Shorts

Opening Saturday, October 30 [1993], at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is an exhibi­tion of one hundred and twenty-five old master drawings selected from both public and private collections in the United States and Europe, many of which have never before been exhibited in this country. Entitled “Visions of Antiquity: Neoclassical Figure Drawings,” the exhibition features works by a number of distinguished artists, including Pompeo Batoni, Giuseppe Cades, William Blake, Jacques-Louis David, John Flaxman, Pierre­Paul Prud’hon, and Jean-Honore Fragonard. The exhibition will continue through January 2, 1994. There is an admission charge. For additional information, write: Philadelphia Museum of Art, P. O. Box 7646, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646; or telephone (215) 763-8100 or 684-7860.

Featuring works by York County artists from 1800 to the mid-1950s, an exhibition installed by the Historical Society of York County will continue through Friday, December 31 [1993]. Artists repre­sented in this exhibition include Wayne Crumling, Horace Bonham, Stephen Etnier, and Jacob Hantz. Additional information may be obtained by writing: Historical Society of York County, 250 East Market St.,York, PA 17403; or by telephoning (717) 848-1587. Admission is charged.

On view through Saturday, November 6 [1993], at the Afro-­American Historical and Cultural Museum, Philadel­phia, is a selection of recent acquisitions, as well as significant works of art drawn from the institution’s perma­nent collections. In addition to works of art by contemporary African American artists acquired during the past five years, the exhibition features nineteenth century West African artifacts, masks, bronzes, and wooden figures. To obtain additional information, write: Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum, 701 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19106; or telephone (215) 574-3110. Admission is charged.

“Carved in Wood and Stone: Twentieth Century Sculpture,” featuring works by Henry Clews, Wharton Esherick, Charles Rudy, Adolph Dioda, Robert Laurent, Leonard Baskin, and Isamu Noguchi, is on view at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, through January 2, 1994. The exhibition includes both realist and abstract works selected from the Academy’s holdings. Additional information is available by writing: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102; or by telephoning (215) 972-7600. There is a charge for admission.

On Sunday, October 10 [1993], the Museum of Indian Culture, administered by the Lenni­-Lenape Historical Society, will present a program entitled “A Time of Thanksgiving.” The event will feature Native American ceremonies, arts and crafts, demonstrations, and activities designed for families. For more details, write: Museum of Indian Culture, Lenni-Lenape Historical Society, R. R. 2, Fish Hatchery Rd., Allentown, PA 18103; or telephone (215) 797-2121.

“The New Deal in Johnstown,” an exhibition examining the social, cultural, and educational programs initiated by the federal government to offer relief to the Cambria County commu­nity, will remain on view at the Johnstown Flood Museum through May 15, 1994. The exhibit is sponsored by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association. For additional information, write: Johnstown Flood Museum, 304 Washing­ton St., Johnstown, PA 15901; or telephone (814) 539-1889. Admission is charged.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg will host a variety of family activities to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the museum’s Mammal Hall on Sunday, October 17 [1993]. “Party in Penn’s Woods” will be held from 1 to 4 P. M. Additional information may be obtained by writing: The State Museum of Pennsylvania, P. O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026; or by telephoning (717) 787-4980. Admission is free.

More than a dozen restora­tion experts and reproduction specialists will offer demonstra­tions of unusual crafts and skills – including faux marbling, gilding, and ingrain carpet weaving – on Sunday, October 17 [1993], at Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster. The demonstrations are of techniques and styles which would have been used in decorating and furnishing grand houses of the late Colonial and early Federal periods. Rock Ford Plantation was the home of Gen. Edward Hand (1744-1802), who served in the United States Congress and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. To obtain more information, write: Rock Ford Plantation, 881 Rock Ford Rd., Lancaster, PA 17608-0264; or telephone (717) 392-7223. Admission is charged.

