September marks the start of new events at Newport Art Museum

Museum staff
·4 min read

September at the Newport Art Museum brings with it a new season of programs and classes, the final days of our Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection exhibition, and preparations for the third and final 2022 Artist-in-Residence.

After a full summer of multi-disciplinary youth art camps, Plein air painting, and a bustling ceramics studio, the Museum School has a slate of classes and workshops to satisfy the creative streak in every age. New this fall are mixed media and ceramics classes geared specifically for homeschooling families, to ensure arts education is available to all.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the Museum will host a virtual talk with Linda Grasso titled “Equal Under the Sky: Georgia O’Keeffe & 20th Century Feminism” in conjunction with the current exhibition “Georgia O’Keeffe: Things I Had No Words For.” This is O'Keefe's "Sun Water Maine."
On Friday, Sept. 23, the Museum will host a virtual talk with Linda Grasso titled “Equal Under the Sky: Georgia O’Keeffe & 20th Century Feminism” in conjunction with the current exhibition “Georgia O’Keeffe: Things I Had No Words For.” This is O'Keefe's "Sun Water Maine."

Two not-to-be-missed exhibitions will close this month – “Maxwell Giroux: Anima” at the Museum School on Sept. 26, and “Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection” in the Griswold House on Sept. 18. Max Giroux has been a dedicated student at the Museum School’s ceramics studio for many years. This exhibition provides insight into his creative process, and celebrates his keen observational skills, love of dinosaurs, and sophisticated understanding of form as he creates powerful, minimalistic works. “Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection” is an important reflection of the Museum’s mission to share a diversity of art and experiences that spark reflection, inspiration, discovery and connection within our Newport community and beyond. The Museum has sought to add new and diverse artists, objects, voices, and ideas to the collection that encourage learning and discussion on topics such as gender fluidity, cultural stereotypes, conflict, forced assimilation and more.

Several events are on the horizon this month, including Museum Reads, the Museum’s art-themed book group, a lecture with author Linda Grasso on Georgia O’Keeffe and feminism, and a day of One-to-One Micro Concerts with the Newport String Project.

Museum Reads will meet in person and virtually on Thursday, Sept. 15 at noon to discuss “We Flew Over the Bridge: The Memoirs of Faith Ringgold.” Ms. Ringgold’s memoir was selected in conjunction with the exhibition “Velvet & Silk: The Palmer Family Quilts,” which closes Sunday, Sept. 11. Ringgold is one of America’s preeminent African American artists, a creator of startling and politically charged “story quilts.” Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Tickets are $5 (Free for Museum Members) and are available at newportartmuseum.org/events.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the Museum will host a virtual talk with Linda Grasso titled “Equal Under the Sky: Georgia O’Keeffe & 20th Century Feminism” in conjunction with the current exhibition “Georgia O’Keeffe: Things I Had No Words For.” The first historical study of O’Keeffe’s complex involvement with, and influence on, feminism in America from the 1910s to the 1970s, Grasso’s book draws from paintings, photographs, correspondence, press, fan mail, and archival documents, to explore how the artist and feminism have been linked in popular culture and the public imagination. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Tickets are $15 ($10 for Museum Members) and available at newportartmuseum.org/events.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Museum will again partner with the Newport String Project to offer a day of One-to-One Micro Concerts. An idea born out of the pandemic but quickly beloved by music appreciators, these personalized concerts are back by popular demand. Each Micro-Concert pairs one musician with an individual or small group audience for an engaging, 15 minute, performance experience in a selection of beautiful Museum settings. One to One features musicians from the Newport String Quartet, NSP’s resident ensemble, as well as guest artists from throughout New England. Reservations are required and can be secured at newportartmuseum.org/events. To ensure inspiring musical experiences are accessible to all, there is no charge for Micro-Concerts, but donations are gratefully accepted.

Behind the scenes, Museum staff are preparing for, and planning engagement programs with, our third and final Artist in Residence, painter Orlando Almanza. Based in Havana, Cuba and Seattle, Orlando’s paintings explore a dreamworld of memory, myth and loss with ethereal landscapes, portraits and storytelling. Information and updates can be found at newportartmuseum.org/education/air-newport.

For a full schedule of exhibitions, events, classes, and more information, please visit newportartmuseum.org or stop by 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport.

“At the Museum,” provided by the Newport Art Museum, appears each month in The Daily News and online at newportri.com. For more information, call 401-848-8200.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Art Museum offers new events as September starts