Norton Museum offers exhibitions, lectures, and live performances in July

The Norton Museum of Art, located at 1450 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach.

The Norton Museum of Art is offering exhibitions, lectures, live performances and hands-on workshops throughout July. Located at 1450 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, the museum continues to offer a rich array of programming designed to engage art lovers of all ages and interests.

Among the current exhibitions is “Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection,” which runs through Oct. 5. This collection showcases intricate pieces designed by some of the 20th century’s most prominent artists. On view through July 20 is “Blur/Obscure/Distort: Photography and Perception,” an exploration of how photographers manipulate visual clarity to challenge perception. Contemporary art takes center stage with “Laddie John Dill — Eastern Standard Time,” running through Oct. 19 and offering a striking look at light and space within sculptural forms.

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“The Afterschool Arts Outreach Exhibition: No Place Like Home” highlights creative works by young artists through Nov. 23.

Opening in July:

“Virtue of Vice: The Art of Social Commentary,” opening July 12 and running through Jan. 4, examines the ways artists have used their work to critique society and provoke thought.

“Chinese Flower Paintings: The Art of Renewal (Installation 1 of 2)” opens July 5 and continues through Nov. 16, while “Art of the Word: Calligraphy and Chinese Artists” and “Veiled Presence: The Hidden Mothers and Sara VanDerBeek”remain on view through Nov. 23 and Nov. 30, respectively.

The popular Art After Dark series continues on Fridays until 10 p.m. throughout July, with the exception of the Fourth of July. Visitors can enjoy gallery tours at 5 and 7 p.m. and open studio art workshops from 6 to 9 p.m., with special artist tours at 8 p.m. on July 18. Admission for Art After Dark is free for members, $10 for adults and seniors, and $5 for students. The Art After Dark schedule for the month:

• July 11 — Music by Jack and Tim and an ArtSpeaks lecture by Jason Bemis on the psychological effects of light and color in architecture.

• July 18 — A lively BeYou Disco performance, an Azul fashion show and screenings from By Kids Films.

• July 25 — Music by Simon Benegas and a special performance by Sea Change Collective, offering an interpretive experience inspired by the exhibit “Laddie John Dill: Eastern Standard Time.”

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Lectures play an important role in the museum’s summer programming. On July 11 at 6 p.m., Jason Bemis, art and science lecturer at the American Information Center for Color and Environment, will present “Illuminating Emotion: Light and Color in Architectural Spaces.” Bemis will explore how light and color influence human emotions and behavior, blending neuroscience, architecture and design in his discussion.

As part of its “Hollywood Gems: A Summer Film Series,” the Norton will screen the 1933 classic “She Done Him Wrong,” starring Mae West and Cary Grant, on July 20 at 2 p.m.

Also on July 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the museum’s restaurant will hold a jazz brunch, including music by Russ Spiegel from noon to 3. Reservations for brunch can be made through the museum’s website.

Inclusive family programming includes the “Family Autism Art Workshop” on July 13. Designed for children with autism and their families, the workshop offers gallery time and hands-on art activities in two sessions: 1 to 2 p.m. for kindergartners through sixth-graders and 3 to 4 p.m. for seventh- to 12th-graders. Admission is free but requires online registration.

Teens are invited to the “Photo Zine Workshop” from 5 to 8 p.m. July 18. Led by members of the museum’s Teen Collective, the workshop includes a guided tour of exhibitions and zine-making activities. No art experience is required, and all materials are provided. This free program requires advance registration.

Adults can register for the “Tintype Photography Workshop” from 1 to 4 p.m. July 24. Participants will explore historical photography methods with artist Christine Ellinghouse and create tintypes from vintage and personal photographs. Open to ages 16 and up, the workshop costs $30 for museum members and $45 for others.

Visitors ages 5 to 18 can participate in the museum’s “Summer Studio Tours” on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through Aug. 1. These sessions combine gallery tours with hands-on art projects. Registration is required, and a fee of $5 covers all materials and admission. The program is free for camp groups affiliated with the School District of Palm Beach County.

The Norton is at 1450 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Admission is free for members. General admission costs $18 for adults, $15 for seniors 60 and older, and $5 for students with valid ID. Reduced rates apply during Art After Dark. For more information, call 561-832-5196, or visit www.norton.org.