If you had fallen asleep in 1969 and woke up Saturday at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, you wouldn’t have felt out of place.
It was like the Age of Aquarius all over again for the annual Garden Party, held under sunny skies on the lush museum lawn.
“We wanted to make it very Woodstock-y,” said site coordinator Kristin Miller.
Judging from the number of guests clad in tie-dye, granny glasses, bell bottoms, love beads, headbands and other accoutrements of the ‘60s, the party planners succeeded. In fact, they called the event “Woodstock: An Aquarian Experience.”
While Rob Roush, aka Acoustic Fingers, played a soundtrack of classic rock, guests had the opportunity to wander among interactive artist stations to purchase art or create their own. Many sported henna designs created by Jill Smyth of Pittsburgh.
A vintage Volkswagen Beetle and pop-up camper van helped set the scene.
Ligonier Country Club provided a picnic-style repast.
The gallery hosted an array of silent auction items, including digital prints of rock icons Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, and the featured exhibition, “Looking for the Light in Dark Times,” with works by mother-daughter artists, Jolene Joyner and Jonelle Summerfield, both from Indiana County.
The artists were present to discuss their work with guests.
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The accompanying exhibition, “Back to Woodstock,” from the collection of Mark Del Costello, features 1960s memorabilia and authentic music posters representing the original 1969 Woodstock music festival.
Seen groovin’ at SAMA: Luke Summerfield, Ruthie Stewart, Lee Rummel, Hannah Harley, George and Olive Conte, Amanda Bender, Jess Cherico, Candace Brooks, Laurel Ross, Amy Roadman, Keith OToole and Lorraine Smith, Elizabeth Grosklos, Ted and Joan Mudge and Paul and Shirley Dominic.
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