JANUARY 12 THROUGH FEBRUARY 10, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday, January 12th, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
"Talkabout" Gallery Discussion: Saturday, February 10th, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial presents the third exhibition in the twenty-ninth 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 third of this year’s Challenge Exhibitions features the work of artists Colette Fu, Susan Myers, and Eva Wylie.

The exhibition begins on Friday, January 12th, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and continues through February 10th, 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 — starting February 6th — of 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday.

Colette Fu is attracted to the childlike delight factor and the element of surprise embodied in pop-up books. The pop-up format enables her to transform flat psychological states and perceptions made with her camera and computer into tactile three-dimensional experiences. The first books of this kind date to the 13th century, illustrating ideas about astronomy, navigation, and anatomy. Fu builds on this history in this present series that reflects on Philadelphia’s historic sites and centuries-old buildings. Since Philadelphia is known as one of America’s most haunted cities, Fu has chosen in this series to focus on the blurred line between life and death and fantasy and reality.

Ms. Fu received her B.A. at Virginia Commonwealth University and her M.F.A. at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Image: Colette Fu, Fort Mifflin, (work in progress) 2006, inkjet pop-up (unbound), 16 x 36 x 24 inches

In her series called Disposable, Susan Myers has constructed several objects modeled after different styles of take-out food containers. Each object is hand-fabricated using sheet metal and then plated in sterling silver. The patterned surface of the objects is created from recycled metal reclaimed from “found” silver-plated serving trays stamped with decorative motifs. This applied ornamentation is meant to echo the ubiquitous, stylized designs commonly found on mass-produced disposable ware. Myers is also presenting a wall installation along with her objects in which she uses ribbons of aluminum flashing to form linear three-dimensional compositions. Her work and her process is a statement about our modern way of life: what we consume and how we consume it — literally and figuratively — the choices we make.

Ms. Myers received her B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and her M.F.A. from Syracuse University.

Image: Susan Myers, Disposable: Styrofoam Takeout, 2003, silver-plated bronze and sterling silver, 2.75 x 5.5 x 6 inches
(photograph by Jack Ramsdale)

Eva Wylie's installation explores the illusion of what makes up the “perfect view” by screening collected images directly to the wall. Wylie collects images from sources including the Internet, water bottles, travel magazines, advertisements, and cherished photographs she took as a tourist. The imagery evokes a romantic notion of the landscape. Working with the architecture of the space, Wylie presents a cross section of a landscape that meanders and wraps around the room. The viewer becomes aware of the space and context of the sources for the work, thus revealing the illusion of a mirage.

Ms. Wylie received her B.A. from Allegheny College and M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art.

Image: Eva Wylie, detail: Unstructured, 2006, screen print on wall

On Saturday, February 10th, 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.