CULTURE CORNER: Palmer Museum of Art

Posted by Liz Piazza on Friday, May 29, 2020 at 1:27 PM By Liz Piazza / May 29, 2020 Comment

The Palmer Museum of Art, situated in State College on Penn State’s University Park Campus, is a free-admission arts resource center for the university, Centre County and surrounding Central Pennsylvania.

Opened in 1972 and remodeled in 1993 by post-modernist architect Charles W. Moore, it holds 9,600 items. Particularly strong areas include the museum’s collections of American art from the late 18th century to the present, old master paintings, prints and photography, ceramics and studio glass, and a growing collection of modern and contemporary art.

After strolling through the permanent galleries, make sure you check out the current exhibitions, which rotate seasonally. Many of these exhibits are by world-renowned artists from all periods and places, so don’t miss your chance to see them up-close right here in State College.

The museum also hosts events and programming, including gallery talks; lectures by national and international artists and scholars; music, dance and theater performances; poetry readings; one-day exhibits; panel discussions; film series; workshops for teachers and youth; and more. All these events are free to the public.

And, if you have any questions about what you’re seeing, museum staff are always on call and ready to answer any questions you may have. You’ll also have access to the print-study room, which can be useful for artists and art historians alike.

Lastly, don’t forget to take in the sculpture garden, a peaceful place to end your visit. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

New exhibitions come and go, so make sure to check the museum’s calendar before you leave. Upcoming exhibitions beginning this June include Field Language: The Painting and Poetry of Warren and Jane Rohrer; The Wit and Whimsy of Lucille Corcos; and Pennsylvania Scenery: Early Landscape Prints from The Tavern Collection.