Nothing says summer like a road trip. While Rochester has an abundance of art institutions, sometimes it's good to get outta town. Still can't afford that vacay to Italy or Japan? This summer, whether you use your feet, bike, or drive, the wealth and array of major art museums and galleries in western and central New York state will enable you to gain a variety of global and historical perspectives, relatively locally. And you can travel through time, too! Note that these are just a few of the region's art spaces; check City Newspaper every Wednesday for a more comprehensive list of current exhibitions, or visit rochestercitynewspaper.com.
ROCHESTER
MemorialArtGallery
500 University Ave | 276-8900, mag.rochester.edu
Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Admission: Free to members; general $10, children 6-18 $6, college students w/ID $8, seniors $8. Admission reduced to $6 Thursdays 5-9 p.m.
The permanent collection of nearly 11,000 works of art consists of artifacts and masterpieces from a diverse range of cultures and eras. Visitors can view a restored, 22-foot tall Italian Baroque organ, and become educated on Egyptian culture and death rituals in the interactive "Protected for Eternity: The Coffins of Pa-debehu-Aset" installation (perfect for the kids). Coming up is the third "Rochester Biennial" show (July 13-September 14) featuring six contemporary regional artists.
George Eastman House
900 East Ave | 271-3361, eastmanhouse.org
Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Admission: Free to members and children under 4; general $8, children 5-12 $3, college students with ID $5, seniors $6.
Located in the former home of one of the most influential Rochesterians, the museum is now home to galleries, archives, and objects of significance to the history of photography and motion picture, the Dryden Theatre, and also serves as an educational facility for students in the field of preservation. The world-famous landmark draws an international crowd, not only for its historic importance, but also for the profound nature of its exhibits. Current exhibitions focus on issues of racial, geographical, and economic conflict, and include "Black in America: Eli Reed" (through June 29) and "Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta" (through September 1), followed by "West African Masquerade: Photographs by Phyllis Galembo," and "Africas: Photographs from the Permanent Collection" (both June 28-September 28).
BUFFALO
Albright-KnoxArtGallery
1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo | 716-882-8700, albrightknox.org
Wednesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Admission: Free to members and kids under 13; general $8, students 14-18 $8, seniors $8. Free Fridays 3-10 p.m.
Unmistakably contemporary in its focus, the gallery houses an international collection of important modern art pieces, and is dedicated to the "presentation, interpretation, and collection of the artistic expressions of our times." Summer shows include an environment-transforming installation of Jennifer Steinkamp's video-projected computer animations with sound (through June 29), "REMIX: Recent Acquisitions" (through July 28), which exhibits pieces added to the permanent holdings in the past five years, and educates the public on the collecting process. "REMIX: Recent Acquisitions Works on Paper" (through August) shows off new pieces in drawing, printmaking, and mixed media, while denying that paper works are mere studies for paintings and sculptures. Later summer shows include "Op Art Revisted" (July 18-October 26), and "Works on Paper: The Natalie and Irving Forman Collection" (August 15-November 30).
ITHACA
HerbertF.JohnsonMuseum of Art
Central and University avenues, Ithaca | 607-255-6464, museum.cornell.edu
Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Located at Cornell University, the Johnson houses the school's art collection, which dates back to the 1880's. The building itself is an impressive modern art structure, designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. The museum's permanent collection spans the breadth of history, and includes artifacts and modern works from Asian, African, and Oceanic cultures, as well as familiar artists from classic and contemporary Europe and America. Ending July 27 is "Something Old, Something New: Gifts from Alumni," and ongoing is the show of art glass on loan from the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Martin House in Buffalo.
RockwellMuseum of Western Art
111 Cedar St, Corning | 607-937-5386, rockwellmuseum.org
Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Free to members and kids 17 and under; adults $6.50; seniors and students with ID $5.50
Dedicated entirely to art representing the spirit of the American West, this museum also specializes in the history of the western frontier, which was chased by early settlers from the bounds of the eastern states (such as New York), all the way to the other coast. Important and familiar historic names such as N. C. Wyeth and Frederic Remington share the walls and pedestals with Native American artworks, as well as contemporary western artists, all celebrating the land, exploring the history and culture, and visually examining perceptions of each other. Through September 1 visitors have the opportunity to view "Yosemite 1938: On the Trail with Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keeffe from the National Museum of Wildlife Art," which includes not only the epic landscapes of the master photographer, but also candid photos of friends, including O'Keeffe and David McAlpin, in the unspoiled Yosemite backcountry.
CorningMuseum of Glass
1 Museum Way, Corning | 888-887-9051, cmog.rtrk.com
Daily 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Admission: Free to kids 17 and under; adults $12.50, seniors and college students with ID $11.25
An institution dedicated to the history and celebration of a material that we usually look right through. Visitors can view more than 45,000 objects spanning 3,500 years of the history of glassmaking. Interactive exhibits, demonstrations, classes, and an enormous "Glass Market" will fill up your day (at least three-hour visits are recommended by the museum). And it features exhibitions, too: the summer show will be "Glass of the Alchemists: Lead Crystal-Gold Ruby" (June 27-January 4), which educates on how alchemists accidentally advanced glass-making technology and modern chemistry in their endeavors to make gold.
SYRACUSE
EversonMuseum of Art
410 Harrison St, Syracuse | 315-474-6064, everson.org
Tuesday-Friday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Free ($5 suggested donation)
Also designed by architect I. M. Pei, the contemporary building has the look and feel of a masterful sculptural work, which is appropriate since the Everson houses the largest collection of American ceramics in the country. All of the more than 11,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and graphics are American contemporary art, and the purpose of the institution is to record and educate us on our present culture through its artistic manifestations. Currently on display is "The Object and Beyond: The Everson Biennial 2008," which exhibits the traditional to conceptual work of 55 Central New York artists (through August 24).
In short: you should be ashamed if you complain of boredom. Get thee to the galleries! Many provide daylong recreation, and house cafes and restaurants. Oh, and they have air conditioning, too. A few notes: a bunch of these galleries and museums offer workshops and classes for varying age groups. Speaking of groups: most institutions also offer group rates, which is further encouragement to carpool with friends - not that you needed other reasons than reducing pollution and sharing the rising cost of gas. Boo!