F. X. Matt III, Chair
Christian Heilmann, Vice-Chair
Dietra Harvey, Secretary
Vige Barrie
Rev. Sharon Baugh
Andrew Britton
Dr. Steven J. Brown
William C. Craine
Emma Golden
David T. Griffith
Robert Knight
Betty Krulik
Mark Levitt
Laura Tansey Wetzel
Anna T. D’Ambrosio
President and CEO
Dear Munson Community,
Community lies at the heart of everything we do at Munson. Our renowned art collection, vibrant performances, and world-class art instruction gain their true meaning through the tens of thousands of community members we serve each year.
The recently completed mural on our Pratt Munson studio building at 324 Genesee St. exemplifies this community-centered mission. On July 16, Munson joined our community partners and neighbors to celebrate the unveiling of this project, which began when Rust2Green Utica approached us about collaborating on a mural.
Our Digital Marketing Manager Shannon Stockbridge immediately knew the ideal artist for this collaboration—Jared Diaz, a Pratt Munson alum whose work perfectly aligned with our vision. Jared is a second-generation Dominican artist based in New York City who has focused on figuration and portraiture for over 15 years and built an impressive career at one of America’s largest hand-painted billboard companies, contributing to over 2,000 large-scale murals.
What made this project truly special was Jared's commitment to authentic community engagement. In the months leading up to the mural’s creation, Jared worked directly with community members who contributed their thoughts, art, and likenesses for inspiration and inclusion in the mural. The result is a true community collaboration that reflects Utica, our neighborhood, and Munson’s deep commitment to serving all residents. When you explore the 4,000-square-foot mural spanning three facades, you’ll discover over 61 portraits of people you may recognize, along with artwork created by children at the Midtown Utica Community Center woven into the intricate details.
The July celebration marking the mural's completion was itself a testament to community impact. Those who participated throughout the months-long process gathered alongside the many Munson employees whose assistance made the project possible. Everyone who worked with Jared in any capacity, or who even just visited with them as they worked outside in all types of weather, were moved by Jared’s exceptional artistic talents that are matched by community-mindedness and sensitivity to the world around us.
This mural is aptly titled “Gathering in the Name of: One World Garden,” and it isn’t just the transformation of a building facade. It stands as a powerful symbol of Munson’s commitment to making a meaningful impact through collaborative art and strengthening the bonds that connect us all.
Anna T. D’Ambrosio President and CEO
Art Story
Thursday, Sept. 4, 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Art | Art Odyssey
Free
First Friday: Welcome Fall
Friday, Sept. 5, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sculpture Grove
$5 General Admission | Free Pratt Munson Students
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: The Romantic Music of Chopin
Saturday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Cloud Explorations Workshop:
Watercolor Clouds with Annette Gurdo
Saturday, Sept. 13, 1 to 4 p.m.
Pratt Munson Studio Building, Room 220
$35 Members | $45 General Public
Easton Pribble Lecture Series: Igor Vamos
Wednesday, Sept. 17, noon
Museum of Art | Bank of Utica–Sinnott Family Auditorium
Free
Meet the Missus! Author Talk and Book Signing
Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
Free
Cloud Explorations Workshop:
Acrylic and Oil Clouds with Chad Smith
Saturday, Sept. 20, 1 to 4 p.m.
Pratt Munson Studio Building, Room 340
$35 Members | $45 General Public
Concert in the Court: The Westerlies
Paradise
Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Root Court
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Artist-in-Residence Talk with Quincey Spagnoletti
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
Free
Cloud Explorations Workshop:
Cyanotype Clouds with Sarah Smith
Saturday, Sept. 27, 1 to 4 p.m.
Pratt Munson Studio Building, Room 130
$35 Members | $45 General Public
Art Story
Thursday, Oct. 2, 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Art | Art Odyssey
Free
25th Anniversary Family and Alumni Weekend
Friday Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 5
Pratt Munson Campus
25th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition
Opening Reception
Friday, Oct. 3, 3 to 5 p.m.
