April is coming to a close, and so are five art exhibitions at the Albany Museum of Art.

The last day to view Michael Jones: Polyphonic: Idea Machines; Home; Know, Learn, Wonder, and 20^th Century Small Works on Paper is Saturday, April 26. The AMA, located at 311 Meadowlark Drive, is open 10 am-5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, and admission is free for everyone.

There are also two art workshops scheduled. The first event is the bimonthly Corks & Canvases Painting Party set for 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 24. On Saturday, April 26, at 10 am, artist and Albany State University art educator Michael Mallard will lead a figure drawing class. Both will be held in the AMA Classroom.

The final two 2024-25 school year meetings for the museum’s After School Art Club wrap up the month. The club for high school students meets Monday, April 28, and elementary school students gather on Tuesday, April 29.

“It’s hard to believe how fast the year is passing,” AMA Executive Director Andrew J. Wulf, Ph.D., said. “We hope everyone will come out for a last look at these exhibitions. It’s also a wonderful time for folks to be inspired to create their own art, with opportunities for everyone from young students to teens to adults.”

Polyphonic in the Haley Gallery features work by Atlanta muralist and multimedia artist Michael Jones, who explores the sounds of the South and the distinct music culture that has surrounded the Southern region throughout history. He highlights the soulful samples of hip-hop heavily influenced by Southern soul music, especially those in the work of Sylvester “Sly” Stewart. These sounds are embodied through a distinct 808 beat, and the work of funk and soul artists like Albany native Ray Charles. Jones provides visual representations of these artists’ symphonic legacies.

Idea Machines in the East Gallery is an exhibition of conceptual art from the AMA’s permanent collection. It explores modern artworks from the permanent collection that were made to be different, to question the traditional and academic definitions of art, and occasionally to inject humor.

In the Hodges Gallery, Know, Learn, Wonder presents a selection of works from the Albany Museum of Art’s permanent Sub-Saharan African Collection. The exhibition was made possible with support from Kiana Addo and the Georgia Council for the Arts.

Upstairs in the McCormack Gallery, visitors get a sense of Home viewing works from the AMA’s permanent collection that instill that feeling. Finally, in the West Gallery, visitors can see diverse works of three distinguished artists from the early 20th century—Kenneth Hayes Miller, Lamar Baker, and Solomon Nikritin in 20^th Century Small Works on Paper.

For those who want to try their hand at creating art, there are four upcoming workshops. At the two-hour Corks & Canvases Painting Party at 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 24, those 21 and older can enjoy a glass of wine, snacks, soft background music, and conversation while they receive step-by-step instructions on re-creating a masterpiece painting. Participants will be inspired by Edward Hopper’s 1927 painting, Lighthouse Hill. The food, beverages, canvas, and painting materials are included in the registration, which is $35 ($30 for AMA donors). A registration link can be found at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/corks-and-canvases/.

All materials will also be provided on Saturday, April 26, when Michael Mallard instructs a figure-drawing class from 10 am to 1 pm. The workshop is for all skill levels, and participants will discover the beauty of capturing the human form with guidance from a professional in a supportive environment. Registration is $35 ($30 for AMA donors). The registration link can be found at www.albanymuseum.com/event/figure-drawing-class-042625/.

April ends with the two meetings of the After School Art Club, which started its current series last August. The club for middle and high school students meets 4-5:30 pm Monday, April 28. The meeting for elementary school students is 3:30-5 pm on Tuesday, April 29. Both club meetings are in the AMA Classroom. The clubs will pause for the summer and start a new season in late August. Registration is $15 ($12 for AMA donors). The registration link can be found at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/art-club/.

AMA EXHIBITIONS

• Michael Jones: Polyphonic is Jan 23-April 26, 2025, in the Haley Gallery.

• Idea Machines, Conceptual Art from the Permanent Collection, is Jan 23-April 26, 2025, in the East Gallery.

• Home, Selections from the Permanent Collection is Jan 23-April 26, 2025, in the McCormack Gallery.

• Know, Learn, Wonder, Highlights from the Sub-Saharan African Collection is Jan 23-April 26, 2025, in the Hodges Gallery.

• 20th Century Small Works on Paper from the Permanent Collection is Jan 30-April 26, 2025, in the West Gallery.