McMurray Art League upcoming events

Laura Sippos, 5/22 Mixed Media Minis Happy Hour (Friday, May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Enjoy snacks and drinks while trying your hand at an art project.

All skill levels are welcome including the absolute beginner. Supplies and light snacks and refreshments are included with the workshop fee.

Of course, happy hour is best with friends, so bring one or two, or come and make a new one! A great date night, too!

Happy hours are the fourth Friday of most months.

Jan. 23, 2026 6:30-8:30

Feb. 27, 6:30-8:30

Mar. 27, 6:30-8:30

Apr. 24, 6:30-8:30

May 22, 6:30-8:30

Minimum: 6
Maximum: 16

Spring Juried Show registration due 6/4/2026 (Thursday, June 04, 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 03:59:00 GMT

Register for the juried spring show online here. For links to the Prospectus, Standards, and Inventory Form, click here. Be sure to read the Prospectus and Standards carefully. Note: you must complete an inventory form even if you only have hanging art.

Note: if you cannot sit for the show, you must find a designee to sit in your place.

Join us for an in-person reception at The Galleria on Saturday, June 13, 3:30-5:00! Light snacks will be provided by the League.

You may pay securely online or mail a check made out to MAL with "Spring show" in the Memo field to:

Jan Pini, Show Data Manager
103 Crabtree Ct.
Venetia, PA 15367

Peter Stamoolis, Abstracting a Photograph (Sunday, June 07, 2026)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Peter Stamoolis will demonstrate his methods for using software to convert a photograph into a fascinating piece of abstract art. We finally get to see how he gets his cool results!

The class will demonstrate turning a photograph into abstract art using Corel Aftershot (other photo manipulation software have similar capabilities). Aftershot comes as part of Corel’s Wordperfect Office Suite ($99.99 for the download). Attached is a photo of the Aftershot screen.

A $20 donation to the McMurray Art League is requested.

Spring Juried show drop off art (Sunday, June 07, 2026)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Drop off registered art. Register here to get email reminders.

Spring Juried show at McMurray Art League Gallery (Tuesday, June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Open Thursdays and Fridays 3-7, Saturdays and Sundays 12-7 or when there's an event going on. If you register for this event you will get a reminder. This event is not for registering to exhibit in the show. To register for the show, click here: Spring Juried Show registration due 6/4/2026

MAL Book Club: "The Thread Collectors: A Novel" (Thursday, June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Please join Marlene Boas and Jan Pini for the next meeting of the MAL Art and Artists Book Club! Come even if you haven't read the book!

We will meet to discuss "The Thread Collectors: A Novel" by Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman.

Feel free to read the book and add to the discussion. And bring friends and snacks! A voluntary donation of $5 is requested.

Here's Amazon's synopsis:

1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician.

Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him.

As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during thebrutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us. Loosely inspired by the authors' family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.

Spring Juried show reception and awards (Saturday, June 13, 2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Public reception. Awards announced at 4:00 PM. Register here to get a reminder email.

Jim Sulkowski Oil or Pastel Series (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Back by popular demand!

Oil and pastel techniques. Individual instruction. Series only.

The principles of Classical Art will be discussed and demonstrated. Form, Light, Space, Atmosphere, Composition, Color, and Value are all essential concepts. They apply to the landscape, the portrait, the still life, floral, and the figure.

There will be a still life demonstration one day and a landscape demonstration the other day.

6/16 will be Still Life Flowers and 6/18 will be Landscapes. For a biography of Jim Sulkowski, click here.

Materials list:

Oils

Suggested Brands of oil paint: Sennelier, Rembrandt, Winsor & Newton, Blockx, Williamsburg, Gamblin. Do not use Winton or any student grade oils because they contain mostly filler with little pigment.

Oil Paints: Cadmium Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Orange, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Medium, Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Thalo Blue, Raw Umber, Thalo Green, large tubes of Titanium White and Ivory Black. Optional: Burnt Sienna, Magenta

Bristle Brushes All sizes; 1/4" in width up to 2" and 3". One small pointed sable brush (No. 6). Avoid synthetic brushes.

