OCTOBER 19 THROUGH NOVEMBER 17, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday, October 19, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
"Talkabout" Gallery Discussion: Saturday, October 27th, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial presents the second exhibition in the thirtieth 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 nearly 300 applicants to exhibit in one of four three-person exhibitions. The second of this year’s Challenge Exhibitions features drawings by Gregory Brellochs, landscape paintings by William Gannotta, and abstract paintings by Rebecca Saylor Sack.

The exhibition begins on Friday, October 19th, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and continues through November 17th, 2007.

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.

Gregory Brellochs asks the questions, “What and how can we directly experience the force of and energy manifest in nature that is just beneath the surface?” This interest has led Brellochs to work abstractly in order to seek out essential forms, hybrid forms, and forms that seek to embody nature as opposed to representing one of its many manifestations. Brellochs rarely starts his large drawings with a definite image in mind. He seeks out the nature of the piece through the act of drawing, watching it emerge and evolve while attempting to position himself as an observer to the unfolding of the work.

Mr. Brellochs received his B.F.A. from Massachusetts College of Art, and his M.F.A. from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Image: Gregory Brellochs, Dendrite, 2006, graphite on paper, 50 x 28 inches

William Gannotta is a landscape painter who is captivated by the opportunity to be outdoors observing the natural world. Painting allows him to enter a blissful state in which Gannotta becomes deeply involved with seeing and a witness to what he is depicting. After starting his oil paintings outdoors, Gannotta returns to the studio with a reservoir of information to bring them to full completion.

Mr. Gannotta studied at Philadelphia College of Art, and received his Certificate in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Image: William Gannotta, Samskara, 2004, oil on linen, 60 x 36 inches

Rebecca Saylor Sack considers her paintings fields of action in which sensations of corporeal presence, and its relationship to modern notions of world and image are engaged through the liquidity of paint. Paint is layered and reworked directly on the canvas, leaving direct evidence of the painter’s hand or action. Exposed canvas and physical rending of the surface contrasts delicate passages with broad brushstrokes all implying a sense of impending violence or violation.

Ms. Saylor Sack received her B.F.A. from The Cooper Union, and her M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art, Temple University.

Image: Rebecca Saylor Sack, detail: And there was a Blooming Above, 2006, oil on canvas, 70 x 84 inches

On Saturday, October 27, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., artist/teacher Mary Murphy will lead the Challenge "TalkAbout", an in depth dialogue with these Challenge artists and audience. Admission is free.

Concurrent with Challenge 2, Robert Reinhardt will present recent photographs in the Faculty Gallery, while teen students from his Portfolio I class display recent works in the Student Gallery.

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.

Refreshments for Fleisher exhibition openings and special events generously provided by Infusion Coffee & Tea.