Barbara Hollander works on a mixed media piece in her Altoona home studio.
Mirror photos by Patrick Waksmunski
The upcoming exhibit at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art by Altoona artist Barbara Hollander is a homecoming for the former museum employee who spent 21 years helping it grow.
As the longest tenured SAMA employee, she served as education coordinator and then as the Altoona museum’s site coordinator where she grew attendance, developed signature educational and public events and expanded the permanent collection through acquisitions, especially the Mark del Costello Collection of 3,100 pieces illustrating American graphic design on a variety of topics.
Since she retired as the Altoona site coordinator in 2020, Hollander has been devoted to her own art after tirelessly helping other artists and promoting the museum. Entitled “All My Life’s a Circle,” the exhibit consists of 65 pieces, fills two galleries and runs through Oct. 5.
“It’s going to be like no one has ever seen,” said Altoona site director Scott Riner of Hollander’s exhibit. “Her style is so unique. There isn’t a person out there with her style. Whether it’s sculptures or paintings, you can look at a piece and know it is a Barb Hollander.”
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art director emeritus Michael Strueber, who hired Hollander as an education coordinator, said of his longtime friend’s art, “When you look at her work, her work sparkles and it’s so uniquely hers.”
Barbara Hollander (face not shown) works on a mixed media piece in her Altoona home studio.
Mirror photos by Patrick Waksmunski
Hollander’s mixed media work is layered, vibrant and gorgeously colored with Swarovski crystals that add shine and effervescence qualities. The exhibit entitled “All My Life’s a Circle” features a few early works, too.
When she served as education coordinator and worked to bring art into area schools, Strueber said, “She was a breath of fresh air to the kids. They were thrilled to see her and she was thrilled to be there,” said Strueber, noting that Hollander’s “unique” attire was and is a reflection of her inimitable style. “She was like a moving piece of art and her work also reflects greatly who she is and that’s sort of a rarity. You could look at me and have no idea what kind of work I do but Barbara is different. (Her art) sings with life. They celebrate life and womanhood.”
Hollander said she is excited to share her art with the community and to celebrate at the Artist’s Reception set for 6 p.m. July 26 which will feature specialty drinks, hors d’oeuvres for $15 per person.
“This is a definite fundraiser for the museum,” Hollander said.
When creating her art, she usually moves between several pieces as her mood and the works dictate.
“Red Tide” by Barabar Hollander
Courtesy photo
“My work is very layered and that’s why it’s so time consuming,” she said.
To Strueber, himself a renowned artist, her works are “celebrations of life. They’re meant to bring happiness. They’re brilliantly colored and some of them are dazzling with jewel-like pieces of glass and sequins.”
Nature is a key component and inspiration for Hollander.
Her art is filled with colorful florals in all forms, abstract and realistic, and is designed to bring the viewer joy through her use of color and embellishments.
“I’ve always done florals,” she said. “I’ve done them all my life so I always go back to that.”
“I am my beloved and my beloved is mine” by Barabara Hollander
Courtesy photo
She also draws inspiration from the ocean — its tides, movement and transformational properties evident in the work entitled “Red Tide.”
Her two dimensional and three dimensional works allow her to explore the human form and “delve into whimsy and showcase my personality.”
In “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” she uses beads, buttons, purple feathers, rhinestones and sequins to create intricate designs and linear patterns.
While “Kaleidoscope,” Strueber said, “represents the essence of her exuberant and whimsical work.”
In all, he said, “All My Life’s a Circle,” has deep roots “in spiritual intensity and its colors, textures, design and reflects an optimistic passion for life and its many cycles.”
Mirror Staff Writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.
If you go
WHAT: Art exhibition “All My Life’s a Circle” by Barbara Hollander
WHEN: now through Oct. 5
WHERE: Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, 1210 11th Ave, Altoona, PA 16601
Artist Reception: 6-8 p.m. July 26, cost $15 per person and includes light refreshments
Lunch a la Art – Noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 21, cost $15
