Memorial Art Gallery Presents the New hoMAGe Series: Vibrant Dining Experience Inspired by the Work of Artist Alma Thomas
Rochester, NY, Feb. 25, 2025—Food lovers and art aficionados alike are invited to indulge in a culinary experience inspired by the bold colors and rhythmic patterns of twentieth-century artist Alma Thomas, whose work is currently on view in the exhibition Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas. As part of the Memorial Art Gallery’s (MAG) new hoMAGe Culinary Series, the Alma Thomas Dinner will take place on Friday, March 28, from 6–8:30 pm in the elegant M&T Bank Ballroom.
Designed for those looking to explore the intersection of fine art and dining, this immersive evening will feature a curated five-course meal with sommelier-selected wine pairings. Each dish is crafted to reflect Thomas’s pioneering approach to color and composition, creating an edible tribute to her artistic legacy. Guests will also enjoy commentary from Executive Chef Jim Rice (Julia K. Caterers) and Donna Schlosser-Long (Sommelier at Jackson Family Wines), as well as insightful reflections from Jess Marten, Curator of American Art at MAG, on the artist’s life and work. The evening’s menu draws direct inspiration from Thomas’s vibrant, nature-infused aesthetic.
An Artistic Dining Experience
Tickets are $150 per person and include access to the exhibition Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from 5–6 pm prior to the dinner. Guests will also receive a complimentary return admission to further explore the exhibition at their leisure.
About the exhibition Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas
On view now through May 25, 2025, Composing Color showcases Thomas’s exuberant abstract paintings, inspired by nature, music, and the cosmos. Thomas, a trailblazer in American art, became the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1972. This exhibition invites viewers to immerse themselves in her bold, rhythmic works and celebrate her lasting impact on the art world. Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Generous support is provided by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Chris G. Harris, The Wolf Kahn Foundation, and Susan Talley. Generous support in Rochester is provided by Sonya and Quincy Allen, Axom Home / Gus Modern, Caitlin and Bennett Kireker, Sharon and Robert Napier, and George and Barbara Segel. Learn more about the exhibition: https://mag.rochester.edu/exhibitions/composing-color/
Reserve Your Seat
Join us at MAG for an unforgettable night of artful cuisine and artistic inspiration. Tickets are available now at https://586.blackbaudhosting.com/586/hoMAGe-Culinary-Series-Alma-Thomas-Dinner.
About the Memorial Art Gallery
The Memorial Art Gallery showcases art from antiquity to the present day, including the outdoor public Centennial Sculpture Park. In addition to its permanent collection, MAG offers a year-round schedule of special exhibitions, lectures, concerts, tours, after-hours social events, and family activities.
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–5 pm, and until 9 pm on Thursdays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Admission: $20; senior citizens, $18; college students with ID and children 6–18, $9. Always free to members, University of Rochester faculty, staff, students, and children five and under. Half-price general admission on Thursdays 5–9 pm is made possible by Monroe County. Discounted admission tickets are available when purchasing online. For more information, call 585.276.8900 or visit mag.rochester.edu.
Press contact: Paige Engard, Marketing & PR Specialist: 585.474.7695 / pengard@mag.rochester.edu
ASSOCIATED IMAGES:
Photo 1: Don’t miss the first installation of the Memorial Art Gallery’s new hoMAGe culinary series honoring artist Alma Thomas, coming up on March 28.