ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY & ART ANNOUNCES

PROGRAMMING FOR EARTH & FIRE EXHIBITIONS

ALBANY, NY—The Albany Institute of History & Art is pleased to announce its February programs forthe exhibitions included in EARTH & FIRE: A Celebration of Clay and Ceramics. 

THE WORLD AND WORK OF PAUL CUSHMAN, ALBANY POTTER

Sunday, February 4; 2:00 pm

Douglas McCombs, AIHA Curator of History, will illuminate the community in which Albany potter Paul Cushman lived and worked and the inspirational sources for Cushman’s forms and surface designs.

The Intersection of Function and Decoration in Early American Stoneware

Sunday, February 11; 1:00 – 3:30pm

John Scherer, Senior Historian, New York State Museum; Douglas McCombs Curator of History, Albany Institute of History & Art

Participants will gather at the Albany Institute for a special tour of PAUL CUSHMAN: The Work and World of an Early 19^th Century Albany Potter, led by Douglas McCombs and will travel to the New York State Museum for a special behind the scenes tour of the Museum’s newly acquired Whitesman collection of American Stoneware.

Space limited: Reservations required: contact Erika Sanger, Director of Education, ext. 404 or email: sangere@albanyinstitute.org

THIRD THURSDAY PROGRAM: A CELEBRATION OF CLAY AND CERAMICS 

Thursday, February 15; 6:00pm

Doug McCombs, AIHA Curator of History, will lead an informal gallery talk about the new ceramics exhibitions including PAUL CUSHMAN: The Work and World of an Early 19^th Century Albany Potter, CLAY CONNECTIONS: Four Centuries of Ceramics and their Stories from the Albany Institute’s Collections and CONTAINING HISTORY: Contemporary Ceramics From Regional Potters.

ROCKWELL MEMORIAL LECTURE

Buying Local: The American Ceramic Market, 1800-1850

Sunday, February 25; 2:00pm

With Ellen Denker, Independent Curator, Museum Consultant and author of numerous books on American Decorative Arts including “China and Glass in America, ” Dallas Museum of Art, Harry N. Abrams, 2000 and “After the Chinese Taste,” Peabody Essex Museum, 1985  

EARTH & FIRE: A Celebration of Clay and Ceramics is comprised of three exhibitions PAUL CUSHMAN: The Work and World of an Early 19^th Century Albany Potter, CLAY CONNECTIONS: Four Centuries of Ceramics and their Stories from the Albany Institute’s Collections and CONTAINING HISTORY: Contemporary Ceramics From Regional Potters. Each exhibition explores the world of ceramics and the world as communicated through ceramic objects.

For more information regarding the programs related to the ceramics exhibitions in the month of February, please contact the Albany Institute of History & Art at 518.463.4478 or visit our website at www.albanyinstitute.org.

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Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute of History & Art (AIHA) is a 501(c) 3 cultural and educational institution dedicated to public service.  As a museum, its mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the art, history and culture of Albany and the upper Hudson Valley region from the 17th century to the present.  AIHA acquires collections, conducts research, produces publications, and offers a wide range of exhibitions, educational and public programs that appeal to diverse audiences ranging from pre-K to senior citizens.  The museum is open year round, Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is free to members and children under 6, $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and $4 children ages 6-12.  The Albany Institute of History & Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums and chartered by the New York State Department of Education.