Westmoreland Museum of American Art was one of the most delightful museum visits we have ever had!
Welcome to The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Gardens
Our destination, after our brief visit to northwestern South Carolina, was New Stanton, PA in the western part of the state. We were meeting up with another couple, Judi and Ed, who are also full time RVers.
The Rose Madder Club, 1934. Oil on canvas by Guy Pène du Bois.
Helen Ahlers, 1926. Oil on canvas by Malcolm Parcell.
Judi grew up in Greensburg, the next little town from New Stanton. They had arrived at the RV park about a month or so before us and couldn’t wait for us to arrive so that they could take us to all of her childhood haunts! The first of those being The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
Self Portrait, 1937. Oil on canvas by Mary Regensburg Feist
The Front of Mellon Institute, 1939. Oil on canvas by Malcolm Parcell
Judi, who is also an artist, used to go to the museum every day after school. It was a tiny museum back then and she passed right by it on her way home. Her description made me expect a very short visit to a small art museum. Oh boy was I wrong!
Top: Rural Politics, 1955. Oil on Masonite by Mary Martha Himler.
Bottom: Parade to the Baptism, 2013. Mixed media by Vanessa German
Blown glass pendant sculpture by Dale Chihuly
When we arrived it was obvious that the museum had grown considerable over the years since Judi lived in Greensburg.
Entire exhibition of art called Pennsylvania in Progress
Honoring the founding of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Fabulous assortment of art by Pennsylvania artists
The museum was established in 1959, and is dedicated to American art, with a focus on art from southwestern Pennsylvania.
Greensburg through “The Cantilever”
The Museum through “The Cantilever”
View from “The Cantilever”
In 2016, Ennead Architects refurbished the museum’s existing brick neo-Georgian building. But the stunning addition is what blew us away. A new 13,280-square-foot wing was added that cantilevers over the gently sloping site.
Summer Sky (On the Summit), 1918. Oil on canvas by Charles Courtney Curran
Self Portrait, 1963. Tempera on canvas by Thomas Hart Benton
“The result is an architecturally dynamic building marrying old and new, with an expansion that stands as a striking counterpoint to the original neo-Georgian structure,” the firm said.
Self-Portrait, 1902. Oil on canvas by Thomas Eakins
Self-Portrait, 1892. Oil on canvas by John Singer Sargent.
This new wing houses galleries for temporary and permanent exhibitions. The cantilever wing is mostly clad in zinc panels but the front is floor-to-ceiling glass.
Two Idlers, 1888-1889. Oil on canvas by Robert Frederick Blum/
Self-Portrait, 1894. Oil on canvas by Cecilia Beaux.
The facade of the original building was also redesigned by Ennead. They removed four large columns and added a screen made of aluminum and precast concrete. The existing western wing was redone bye creating a new angled concrete facade. A focal point at the center is a kinetic metal installation by artist Tim Prentice. A double-height lobby was also added as well. It is ringed by a new museum shop and gallery; and a glass staircase leads to the upper level and the new eastern wing.
Mrs. John Wheeler Leavitt, Cecilia Leavett, 1885. Oil on canvas by Cecilia Beaux
Mrs. Clement B. Newbold, 1896. Oil on canvas by Cecilia Beaux.
What made our visit to this gorgeous art space so special was that we were guided by a docent. It gave us a whole new perspective of the art within. We were able to gain insight into the artists’ inspiration for each of their works. It was our first experience of have a guided tour with a docent, but it surely won’t be the last.
Painting of sisters by Cecilia Beaux
Still Life with Fruit, circa 1918. Oil on canvas by Cecilia Beaux.
We spent hours exploring every inch of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. But we saved the Art Maze for last. Stay tuned for Westmoreland Museum of American Art part two!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks