Albany Museum of Art plans grown-up activities

ALBANY ─ The summer art camp season for toddlers to high school students is completed, but programming and workshops for older art enthusiasts continue at the Albany Museum of Art.

Over two Saturday mornings, Aug. 17 and 24, adults and teens can learn about embroidery at workshops by artist and art teacher Megan Lisenby. The sessions are set for 10 a.m. to noon in the AMA Classroom.

“At this engaging Embroidery Introduction Series, participants ages 16 and older will discover the timeless craft of embroidery over two enriching sessions,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “The participants will learn embroidery basics in a welcoming environment where creativity is encouraged.”

Participants need to bring only enthusiasm to the workshops, she added.

“All necessary materials will be provided for a comprehensive hands-on experience,” Vanoteghem said.

The fee for both sessions is $40 for Albany Museum of Art donors or $50 for non-donors. A registration link may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/event/embroidery-introduction-series.

On Aug. 22, the bimonthly Corks & Canvases Painting Party will reinterpret Pablo Picasso’s painting “Asleep.” The workshop is 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the AMAzing Space activity center.

“This is one of our most popular programs,” Vanoteghem said. “We had to move it to the activity center so more people could participate. You don’t need any painting experience to join the party. You’ll get step-by-step instructions as you enjoy a glass of wine, hors d’oeuvres, soft background music, and pleasant conversation with the other participants. It’s a low-pressure evening, and you go home with your original work of art.”

“Asleep,” or “Le Repos,” is an oil-on-canvas painting of Picasso’s lover Marie-Therese Walter, also described as his “golden muse,” at a time when their clandestine affair turned into a relaxed home life at Chateau de Boisgeloup. The painting marked a change in Picasso’s work, which moved from violent Surrealist distortions to a gentler depiction of the female form. He experimented with freer composition, employing rich colors and sweeping brushwork.

The artist was 29 years older than Walter, who he painted numerous times during this period, demonstrating her influence on his life. Picasso explored the sleeping female form in numerous works during this period of his career, saying that when a man watches a woman sleep, he tries to understand her. This sleeping state became his signature depiction of Walter. In 2018, “Le Repos” sold for $36.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction.

The AMA provides all the painting materials, including the canvas. The fee for Corks & Canvases is $30 for AMA donors or $35 for non-donors. A registration link may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/corks-and-canvases.

Looking further ahead, after the “official” end of summer on Labor Day, Yoga in the Gallery returns at 10 a.m. on Sept 7. The hour-long session, led by yoga instructor Renea Miller, combines the environment of art with the relaxation of yoga to create a unique experience.

No yoga experience is required. Participants should dress comfortably and bring a mat. The fee is $10 for AMA donors and $15 for non-donors. A registration link may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/yoga.

Also, there is plenty of time to read the book for discussion at the next AMA Art Lovers Book Club meeting. When the club meets at 6 p.m. on Sept. 17, in the Willson Auditorium, the members will enjoy a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres as they share their thoughts on “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath.

Published under a nom de plume in 1963 in Great Britain and under Plath’s name in 1971 in the U.S., “The Bell Jar” is a semiautobiographical novel that explores womanhood, a woman’s role in society, and mental health. It was the writer and poet’s only novel.

The book club meetings are free and open to the public. There is no formal membership. The AMA requests that participants RSVP so that adequate seating may be provided. An RSVP link may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/book-club.

Those with questions about these and other AMA programs may contact Vanoteghem at [email protected] or call her at (229) 439-8400 during weekday business hours.

Special Photo: Albany Museum of Art