Painting Medium to thin your paint: 1 Part Linseed Oil + 1 Part Damar Varnish + 1 Part English Distilled Turpentine OR any fast drying medium such as Winsor Newton, Grumbacher, or Gamblin.

Brush Washer: A can or jar containing mineral spirits also known as paint thinner to clean your brushes

Palette: The best palette is one that is toned a medium gray. A wooden palette is also very good. Avoid using a white palette.

Palette knife for mixing

Palette cup or small jar for your painting medium

Canvases or panels: 8" x 10", 9” x 12”, or 12” x 16”

Paper towels

Pastels

Your favorite pastels and paper.

Peters Twp. Library pick-up/drop-off "The Passage of Time" (Wednesday, June 17, 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

McMurray Art League has shown art at PT Library for many years. Library patrons enjoy seeing the art we display. And sometimes they buy art!

Please consider showing your 2-dimensional pieces at the library through 10/14/2026. You may enter up to three 2-dimensional pieces no larger than 24” top to bottom. There is no entry fee, but there is a 15% commission on sold works (10% to the library and 5% to MAL). Contact Sandy Conley conley1973@verizon.net or register here by the Monday before the exhibit hanging. Provide artist’s name, title of piece, medium, and price or NFS (Not for Sale) or POR (Price On Request). Bring your pieces to Peters Township Library at 9:30 am on the day of hanging.

Jim Sulkowski Oil or Pastel Series (Thursday, June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Back by popular demand!

Oil and pastel techniques. Individual instruction. Series only.

There will be a still life demonstration one day and a landscape demonstration the other day.

6/16 will be Still Life Flowers and 6/18 will be Landscapes. For a biography of Jim Sulkowski, click here.

Materials list:

Oils

Bristle Brushes All sizes; 1/4" in width up to 2" and 3". One small pointed sable brush (No. 6). Avoid synthetic brushes.

Painting Medium to thin your paint: 1 Part Linseed Oil + 1 Part Damar Varnish + 1 Part English Distilled Turpentine OR any fast drying medium such as Winsor Newton, Grumbacher, or Gamblin.

Brush Washer: A can or jar containing mineral spirits also known as paint thinner to clean your brushes

Palette: The best palette is one that is toned a medium gray. A wooden palette is also very good. Avoid using a white palette.

Palette knife for mixing

Palette cup or small jar for your painting medium

Canvases or panels: 8" x 10", 9” x 12”, or 12” x 16”

Paper towels

Pastels

Your favorite pastels and paper.

McDonald Bacon Jam restaurant Exhibit pick up/dinner (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Time to pick up the exhibit at Bacon Jam, a new, yummy breakfast-lunch restaurant in McDonald, PA. They would like to showcase local art.

Let's meet for dinner prior to the pick-up at 5:30 PM (even if you're not exhibiting)! The address is 110 South McDonald St, McDonald, PA 15057.

Let's help this new small business venture be successful! They are moving to Washington, PA at the end of June. Stay tuned for our next exhibit plans!

Important dates:

Registration for next exhibit: Date coming
Pick up at the restaurant at 6:00-6:30 PM Wednesday, June 24

St. Clair Hospital July-August Exhibit register by 6/28 (Sunday, June 28, 2026)

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here's a chance to exhibit at a high traffic area in St. Clair Hospital during July and August, 2026. The wall near the passageway from the parking garage and professional building through the walkway to the hospital can hold about 20 pieces no larger than about 16"x20", total size, so each artist can enter one painting (depending on turnout we may open it up for two paintings).

Prints are allowed but please follow our new standards here: MAL_2026_04_Exhibit_Standards.pdf. In addition, St. Clair Health Foundation does not allow images of nudes, religious themes, or images displaying death or obscene or sexual material.

Sales are handled by the St. Clair Health Foundation who will send a check to the artist (or the artists can pick up the check or cash, no credit card sales) but no PA sales tax is collected and is the responsibility of the artist. There's no sitting required and no commission or entry fee taken by MAL. The hospital asks each artist who sells a piece to donate 20% of the sale to the St. Clair Health Foundation, 1000 Bower Hill Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15243. If no sales are made MAL needs to donate a piece valued at $100 or more.

