OCTOBER 14 THROUGH NOVEMBER 12, 2005
Opening Reception: Friday, October 14th, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
"Talkabout" Gallery Discussion: Saturday, October 29th, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial will present the second exhibition in the twenty-eighth season of the four-part Wind Challenge Exhibitions at Fleisher — the Delaware Valley’s premier juried artist exhibition program. This season’s twelve Challenge artists were selected from a field of 278 applicants to exhibit in one of four three-person exhibitions. The second of this year’s Challenge Exhibitions features the work of artists Jon Manteau, Penelope Rakov, and Mauro Zamora.

The exhibition begins on Friday, October 14th, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and continues through November 12th, 2005.

Both the exhibition and the opening reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with additional hours of 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday.

Jon Manteau’s paintings are alive with a colorful expressive force. Manteau defines himself as an abstract painter who uses paint as a vocabulary for his work. He uses thick, sensuous strokes of layered house paint to create rhythmic lines and shapes that are visually powerful.

Mr. Manteau studied at Parsons School of Design, received his four-year certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and his M.F.A. from the University of Delaware.

Image: Jon Manteau, Untitled (detail), 2005, house paint on plywood

Penelope Rakov builds intimate sculptures from glass. Using an intricate process she describes as “the long way around”, Rakov canes rich colors into solid cylinders of hot glass and then shapes them to her liking. After accumulating a collection of objects she combines components to form each sculpture. Rakov is interested in the saturated color that is reflected in glass as well as the gem like quality caught in the intimate scale of her work.

Ms. Rakov received her B.F.A. from Alfred University and her M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art.

Image: Penelope Rakov, R. L. Summer Collection, '96, 2005, glass, 10 x 18 x 5 inches

Mauro Zamora is compelled to make paintings of landscapes although he is not always interested in the landscape itself. Zamora derives his images from nature, architecture, and print media. His stylized landscape paintings have a filtered graphic quality with planes of color defining the images.

Mr. Zamora received his four-year certificate in painting and his M.F.A. from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Image: Mauro Zamora, Forest Hotel, 2005, acrylic on canvas, 12 x 16

On Saturday, October 29, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., artist/teacher Mary Murphy will lead the Challenge "TalkAbout" gallery discussion. Join us to discuss the work on exhibition. Admission is free.

Fleisher's exhibition programs are supported in part by Dina and Jerry Wind, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Independence Foundation, the Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program of The Pew Charitable Trusts, and donations from more than 2,000 student members and friends.