Explore the Dynamic Works of ARTrageous at the Erie Art Museum

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Saturday, June 9th

On the Erie Art Museum's website, you'll find that the tagline for their upcoming ARTrageous event is, simply, "an event that lives up to its name!" And as you scroll further down the page, it will soon become clear from the event's mere description that it would be near-impossible for the event not to. Already danced your way through the disco party with DJ Shineomite? Perhaps Pan African rhythms with the storied One World Tribe should be your next destination. You say you're finished taking in the Food Artist Group's "intricate and beautiful" melon carving? Why not give the Sovereign Ballet's dramatic living sculptures a chance?

On a fundamental level, ARTrageous is designed to have something for lovers of all kinds of art, from an interactive video exhibit courtesy of the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania to painting on demand with Bryan Toy. In addition to the jazz-pop stylings of HelioDuo and traditional Himalayan music by Gyan Ghising, craft brews by the Erie Beer Company will be paired with selected artworks around the museum as well as "artisanal confections" courtesy of Romolo Chocolates.

The museum's annual ARTrageous event follows the very recent announcement of their new executive director, Joshua R. Helmer. Having obtained degrees first at Hartwick College and then Syracuse University, Helmer arrives with an impressive background in art history. He joins the Erie Art Museum following four years as Assistant Director of Interpretation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As Helmer has already made of point of reaching out to the community and discussing the museum's future, this year's ARTrageous event should serve as a fitting introduction to the Erie Art Museum's newest staffer. — Aaron Mook

7 p.m. to 11 p.m. // 411 State Street // $100 // erieartmuseum.org