Important dates:

Register online here by June 28.
Drop off at the hospital space at 10 AM Wednesday, July 1
Pick up at the hospital space 7 PM Monday, August 31

Spring Juried show closing reception (Sunday, June 28, 2026)

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Public closing reception. Register here to get a reminder email.

Spring Juried show pick up art (Sunday, June 28, 2026)

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Pick up unsold art. Come to the closing reception 1:00-3:00 prior to taking your art! Register here to get email reminders.

Exhibit at St. Clair Hospital, entrance from parking garage (Wednesday, July 01, 2026)

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Open during hospital hours. Note that there is a separate event for registration for artists.

MAL Book Club: "Theo of Golden: A Novel" (Wednesday, July 08, 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Please join Marlene Boas and Jan Pini for the next meeting of the MAL Art and Artists Book Club! Come even if you haven't read the book!

We will meet to discuss "Theo of Golden: A Novel" by Allen Levi.

Feel free to read the book and add to the discussion. And bring friends and snacks! A voluntary donation of $5 is requested.

Here's Amazon's synopsis:

One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn't explain much about where he came from or why he's there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person's story. And so portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered.

A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder.

2026 Art at the Farm - Volunteer sign up (Friday, July 31, 2026)

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Community celebration of the Arts!

Volunteers needed from the MAL membership!

We are asking EACH MAL MEMBER and event participant to devote 2 HOURS to help with SET UP, ART ACTIVITIES, or CLOSING on Saturday, August 8 from 5 pm - 9 pm. There are jobs that require some "elbow grease" such as setting up tents, transporting screens, and hanging the wet paint sale. But there are also jobs where you can sit down for the entire 2 hour shift - such as taking tickets at the entrance or selling 50/50 tickets or selling art at the wet paint sale.

Note that you can register more than once if your plans change.

It's advisable to bring your own chair.

Art Sale at Gilfillan Farm registration due August 5 (Wednesday, August 05, 2026)

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On August 6-8, we have a rare opportunity to paint on the grounds of Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair (next to Westminster Church). Then, on August 8, 6-9 PM there will be a sale of work featuring Gilfillan Farm completed during the event or previously. There will also be food trucks, adult beverages, and live music.

All work will be accepted and juror Linda Barnicott will select works to win awards, announced at 8:00 PM.

The sale will be held in the barn rain or shine. This event is a fundraiser for the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair and McMurray Art League. Your $20 non-refundable donation gives you the ability to exhibit two (maximum approximately sized) 16"x20" (framed or gallery-wrapped) pieces. Only original work will be accepted (no prints, photography, or 3-D work) and all work must be for sale. McMurray Art League will handle all sales retaining a 20% commission on sold work.

McMurray Art League will offer assistance and supplies for wiring your framed or gallery-wrapped work for a donation of $10, starting at 3:00 August 2 at the barn. All work must be wired across the back (no mini-loops or sawtooth hangers) for ease of hanging.

Display tags will be created for you with the artist's name and using generic titles of "Untitled #1" and "Untitled #2". You will have the opportunity to add a price to the tag at drop-off.

Drop off your work at the barn by 4:30 PM on August 8. Pick up unsold work 9:00-9:30 PM on August 8.

Maximum registration size: 40

Plein Air Paint Out on Gilfillan Farm 8/6-8 (Thursday, August 06, 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

On August 6-8, we have a rare opportunity to paint on the grounds of Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair (next to Westminster Church). Then, on August 8 6-9 PM there will be a "wet paint" sale of work showing Gilfillan Farm completed during the class or previously. There will also be food trucks, adult beverages, and live music. Register here for the wet paint sale.

Note: the paint out will be held rain or shine (there are several porches in case of rain). This event is a fundraiser for the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair and McMurray Art League. Your $40 non-refundable donation gives you access to the grounds all three days. The lower gate by the garden opens at 9:30 for check-in and parking and closes at 4:30. If you have mobility issues, indicate so during registration and we can accommodate giving you access to the upper gate for drop-off and pick-up. Please observe the off-limits areas on the map you will be provided with on arrival.

There are paid classes being held all three days. Please respect that when viewing others work and instruction. The public is invited to view the artists at work.

