Editor notes: This press release was provided by the Pelham Art Center.

Outdoor community art days scheduled for June 7, July 5 and August 2

Pelham Art Center has announced three upcoming Community Art Days to take place on the first Sundays of June, July and August. The Community Art Days aim to bring artmaking to the public in a collaborative and fun way, with the use of social distance practices.

Community Art Day began in 2019 as an all-day celebration of art. In light of the COVID crisis and community feedback, Pelham Art Center will hold multiple Community Art Days this year according to physical distancing guidelines.* On first Sundays this summer, Pelham Art Center teachers will be present in the Pelham Art Center Courtyard at 155 Fifth Avenue doing live painting demos.  Come speak with an artist, watch an artist create, and join in on our new community art project!

Upcoming Community Art Days are as follows:

• Sunday, June 7th 1:00-3:00pm  (rain date Sunday, June 14th)
• Sunday, July 5th 1:00-3:00pm  (rain date Sunday, July 12th)
• Sunday, August 2nd 1:00-3:00pm (rain date Sunday, August 9th)

Pelham Art Rocks!

Part of the upcoming Community Art Days is “Pelham Art Rocks!”—a collaborative public art installation consisting of individual rocks painted by our community members. Come take a rock, paint a rock, and leave a rock under the Pelham Art Center red arch! Visitors can create a rock during any of the three Community Art Days, or paint their rock at home and return it under the arch later. Pelham Art Center invites everyone to contribute a colorful design to build an Art Rock Garden as a tribute to the strength and beauty of our community.

For those painting from home, suggested paints are acrylic and details can be added using paint markers. Consider mandala rocks, patterned rocks, inspirational words, spirals, shapes and patterns for your design. It is recommended to add a top coat clear acrylic sealer on top of your painted rocks.

Pelham Art Center will soon announce details for the following exhibitions:

• Beginning in July, the Pelham Art Center Courtyard will hold an installation of playful sculptural works by Don Porcaro. A Short Story: Childhood’s End & Nomads will be on view through Fall 2020.
• The Art Center’s annual Student Exhibition will be an online virtual exhibition with a virtual opening on Friday, July 10th, 6-8pm. Students of all ages who took a class with the Pelham Art Center between Summer 2019 and Spring 2020 are invited to participate! Submission instructions will be available on Pelham Art Center’s website.
• The USPS Art Exchange will have its first physical exhibition in the Pelham Art Center gallery for the month of August. There will be a virtual opening reception on Friday, August 7th, 6-8pm. The exhibition of small collaborative works completed between artists across the country will be on view according to updated gallery protocol. More information coming soon to pelhamartcenter.org.

*Pelham Art Center asks that visitors keep physically distant from the artist(s) in the courtyard but encourages you to observe, enjoy and ask questions! Disposable materials will be provided on site to participate in Pelham Art Rocks, or visitors are welcome to paint their rock from home and return it to the arch at their convenience.