Visiting Artists Program
Biennially, the Fleisher Art Memorial invites a regional contemporary artist to lead a community-focused project that extends and enriches Fleisher’s exhibitions and educational programs. Visiting artists work with Fleisher’s staff, students, and faculty on projects that integrate art making with community engagement. Visiting artists are in residence for six to eight months and present their work in a culminating exhibition or event.
PAST VISITING ARTISTS
Winnie Owens-Hart (2011)
A Retrospective of Ceramic Work: Renowned ceramics artist Winnie Owens-Hart brings traditional Western African ceramics to Philadelphia in a residency entitled, The Transcontinental Passing of an Ancient Tradition: Pots in America.View some of the highlights from Winnie's residency.
Click here to learn more about public events and workshops scheduled during Pots In America
George Ferrandi (2009 - 2010)
Brooklyn-based artist George Ferrandi engaged the community in a project entitled Wherever There Is Water. Ms. Ferrandi built a sculptural narrative based on stories from her own life, combined with personal reflections from the lives of Southeast Philadelphia residents. These stories informed the creation of magnificent, illuminated sculptures used in an evening parade a through the streets of South Philadelphia on April 24, 2010
Click here for more information about Wherever There Is Water
Pepón Osorio (2007 - 2008)
Artist and educator Pepón Osorio led Fleisher in a project designed to celebrate neighborhood identity by exploring the idea of what happens when a community member’s home becomes an art gallery. In this project entitled Homemade, Mr. Osorio, along with local artists, engaged in art-making with area high school students and four South Philadelphia families. The artists and students created installations in collaboration with each family, installing the artwork in the family's home in projects that wove together history, cultural traditions, and personal interests. The project featured tours of the installations, and was recreated in an exhibition at the Fleisher Art Memorial.
Click here for more information about Homemade
Miguel Luciano (2006-2007)
Miguel Luciano was invited as a visiting artist because his work is contemporary, multicultural, and resonates with youth. His own strong body of work utilizes pop culture and pop icons to explore the messages that they send to a viewing public, particularly young people, who find his work approachable, amusing, exciting and relevant.
During his fourteen week residency, Miguel worked with young people drawn from Fleisher’s portfolio program and students from local area high schools. Working in a mixed media environment, students learned to make artwork that engaged public spaces and became critically aware of advertising in their communities. Classes included stencil making, airbrushing, drawing and painting, and students produced work ranging in size from small sketches to billboard-sized images. They consciously manipulated visual images and iconography that are part of popular culture. The students saw that art was a tool with which they can analyze their world and express a point of view.