Saturday, March 2, 2024
10:00 am–12:00 pm
Free for all Glencairn Museum membership levels
Free for all Cairnwood Estate membership levels
Free for all Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center membership levels
Registration is required by Friday, March 1
Join us for a captivating opening event for the exhibition, Easter Eggs: Symbols of Rebirth and Renewal. The exhibition is co-curated by Patrick J. Donmoyer, Director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University and Ed Gyllenhaal, Curator of Glencairn Museum. This exhibition takes you on a journey into the age-old traditions of European Easter Eggs and their vibrant presence in Pennsylvania today.
Donmoyer will share the behind-the-scenes story of co-curating this remarkable exhibition and shed light on the fascinating objects on exhibit. A Q&A session will follow his presentation. As a part of this exclusive experience, attendees will have the chance to engage with Museum staff over coffee, tea, and light refreshments.
After the presentation, Donmoyer will be available to members in the Upper Hall exhibition space. Museum interpreters will be on hand to share works of art depicting the Easter story as found in Glencairn’s Chapel, Medieval European gallery, Great Hall, and Great Hall balcony.
About the speaker:
Patrick J. Donmoyer is the author of books, exhibition catalogs, and numerous articles, including, “The Easter Egg: A Flourishing Tradition in Pennsylvania” (Spring 2020, Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine, Volume XLVI, Number 2). He speaks Pennsylvania Dutch fluently and is an advocate for regional folk culture. His folklife research blends language, ritual traditions, and vernacular architecture.
The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center is headquartered in the newly renovated, 10,000-square-foot DeLight E. Breidegam Building, which also houses the Heritage Center Library collections. Patrick Donmoyer oversaw the construction of this new multi-million-dollar facility, which opened in 2022. He curated an exhibition there in 2023 titled, Pennsylvania Dutch Easter Eggs, which served as the inspiration for the current exhibition at Glencairn Museum, Easter Eggs: Symbols of Rebirth and Renewal.