By Sarah Zappe
The first time I walked into the new Palmer Museum of Art, I was amazed. The attention to detail, and the architectural ingenuity required to protect the art from light while still maintaining a bright, inviting space, was breathtaking.
My honest reaction was: This can’t be State College. This feels like Philadelphia. Or New York. Or D.C. But it was here, right in the middle of Happy Valley, just a short drive from downtown. I think that’s one of Palmer’s quiet superpowers. It makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a bigger world without ever leaving home.
Since that first visit, I’ve been back many times, and each time the experience is different. That’s the beauty of Palmer. It isn’t a static museum. It’s alive. Always shifting. Always offering something new. One visit might leave you reflecting deeply. Another might inspire you to create. The next might simply make you pause and look at the world a little differently.
Learning Through Making
One of the most unforgettable moments I’ve had at the Palmer was during a hands-on workshop with artist Yuko Kimura. Her work was part of the exhibition Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper and having the chance to learn from her in person was an experience I’ll never forget.
Yuko shared her beautiful and unusual materials, including vintage washi paper and pages from old Japanese books. Some of the pages had been partially eaten by worms, creating delicate patterns that felt both accidental and intentional. We created collages with these papers, layering textures and colors, experimenting freely. The process was meditative. I wasn’t just observing art that day. I was making it, surrounded by it, and learning from someone whose work is shown in museums around the world. What a gift.
Workshops like this are just one of the ways Palmer invites you in. It’s not just a place to look at art. It’s a place to experience it, to try something new, and to connect with art, with others, and even with yourself.
Behind the Scenes: Co-Curating the Teaching Gallery
This year, I had the rare and rewarding opportunity to co-curate an exhibition at the Palmer. In the Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery, I helped shape the show Structure, Systems, and Society, which explores the intersection of art and engineering.
What I didn’t expect was how much I’d learn about the invisible work behind every exhibition. Every time the museum installs a new show, the walls are completely repainted, and every nail hole from the last exhibition is patched and perfected. The level of care and detail is incredible. I even picked up some museum lingo along the way. The glass cases that protect sculptures and objects are called “bonnets,” which delighted me.
Curating helped me see the museum through new eyes. The lighting, the flow of the space, the wall colors, and the layout all work together to tell a story. There is a quiet, thoughtful artistry behind each decision, and it deepened my appreciation for what the Palmer team does.
Exhibits That Transport You
Right now, the Palmer is featuring Journey to Nature’s Underworld, a mesmerizing exhibition by artists Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman. It’s immersive, imaginative, and deeply moving. It invites you into eerie, beautiful landscapes that explore the relationship between humans and the natural world.
This is exactly why I keep coming back. The Palmer surprises me. It reinvents itself constantly, with fresh exhibits, new artists, and changing perspectives. Even when I’ve seen a gallery before, it somehow feels different every time. That sense of discovery is part of the magic.
Why the Palmer Matters
The Palmer has become more than a museum to me. It’s a place that nourishes creativity, community, and curiosity. It’s proof that you don’t have to drive to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or New York to experience world-class art. You can find it right here, in the heart of State College.
Its location couldn’t be more perfect. Right next to the Arboretum, the museum invites you to combine a peaceful garden walk with a few hours in the galleries. It’s the kind of day that feeds both your love of nature and your love of art.
Whether you’re new to the area or you’ve lived here for years, I hope you’ll find time to visit the Palmer. You might walk in expecting a typical college-town museum. But if you’re like me, you’ll walk out feeling uplifted, inspired, and a little more connected to the world around you.
Plan Your Visit
If you’re thinking about going, here’s when the Palmer is open:
- Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Closed Monday and Tuesday
Admission is free. Parking is easy. And the experience is always worth it.
There’s something special waiting for you at the Palmer. Step inside, and you just might find yourself stepping into a bigger world.