Museum of Art | Pratt Munson Gallery
Free
Cloud Conversation: Art and Science
Karen LaMonte with WKTV's Bill Kardas
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$5 Members | $10 General Public
Concert in the Court: Tuba Skinny
Saturday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Root Court
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
The Met: Live in HD: La Sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini
Saturday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$26 Members | $32 General Public | $16 Students
Easton Pribble Lecture Series: Roberto Lugo
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2 p.m.
Museum of Art | Bank of Utica–Sinnott Family Auditorium
Free
Docents in the Galleries
Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte
Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m.
Free with exhibition admission
Art and Yoga
Saturdays | 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Art
Drop-in fee per class: $10 Members | $ 15 General Public
Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte
On view through Dec. 31
Dr. William L. Boyle, Jr. Gallery | Free Members | $10 General Public
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see the incredible sculptures of Karen LaMonte— one of the most celebrated artists of our time! With her award-winning work in glass, porcelain, marble, and bronze, LaMonte explores challenging media to create an expansive, breathtaking array of figures and forms. A fully-illustrated catalog is available in the Museum Shop.
Presenting Sponsor: Meyda Tiffany Lighting Lead Sponsors: Andrew Britton and David Grey; Christian and Cheryl Heilmann; Allison and W. Keyes Hill-Edgar; Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.; Family of F. X. Matt II; and Linda and Alan Vincent Sponsors: Joseph A. Abraham; Cheryl and Fred Haritatos; Jacque and Terry Tolles Fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties; Laura and Todd Wetzel MD; and Deborah and Michael Zahn
LaMonte (American, born 1967), Cumulus , 2023. Cast glass. ©Karen LaMonte. Photo credit Martin Polak.
On view through Sept. 7 | Free Cardamone Gallery
Celebrate the return of Alexander Calder’s Three Arches (1963) to the Genesee Street entrance by visiting this focus exhibition on Calder and his work for Munson. Featuring sculpture and works on paper from the Museum’s collection, Calder at Munson salutes the dynamic spirit of movement that permeates Calder’s iconic artwork.
Andreas Feininger (American, born France, 1906–1999), Alexander Calder, 1964. Chromogenic print. 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of the Feininger Family, 71:2002. © 2025 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
On view through Sept. 21 | Free
This annual multimedia exhibition offers a glimpse into the personal art practices of Pratt Munson’s faculty featuring work in painting, design, sculpture, printmaking, video, and more. The exhibition celebrates their individual voices and shared role in shaping the next generation of artists and designers.
Carlie Sherry, We Hold Their Grief in our Hands, film still #4, 2025.
On view Oct. 3 through 31 | Free Opening Reception: Friday, Oct. 3, 3 to 5 p.m.
Pratt Munson has been shaping artists for 25 years. Celebrate its legacy of artistic excellence with this exhibition featuring five alumni across disciplines: designer Lisa Champ, art educator Caitlyn D’Amico, photographer Mark DiOrio, sculptor Erik Nilson, and illustrator Anniella Pettingill.
Caitlyn D’Amico, Things Are Looking Up, 2020. Acrylic on muslin, galvanized wire, and embroidery thread.
In celebration of Robert Rauschenberg’s centenary, the Museum of Art has three lithographs by this towering figure of contemporary art on view in the Modern Art gallery on the second floor. Included is the artist’s dynamic Sub-Total (1971), recently donated to the Museum by Jan and Robert Andersen. In Sub-Total, Rauschenberg references technology and specifically NASA’s Apollo Project to put astronauts on the moon. Created in the midst of the human spaceflight program, the expressive brushwork in Sub-Total overlays photographs that include the Saturn 5 Rocket, which thrust the astronauts into space.
Rauschenberg was a groundbreaking figure in the post-World War II international arts scene. An imaginative restlessness informed his prolific practice that embraced assemblage, painting, printmaking, drawing (and erasing), and photography as well as collaborations with other artists, scientists, and choreographers. He saw creative potential all around him, and his inventive touch transformed cast-off objects into compelling works of art.
In the spirit of Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968), inventor of the “readymade” artwork, Rauschenberg once took his bedcovers, tacked them to the wall, and brushed pigment all over them. The artist’s action of repositioning a quilt from horizontal to vertical and adding paint sparked its metamorphosis from utilitarian object to fine art. Rauschenberg regularly appropriated images from an array of print sources, including art history books and news media. His collages of
“Painting relates to both art and life. Neither can be made (I try to act in that
gap between the two).”
