The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Let’s shellebrate #NationalSeashellDay with John Clinton Spencer’s (1861-1919), Clams and Seaweed. What’s your favorite type of seashell to collect when you’re at the beach? Born in Providence, Rhode Island, John Clinton Spencer was a pupil of Providence artist Edward C. Leavitt, and he became a very popular realist floral, fruit and fish still life and marine and animal painter. Spencer was a member of the Providence Art Club, where he exhibited in the 1880s. John Clinton Spencer (18611919), Clams and Seaweed, Not Dated, Oil on Canvas, 10 in. x 14 in., George J. McDonald Collection, Gift of James J. White, 2009.33

Sending a special #HappyFathersDay to all the dads and father figures out there! Still looking for a last-minute Father’s Day gift? Give dad a fine art print of Edmund Charles Tarbell’s Portrait of Father and Children because who hasn’t made a face like that when taking a family photo before?! : https://thewestmorelandmuseumshop.com//produc/art-print-20 Edmund Charles Tarbell (18621938), Portrait of Father and Children (John J. Albright), 1915, Oil on Canvas, 54 x 44 x 2 1/2 in., Bequest of Richard M. Scaife, 2015.93.

#Juneteenth is the oldest nationally acknowledged commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United Sates, honoring this day, June 19, in 1865 when Union troops took possession of Galveston, TX, and told the enslaved African Americans of their emancipation from slaverywhich was 2.5 years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This weekend, we encourage everyone to learn about the history of events surrounding Juneteenth with these resources from Smi...thsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC): - What is Juneteenth: http://ow.ly/RZSQ50FdHT4 - Who Celebrates Juneteenth: http://ow.ly/kvl550FdHVe - Join NMAAHC’s Juneteenth Celebration of Resilience: http://ow.ly/HeB650FdHVY Although we are heartened to see that President Biden has signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a U.S. federal holiday, which #TheWestmoreland is also recognizing as a paid staff holiday, the United States is still battling systemic racism, embedded in the political, economic and social structures of the country, 156 years later. At The Westmoreland we are committed to dismantling this system and wanted to share our continued efforts and renewed commitments. We are committed to financially supporting black and marginalized artists through our Artist-In-Residency partnership with BOOM Concepts, an organization dedicated to the development of artist and creative entrepreneurs representing marginalized voices. In 2019, BOOM Concepts received an official proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh declaring June 19 as BOOM Concepts Day in Pittsburgh We encourage you to financially support BOOM Concepts as well by donating to their organization: https://www.boomuniverse.co/#donate We are educating ourselves. All staff have participated in anti-racist training and a Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) and bias training, but we understand that a few trainings are not enough to sustain learning. The Museum has also formed a DEAI group to support ongoing professional development and inform policy including recruitment and hiring. We have committed to acquiring more artworks by traditionally underrepresented artists into our permanent collection, and since last summer have acquired four works by four contemporary Black artists: Divine Plan by Tina Williams Brewer, No More Booze and Fried Food by LaVon Van Williams, Jr., The Pioneer by Stephen Towns, and Bird Skull: Fire #2 by Sharif Bey. Long-term change requires sustained efforts and accountability, and we are reaffirming are commitment to realizing this change for our organization and community.

On view starting today at #TheWestmoreland: Sheila Cuellar-Shaffer’s Creation out of Chaos! Often drawing on her own memories and experiences as an immigrant, Sheila paints figures that fluctuate between real and imagined landscapes to explore identity and diversity. Make an advance online registration to visit #TheWestmoreland and view "Creation out of Chaos:" https://thewestmoreland.org/visit/

Join us for a free virtual conversation between internationally known photographer Richard Misrach and Chief Curator Barbara Jones, Wed., June 30, 7pm! Find out how the exhibition "Border Cantos | Sonic Border" came to be, what led Richard to this impactful work and the work’s continued relevancy! Followed by a live Q&A with the artist. Register to attend: http://ow.ly/yIs850FcFtQ The exhibition is organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, with additional loans from the artist. Support provided by Art Bridges

Tune in next Thursday, June 24, 7pm to find out more about the team of designers, artists, filmmakers and more that artist-in-residence Gavin Benjamin works with on his creative process during this virtual conversation, Artist-in-Residency Virtual Series: Gavin Benjamin and His Collaborators! Register to attend: http://ow.ly/t7P850F38O1 #TheWestmoreland Artist-in-Residency program is presented in partnership with BOOM Concepts and made possible by generous support from The Pittsburgh Foundation.