Monthly Archives: July 2010

Symbols and Storytelling in Art

July 29th, 2010
The Journey, c.1990, Selma Bortner (b.1926), hand colored linoleum print on paper, H. 24 x W.26 inches, Collection of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22.
The Journey, c.1990, Selma Bortner (b.1926), hand colored linoleum print on paper, H. 24 x W.26 inches, Collection of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22.

Selma Bortner created this print around the time her husband had surgery on his heart. Have you ever had a time where someone close to you was sick? This was a difficult time for her and she worried about her husband and his health.

She created this artwork using symbols to show her experience with her husband’s illness and how she had to take care of him. She shows a portrait of herself holding her husband on a boat. They are surrounded by animals and other human like figures. 

She compared this experience of caring for her husband during his illness to a “journey”. What is a journey? Have you taken an important journey before? How do you think she is showing a journey in her artwork? Read More »

Posted in Artworks | Tagged

Participate in our Six Degrees of Costumes and Kevin Bacon Contest!

July 20th, 2010
Jean Louis (France, 1907 – 1997), Gilda, 1946, Columbia Pictures, Rita Hayworth as Gilda Mundson Farrell, Black satin strapless dress, (Replica), Publicity still courtesy of John Lebold.

Jean Louis (France, 1907 – 1997), Gilda, 1946, Columbia Pictures, Rita Hayworth as Gilda Mundson Farrell, Black satin strapless dress, (Replica), Publicity still courtesy of John Lebold.

Come to the Michener Art Museum and see Icons of Costume: Hollywood’s Golden Era and Beyond and participate in our Six Degrees of Costumes and Kevin Bacon Contest!

Contest Rules: Pick a costume featured in the exhibit and link it to Kevin Bacon in six degrees (example below). Post it on our Facebook page to be eligible for a FREE membership drawing (six fans randomly chosen) on August 31st. Winners will be notified through Facebook.

Tell your friends to fan us and join in the fun!

Example of Six Degrees of Costumes and Kevin Bacon:

  1. Jean Louis designed the dress for “Gilda”
  2. Worn by Rita Hayworth who co-starred with
  3. Glen Ford who co-starred with
  4. “Ronnie” Howard in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father”
  5. Who directed “Apollo 13” starring
  6. Kevin Bacon
Posted in Contests, Exhibitions, Icons of Costume: Hollywood's Golden Era and Beyond | Tagged

Audio Tour: Learn about Lassie!

July 15th, 2010
Berg, Eric (b.1945), Lassie, 1996, bronze, H. 40 x W. 49 x D. 24.5 inches, James A. Michener Art Museum, Acquired with a Legislative Initiative Grant awarded by Senator H. Craig Lewis.

Berg, Eric (b.1945), Lassie, 1996, bronze, H. 40 x W. 49 x D. 24.5 inches, James A. Michener Art Museum, Acquired with a Legislative Initiative Grant awarded by Senator H. Craig Lewis.

Have you read the story Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight? If you have, then you know the very famous main character of the story, Lassie. The Michener Art Museum is very fortunate to have a sculpture of Lassie in the Pfundt Sculpture Garden.

Listen to an audio tour by an elementary student from United Friends School, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. She will tell you more about this special sculpture.

In July 1995, the Michener Art Museum was awarded funding by the state of Pennsylvania to create a sculpture and educational curriculum for teachers based on author Eric Knight’s famous fictional character, Lassie.

The Michener Art Museum commissioned a bronze life-size sculpture of Lassie.  Five artists submitted resumes and slides.  Through a selection process, noted animal sculptor Eric Berg was chosen by the museum’s collections committee to create Lassie. Read More »

Posted in Audio Tour | Tagged ,

If this painting were a piece of music, what would it sound like?

July 9th, 2010
Street Quartet, 1990, Paul Keene, (1920-2009), acrylic on canvas, H.54 x W. 52.25 inches, James A. Michener Art Museum, Purchased with funds provided by Ann and Joseph Gardocki.

Street Quartet, 1990, Paul Keene, (1920-2009), acrylic on canvas, H.54 x W. 52.25 inches, James A. Michener Art Museum, Purchased with funds provided by Ann and Joseph Gardocki.

When you look at a work of art, you can describe it using adjectives, like calm, bright, energetic, and quiet. You can also compare visual art with music. Try it! Look at this work by Paul Keene closely. Try comparing the colors to musical elements. Is the red loud? Strong? Is the blue quiet and calm? Is the work giving you a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm? How? Is the mixture of colors giving you the impression of many sounds, or do you only hear one sound? Use your imagination!

Paul Keene liked to use bright, bold colors in daring ways in his paintings. This use of color creates a sense of energy in the work. Color can be a powerful element in a work of art, and artists can use color in expressive ways. Sometimes color can just describe what an object looks like, symbolize something, or convey a certain emotion. What kinds of colors is Keene using in this work? Where is he placing the warm and the cool colors? What kind of feeling do you get from the colors being used? If the colors in this painting changed, how would its mood change? Read More »

Posted in Artworks | Tagged

Michener staff share their immigration stories

July 1st, 2010
Stephen Wilkes (b.1957), Isolation Ward, Curved Corridor, Island 3, Ellis Island, ca.1998-2003, Ilfochrome print, H. 39 x W. 48 inches. Collection of the artist.

Stephen Wilkes (b.1957), Isolation Ward, Curved Corridor, Island 3, Ellis Island, ca.1998-2003, Ilfochrome print, H. 39 x W. 48 inches. Collection of the artist.

This is a follow up to the recent blog posting, “Do you have an immigration story?” on June 25th.

Listen to Michener staff member, Gilbert Winner, share some stories about his family and his response to the exhibition that recently opened, Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom.

We look forward to hearing your stories!

Posted in Audio Tour, Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom, Exhibitions | Tagged ,