Continuing through November [1993] at Independence National Historical Park is an exhibition commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic which crippled Philadelphia and ultimately claimed nearly ten percent of the city’s popula­tion (see “Plagued! Philadelphia’s Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793” by William C. Kashatus III in the spring 1993 edition). For more information, write: Independence National Historical Park, 313 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106; or telephone (215) 597-8974. Admission is free.

Exploring Bucks County’s changing land use and development patterns throughout the twentieth century, “Paradise Lost or Found? Envisioning the Bucks County Landscape, 1900 – Future,” will remain on view at the Mercer Museum through May 31, 1994. Addi­tional information is available by writing: Mercer Museum, Bucks County Historical Society, Pine and Ashland Sts., Doylestown, PA 18901; or by telephoning (215) 345-0210. Admission is charged.

The Westmoreland Museum of Art in Greensburg is show­ing, through Sunday, October 31 [1993], an exhibition entitled “The Power and the Glory: Pitts­burgh Industrial Landscapes by Aaron Harry Gorson.” Orga­nized by the Spanierman Gallery, New York, the exhibi­tion is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue. Additional information may be obtained by writing: Westmoreland Museum of Art, 221 North Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601-1898; or by telephoning (412) 837-1500. Admission is free.

Robert Stewart will present a talk, “The History and Technology of the American Rope Industry,” on Thursday, October 21 [1993], as part of the fall lecture series sponsored by the Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums. The presenta­tion will be held at 8 P. M. at the Farinon Center, located on the campus of Lafayette College. For more details, write: Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums, 200 South Delaware Dr., P. O. Box 877, Easton, PA 18044-0877; or telephone (215) 250-6700.

“Discover Who Lived in Your Philadelphia House in 1880” is the title of a workshop to be held on Saturday, Decem­ber 4 [1993], at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Participants will work with the handwritten census for 1880, the first to include more comprehensive information about city resi­dents, including occupants’ names, occupations, country of birth, and health status. Hours are 10 A. M. to 1 P. M. There is a charge for admission. For more information, write: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107; or telephone (215) 732-6200.

Works by nationally recognized bird illustrator and naturalist Earl Lincoln Poole will remain on exhibit through January 15, 1994, at the Histori­cal Society of Berks County in Reading. Poole – who also served as the director of the Reading Public Museum­ – worked in oil, watercolor, and sculpture. “Earl Lincoln Poole: Artist, illustrator, Gentleman, Scholar” features a number of his bird illustrations and neo­-impressionist landscapes. To obtain more details, write: Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, PA 19601; or telephone (215) 375-4375. Admission is charged.

Frederick S. Weiser, highly regarded as a scholar of Pennsylvania German culture, will give an illustrated slide lecture, “A Window on the Soul: Fraktur, An Introduction to the Pennsylvania Dutch,” on Monday, October 18 [1993], at the Hershey Museum. He will discuss wording, materials, and the artistic and historical significance of the documents and the artists who created them. The presentation will begin at 1 P. M. Additional information is available by writing: Hershey Museum, 170 West Hershey Park Dr., Hershey, PA 17033; or by telephoning (717) 534-3439. There is an admission fee.

Works by two regional artisans will be highlighted in “Handmade in Wood and Clay: Furniture by Tom Noone and Ceramics by Jean Adams,” opening at the Sordoni Art Gallery in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, November 21 [1993]. The exhibition, which continues through January 2, 1994, examines the artists’ aesthetic visions as applied to functional objects. For more details, write: Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University, 150 South River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766-0001; or telephone (717) 831-4325. Admission is free.

A study of industry in Lawrence County, “Plough­shares to Plastic” will open at the Lawrence County Histori­cal Society in New Castle on Sunday, October 10 [1993]. The exhibit focuses on the region as it grew from an agrarian society to a heavily industrialized center. “Ploughshares to Plastic” will also examine the decline of the steel and china industries, and the area’s efforts to diversify. For additional information, write: Lawrence County Historical Society, P. O. Box 1745, New Castle, PA 16103; or telephone (412) 658-4022.