Special things to consider when painting outdoors (from Barry Jeter)

Pack a lunch with something to drink.
Seating, if you like to paint sitting down.
Easel, if you want a support for your painting (some watercolorists simply hold a watercolor block with no support)
Water container and a waste water container.
Oil painters MUST have containers for their thinner and zip lock bags for their paper towels and or rags.
Sunscreen
Insect repellent, including tick spray, and long pants
Some artists use an umbrella, that's fine if you like, I have always found them somewhat cumbersome in that they have to be well supported or the wind or a quick breeze can shake your setup or take them away. Sometimes it's best just to find a shady spot that you can work in.
Sunglasses can help but they can change your colors.
Dress appropriately for the day... if it's a cool day, you don't want to be chilly all day painting.

Maximum registration size: 40

Diane Grguras, Plein Air Pastel at Gilfillan Farm (Thursday, August 06, 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

On August 6-7, we have a rare opportunity to paint on the grounds of Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair (next to Westminster Church). Then, on August 8 6-9 PM there will be a "wet paint" sale of work fetauring Gilfillan Farm completed during the class or previously. There will also be food and music.

Register herefor the wet paint sale: "Wet Paint" Sale at Gilfillan Farm registration due August 5
Register here to paint on site days other than the class day: Plein Air Paint Out on Gilfillan Farm 8/6-8
Register here for the Gala: Art at the Farm - A Community Gala Celebration of the Arts at Gilfillan Farm 8/8 register by 8/5

On Saturday, August 8, Diane Grguras will be teaching plein air pastel, details below.

Note: the paint out will be held rain or shine (there are several porches in case of rain). No refunds unless we can fill your spot from the waitlist. The lower gate by the garden opens at 9:30 for check-in and parking and closes at 4:30. If you have mobility issues, indicate so during registration and we can accommodate giving you access to the upper gate for drop-off and pick-up. Please observe the off-limits areas on the map you will be provided with on arrival.

The public is invited to view the artists at work.

Click here for the supplies list.

"Special things to consider when painting out of doors" (from Barry Jeter)

Pack a lunch with something to drink.
Seating, if you like to paint sitting down.
Easel, if you want a support for your painting (some watercolorists simply hold a watercolor block with no support)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent, including tick spray, long pants suggested
Some artists use an umbrella, that's fine if you like, I have always found them somewhat cumbersome in that they have to be well supported or the wind or a quick breeze can shake your setup or take them away. Sometimes it's best just to find a shady spot that you can work in.
Sunglasses can help but they can change your colors.
Dress appropriately for the day... if it's a cool day, you don't want to be chilly all day painting.

Maximum class size: 16

Minimum class size: 8

Barry Jeter, Plein Air Watercolor or Oil at Gilfillan Farm (Friday, August 07, 2026)

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Barry Jeter will be teaching watercolor or oil on August 7, details below.

The public is invited to view the artists at work.

Here are Barry's comments:

"Return to Gilfillan, En Plein Air"

Having taught several workshops at Gilfillan, and one as recently as last year, we return to this subject-rich location. Hope you can join us. Those workshops, as this one, were with the McMurray Art League, great times. This time around you can chose your medium, watercolor or oil. I will only have watercolors on my part but can help you with either medium. This class will center around several things but one of the main points I will try and get across while we are on location is to not be overwhelmed with so much subject matter and panorama views of the farm. We have to zero in on an item... could be a full landscape, could an old door or a door knob for that matter but isolating a subject and giving it your full attention is critical, otherwise you get caught up in too much. Of course this involves composition.... you may want to bring along "L" shaped croppers/viewfinders to help that process. I want to limit enrollment to no more that 12 students so that I can get around to each one. I will give a quick chat at the beginning of class and maybe point out a few things of interest on the property and then you can scout for subject matter and then set up and get started. I will be making my rounds, on my bicycle, to give pointers and help, and near the end of class we all gather for a class critique as usual. Hope to see you there!

