NEWSLETTER
Public Ribbon Cutting and Community Celebration Scheduled for August 14
Corning, N.Y. — The Rockwell Museum will celebrate the unveiling of its 18th Alley Art Project mural during a public ribbon cutting and community celebration on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Southeast Steuben County Library, 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101, Corning, NY. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.
Created in collaboration with internationally recognized artist Devan Shimoyama, students from the High School Learning Center (HSLC) of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District, and the Southeast Steuben County Library, the new mural marks the 18th installation in The Rockwell Museum's Alley Art Project and serves as a featured initiative during the Museum's 50th anniversary year.
The 2026 mural celebrates and uplifts individuals who have meaningfully influenced students' lives. Drawing inspiration from works in The Rockwell Museum's permanent collection, including Shimoyama's February (2022) and Le Mat (The Fool) (2022), students developed a vibrant composition featuring symbolic flowers representing the people they chose to honor.
"As The Rockwell Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Alley Art Project exemplifies the power of arts education to foster creativity, confidence, and belonging," said Amy Ruza, The Rockwell’s Educator for Visitor Engagement and Public Programs, and lead educator behind the Alley Art Project. "This year's mural is a powerful reflection of how young people can lead conversations, honor the people who inspire them, and leave a lasting mark on the community and places they are proud to call home."
The project reflects the Alley Art Project's longstanding mission of empowering young people to tell their own stories and contribute meaningfully to the community through public art. Through personal symbolism and collaborative design, the mural invites viewers to consider familiar themes from fresh perspectives while amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.
"Collaborating with the students to create Infinity Park has been a wonderful process so far. Sharing bits of my practice and seeing how others can employ similar symbols and themes into their own personal narratives has proven that art can be a tool for collective healing and self-reflection,” said Devan Shimoyama.
Community members are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, meet student artists and designers, hear from project partners, and view the completed mural up close.
About Devan Shimoyama
Devan Shimoyama is a visual artist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from Penn State University in 2011 and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from Yale University School of Art in 2014. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the solo exhibition Cry, Baby at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. His work has also been featured in major exhibitions including When We See Us at Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, South Africa; Oh, Gods of Dust and Rainbows at FRONT International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art; Tell Me at CAC Málaga, Spain; and All the Rage at Kunstpalais in Erlangen, Germany.
About the Alley Art Project
Since 2010, The Rockwell Museum's Alley Art Project has connected students with professional artists, educators, and community partners to create public murals inspired by works in the Museum's collection. Developed in partnership with the Corning-Painted Post High School Learning Center, the program embraces project-based learning and the belief that public art can bring people together, encourage dialogue, and spark imagination.
Throughout its history, the program has engaged youth organizations across the region, including the Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center and SUNY Corning Community College. Through critical inquiry, artistic exploration, and personal expression, participants develop creative skills, confidence, and deeper connections to their community.
Support for the 2026 Alley Art Project is provided in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Triangle Fund, and the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.
About The Rockwell Museum
The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, provokes curiosity, engagement and reflection about art and the American experience.
Founded in 1976, the Museum’s collection numbers nearly 3,000 objects and includes strengths in contemporary and historic Native American art, 19th-century landscape paintings, traditional bronze sculptures and a growing collection of modern and contemporary art. Housed in Corning’s former historic City Hall, The Rockwell is an active cultural hub and a unique place where locals and travelers alike connect with art and ideas through a dynamic roster of exhibitions, programs and events. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Rockwell Museum (111 Cedar Street) is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum’s campus includes the KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab, featuring family-friendly activities, games and hands-on projects connected to exciting special exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of American artworks. The Art Lab is located around the corner at 36 E. Market Street and is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer season. One ticket provides access to both Rockwell locations.
Ticket discounts are available for local residents, students, groups and ages 55+; youth 17 and under are always free at The Rockwell.
Visit rockwellmuseum.org for more information.
###