Erie Art Museum Unveils New Banners Adorning Historic Customs House

The State Street-facing side of the Customs House, part of the Erie Art Museum.

ERIE, Pa. - The Erie Art Museum reveals new vinyl display banners on the historic Customs House. These new banners will feature current works on exhibition as well as pieces from the Museum’s collection. Featured artwork includes Clara Force’s portrait of Lovisa Card-Catlin, the founder of the Art Club of Erie, now known as the Erie Art Museum; a monoprint titled Sharp Man In A Wrong Place by Garry R. Bibbs, Summer Days, acrylic on burlap, from Chautauqua artist-in-residence Kym Cooper, and paintings by Erie artists in the Museum’s collection, Red House by Joseph Plavcan, and Green and Blue Knot with Red, Richard Anuszkiewicz.

“The new banners refresh the look of the Customs House while also highlighting works from the Museum’s collection alongside those on loan from contemporary artists. We welcome people traveling down State Street to walk around the corner and step inside to discover more works in person,” said Executive Director Laura Domencic.

The Customs House was built in 1839 and has been owned by the Museum since 1983. It currently houses several galleries as well as collection storage spaces. The building is a fixture on State Street, inviting many visitors year to year.

These banners were designed & curated by Museum staff, produced by FastSigns, and funded in part by an Art Bridges Bridge Ahead grant. The Museum intends to recycle the previous vinyl banners into tote bags to sell in the gift shop.