Schweinfurth to close Jan. 6 for construction

The Schweinfurth Art Center galleries and gift shop will be closed Jan. 6, 2020, through mid-April 2020 after the current exhibits, Quilts=Art=Quilts and Narrative Quilts, close on Jan. 5. During the shutdown, the art center will be installing a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that will allow the use of the second floor gallery, classroom, and sewing studio year-round.

“This long awaited facility upgrade will make it possible for us to hold simultaneous classes upstairs and downstairs, as well as offer more opportunities for artists to display their work,” said Schweinfurth Executive Director Donna Lamb. “While the galleries will be closed, we are still running classes and the staff will be working on planning future programs.”

Some classes will be held at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art’s Carriage House Theater and Genesee Elementary School. The center is also planning to partner with downtown Auburn businesses to offer pop-up art exhibits for February First Friday, on Feb. 7. And the Art Center is planning a special “Empty Walls” party on Jan.10.

Among the classes already planned are:
– Create Lively Portraits – This two-day intensive charcoal workshop is perfect for beginners or more advanced students 16 and older who want to learn new techniques. Class will meet 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 25 and 26, with a one-hour break at noon both days for lunch.
– Art After School: This Is Me – A six-week after-school art class for students age 6 to 10 years focusing on self-portraits and portraits through the eyes of famous artists, including Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Andy Warhol. The class runs 3:45 to 5:15 pm Wednesdays from Feb. 5 through March 18.
– Figure Drawing with Model – Artists age 16 and up can practice drawing and painting with a nude model in this six-week series, offered 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays from Feb. 6 through March 12. Artists can sign up for all six classes or drop in on a per class charge basis.
– Finding Your Voice – A six-week watercolor workshop for all levels offered 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays from March 3 to April 7. The class will start with the basics and build to more advanced techniques.

Link to our website to learn about future classes we are planning.

Major funding for the HVAC project is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by the Allyn Family Foundation, the Fred L. Emerson Foundation, the Cayuga Community Fund, the Columbian Foundation, the D.E. French Foundation, the Stanley W. Metcalf Foundation, the Schwartz Foundation and the support of individual donors. 

“We are grateful to all our donors for enabling us to make these improvements that will allow us to grow our programs,” Lamb said. “They understand the value of the arts to our community, and we appreciate their support.”