— Robert Rauschenberg
re-purposed pictures seem random, unfixed, and fluid, just like the continuous inundation we receive today via mobile phone, television, advertising, and the internet.
– Mary Murray, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
The Romantic Music of Chopin
Saturday, Sept. 6 | 7:30 p.m.
Poetic Tone Pictures
Saturday, Nov. 15 | 2 p.m.
More Music of Joy and Peace
Saturday, May 16 | 7:30 p.m.
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Funding for Keyboard Conversations is provided by Dr. Lorna Grant, Nancy Horvath, Drs. Douglas Hurd and Cynthia Parlato-Hurd, and Dr. and Mrs. Robert Menotti.
SPECIAL EVENT
HALF MOON
HOLIDAY CONCERT
Classical Music
Saturday, Dec. 20 | 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 | 2 p.m.
$10 Members | $15 General Public
$5 Children 6–12 | FREE Children 5 and Under
The Half Moon Orchestra returns to Munson for its third annual holiday classical concert following two consecutive sold-out performances. This year, the ensemble expands its offering with an added matinee performance, providing more opportunities for audiences to experience the full orchestra’s enchanting seasonal repertoire.
CONCERT IN THE COURT THE WESTERLIES: PARADISE
Brass Quartet
Saturday, Sept. 20 | 7:30 p.m.
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
The Westerlies are a New York-based brass quartet known for their genre-defying sound that blends jazz, classical, folk, and improvisation. In their new program, Paradise, they explore the rich tradition of American shape-note music, presenting inventive arrangements of 19th-century hymns alongside works by modern composers.
Gold Sponsor: Preferred Mutual Insurance Company
Silver Sponsor: PJ Green, Inc.
CONCERT IN THE COURT LIVE FROM LAUREL CANYON: JAMES & JONI: THEIR STORIES, THEIR SONGS
Folk Rock Ensemble
Saturday, March 14 | 7:30 p.m.
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Returning after last year’s sold-out performance, Live from Laurel Canyon presents a brand-new show: James & Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs. This heartfelt concert chronicles the remarkable careers of two songwriting legends, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell.
Gold Sponsor: Preferred Mutual Insurance Company
Silver Sponsor: PJ Green, Inc.
Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, Oct. 11 | 7:30 p.m.
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Tuba Skinny channels the spirit of early New Orleans jazz with an irresistible blend of ragtime, blues, and swing. Known for their dynamic street performances and vintage sound, their repertoire spans forgotten jazz gems and original tunes, all performed with joy, grit, and a deep love for the music’s roots.
Gold Sponsor: Preferred Mutual Insurance Company
Silver Sponsor: PJ Green, Inc.
Sunday, March 22 | noon to 3 p.m.
$30 Members | $35 General Public | $10 Students
Celebrate the rich global palette and cultural cuisine enjoyed in Utica at a food tasting and multicultural event at Munson. Sample dishes from area restaurants and enjoy live music at this event for all ages.
Co-Hosts: Munson and 92.7 The Drive and 98.3 El Zorro Radio Latino
STOP BY THE WELCOME DESK
Day of the Dead Celebration
Saturday, Nov. 1 | 9 p.m. to midnight
$15 Members | $20 General Public | $10 Students
Celebrate Day of the Dead in spirited style at Munson After Dark! Step into a vibrant evening of music by DJ Roscoe Red, dancing, drinks, and art inspired by this rich cultural tradition. Come in costume for a chance to win prizes, and enjoy a festive night filled with color, creativity, and community.
The Met: Live in HD is the Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series of opera performances transmitted live from the stage of the Met into movie theaters worldwide.
$26 Members | $32 General Public | $16 Students
La Sonnambula - Vincenzo Bellini | Saturday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m.
La Bohème - Giacomo Puccini | Saturday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m.
Arabella - Richard Strauss | Saturday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m.
Andrea Chénier - Umberto Giordano | Saturday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m.
I Puritani - Vincenzo Bellini | Saturday, Jan. 10, 1 p.m.
Tristan und Isolde - Richard Wagner | Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m.
