Proof Museums Don’t Always Have to Be Quiet
For one night only, the Museum for Art in Wood transformed its exhibition gallery into an unexpected dance floor, inviting guests to experience the space in an entirely new way, the second annual Gallery Groove!! With artwork temporarily between exhibitions, the gallery traded sculptures for sound, filling the room with music, movement, and creative energy.
Linda Smyth, Casa Vida.
Guests gathered in one of Philadelphia’s most unique cultural spaces to dance, connect, and celebrate art beyond the traditional museum experience.
Events like this highlight the museum’s mission to keep creativity accessible and engaging while supporting future exhibitions and programming. Proceeds from the evening directly benefit the Museum for Art in Wood’s year round exhibitions, artist residencies, and public programs.
Right now, the timing of the event is especially interesting because the museum is transitioning between exhibitions. Recent and current programming has included:
A Usable Past: Reflections on a Nation and Its Inheritance
A thought provoking exhibition bringing together works by multiple artists exploring American history, identity, and cultural legacy through contemporary wood based sculpture.
American Graffiti: Painting, Dyeing, and Surface Design in Wood
An exhibition examining how artists push wood beyond traditional carving, using color, texture, and surface experimentation to expand the medium into contemporary art and design.
Looking ahead, the museum continues rotating exhibitions throughout the year, typically presenting four to five shows annually ranging from functional craft to sculptural contemporary work.
Jennifer-Navva Milliken (r)
is the Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Museum for Art in Wood in Philadelphia tells me there are some great upcoming programming which includes artist talks, residency events, and special evenings such as book signings and First Friday gatherings in the long time Old City’s gallery, every First Friday of the month!! I highly recommend you attend. It’s a fun night crawling the galleries on Old City.
SAVE THE DATE: First Friday Opening for Viola Bordon: Muliebrity March 6 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
When you stop in to see the exhibitions, which are all free, check out their store in person or online. I love their unique gifts.
Hope to see you next year for the third annual Gallery Groove!!