"Special things to consider when painting out of doors"

Pack a lunch with something to drink.
Seating, if you like to paint sitting down.
Easel, if you want a support for your painting (some watercolorists simply hold a watercolor block with no support)
Water container and a waste water container.
Oil painters MUST have containers for their thinner and zip lock bags for their paper towels and or rags.
Sunscreen
Insect repellent, including tick spray
Some artists use an umbrella, that's fine if you like, I have always found them somewhat cumbersome in that they have to be well supported or the wind or a quick breeze can shake your setup or take them away. Sometimes it's best just to find a shady spot that you can work in.
Sunglasses can help but they can change your colors.
Dress appropriately for the day... if it's a cool day, you don't want to be chilly all day painting.

Watercolor supplies list here.
Oil supplies list here.

Maximum class size: 12
Minimum class size: 8

Plein Air Paint Out on Gilfillan Farm 8/6-8 (Friday, August 07, 2026)

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

There are paid classes being held all three days. Please respect that when viewing others work and instruction. The public is invited to view the artists at work.

Special things to consider when painting outdoors (from Barry Jeter)

Pack a lunch with something to drink.
Seating, if you like to paint sitting down.
Easel, if you want a support for your painting (some watercolorists simply hold a watercolor block with no support)
Water container and a waste water container.
Oil painters MUST have containers for their thinner and zip lock bags for their paper towels and or rags.
Sunscreen
Insect repellent, including tick spray, and long pants
Some artists use an umbrella, that's fine if you like, I have always found them somewhat cumbersome in that they have to be well supported or the wind or a quick breeze can shake your setup or take them away. Sometimes it's best just to find a shady spot that you can work in.
Sunglasses can help but they can change your colors.
Dress appropriately for the day... if it's a cool day, you don't want to be chilly all day painting.

Maximum registration size: 40

David Csont, Plein Air Watercolor at Gilfillan Farm (Saturday, August 08, 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

On August 6-7, we have a rare opportunity to paint on the grounds of Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair (next to Westminster Church). Then, on August 8 6-9 PM there will be a "wet paint" sale of work completed during the class or previously of Gilfillan Farm. There will also be food and music.

On Saturday, August 8, David Csont will be teaching plein air watercolor, details below.

The public is invited to view the artists at work.

The Gilfillan Farm plein air seminar taught by David Csont immerses participants in the practice of painting outdoors, directly from nature, rather than in a studio. For over 20 years, David has specialized in plein Air painting, competing and designing many events for the arts community both local and national. David offers a unique opportunity to learn from an experienced instructor, engage with the natural environment, and develop skills in capturing the essence of a landscape or subject in a spontaneous and expressive way. While his primary medium is watercolor, discussion of composition, color use, drawing and other artistic approaches that will be discussed, are valuable to working in any media.

Here's a more detailed look at what you can expect from the seminar: Csont Gilfillan Farm.pdf

Materials list: Csont Materials List Gilfillan Farm.pdf

David has been a professional artist and illustrator for over 35 years. HE has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He has taught extensively and specializes in Watercolor and Plein Air Painting. In July 2021, he won the award for best watercolor at Plein Air Easton, The largest outdoor painting competition in the country.

Whether you are a professional or amateur artist, David’s hands-on approach and personal attention will provide you with new and positive ways to approach your painting.

"Special things to consider when painting out of doors" (from Barry Jeter)

Pack a lunch with something to drink.
Seating, if you like to paint sitting down.
Easel, if you want a support for your painting (some watercolorists simply hold a watercolor block with no support)
Water container and a waste water container.
Oil painters MUST have containers for their thinner and zip lock bags for their paper towels and or rags.
Sunscreen
Insect repellent, including tick spray, long pants suggested
Some artists use an umbrella, that's fine if you like, I have always found them somewhat cumbersome in that they have to be well supported or the wind or a quick breeze can shake your setup or take them away. Sometimes it's best just to find a shady spot that you can work in.
Sunglasses can help but they can change your colors.
Dress appropriately for the day... if it's a cool day, you don't want to be chilly all day painting.

Maximum class size: 12
Minimum class size: 8

Plein Air Paint Out on Gilfillan Farm 8/6-8 (Saturday, August 08, 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

There are paid classes being held all three days. Please respect that when viewing others work and instruction. The public is invited to view the artists at work.

