Ligonier museum plans garden tour, plein air painting weekend
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The natural beauty of the Ligonier area is the focus of two September programs scheduled at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley.
• The museum’s head gardener, Anne Clark, will lead a tour of the gardens on the museum grounds at 1 p.m. Sept. 18.
“This tour encompasses end-of-season garden cleanup and seed collection/procurement. You will learn the finite details of how to put your garden to bed for the winter and ready it for next spring,” Clark said. “This event is ideal for novice and experienced gardeners alike.”
Participants also will be able to collect seeds for their own gardens.
A question-and-answer session will follow the tour. Event will be held rain or shine.
Cost for the program is $10, which includes collection packets for the seeds that can be harvested. To register, call 724-238-6015 or visit the museum at 1 Boucher Lane and Route 711 South in Ligonier Township.
• The 12th annual Paint Out is planned for Sept. 24-26. Typically, dozens of artists visit the Ligonier Valley to paint en plein air during the weekend. This year, artists are invited to paint two of Ligonier’s most iconic locations, Idlewild Park and Fort Ligonier, along with other scenes in Ligonier itself and the surrounding landscape, including state forests and scenic overlooks.
“It is the perfect social distancing event,” said site coordinator Kristen Miller.
Following the three days of painting, the museum will hold a wet sale from 1-4 p.m. Sept. 27, during which the public is invited to view and purchase the freshly painted works. For those unable to attend the wet sale reception, SAMA will retain works for viewing and purchase through Oct. 3.
“There are so few events we have been able to hold, so we have really been looking forward to hosting this,” Miller said. “We will use all safety protocols, so everyone can safely enjoy SAMA to view and purchase all the beautiful works.”
The Paint Out will offer participating artists $500 in cash prizes, sponsored by the Emma Clyde Hodge Memorial Fund. A $30 non-refundable registration fee is required.
Artists who are interested in participating in the Paint Out can call 724-238-6015 or stop by the museum.
Regular hours of operation are noon- 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Details: sama-art.org