Exploring the Permanent Collection at BAM
The Bellefonte Art Museum’s Permanent Collection reflects our commitment to preserving history and celebrating artistic expression. Each piece tells a powerful story, offering visitors a deeper connection to art and heritage. Our collection includes the Underground Railroad Exhibit – A Journey to Freedom, a moving tribute to the region’s role in the abolitionist movement, and Seascape, a captivating hanging sculpture by artist Tally Fisher. These works serve as lasting inspirations, honoring the past while enriching the present.
Seascapes by Talley Fisher
See-Scape, now installed in the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, collaborates with Talley Fisher and her father, Rob Fisher. Rob designed and fabricated the original sculptural elements for placement in the Park Cardiagraphics Headquarters, Taunton, Mass. in 1988. The building that housed this sculpture was destroyed, and the sculptural elements were returned to Talley. Talley has used these sculptural elements to compose a new and site-specific suspended sculpture for the stairwell here at the Bellefonte Art Museum.
See-Scape is a playful work, with feelings and sensations much like a Chagall painting. Fantastic mirrored forms swim and float effortlessly in a light-filled space. Viewers find themselves transported under the sea, where the forms of the sculpture, though abstract, evoke thoughts of schools of fish or leafy plant forms.
Talley specializes in suspended sculpture. Her work brings dazzling groupings of anodized metallic colors or strong, large, and vibrantly colored powder-coated sculptural elements to the lobbies and atriums in which they reside. Positive and uplifting, largely based on the natural world, her hanging sculpture creates signature works of art for her clients.
Underground Railroad Exhibit – A Journey to Freedom
The Underground Railroad Exhibit – A Journey to Freedom is a cornerstone of the Bellefonte Art Museum’s permanent collection, offering a powerful exploration of our region’s connection to the Underground Railroad. Located in a historic home believed to have been part of this network, the exhibit blends art and storytelling to honor the courage, resilience, and humanity of those who sought freedom—and those who helped them along the way.
This immersive exhibit invites visitors to reflect on a pivotal chapter in American history through a creative lens. Artworks and interpretive displays share both historical context and emotional depth, making the experience impactful for audiences of all ages. The exhibit emphasizes the enduring relevance of these stories and the importance of remembering the struggles that shaped our shared past.
As part of the museum’s mission to connect art with meaningful community dialogue, A Journey to Freedom stands as a testament to how creativity can illuminate history. It serves as a place for education, reflection, and inspiration—encouraging us all to consider the role of art in preserving memory and promoting justice.
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