Salisbury University Art Galleries Downtown (SUAGD) opens its new permanent home in the Plaza Gallery Building with the Smithsonian Institution traveling Smithsonian exhibit “The Way We Worked” September 15-November 3.
The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a ribbon cutting for the gallery at 4:30 p.m. Friday, September 15. An opening reception for the new space and exhibit is 5-7 p.m. September 15 as part of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District’s monthly 3rd Friday celebration. A broom-making demonstration will be provided by The Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum during the reception. 
Drawing from photographs and objects at the National Archives and SU’s Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, the exhibit traces the changes that have affected the workforce and work environments in the past 150 years. This includes the growth of manufacturing and increased use of technology.
Artists Cat Mazza, Curtis Woody, Phillip McMartin and Mierle Laderman Ukeles expand on the story of labor through their works that depict garment industry workers, slaves, local watermen, and sanitation workers. Mazza will give a talk about her work on Thursday, October 26 at 5:30pm. Musician and storyteller, Shannon Murray will offer performances on September 14 at 7:30 pm in The Great Hall and on September 15 at 5:45pm on 3rd Friday’s Main Stage on Salisbury’s Downtown Plaza of People’s Music, a project working to preserve working class history in story and song.
Developed by the National Archives, the exhibit is part of “Museum on Main Street,” a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Maryland Humanities. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. This final stop on the Maryland tour of The Way We Worked is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council, The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, and Salisbury University. Our community partners include the City of Salisbury, The Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum, The Julia A. Purnell Museum and The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art.
SU Art Galleries Downtown hours are 12-7 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, noon-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Sponsored by SUAG, Admission is free and the public is invited.
For more information call 410-548-2547 or visit our website at www.salisbury.edu/universitygalleries. You can RSVP to the event here.