On Wednesday, November 17 [1993], David Latshaw will present a talk, “Lehigh Valley Railroad Branch Lines at Allentown,” as part of the Lehigh County Historical Society’s noontime “brown bag” lunch lecture program. The presentation begins promptly at Noon. For more details, write: Lehigh County Historical Society, Old Courthouse, Hamilton and Fifth Sts., Allentown, PA 18101; or telephone (215) 435-4664. Admission is free.

“James A. Michener: A Living Legacy,” has been installed as a permanent exhibit at the James A. Michener Art Museum. The exhibition celebrates Michener’ s prolific career as best-selling writer, public servant, art collector, and philanthropist, as well as his lifelong commitment to racial harmony (see “You Can Go Home Again: An Interview with James A. Michener” by Michael J. O’Malley III in the winter 1993 edition). The installation features the writer’s Bucks County office, his Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the original manuscript of The Novel. For more information, write: James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine St., Doylestown, PA 18901-4626; or telephone (215) 340-9800. There is an admission fee.

More than seventy objects and artifacts, including basketry and bags, textiles, personal adornments, musical instruments, and calabashes, will be on view in “Decorative Arts of West Africa,” continu­ing through Sunday, October 24 [1993], at the Berman Museum of Art. Most of the material featured in this exhibit was made and used by the peoples of the Cameroon Grasslands, Nigeria, Upper Volta, Togo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Ghana, Dahomey, and Sierra Leone. For more information, write: Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, P. O. Box 1000, Collegeville, PA 19426-1000; or telephone (215) 489-4111. There is no charge for admission.

“A Woman’s Work…Is Never Done” is an exhibit mounted by the Lycoming County Historical Society in Williamsport to explore the social history of women in the county. The exhibit, continuing through Tuesday, November 30 [1993], addresses both the common and uncommon roles of women and showcases a wide variety of objects and artifacts, including clothing, fine and decorative arts, books, textiles, manu­scripts, and photographs. To obtain more information, write: Lycoming County Historical Society, 858 West Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701; or telephone (717) 326-3326. There is an admission fee.

“Three Artists at Bucknell,” on view at the college’s Center Gallery through Saturday, November 6 [1993], features works of art by Neil Anderson, Lynn Cazabon, and Rosalyn Richards. For more information, write: Center Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837; or telephone (717) 524-3792. Admission is free.

Recognized as the finest exhibition of American crafts in the country, the seventeenth annual Philadelphia Craft Show will be held from Thursday through Sunday, November 4-7 [1993], at the Philadel­phia Civic Center. More than one hundred and seventy-five artists and artisans will show a wide variety of works in the many categories, including basketry, ceramics, furniture, glass, leather, metal and paper, among others. For additional information regarding this year’s event, write: Philadel­phia Craft Show, Philadelphia Museum of Art, P. O. Box 7646, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646; or telephone (215) 684-7931. Admission is charged.

On Thursday, October 28 [1993], The State Museum of Pennsylvania will open its new “Dino Lab,” and unveil its recently acquired-and prized-acquisition: a fossil­ized skeleton of a late Triassic period dinosaur, the Coelophysis. The opening will offer visitors a rare opportu­nity to see how technicians unearth dinosaur remains from rock during this unique “behind-the-scenes” event. Special guest will be Robert T. Bakker, world-renowned dinosaur paleontologist. Reservations are required. On Saturday, October 30 [1993], Dr. Bakker will host a children’s workshop and art class, “Draw Dinosaurs Right!” Enrollment is limited and advance registration is required. At 7:30 P. M., on Saturday, he will present a lecture entitled “Tyrannosaurus rex: The Ten Thousand Pound Roadrunner from Hell.” For additional information regarding these activities, write: The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, P. O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026; or telephone (717) 787-6590.