Past Exhibitions
Carved From Our Roots
Selected Works of Marshall D. Rumbaugh (1948-2023)
June 29, 2024 – May 20, 2025
Exploring the life and work of contemporary Pennsylvania sculptor, Marshall D. Rumbaugh (1948-2023), Carved from Our Roots features artistic works in wood and stone inspired by the folk art traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Blending his love of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art with his formal training in modern and traditional sculpture, Marshall D. Rumbaugh carved a diverse range of figural, geometric, and functional works of art that explored his roots as a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Through his iconic figures, dynamic composition, and devoted attention to detail, Marshall’s works embody his sacred and contemporary influences, depicting the folk-cultural stories of American communities with reverence and humanity.
Der Alt Dengelschtock – The Old Sharpening Anvil
Precision, Frugality & Cooperation in Pennsylvania Dutch Agricultural Tradition
November 3, 2023 and runs through June 24, 2024
Exploring the cultural significance and superb craftsmanship of early agricultural technology for the cooperative farming practices of the Pennsylvania Dutch, this exhibition stunning installations of early Pennsylvania Dutch hand tools and their farm contexts, highlighting the cooperative spirit of inter-generational family farming that sustained the region’s culture for centuries.
Online exhibition forthcoming.
Painter of the Stars
The Life and Work of Milton J. Hill (1887-1972)
June 30, 2023 – October 20, 2023
Celebrating the life and work of Berks County barn star artist Milton J. Hill through original works of art, cultural artifacts, and ephemera, this exhibition reveals how a third-generation barn painter from Virginville, Berks County, preserved and transformed traditional barn decoration among the Pennsylvania Dutch. As both an artist and innovator, Milton Hill was best known for producing the most elaborate geometric star patterns found in the region, and his signature barn star design is known as the “Hill Star” today in honor of his unique contributions to the agricultural folk art of the region.
Mountain Mary
Contemporary Visions of the Sainted Healer
November 16. 2022 – June 24, 2023
This exhibition explores the life and legend of Mountain Mary or Anna Maria Young (1744-1819), the celebrated immigrant pioneer, farmer, and sainted healer of the Oley Valley. Featuring new works by contemporary artists and historic artifacts from the Oley Valley, the exhibition presents Mountain Mary’s colorful and often contradictory legend, which continues to embody the traditions and positive values sustaining the region’s folk culture.
A Reverence for the Stars
Celestial Images in Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Culture
September 1, 2022 – November 16, 2022
For generations, images of the stars hold an abiding presence in the arts and material culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Across domestic, agricultural, and sacred spheres of life, the stars adorn objects of utility, decoration, and inspiration. Living traditions today and folk beliefs of the past suggest that the stars are of special interest to the folk culture of the region, echoing the perennial human fascination with the movements of the heavens. Even as the culture continues to grow and change, the images of the stars have become symbols of the folk culture of the region.
Of the Image and the Word
Text, Illumination, & Devotional Imagery in Pennsylvania German Material Texts
September 1, 2022 – February 24, 2024
Pennsylvania Germans led the North American continent in the printing and dissemination of sacred texts and Bibles throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries through the use of sophisticated printing technology. At the same time, the creation of handwritten calligraphic texts flourished as part of a robust literary and devotional tradition. Though produced in a distinctly American context, these works of text and image comprise a portion of a broader story of transatlantic immigration, entrepreneurial engagement, and spiritual diaspora.