Suggest an Event
The online Fig calendar is a curated list of community events happening in Downtown Lancaster.
Contact Us
Search
Franklin and Marshall College, tucked right on the edges of Lancaster City, is home to a variety of fantastic educational opportunities and experiences. The Phillips Museum of Art, a free admission museum in the center of campus, is a beautiful space that fosters an understanding and appreciation of the arts through a variety of events and exhibitions.
“Our entire year of programming is a deep focus on global diversity at the Museum,” said Amy Moorefield, Director at The Phillips Museum Of Art. “This Spring we are offering a variety of exhibits that are accessible to the community.”
The arts offer opportunities for people to not only experience something new, but learn to see a variety of perspectives and gain deeper understanding of the world around us.
“We are not linear thinkers,” said Amy. “By incorporating artwork that is looking at everything from history to biology to social political issues, we offer the opportunity to think about things differently and take pause.”
There are three feature exhibits happening now, in addition to the permanent showcase the Museum always features.
“Exhibitions are connectors,” said Amy. “They are touch points for people to have interesting conversations and help to see from other perspectives.”
Browse our guide below to get an inside look at the featured exhibits and plan your trip to experience them yourself!
Geometric Aljamía: A Cultural Transliteration
When: Now – March 8, 2019
Where: Rothman Gallery, Phillips Museum Of Art
Don’t Miss: GALLERY TALK by Jorge Benitez and Reni Gower, Geometric Aljamía: a Cultural Transliteration: Examined through Sacred Geometry, February 21, 5 p.m. in the Rothman Gallery
“Geometric Aljamia: a Cultural Transliteration looks at how sacred geometry and perspective play a part in the creation of the works on view,” said Amy. “The exhibit features very evocative paper cut work, stencils, drawings, and sculpture.”
The exhibit explores geometry as a fundamental aspect of two-dimensional art and as a way to communicate ideas across cultures. One of the purposes of the exhibit is to revisit the ongoing impact of Islamic art, science, and philosophy on cultures and art around the world.
There are incredible, elaborate hand cut wall art and meticulously crafted paper religious structures that are amazing to see, especially in person where you can closely observe the intricate details and intentional patterning.
Geometric Aljamía includes work by Mohammad Saleh Amin, Jorge Benitez, Reni Gower, Hanane Korchi, Tamim Sahebzada, and Julia Townsend. Funding for Geometric Aljamía: a Cultural Transliteration was made possible in part by Virginia Commonwealth University, VCUarts, and VCUarts Department of Painting and Printmaking.
Hostile Terrain By Lucy Cahill, Jason De León, and Michael Wells
When: Now – April 25, 2019
Where: Dana Gallery, Phillips Museum Of Art
Hostile Terrain by Lucy Cahill + Jason De León + Michael Wells is a multimedia installation focused on different sensory engagements with the complex (and often ambiguous) world of clandestine migration.
“It is very eye opening to see the true struggles of people trying to make a new home and focusing on the human element of that journey,” said Amy. “The exhibit shares objects, artwork, and data regarding those who have made an arduous migration. It is a timely topic.”
The exhibit space is impactful from the moment you walk into the room and observe a variety of personal belongings—everything from old shoes to toothpaste—found from the migration trails between Mexico and the United States.
The purpose of the exhibit is to highlight the intense social process of crossing the border, and to showcase that there is no easy solution to the global crisis of humanitarian migration.
Hostile Terrain uses anthropological data collected by the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP) to translate and transform the data into a sensorial experience while also challenging the viewer to avoid the overly simplified analogy of the heroic/tragic migrant. Each station in the exhibit is equally stunning—from the tires used to cover migrant tracks to a wall covered in discovered identification tags.
Hostile Terrain by Lucy Cahill + Jason De León + Michael Wells is organized by the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College and proposed by Kostis Kourelis, Associate Professor of Art History and Department Chair of Art and Art History at Franklin & Marshall College. Funding for the exhibition and its related programming has been supported in part by the Richard C. von Hess Foundation Collaborative Residency in Art History.
Looking Skyward: A Commemoration Of Lunar Exploration
When: Now – March 8, 2019
Where: Gibson Gallery, Phillips Museum Of Art
2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 9, the first Lunar Module test flight, and the Apollo 11 walk on the moon—so it is the perfect time to have an exhibit specifically focused on these momentous occasions.
“We are celebrating our moon travel,” said Amy. “We always try to tie our collections and exhibits into what is happening currently.We are also showing a classic film from 1902 that presents an imagined vision of what people thought the moon might be like. The exhibition shares how we all perceived space travel before and after the moon landing.”
In addition to the short film there is a collection of newspapers and magazines from the moon landing, plus incredible artwork by Lowell Nesbitt, official NASA artist for missions Apollo 9 and 11.
“He would translate photos and turn them into art,” added Amy. “It is a very unique collection.”
Curated by Lindsay Marino, Assistant Director and Collections Manager of the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College.
Nissley Gallery: Reinstallation Of The Phillips Museum Of Art’s Permanent Collection
When: Now – April 25, 2019
Where: Nissley Gallery, Phillips Museum Of Art
Don’t Miss: NOON IN THE NISSLEY every 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month from now to April 24, 2019. During these mini tours, museum staff and guest speakers will highlight objects on view in the Nissley Gallery.
In addition to the featured exhibits, The Phillips Museum of Art has an extensive collection of artifacts, art, and more, in a vault on campus. There is a consistent collection of items and artwork that rotates in the Nissley Gallery, giving space for a variety of incredible pieces intentionally curated to match unique themes and seasons.
There is an astounding amount of renowned work—from Andy Warhol art to Chihuly glass pieces. It is a remarkable display of inspiring items from all around the world right here in Lancaster City.
The museum’s permanent collection gallery is named in honor of Thomas W. Nissley ’55 and his wife Emily Baldwin Nissley, who together generously provided funding for its care and programming.
“I am really honored to be part of a larger culturally arts ecosystem here in Lancaster,” said Amy. “There are so many organizations doing great things.”
Amy wanted to work at a museum every since she was seven years old.
“To have images tell remarkable stories and help you find your place in the world was always really important to me.”
The arts are so critical to the community and Amy is proud to help cultivate a space where new ideas can be cultivated and exchanged.
“Well taken care of artwork will outlast our existence,” said Amy. “We are caretakers of these objects and holders of our cultural heritage. We want people to visit and feel inspired.”
The Details:
- Museum Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 12-4pm, Thursdays 2-6pm
- Admission: Free to the public!
- Learn More: Visit the website
- Follow: Facebook and Instagram
