Harrisburg, PA – The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced the recipients of the Art of the State 2021 purchase prize. Artwork selected will become part of The State Museum’s permanent collection. This year The State Museum chose two artists as purchase prize winners, Becky McDonah of Millersville and Shelby Wormley of Lancaster.
McDonah’s Particulate Protection: A Reliquary for the N95 Mask is crafted from brass, silver, copper, pearls, cheesecloth, suede and an N95 mask. Her work represents the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of Pennsylvanians. By elevating personal protective equipment in a reliquary, McDonah presents the larger picture of cultural practices and ideals.
Wormley’s work titled I AM Somebody is a metal digital print. The artist uses photography to capture the human connection and experience. Her work focuses on the documentation of history and preservation of people and their stories. I AM Somebody celebrates Wormley’s community. Visitors to The State Museum on Sunday, November 14, can join Shelby Wormley for a casual tour of Art of the State. Wormley will be participating in an “Artist Conversation” at 2:00 P.M. Free with general admission. More information can be found online.
Art of the State, open now through January 2, 2022, is an annual juried exhibition that has showcased the work of Pennsylvania’s artists at The State Museum of Pennsylvania since 1968. This body of art reflects more than a half-century of creative endeavor in the Keystone State. Through the years, artists have shared their ideas and engaged viewers in the categories of painting, photography, craft, sculpture and work on paper.
Additional information including a 360-degree virtual exhibit, an exhibit catalogue pdf, and programming announcements can be accessed on the Art of the State 2021 landing page.
Art of the State is presented by The State Museum of Pennsylvania in association with the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation. The media sponsor is WITF Public Media.
The Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (PHF) is the nonprofit partner of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), the state agency charged with collecting, preserving, researching and interpreting the treasures of Pennsylvania. Through private contributions, PHF supports PHMC in protecting and providing access to 24 historic sites and museums, approximately 9 million objects, and more than 250 million archival items.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 24 historic sites and museums administered by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the Colonial and Revolutionary eras, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the commonwealth's vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America's story.
For more information visit The State Museum of Pennsylvania website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contact: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639