Out & About: The Westmoreland stays very cool on hot summer night

Greensburg temperatures hovered in the high 80s on the evening of July 19, but it was very cool inside The Westmoreland Museum of American Art — and not just because the air conditioning was cranking.

It was the evening of the members’ wine reception and preview of “Era of Cool: The Art of John Van Hamersveld,” with much of the featured artwork harking back to the psychedelic 1960s.

“It’s amazing, so colorful, just a really happy show,” said chief curator Barbara Jones. “It really brings out memories for those of us Baby Boomers who lived it.”

Running through Oct. 20, the exhibition includes large-scale pop art paintings, posters, mural designs and more, including Van Hamersveld’s iconic album covers designed for artists including the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

The artwork “speaks to the tumultuous times” during which it was created, said Anne Kraybill, The Westmoreland’s Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO.

Museum-goers will be in for a treat, Kraybill said, when the California-based artist visits in October for events including a talk and the annual Big Art Party: “Reporters who have talked to him already say it’s pretty wild.”

Among reception guests were Eric and Laurie Widing. Based in New York, he is deputy chairman of the world-renowned art auction house, Christie’s, and she is a former member of The Westmoreland’s board of directors.

Also on hand was Nicole Czapinski, a young Pittsburgh artist whose delicate threaded pieces are showing through Aug. 25 in the museum’s Robertshaw Gallery in an exhibition entitled, “an illusionary pain in a nonexistent hand.”

Seen: Ellen Swank, Al and Sally Ann Novak, Eric and Michele Bononi, Mark and Kaaren Tintori, Barbara Ferrier, Chuck and Nancy Anderson, Anita Manoli, Paul and Kearsten Adams, Linda Earnest, Margaret Divirgilio, Ned West, John and Amy Faith, Jo Ellen Numerick, Jill Briercheck, Gene and Barbara Kravits, Michaelene McWhinney, Vernie West, Doug Evans and Bonnie West.