Eugene Onegin - Pyotr Tchaikovsky | Saturday, May 9, 1 p.m.
El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego - Gabriela Lena Frank Saturday, May 30, 1 p.m.
The Met: Live in HD is sponsored at Munson by Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.
The Met: Live in HD series is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor Neubauer Family Foundation. Digital support is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Met: Live in HD series is supported by Rolex.
Wednesdays and Fridays | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Join us each week for new foreign, independent, and award-winning films. Film selections are announced a week before the first series of the month. For film descriptions, visit munson.art/films or call 315-797-0055.
$8 Members | $10 General Public | $6 Students
Discounted multi-film passes are available.
Munson Film Series is sponsored by M&T Bank and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
March 7 and 8
Members: One Category $8 Two Categories $12; All Three $16
Funding provided by Baird Wealth Management
Sept. 5, 2025 and May 1, 2026 5 to 7:30 p.m.
$5 General Admission Free Pratt Munson students
Art Alive! Family Days at Munson include art-making activities, free performances and workshops, and special guests. Each Art Alive! happens during a school break.
PUSHCART PLAYERS: STONE SOUP AND OTHER STORIES
Tuesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day 11 a.m. Performance 1 p.m. Workshop
SUPER SCIENTIFIC CIRCUS
Tuesday, Dec. 30, Winter Break 11 a.m. Performance 1 p.m. Workshop
MILKSHAKE
Tuesday, Feb. 17, February Break 11 a.m. Performance 1 p.m. Workshop
BAM PERCUSSION! THE BLUE BARREL SHOW!
Tuesday, April 7, Spring Break 11 a.m. Performance 1 p.m. Workshop
Funding for Art Alive! is provided by the MetLife Foundation, Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, Sheila and Ron Cuccaro, and Rona Lucas, in memory of Roslyn and Irving Levine. WE WANT TO SERVE YOU BETTER!
Please bring your membership card each time you visit so we can swipe it at entry.
Prefer digital? You can add your Munson membership card to your phone’s wallet.
Learn how at munson.art/membership
Dr. William H. Boyle Jr.
Dr. William H. Boyle Jr. supported Munson in two ways through his estate: expanding his existing scholarship fund at Pratt Munson College of Art and Design and fulfilling a long-time goal of naming a gallery in the Museum of Art. His forward thinking enables talented students to pursue their artistic dreams regardless of financial barriers, and the newly named Boyle Gallery is an enduring public testament to Boyle’s love of Munson.
The William and Emily Murdock Scholarship Endowment
The William and Emily Murdock Scholarship Endowment, established in 2023, supports studio art students in Munson's School of Art through current giving and an estate provision. This endowed fund allows the Murdocks to witness their impact now, while their estate provision will someday expand the fund and continue their legacy for generations to come.
The Bernie and Gail Uebelhoer Endowed Fund for Film and Cinematic Arts
The Bernie and Gail Uebelhoer Endowed Fund for Film and Cinematic Arts honors Bernie's 35-year career as a multimedia producer and his passion for filmmaking. Established by his wife, Gail, in 2023, this memorial endowment prioritizes the annual Bernie Uebelhoer Hitchcock Film Series, celebrating Bernie's favorite filmmaker while supporting Munson's broader film and cinematic arts programs.
Munson’s leadership is tremendously grateful to these donors and many others who have so generously facilitated our work through their support. Munson’s Development staff is happy to work with anyone interested in establishing a legacy at Munson, in their own name or in the name of a loved one. It can be a truly uplifting experience and a wonderful way to leave a mark on the community.
Contact Leslie Moseley Rioux at lmrioux@munson.art or 315-797-0000 ext. 2243 to get started.
This summer, Munson buzzed with creative energy as our community came together to celebrate the arts and culture. The now annual Juneteenth celebration brought the Root Court to life with local Black artists sharing their artworks, soulful music, and inspiring poetry. Thousands took part in our 2025 Arts Festival, enjoying the popular annual Car Show, concerts, kids programs, bonsai demonstrations, the iconic Steamrollin’ Prints Invitational, and the Festival Art Show. Kids and teens enjoyed free tuition in summer art classes in the Community Arts program, which enrolled artists of all ages to explore their creativity through hands-on classes in areas such as drawing, sculpture, painting, and sewing. Boilermaker runners discovered they could flash their race bibs for free admission to the Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte exhibition.