Special things to consider when painting outdoors (from Barry Jeter)

Pack a lunch with something to drink.
Seating, if you like to paint sitting down.
Easel, if you want a support for your painting (some watercolorists simply hold a watercolor block with no support)
Water container and a waste water container.
Oil painters MUST have containers for their thinner and zip lock bags for their paper towels and or rags.
Sunscreen
Insect repellent, including tick spray, and long pants
Some artists use an umbrella, that's fine if you like, I have always found them somewhat cumbersome in that they have to be well supported or the wind or a quick breeze can shake your setup or take them away. Sometimes it's best just to find a shady spot that you can work in.
Sunglasses can help but they can change your colors.
Dress appropriately for the day... if it's a cool day, you don't want to be chilly all day painting.

Maximum registration size: 40

Art at the Farm - A Community Gala Celebration of the Arts at Gilfillan Farm 8/8 register by 8/5 (Saturday, August 08, 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Community celebration of the Arts!

This community gala celebration will include live music by Bertha and the Belles (complex harmonies and wicked fingering), food trucks, real ice cream, beer, wine, and a "wet paint" sale. Enjoy and/or purchase artwork about Gilfillan Farm. Vote for your favorite artwork! Interactive art experience available!

Registration by August 5 is a non-refundable $5 donation per person (registrant and number of guests) and $10 per person cash at the gate on August 8. Your donation benefits the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair and McMurray Art League. We will also have a 50/50 raffle with the winner announced at 8:30 (you need not be present to win). Age five and under FREE!

Note that if you are registering a second time using the same email address to add more tickets, you will automatically get one ticket so your guests count would be one less than the total number of additional tickets you want.

Note: The event will be held rain or shine (there are several porches and large tents over the tables in case of rain). The lower gate by the garden opens at 5:30 PM for check-in and parking and closes at 9:30 PM. Parking is also available at Westminster Church. If you have mobility issues, indicate so during registration and we can accommodate giving you access to the upper gate for drop-off and pick-up. It's advisable to bring your own chair(s).

MAL Book Club: "The Keeper of Lost Art" (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Please join Marlene Boas and Jan Pini for the next meeting of the MAL Art and Artists Book Club! Come even if you haven't read the book!

We will meet to discuss "The Keeper of Lost Art: A Sweeping WWII Novel of Italy, Botticelli's Lost Primavera, and a Tuscan Villa's Wartime Secrets" by Laura Morelli.

Feel free to read the book and add to the discussion. And bring friends and snacks! A voluntary donation of $5 is requested.

Here's Amazon's synopsis:

As Allied bombs rain down on Torino in the autumn of 1942, Stella Costa’s mother sends her to safety with distant relatives in a Tuscan villa. There, Stella finds her family tasked with a great responsibility: hiding nearly 300 priceless masterpieces from Florence, including Botticelli’s famous Primavera.

With the arrival of German troops imminent, Stella finds herself a stranger in her family’s villa and she struggles to understand why her aunt doesn’t like her. She knows it has something to do with her parents—and the fact that her father, who is currently fighting at the front, has been largely absent from her life.

When a wave of refugees seeks shelter in the villa, Stella befriends Sandro, an orphaned boy with remarkable artistic talent. Amid the growing threats, this unlikely found family takes refuge in the villa’s “treasure room,” where the paintings are hidden. There, Botticelli’s masterpiece and other works of art become a solace, an inspiration, and the glue that bonds Stella and Sandro as the dangers grow.

A troop of German soldiers requisitions the villa, beginning a dangerous German occupation that puts everyone to forced labor. Now, with the villa full of German soldiers, refugees, a secret guest, and hundreds of priceless treasures, no one knows who will emerge unscathed, and whether the paintings will be taken as spoils or become unintended casualties.

Inspired by the incredible true story of a single Tuscan villa used as a hiding place for the treasures of Florentine art during World War II, The Keeper of Lost Art takes readers on a breathtaking journey into one of the darkest chapters of WWII Italy, highlighting the incredible courage and resilience of everyday people to protect some of the most important works of art in western civilization.

May-June Exhibit at St. Clair Hospital, entrance from parking garage (Monday, May 01, 2028)

Mon, 01 May 2028 04:00:00 GMT

Open during hospital hours. Register for a reminder email. Note that there is a separate event for registration for artists (coming).