Sunset & Stargazing: Ode to Alma Thomas
Join us for a night under the stars and pay tribute to artist Alma Thomas. We’ll begin the night with a guided tour of Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum where you’ll explore her dazzling abstract paintings and learn more about her artistry. After the tour, we’ll head outside to The Beer Garden where you’ll enjoy a jazz ensemble performance, sunset art making, and a special visit from Butler University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, where you’ll get a chance to gaze into the cosmos using telescopes.
Your ticket includes one free drink from The Beer Garden. You must be 21 years old to get an alcoholic beverage.
Schedule
7 PM | Docent-led tour of Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
8–9 PM | Art making on the Rec Lawn and live music in The Garden
9–10:30 PM | Butler Astronomy student-led stargazing through telescopes
Advance tickets required
$30 Members & $35 public
Ages 18+
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
On tour from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Composing Color invites guests to see the world through Alma Thomas’s eyes, celebrating her philosophy of art as a restorative force and her lifelong dedication to the cultivation of beauty.
Installation view of Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the June M. McCormack Forefront Galleries, June 27– September 28, 2025. Artworks © 2025 Estate of Alma Thomas (Courtesy of the Hart Family) / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