These summer experiences were all supported by generous individual and corporate sponsors, enabling Munson to connect in a multitude of ways with our amazing community. This energy propels us into the fall with Art Alive!, Concerts in the Court, Victorian Yuletide, Pratt Munson’s 25th Anniversary celebration, and much more.
With your help, we can do even more in the community!
For 25 years, Pratt Munson has provided the foundation for ambitious, curious young artists and designers. Each year, about 100 students from across the U.S. and the world come to Utica to begin their bachelor of fine arts journey— immersing themselves in two years of focused making and exploration.
Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute (today known as Munson) established a School of Art in 1941 to offer community classes. In the 1950s, Munson partnered with Utica College, and later with Mohawk Valley Community College through the 1990s to offer a collaborative approach to providing specialized art instruction and studio facilities while the partner colleges conferred associate degrees. These pioneering efforts led to what would become a nationally recognized program.
MAKING A PARTNERSHIP WITH PRATT INSTITUTE
Munson-Williams-Proctor’s talented students completed their BFAs at the finest art colleges in the United States, many transferring to the prestigious Pratt Institute. This connection made a natural fit when, in 1997, MWP President Milton Bloch and Pratt President Thomas Schutte initiated conversations about formalizing a partnership whereby Munson-Williams-Proctor’s School of Art would become an official affiliate of Pratt Institute.
PrattMWP welcomed its first class in 2000, and those students advanced to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 2002 to complete their BFA degrees, marking the beginning of an innovative and successful partnership.
After relocating to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn to complete their degrees, they join a creative network of more than 3,000 Pratt Munson alumni, carrying with them the skills, confidence, and creative momentum they developed here.
Many Pratt Munson alumni credit their experience in Utica as the time where they first discovered who they were as artists and learned how to pursue that path.
“Before Pratt Munson, I had never painted, touched charcoal, sculpted, or sewn before, yet now I think of these mediums as fundamental to my practice. The foundational year is a love letter to the convention of art in itself."
—Jodie Baek ’27
Students are able to organize exhibitions in a small gallery within the School of Art, providing real-world experience in exhibiting and curating their work, and at the end of each academic year, the School of Art faculty organize student exhibitions in Museum of Art galleries, building their confidence.
Pratt Munson’s outstanding faculty of professional artists and designers provide personalized attention to students to help them reach their full potential, including pursuing extracurricular work. In just the last few months, one student earned statewide recognition for his entrepreneurial venture at the New York State Business Plan Competition and six students clinched prestigious awards from Graphic Design USA, an organization that also recently recognized Pratt Munson as a top design school in the country.
Other students have worked directly with local organizations and businesses, creating logos that are seen by thousands of people, including the logo for the American Heart Association’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk in 2024 and 2025.
“ Having an
opportunity
to design for a big event is very inspiring. I think it was an important step for me as a designer who's interested in making logos."
— Nanoka Umehara ’27
Pratt Munson students arrive at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn ready to take on the academic and creative demands of New York City. Their time in Utica gives them a strong foundation that helps them thrive during the final two years of their BFA and beyond. Employers hiring Pratt graduates include top creative and forward-thinking organizations like Amazon, Apple, DreamWorks, Google, Meta, Nickelodeon, Penguin Random House, and The Met—reflecting the strength of a Pratt education across fields.
As more than 100 new students are welcomed into the fold this fall, we hope they are inspired by the legacy of those who came before them and invigorated to create their own.
“The 25th anniversary is not only a time to reflect on our past—it’s a time to envision the next chapter. We are proud of what Pratt Munson has become and excited about where it's headed."
— Suzanne Snyder, Dean, Pratt Munson College of Art and Design
adults, teens, and kids
MINI COURSE
Rebecca Robbins | Beginners–Intermediate | 16+
Thursdays, Sept. 18 to Oct. 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
$75 Members | $85 General Public
Whether you’re learning to knit for the first time or getting back into it, this new class is a fun, creative way to unwind, connect with others, and gain a rewarding lifelong skill. Don’t miss this new opportunity to Sit ‘n Knit!
