Sacred Arts Festival comes to Glencairn Museum

Experience religious art in the making—and try your hand at some techniques yourself—at Glencairn Museumduring its annual Sacred Arts Festival on Sunday, April 23, from 1:00 till 5:00pm. Fun, educational and a feast for your eyes and ears, the festival and open house features an array of demonstrations throughout the afternoon, from glassblowing and icon writing to metal forging and the creation of a sand mandala, that give visitors of any age a unique view of many beautiful expressions of faith from various cultures.

This event is also a rare opportunity to experience at your leisure the Museum’s vast collection of religious art and artifacts—and the castle itself—while touring its many galleries and public spaces. You are invited to explore room by room, take in the exciting view for miles around from Glencairn’s tower, relax with some treats in the Castle Café—or go outside to enjoy the peaceful cloister and beautiful grounds.

Along with hands-on activities for the younger set, this year’s festival features a few new artists and craftspeople among the familiar favorites:

• Glassblowing with Jason Klein
• Metal forging with Mike Rossi
• Stained glass painting with J. Kenneth Leap
• Sand mandala completion and dismantling with Losang Samten
• Icon writing with Susan Kelly vonMedicus
• Stone carving with Jens Langlotz
• Replica Gutenberg-era printing press with Kirsten Gyllenhaal
• Barn star painting with Patrick Donmoyer
• Manuscript illumination with Sarah Dressler

Of special interest:
Tibetan Buddhist sand mandala, created over 5 days and ritually dismantled late Sunday afternoon by The Venerable Lama Losang Samten. Besides completion and then dismantling of the mandala during the festival, visitors to the museum can view Losang’s creation of this colorful piece in the Great Hall 1 to 4:30 daily beginning Wednesday, April 19. Donations welcome April 19-22; included in Sacred Arts Festival admission April 23.

Glassblowing with Historical Glassworks’ Jason Klein, who is working to bring medieval skills back to life while researching the centuries’ old striated ruby red glass that Bryn Athyn artisans famously recreated in the early 20th century. After demonstrating his artisan skills at the festival, Jason returns to Glencairn to repeat his demonstration on Thursday, April 27, 9:30-12:30, for a special Homeschool Day for young people and families. (To join this additional session, please call the Museum at 267.502.2990. Admission is $5 per person.)

Barn star painting with Patrick Donmoyer, director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University and guest curator for Glencairn’s current special exhibition “Powwowing in Pennsylvania: Healing Rituals of the Dutch Country.” Patrick will explain how Pennsylvania German immigrants’ “hex signs” developed and what the design elements mean.

Festival admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors/students with ID, FREE for Museum members and children 3 and under. It includes all festival demonstrations and access to the galleries and the tower as well as the Museum’s 15-minute orientation video and cell-phone audio tour inside and outside the castle.

The Castle Café is again hosted by Huntingdon Valley’s Be Well Bakery, offering Be Well’s bakery snacks, fresh gourmet coffee and hot tea for purchase.

Please note: During the festival, the elevator stops only at the 1st and 5th floors and the Tower. Please use the stairs while exploring Glencairn Museum’s galleries on all other floors.
No strollers or backpack-style baby carriers allowed in the Museum and no wheelchairs permitted beyond the first floor.
Photography for private use is permitted. No flash, tripods, selfie-sticks or videography.

Glencairn Museum is at 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn 19009.

For more information, visit www.glencairnmuseum.org or call 267.502.2990.