Castellani Art Museum announces fall 2011 schedule of exhibitions, workshops and events

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University is pleased to announce its schedule for fall 2011:

New Exhibitions

•Oct. 2-Jan. 15, 2012: TopSpin Series, "Matthew Duquette: Vessels"

Opening reception Sunday, Oct. 9, from 2 until 4 p.m.

•Sept. 18-April 29, 2012: "Aperture: Photography from the Permanent Collection"

•Oct. 30-May 13, 2012: "Albert Bierstadt to John Henry Twachtman: The American Landscape"

Continuing Exhibitions

•"Four Decades of Abstraction"; ongoing

•Freedom Crossing: The Underground Railroad in Greater Niagara"; ongoing

•Through Oct. 2: "Betty Gold: Edge, Color, Movement"

•Through Nov. 27: "Through Polish-American Eyes: The Art of Alice Wadowski Bak"

•Through Dec. 18: "ΕΙΚΩΝ /ICON: Religious Images from the Castellani Permanent Collection"

•Through Jan. 15, 2012: "Portraits: Real and Imagined"

Castellani Art Museum 9th Annual Gala: "Face to Face" on Saturday, Oct. 1

A special evening is in store for you at the Castellani Art Museum's annual fundraiser. Cocktails, exciting silent and live auctions and an elegant dinner are included in the $135 ticket price. Proceeds will benefit education and exhibition-related programs at the museum. Call 716-286-8201 for reservations.

Museum Mixer on Friday, Dec. 16

CAM's 5th annual "Holiday Bash!" Celebrate the holidays at the Castellani Art Museum with live music by Penelope, dancing, refreshments, a cash bar, basket raffle and door prize. Admission is free to museum members, and $10 to others.

Folk Arts Workshops

•Sunday, Nov. 13: Christmas Wycinanki (traditional Polish paper-cuts)

Artist Barbara Frackiewicz, recipient of the Am-Pol Eagle Polish Heritage Award in 2009, will demonstrate how to make beautiful Christmas decorations from 2 until 4 p.m. Free for museum members, and $5 for others. Call 286-8290 to register.

•Sunday, Nov. 20: Traditional Christmas ornaments

Frackiewicz will demonstrate how to make paper and straw chains, porcupine stars, and other traditional Polish ornaments from 2 until 4 p.m. Free museum members; $5 for others. Call 286-8290 to register.

Art Express Family Workshops

Hop aboard the Art Express. This theme-based journey begins with a tour of artworks in the in the gallery and a story, and concludes with hands-on art activities in the classroom. All workshops begin at 2 p.m. The cost is $2 per person for museum members and $3 for non-members. To register, call 716-286-8367.

Save the dates for the following Saturdays:

•Sept. 10-24

•Oct. 8, 22 and 29

For more information on the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University, call 716-286-8200 or visit www.castellaniartmuseum.org.