An Enriching Arts Experience

March 27th, 2009

Enjoy an enriching cultural experience by visiting the Laurel Highlands’ fine selection of art galleries and museums – many of the buildings which hold the permanent collections and exhibitions are architectural masterpieces themselves – from an original log cabin with breathtaking gardens to a flatiron building – which is literally the shape of a flat iron.

Antiochian Heritage Museum
www.antiochianvillage.org
Located 7 miles north of Ligonier, the Antiochian Museum features an exquisite collection of cultural and religious artifacts depicting the Orthodox Christian heritage and the Near East. The museum is located on the beautifully manicured grounds of the Antiochian Village Conference & Retreat Center.

Frank L. Melega Art Museum
www.melegaartmuseum.org
The Laurel Highlands has it very own flatiron building in Brownsville, approximately 10 miles west of Uniontown which houses the Frank L. Melega Art Museum. The museum features the artist’s famous depictions of the Coal and Coke Era, and other artworks.

Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier (SAMA)
www.sama-art.org
SAMA offers rotating exhibitions of local, regional and national artists. The museum is modeled on an authentic log cabin design and its magnificent gardens reflects the historic community. The Walter Carlyle Shaw Paperweight Collection is on permanent display. Not to miss is SAMA’s annual Holiday Home Tour held the first Saturday in December.

Laurel Arts
www.laurelarts.org
This charming early American brick home in uptown Somerset rumored to have been part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War is site of the Laurel Arts Dressler Center. A hub of cultural activity for the region, rotating exhibits, concerts, lectures, classes and workshops for adults and children are held throughout the year. A highlight of the summer season is SomerFest slated for July 17-19, 2009.

Westmoreland Museum of American Art
www.wmuseumaa.org
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art captures the American spirit in a way few museums do. A spirit that cannot be defined by words alone. See the art that helps define a country. Featuring paintings and sculptures by such celebrated American artists as Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Visit the museum’s American Marketplace for unique items that reflect the spirit and history of American art.