Thanks to a generous legacy gift from the Century Fund and lead support from Lehigh Valley Health Network and City Center Allentown and J.B. and Kathleen Reilly, the Museum is instituting Free Admission for All, Forever, beginning Saturday, August 27, 2022!

To celebrate, the Museum is throwing a party, with free fun activities for all ages on Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28. Opening weekend of your Museum being #freeforall also marks the opening of the New American Galleries and refreshed Art Ways Interactive Family Galleries, so there will plenty to see and do. Please join us one day or both to be a part of and help share in this historic occasion. #artforall #AAMforall  #freeforall

 

Saturday, August 27 

10 a.m.–11 a.m.: Member Preview
AAM members get a first look at the renovated New American Galleries, the first significant rehang of the permanent collection in more than a decade.

Harry Bertoia’s Double Branched Gongs

11 a.m.: Public welcome and ceremonial Ringing of the Gongs
Art Museum president & CEO Max Weintraub will welcome the community beside the large bronze sculpture, Double Branched Gongs, that stands next to the Museum, outside. Then artist Val Bertoia will “play” the Gongs sculpture to mark the moment that the Museum becomes #freeforall. The sculpture was created by Val’s father, Harry Bertoia, in 1970–71 and is part of the Museum’s collection of American art.

11 a.m.–5 p.m.: Opening Day of the New American Galleries and the new Art Ways
The first 100 visitors through the door will receive an Opening Day gift that’s appropriate for all ages. On the first floor you can walk the renovated and newly reinstalled American galleries. On the second floor, visit the grand reopening of Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery, complete with three new Maker Stations where families can explore 3D printing, art conservation, and the art and science involved in architecture, design, and construction. Other activities include:
• two self-guided Treasure Hunts, one for inside and one outside the Museum
• docents stationed in Kress Gallery and in the exhibition Eclectic Collecting: Curiosities from the Vault answer questions about the art (noon–2 p.m. & 2:30–4:30 p.m.)
• self-guided tour through the New American Galleries
• hands-on art making for all ages during ArtVentures (11:30 a.m.–4 p.m.)
• outside the Museum: sidewalk chalk, face painting, bubbles, ice cream truck

11:15 & 11:45 a.m.
Val Bertoia plays sounding sculptures by Harry Bertoia in Trexler Gallery.

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
First guided tour through the New American Galleries, led by AAM vice president of curatorial affairs, Elaine Mehalakes

1:30–2:30 p.m. & 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Guided tour through the New American Galleries, led by a Museum educator

2–4 p.m.
Meet artist Emil Lukas, whose artwork Expander (2020) is on display for the first time, in Trexler Gallery, as part of the New American Galleries.


Sunday, August 28

11 a.m.–5 p.m.: Opening weekend of New American Galleries and Art Ways 
On the first floor you can walk the renovated and newly reinstalled American galleries. On the second floor, visit the grand reopening of Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery, complete with three new Maker Stations where families can explore 3D printing, art conservation, and the art and science involved in architecture, design, and construction. Also:
• live music in the galleries
• two self-guided Treasure Hunts, one for inside and one outside the Museum
• docents stationed in Kress Gallery and in the exhibition Eclectic Collecting: Curiosities from the Vault answer questions about the art (noon–4 p.m.)
• self-guided tour through the New American Galleries
• hands-on art making for all ages during ArtVentures (11:30 a.m.–4 p.m.)

noon–1 p.m. & 2–3 p.m.
Guided tours through the New American Galleries, led by a Museum educator (noon) and curator (2 p.m.)

noon–2 p.m.
Meet artist Angela Fraleigh, whose painting And then we’ll walk right up to the sun (2016) is on display for the first time, in Trexler Hall, as part of the New American Galleries.

2–4 p.m.
Meet artist Angel Suarez-Rosado, whose artwork White Fences (2003) is on display for the first time, in Trexler Hall, as part of the New American Galleries.