UW Art Museum Celebrates Summer Solstice With Public Events

Each June, the University of Wyoming Art Museum hosts a summer solstice celebration with community art-making activities, food, music and other activities.

This year, the museum is hosting guest artists Helen Popinchalk and Andrew Bablo for the opening of their exhibition “Where the Heck is Yucca Fountain?” More community events are planned Saturday, June 14, through Saturday, June 21.

The UW Art Museum will host an opening celebration at Sunshine Coffee in the Laramie Plains Civic Center from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 14. Attendees can purchase a specialty coffee, explore a satellite exhibition of “Where the Heck is Yucca Fountain?” and meet the artists. Participants also can make a screenprint at the free public Jackrabbit Workshop. The civic center is located at 710 E. Garfield Ave.

Popinchalk and Bablo will hold a free workshop from 5:30-8 pm. Tuesday, June 17. “Test Print Tuesday” will teach the public screen-printing techniques in collaboration with Lars Roeder, a UW Department of Visual Arts visiting assistant professor. Participation is limited, and registration is required.

To register and for more information, go here. The workshop will be held at the UW Visual Arts Building, located at 2129 E. Willett Drive.

The UW Art Museum will host a celebration of the summer solstice Saturday, June 21, the longest day of the year. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the public is invited to celebrate the celestial event by creating original cyanotypes to view the sun through solar telescopes. Participants can enjoy a healthy summer beverage from the UW Wellness Center’s smoothie bike, with more activities scheduled.

At noon, attendees can witness the shining of the coin, an event unique to the Centennial Complex through its distinct architectural design. The yearly occurrence takes place when the sun aligns with a solar tube above the Rotunda Gallery, illuminating a silver dollar set in the center of the gallery’s floor.

The event is free and open to the public.

The UW Art Museum/Centennial Complex is located at 2111 E. Willett Drive.

Later that night, the UW Art Museum will host “Sunlight Soiree: A Solstice Evening” to celebrate the opening of the “Where the Heck is Yucca Fountain?” exhibition with food, a cash bar, an evening of artmaking and live music from local band Carriages.

The event is free and open to ages 21 and above.

About the University of Wyoming Art Museum

The UW Art Museum exhibits, preserves and interprets visual culture from around the world to engage academic, local, state, national and global communities. The museum is located in the Centennial Complex. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m-5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 7 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, email Fred Hirschman, UW Art Museum area public relations coordinator, at fred.hirschman@uwyo.edu.