Quincey Spagnoletti | Beginners–Intermediate | 18+
Mondays, Sept. 15 to Dec. 8, 6 to 9 p.m.
$210 Members | $235 General Public
Learn the fundamentals of photography while getting to know your DSLR camera. This course covers techniques for capturing dynamic images using effects and constructed backgrounds, along with image editing in Adobe Bridge, Camera RAW, and Photoshop. Participants will complete a final photo project that reflects a strong understanding of their camera and chosen concept. Required materials list provided; DSLR camera required.
MINI COURSE
Andrew Mullally | Beginners | 16+ Saturdays, Nov. 1 to Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
$185 Members | $205 General Public
This six-week mini-course explores the introductory intaglio platemaking processes of drypoint, line-etch, and aquatint. Instruction includes plexiglass drypoint, hardground resists, and spray paint aquatint on copper plates etched in ferric chloride. Students will leave this course with two to three unique printed editions. No previous experience is required; some materials provided.
Classes begin the week of Sept. 16. munson.art/community-arts 315-797-8260 communityclasses@munson.art
Need-based scholarships covering partial or full tuition are available for all ages. For more information or to apply, visit munson.art/community-arts.
In the Museum exhibition Celestial Bodies, artist Karen LaMonte presents sculpted clouds in glass, metal, and stone. Crafting realistic clouds can be tricky—get expert tips from Pratt Munson faculty as you create your own artistic versions.
Register for one workshop or all three—the sky’s the limit!
Watercolor Clouds with Annette Gurdo
Saturday, Sept. 13, 1 to 4 p.m.
Pratt Munson Studio Building, Room 220
$35 Members | $45 General Public
Acrylic and Oil Clouds with Chad Smith
Saturday, Sept. 20, 1 to 4 p.m.
Pratt Munson Studio Building, Room 340
$35 Members | $45 General Public
Art and Science: Karen LaMonte with WKTV’s Bill Kardas
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Bank of Utica–Sinnott Family Auditorium
$5 Members | $10 General Public
Karen LaMonte returns to Munson for a lively conversation with WKTV meteorologist Bill Kardas about her careerspanning exhibition Celestial Bodies. Find out what fascinates both LaMonte and Kardas about art, weather, climate, and the environment. You’ll discover the ways that art and science shape our understanding of the natural world.
Cyanotype Clouds with Sarah Smith
Saturday, Sept. 27, 1 to 4 p.m.
Pratt Munson Studio Building, Room 130
$35 Member | $45 General Public
MEET THE MISSUS!
Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m.
Bank of Utica–Sinnott Family Auditorium Free
Did you know that Alfred Munson and Old Main figure into the story of Mrs. Santa Claus’ rise to fame? In fact, she made her worldwide theatrical debut in Utica in 1854. Join Canadian author Pamela McColl for a fascinating talk and book signing of her new work, Wondrous Mrs. Claus, an exploration of Santa’s wife in art and literature over the past two centuries.
The 2025 Arts Festival was a tremendous success with more than nine thousand visitors over the Festival’s nine days. New events, such as karaoke night, the family foam party, and the powdered color battle, were well-attended and are sure to return. The Festival Art Show showcased the incredible work of more than 300 local artists.
Thank you to all who attended, making this a truly vibrant community event!
PHOTOGRAPHY
MIXED MEDIA
PRINTS AND DRAWINGS
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 | 5 TO 7:30PM
Sculpture Grove
(Rain location: Root Court)
$5 General Admission | Free Pratt Munson Students
Live Music | Dancing | Crafts
Food and drinks available for purchase
SPEND THE DAY EXPLORING THE BIG APPLE!
SATURDAY, DEC. 6 | 6AM
Depart the Munson parking lot and arrive in the midst of the Bryant Park holiday market. Enjoy doing whatever you choose: shopping, visiting museums, seeing a Broadway show, or just eating your way throughout the city. Bus will depart from Bryant Park at 7 p.m. for the return trip to Munson.
$105 Members | $115 General Public
Tickets: 315-797-0055 or munson.art/bus-trip
Please register by Nov. 21.
