Picturing Communities:
Juried Art Show Opened Nov. 2

The 2007 Juried Art Show, "Picturing Communities," is open Nov. 2 until Nov. 10, 2007. Exhibition hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The works will be on display to artists, neighbors, alumni, parents and students. All are welcome to attend.

This year's theme is an exhibition of photography and photo-based work on the subject of community. The show will explore the concept, representation and evocation of community.

"Just as we know and depend on one another at Penn Charter, we are also aware of the strength others find in their own communities - and of the interdependence of communities," said Sheila Ruen, chair of the school's visual arts department.

"The artists whose works have been selected for the show have done a great job interpreting this belief. The 'Picturing Communities' exhibit truly evokes the concept and representation of community, and is a wonderful cultural and curricular resource."

In early October, art show jurors Jason Francisco, assistant professor of photography at Rutgers University; Karen Lightner, head of the print and picture collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia; and Beverly Dawson, owner of the ArtJaz Gallery in Philadelphia, evaluated the submissions of the artists. The jurors then selected the pieces of artwork for the show.

In addition, works of art by Penn Charter parents, faculty, students and staff have been included in the exhibit. Second graders are sharing their thoughts on what communities mean to them through their neighborhood project where they have built an actual community of homes, a library, a school, sports stadium, restaurant and more out of commonly used materials such as half-pint milk containers.

There is also a "Community Wall of Photographs" of non-exhibition prints submitted by families in the school community. Short stories explain why each photo is important. As part of the show-related activities, students will tour the gallery during school hours with their teachers. Some of the artists will visit with the students in the gallery, talking about their work and answering student questions about the creative process.