MADE IN PA."

Programs related to special exhibitions

Gallery Talks

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 are:

• Thursday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m., Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery — "Re/Collecting the Andes" with artist Kukuli Velarde and Christopher Heaney, associate professor of history  

• Friday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., Greider Family Gallery — "Politics and Daily Life" with The McCourtney Institute for Democracy  

• Friday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m., Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Galleries — "MADE IN PA": "Bloodline" with artist Holly Wilson 

• Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m., Greider Family Gallery — "Politics and Daily Life" with Alicia Skeath, graduate assistant and doctoral candidate in art history 

Artist Lecture: Devan Shimoyama 

Thursday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m. — Event Space

As part of the Palmer Museum of Art's programming celebrating the special exhibition "MADE IN PA," artist Devan Shimoyama will talk about his installation "The Grove" as well as his broader work in painting and self-portraiture, which investigates the politics of queer culture while navigating his own personal narratives. Shimoyama graduated from Penn State in 2011 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing/painting and received his master of fine arts degree from Yale University in painting/printmaking in 2014. He lives and works in Pittsburgh. 

This program is co-sponsored by the Penn State School of Visual Arts John M. Anderson Endowed Lecture Series.

To request live captioning or sign language interpretation, contact Brandi Breslin, bgb56@psu.edu.

Click here to request a remote attendance option.

Art After Hours: Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month 

Thursday, Sept. 26, 5 to 8 p.m. — Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby, Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery, and Event Space

Celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month at the museum! Explore Latinx creativity through art, music, and dance and take a deep dive into the Fall 2024 Teaching Gallery exhibition "Re/Collecting the Andes" with a gallery talk led by exhibition co-curator Christopher Heaney, associate professor of history, and artist Kukuli Velarde. Light refreshments will be provided.

Artist Lecture: Diane Burko, Unprecedented: Before and After 

Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m. — Event Space

Artist-activist Diane Burko has traveled the globe in search of evidence of humankind’s impact on the natural world. In her monumental painting currently on view in "MADE IN PA," Burko bears witness to the unprecedented convergence of global crises — the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and sociopolitical unrest — since 2020. Burko will share “before and after” insights about her career, her ongoing engagement with climate scientists and environmentalists, and the “unprecedented” moment we find ourselves living in.

This program is sponsored by Penn State Sustainability as part of its Sustainability Showcase Series. Outside of this lecture, Burko will participate in a variety of campus events as a Showcase Speaker for the program. Visit Penn State Sustainability's calendar of events to learn more.

To request live captioning or sign language interpretation, contact Brandi Breslin, bgb56@psu.edu.

Click here to request a remote attendance option. 

Student Engagement Program – The Art of the Vote 

Friday, Oct. 4, drop-in: 1–4 p.m. — Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby, Greider Family Gallery, and Event Space

Take advantage of this opportunity to register to vote at the Palmer Museum before it’s too late to participate in this year’s election. While you’re here, reflect on the power of art to communicate, question, and inspire change with the "Art and Conversation Deck" developed by the University of Michigan Museum of Art with our B1G art museum peers. Catch a gallery talk at 2 p.m. on democracy in the "Politics and Daily Life" exhibition, and stroll through the galleries for inspiration before making your own collage that combines visual materials with text and calls to action.

PSU Votes will be onsite to register students to vote, and the McCourtney Institute will be onsite to chat with visitors about democracy.

Support for this project was provided by Art Bridges and the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. 

Artist Lecture: Holly Wilson 

Thursday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m. — Event Space

Multimedia artist Holly Wilson is an enrolled member of the Delaware Nation, one of the five federally recognized tribes of the Lenape, whose ancestral lands include the area now known as eastern Pennsylvania. Based in Oklahoma, Wilson considers herself a storyteller who weaves together a rich tapestry of narratives that are sacred and precious, personal and universal, powerful and at times volatile. Her monumental sculpture titled Bloodline (2015), which is currently on view in "MADE in PA," explores both the long trail of Native American displacement and the rich lineage of family, history, and identity. Her work can be found in museum collections across the country, including the James A. Michener Art Museum, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Gorman Museum of Native American Art, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Red Cloud Heritage Center, and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

Support for this program was provided by Art Bridges with co-sponsorship from Penn State School of Visual Arts John M. Anderson Endowed Lecture Series.

To request live captioning or sign language interpretation, please contact Brandi Breslin, bgb56@psu.edu.

Click here to request a remote attendance option. 

K –12 Educator Workshop with Guest Artist Holly Wilson 

Saturday, Oct. 12, 1–5 p.m. — Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom  

Free of charge to active K –12 educators; ACT48 credit will be available. Register in advance at Educator Workshop Registration.

Join artist Holly Wilson and museum educators to explore the special exhibition "MADE IN PA." Discover museum resources for K –12 educators, enjoy independent viewing and discussions in the galleries, and practice suggested lessons in the studio classroom.  

Support for this program was provided by Art Bridges. 

Art Connection: Family Weekend at the Palmer 

Saturday, Oct. 19, Drop-in: noon to 5 p.m.

As part of Penn State’s Family Weekend, the Palmer Museum of Art offers a full day of drop-in programs to introduce the museum’s brand new, state-of-the-ART building, world-class collections, special exhibitions, and academic resources. A variety of activities will inspire reflection about how art connects us, including tours, in-gallery experiences, and creative art activities related to "MADE IN PA" and other special exhibitions on view. Meet museum staff, graduate assistants, interns, and volunteers as we share all there is to love about the Palmer.

Step Afrika! @ the Palmer 

Thursday, Nov, 14, 6–7:30 p.m. — Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby and Event Space 

Free, advance registration required. Register here.

The Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Palmer Museum, hosts Step Afrika! for an interactive, engaging program. Hear from the group’s leadership about connecting the artform of stepping to the work of renowned visual artist Jacob Lawrence and enjoy a brief demonstration by dancers in the company. Following the program, take part in an interactive gallery experience, view a work by Jacob Lawrence in the gallery and share ideas and personal reflections related to migration stories. A pre-event reception hosted by the CPA’s Student Advisory Council and the Palmer’s Student Ambassadors will begin at 5:30 p.m. 

For a full schedule of programs this fall, visit https://palmermuseum.psu.edu/programs/.

About the Palmer Museum of Art 

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is the largest art museum collection between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and the most significant academic art museum in the state of Pennsylvania. A key element of Penn State’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and public service, the museum is a vital and accessible cultural resource for Penn State’s students, faculty and scholars, as well as for all visitors to and from the entire central Pennsylvania region. Through its world-class objects, programs and outreach, the free museum is a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant forum for authentic arts experiences and cultivates meaningful dialogue about today’s most potent ideas and pressing concerns. 
 
An expansive 21st-century teaching museum, the Palmer Museum of Art is a beacon for advancing the arts and humanities on Penn State’s University Park campus and throughout its diverse communities. The museum is dedicated to catalyzing groundbreaking research, scholarship and publications and providing impactful, object-based learning for Penn State and K-12 students. The museum’s rewarding and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs promote visitor participation, belonging and discovery.