Payment is nonrefundable after this date unless the trip is canceled. 2025–26 MUNSON ARTIST-INRESIDENCE!
QUINCEY SPAGNOLETTI
Artist Talk Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 11 a.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
Based in Boston, Quincey uses photography, installation, and performance to explore identity and womanhood. Her introspective work, drawn from personal archives, invites emotional depth and layered meaning.
She earned her BA from Colgate and MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. Recent honors include Lenscratch’s Top 25 Photographers to Watch and finalist placements with Critical Mass and KLPA.
The Munson Museum Shop is proud to offer an exclusive collection of handcrafted necklaces by longtime member and jewelry artist Cathy Silver of Naples, Fla. A dedicated supporter of Munson for many years, Silver has generously donated 17 original necklaces to the Museum Shop, each one a unique expression of her artistry.
Fashioned with care and creativity, several of these one-of-akind pieces feature semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, and Swarovski crystals. Their elegant designs and exceptional materials make them the perfect statement gift or addition to any personal collection.
This exclusive collection is available only at Munson's Museum Shop, with all proceeds benefiting Munson’s Community Arts scholarships, helping to ensure that local students of all ages have access to transformative arts education.
Munson is deeply grateful to Cathy Silver for this meaningful and beautifully tangible contribution. Her generosity supports both Munson’s mission and the creative potential of our community.
The Museum of Art has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation for the reinterpretation and reinstallation of its 19th-century American art galleries. Under the leadership of Elizabeth Welch, associate curator of American Art, the entire first floor of the Museum of Art, comprising three galleries, will be renovated to display American art made before 1920. The space will draw particular attention to relationships between materials, places, and ideas.
The recent addition of Robert Duncanson’s Vale of Kashmir (1864), has drawn renewed attention to the Museum’s collection of American art made in the 1800s and has contributed to the diversity of artists represented within it. This reinstallation project will identify global connections within Munson’s collection as well as areas for potential growth.
With Luce Foundation support, Munson will create new interpretive materials incorporating local expertise in cultures and languages from around the world in collaboration with The Center and members of Utica’s refugee community among others. This bank of multilingual audio and text guides will be
Robert Seldon Duncanson (American, 1821–1872), Vale of Kashmir, 1864. Oil on canvas. 18 x 30 1/8 in. Museum Purchase, Helen Munson Williams Fund and a Gift in Memory of Jill S. Maney (1964–2021), 2024.5.
available for future visitors. English and other language guides will feature approachable, community-influenced explanations of American art, history, and culture.
Munson will also develop a cultural advisory committee, conduct a year-long seminar exploring the Museum’s pre-1920 collections, and fund a project-specific research assistant with the Luce Foundation’s support. The result should be a vibrant, dynamic presentation of the Museum’s American art that will be accessible to all.
Munson’s Terrace Café is temporarily closed for lunch.
Munson’s Terrace Café is temporarily
With the assistance of a generous grant from New York State, Munson will soon undergo renovations to the Fountain Elms terrace. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to reopening in the near future.
grant from New York State, Munson will soon undergo renovations to the Fountain Elms terrace. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to
Visit munson.art/cafe for updates or contact events@munson.art.
Visit munson.art/visit/cafe for updates
Museum of Art including Fountain Elms
Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Performing Arts Ticket Office
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doors open one hour before performances and 30 minutes before films.
Tickets: 315-797-0055, 1-800-754-0797, or munson.art
Pratt Munson and Community Arts Offices
Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Art Research Library
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, 3 to 5 p.m.
The following areas are accessible to the physically challenged: Museum of Art galleries, Fountain Elms, Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium, Root Court, Art Odyssey: Interactive Gallery, Museum Shop, Art Library, Performing Arts Office, School of Art Gallery, Studio D, the Pottery Studio, the Academic Building, and Student Center.
Whether you're alone or with a group, there are a number of ways to explore the Museum!
• Student Tours
• Teacher and Administrator Tours
• Curriculum Connection Tours
• Group tours
Docent Greeters in the galleries: Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m.
Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte
For more information, visit munson.art/visit/tours.
To schedule tours, call Myah Darby at 315-797-0000 ext. 2170.
